Improvements in or relating to Match Boxes.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Nov., 1891-Accepted, 5th Dec., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Match Boxes.
I, REGINALD HADDAN of the firm of Herbert & Co. Patent Agents of
18 Buckingham Street Strand W.C. in the County of London Civil Engineer
do hereby declare the nature of this invention a communication to me from
abroad by Salvador Medir and Jean Baptiste Sales of Barcelona in the Kingdom
of Spain 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 boxes to receiving and holding matches and it consists in an
improved box from which the matches may be expelled one by one as and when
required by a simple mechanism operated by the user of the box.
The improved box is distinguished first by the size of the compartment in which
the matches are held, this compartment being but very slightly wider than the
thickness of a match so that it can receive only one layer of matches. There may
however be more than one such compartment in each box. A further distinguishing
feature is a button sliding in a groove in the end of each compartment and
connected to a sliding block inside the compartment so that by moving this button
the block may be moved so as to expel the lowest lying match in that compartment
out of a small hole in the end of the box which is covered by a small cover or trap
closed by a light spring, elastic band, or equivalent device. The sliding block is
thereupon returned to its first position by a spring or by hand.
The accompanying drawing illustrates a match box of this description with four
compartments,
Fig. 1 being a side view showing one of the matches being expelled.
Fig. 2 a cross section on line A B,
Fig. 3 a cross section on line C D.
Fig. 4 a cross section on line E F.
Fig. 5 is a modified construction of match box with one compartment only for
receiving the matches.
The box shown in Figs. 1 to 4 is rectangular but may have any suitable shape.
The sides H I are of thin card, wood, or metal, also the edge J which is movable
as a lid. The other edge pieces are of thicker card or also of wood or metal. In
the middle of the wall H is a cross H' in which the button or projection H² slides.
This button is connected to the sliding block K. The wall I has also a similar
groove I' in which the button I slides, this button being similarly connected to a
second sliding block K. The interior of the box is divided into four compart-
ments N as shown in Fig. 2 and the thickness of the blocks K is equivalent to the
width of the compartments. In the centre of the box is the spring M intended to
return the sliding blocks K or K¹ to place after either has been moved to expel a
match. This spring is however not essential and may be omitted if desired the
blocks K K being returned by hand. In the wall J opposite the end of each
block K K is a small door T closed by a spring.
If the compartments N are filled with matches, each with one layer of matches
and the box is held edgeways as in the drawings; when the button H³ is drawn
back the block K moves back with it projecting from the back of the box as shown
in dotted lines in Fig. 3. The lowest match in the left hand upper compartment
falls in front of the block K and when the latter is again pushed forward by the
spring M or by hand this match is pushed out or partly out of the door at T so that
it may be withdrawn.
The box shown in Fig. V differs from the other in that it has a false extension
so that the block K does not at any time project beyond the limits of the box. The

page_text: block K here lies in the false extension N¹, the matches being only in the compart-
ment N. The lowest match lies on the floor of the compartment in front of the end
of the block K so that when the latter is pushed forward (as before described) the
match is expelled through the door a. The spring M (when employed) returns the
block K to its position as shown in the drawing. The box is made with a hinge O
to open for filling the compartment N with matches.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A match box having one or more compartments N each adapted to receive
one layer only of matches and a block or blocks K K' each with a button H³ or I'
sliding in a slot H' I' in the side of the box and a door or doors T for the purpose
set forth.
2. A match box having a compartment N for receiving one layer only of matches,
and a false extension N with block K and door a, said block K being actuated
by a lateral button sliding in a slot substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 4th day of November 1891.
HERBERT & Co.,
Agents to Applicant.