Improvements in Cigar Boxes.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Dec., 1899-Accepted, 10th Feb.,
1900
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cigar Boxes.
We, MORRIS BROWN and HENRY MOSKOVITZ, residing respectively at 33,
Goerick Street, and 264, Second Street, New York, in the County and State of
New York, United States of America, Cigar Maker and Merchant, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement;
-
This invention relates to cigar boxes, and has for its object to provide a cigar
box so constructed and arranged that after having been once emptied of its con-
tents wil be unfitted for further use thus preventing the fraudulent refilling of
boxes with cigars of different grade from that originally sold and the evasion
of the legal tax. A further object is to provide a box that shall always have
the appearance of being filled with cigars and hence freshly opened. A further
object is to provide a cigar box with an indicator whereby the actual contents
of the box may be ascertained at a glance.
The invention consists of a cigar box constructed substantially as hereinafter
described and defined in the claims.
The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification of which the
accompanying drawing forms a part, in which the separate parts of my improve-
ment are designated by the same letters of reference in each of the views, and
in which;
-
Fig. 1, is an end view of the cigar box constructed in accordance with this
invention;
Fig. 2, is a central longitudinal section thereof; and,
Fig. 3, is a cross section.
Referring to the drawings, A represents the cigar box which may be of any
ordinary or preferred form.
As
Upon the bottom of the cigar box are arranged helical springs B which are
preferably four in number and located one at each corner of the box. The
springs may be attached to the bottom of the box by means of staples to which
the lower end of the springs are secured or in any other preferred manner.
shown in the drawings, the springs gradually taper towards the upper portion and
hence the power of the springs diminishes in proportion to the amount of ex-
pansion, being greatest when the box is filled with cigars and the springs com-
pressed to the lowest point and weakest when the box is nearly empty, and
the springs are expanded. By this construction the danger of the last layer
of cigars being thrown out of the box is obviated while at the same time the
force of the springs is always sufficient to keep the cigars supported flush with
the upper edge of the box thus making the box appear to be full of cigars
irrespective of the number of cigars the box readily contains.
A supplemental or false bottom D is supported upon the top of the springs B
and may be secured thereto in any suitable manner. The false bottom is prefer-
ably made of card board, though it is obvious that any other material could be
substituted.

page_text: At one end of the false bottom D is secured a depending arm d which is
provided upon its lower end with an outwardly extending lug d₁ which projects
through a vertical slot d² formed in the end of the box Adjacent to the said
slot d are arranged a series of index pointers d³ which are spaced to correspond
with the spaces between the layers of cigars. The ends of the pointers d³ extend
over the slot and are adapted to be struck by the lug as it moves upwardly
in the slot and turned thus indicating the number of layers of cigars in the
box as will be readily understood.
An upwardly directed leaf spring, d is secured preferably to the edge of the
slot near the upper end thereof in position to be engaged by the lug d
when it reaches the limit of its upward movement. When the spring is
thus engaged beneath the lug d¹ it will be found impossible to lower the false
.bottom so as to refill the box without such injury thereto as would lead to
detection... Similar springs. d* may also be secured adjacent to each pointer for a
like purpose.
. A suitable frame E is formed about the slot and a cover E¹ of glass or other
transparent material fixed therein.
When the box is packed with cigars the false bottom is forced down to near
the bottom of the box. The index pointers are then arranged horizontally so
as to extend over the slot. As soon as a layer of cigars is removed the springs
raise the false bottom a distance corresponding to the space occupied by-the
layer and the lug passes the lower. index pointer and carries it to a vertical
position and thus indicates the number of layers removed and the position of
the false bottom.
A spring catch is arranged upon the side of the box in position to engage the
false bottom and retain the same in the lowered position until the box is filled
with cigars whereupon the spring catch G will be disengaged by means of the
handle and the false bottom will rise far enough to turn the first index pointer
and engage the lower spring catch , thus indicating at a glance that the box
is filled and also preventing the refilling of the box when only partially empty.
By means of cigar boxes constructed as above described, a show case has the
appearance of being filled with boxes of cigars freshly opened from which only a
few cigars have been removed and thus obviates the unsightly appearance of a
number of half emptied boxes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
-
1. A box for cigars provided with a vertically movable false bottom, supporting
springs therefor, a lug to prevent downward but not upward movement thereof
carried by said false bottom and a spring catch adapted to be engaged by said
lug for locking the false bottom, substantially as described.
2. A box for cigars, provided with a vertically movable false bottom, supporting
springs therefor, a spring catch adapted to engage said false bottom, and retain
the same in its lowered position, a lug carried by said false bottom and a spring
catch adapted to be engaged by said lug for locking the false bottom in its
raised position, substantially as described.
3. A box for cigars provided with a vertically movable false bottom, supporting
springs for said false bottom, and an indicator arranged upon said box for
determining the position of said bottom and operated by said bottom, substantially
as described.
4. A box for cigars having a slot in one end and provided with a vertically
movable false bottom, graduated supporting springs for said false bottom, a
depending arm attached to said false bottom and having an outwardly projecting
lug engaging said slot, and index pointers arranged adjacent to said slot and
adapted to be struck by said lug, substantially as described.
5. A box for cigars having a slot in one end and provided with a vertically

page_text: movable false bottom, graduated supporting springs for said false bottom, a
depending arm attached to said false bottom and having an outwardly projecting
lug engaging said slot, index pointers arranged adjacent to said slot and adapted
to be struck by said lug, and a spring catch arranged adjacent to each pointer and
adapted to be engaged by the lug on said arm, to prevent the false bottom from
being lowered when once raised, substantially as described.
6. A box for cigars provided with a slot in one end and having a vertically
movable false bottom, graduated supporting springs, the resiliency of which
diminishes as the spring is expanded, a depending arm secured to said false bottom
and having an outwardly projecting lug engaging said slot, index pointers
arranged adjacent to said slot and adapted to be struck by said lug, thereby
indicating the position of the false bottom, and an encasing frame for protecting
the indicator, substantially as described.
Dated this 4th day of December 1899.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.