IMPROVEMENTS IN CIRCULAR BOXES FOR THE PURPOSE OF ABSTRACTING THEIR CONTENTS WITHOUT REMOVING THE LID OR COVER
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Michael Letchford, of Three Colts Lane,
Bethnal Green, Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
CIRCULAR BOXES FOR THE PURPOSE OF ABSTRACTING THEIR CONTENTS WITHOUT
REMOVING THE LID OR COVER."
Sealed the 5th May 1868, and dated the 4th December 1867..
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Michael Letchford
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
4th December 1867.
I, ROBERT MICHAEL LETCHFORD, of Three Colts Lane, Bethnal Green,
Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN CIRCULAR BOXES FOR THE PURPOSE. OF ABSTRACTING THEIR CONTENTS
WITHOUT REMOVING THE LID OR COVER," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists in forming an opening in the side of circular boxes
used for cachou aromatise and other small articles, by means of which part of
the contents of the box may be abstracted without removing the lid, and
thereby avoid the risk of waste by spilling. I cut a piece out of the rim of
the lid and another piece similar in depth, but by preference of twice the
breadth, in the rim of the body of the box, so that by twisting round the lid
the conjunction of the two apertures presents the desired opening. The bux

page_text: "
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Robert Michael Letchford in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 14th May 1868.
IM
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
MICHAEL LETCHFORD, of Three Colts: Lane, Bethnal Green, Middlesex, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Iler Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirty-first year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Robert Michael Letchford, Her special licence that I, the said Robert
Michael Letchford, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Robert Michael Letchford, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and
at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man; an Invention for
" IMPROVEMENTS IN CIRCULAR BOXES FOR THE PURPOSE OF ABSTRACTING THEIR
CONTENTS WITHOUT REMOVING THE LID OR COVER," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Robert Michael Letchford, my executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their
hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause
.the.same to be filed in thé Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months
next. and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
.
_NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Robert Michael Letchford, do
hereby declare the-nature of my 'said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in, and
by the following statement, that is to say :-
.... The object of my Invention is so to construct circular boxes that their
contents may be extracted without being spilled, and without the lid or cover
being removed. The boxes to which my Invention is particularly applicable
are the boxes in which cachou aromatisé 'are kept, but it is of course applicable
to circular boxes in which other articles are kept.
i

page_text: In carrying out my Invention I cut, punch, or otherwise make an opening or
aperture of any desired size or shape in the side of the rim of the cover of the
box; and I also cut or otherwise make a corresponding opening or-aperture in
the rim of the body of the box, but by preference twice the width of the
opening or aperture in the side of the cover.
It will now be understood that when the cover is on the box, and the
openings or apertures in different positions or places, the contents will remain
in the box, but when the lid or cover is moved round until the holes are
brought opposite each other the pilules or other like contents of the box will
fall out slowly and gradually. When sufficient for the time being has been
extracted the lid or cover can be moved round and the contents secured. In
some cases I also cut or slot out one or more pieces horizontally from each
side of the opening or aperture in the rim of the body of the box, and I make
n projection by indentation or otherwise in the rim of the cover of the said
box; or I sometimes fix a stud to the inside of the said cover so that the pro-
jection or stud shall run in the slot or slit, and so prevent the cover from being
turned round only a limited distance each way, and also prevent the cover
from being lifted from the body of the box until brought to a certain position,
when the projection or stud can be brought to move in a vertical slot or slit
and so be removed; one slot only can be used if preferred, and instead of
cutting the metal or other material away, I can in some cases merely make a
channel or groove for the projection or stud to run in.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the method I
employ to carry it into practical operation, I wish it to be understood that
what I claim as my Invention and desire to secure by the berein-before
in part recited Letters Patent is,―
1st. Making a hole, opening, or aperture of any description or size in the
rim of the lid or cover of a circular box, and a corresponding or larger hole,
opening, or aperture in the rim of the body of the box, so that upon the two
holes, openings, or apertures coming together or opposite each other, the
contents of the box can be extracted and removed without removing the
lid or cover and without risk or fear of such contents being spilled.
2ndly. I claim the making of a slit or slot, groove or channel in the rim of
the body of the box, and a projection or stud on the side of the lid or cover,
so that the movement of the lid or cover can only be allowed a certain range,
and also to prevent the lid or cover being pulled off or removed until opposite
a groove, slit, or slot made vertically in the said rim; but I wish it to be
distinctly understood that the second part of my Invention is not a necessary
adjunct to the first part as that part (the first part) can be used alone or in

page_text: conjunction with the second part as the necessity of the case requires or I
think fit.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Michael Letchford, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twelfth day of May, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
ROBERT MICHAEL LETCHFORD. (Ls.)
ROBERT MICHAEL LETCHFORD. (L.s.)