Improvements in Packing and Display Boxes for Small Articles.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Jan., 1899-Accepted, 18th Feb., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Packing and Display Boxes for Small Articles.
I, ANTHONY MISKEY HANCE, residing at 2024, Delancy Place, in the City of
Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, United States of America, Manufacturing
Chemist, 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:-
The following is a specification of my said invention, reference being had to the
accompanying, drawings.
My invention relates to a box of light and economic construction, capable of
being used for packing and transporting small articles in quantity, and which is
so constructed that when stood up on end (for which purpose it is provided with a
suitable hinged support) it will consist of an upper portion which exhibits only an
advertising surface, and a lower portion in which are displayed self-feeding vertical
rows of the articles which the box is adapted to contain.
I have illustrated and will describe my invention as I have adapted it for the
wholesale packing, transportation and display of smaller boxes containing the
articles designed for the consumer, such for instance, as the small telescopic boxes,
about two or three inches long, an inch or two wide, and less than an inch deep,
which are frequently used in connection with the sale of matches, cigarettes,
medical tablets and many other similar articles. But although my invention is
well adapted for the packing and display of these small boxes, yet it is also adapted
for the similar display of any more or less rectangular articles having uniform
dimensions, such as cakes of soap, tin boxes of blacking, ctc.
In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 represents in perspective a display box
constructed according to my invention, emptied of its contents, and accompanied
with a lid with which the box may be protected when used for purposes of trans-
portation.
Fig. 2 is a similar view of the back of my box, showing the hinged support.
Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the line 3, 3, Fig. 4.
Fig. 4 is a front elevation of one of my display boxes filled with a series of
the small telescopic boxes to which I have referred.
My display box made be made of paste board, thin wood or other suitable
material. Its interior width must be equal to, or a multiple of, the corresponding
dimensions of the article which it is designed to contain. Thus in the drawing,
where it is shown as containing small telescopic boxes, its width, excluding par-
titions, is twice that of one of the small boxes. The depth of the box will usually
equal the depth of the article which it is to contain, although it may be so con-
structed as to contain two or more layers on top of each other. Its height must
be equal to that of a series of quite a number of the contained articles. In the
drawings it is shown of the height to contain a vertical series of six small boxes.
When the width of the box corresponds to a single dimension of the contained
article, the box will have no partitions, but where, as in the drawings, it is designed

page_text: to contain two vertical series of such articles alongside of each other, it is pre-
ferably divided vertically by the partition A.
Covering the upper half of the box is a permanent half-top, B. This half-top,
if occupying literally one-half of the box, will conceal as many of the contained
articles as are displayed below it. It is not necessary, however, that it should be
literally a half-top, but only that its length in proportion to the box shall be
such that when the box is filled with vertical series of the contained articles the
lower edge of the half-top shall coincide with the division line between two of the
contained articles.
To the back of the box is attached a folding hinged support C. This support
may be made of a single strip of paste board bent over at the top (where it is
reinforced by muslin) and having the bent over portion, c, which is comparatively
short, fastened to the back of the box at the proper height. The extension of the
support is determined by a strip of tape, or string, d, secured at the one end under
the portion, c, and at the other end to the lower end of the hinged support. For
practical purposes, the construction of the hinged support which I have described
is a very advantageous one, for although the support is a restrained one, there is
practically but one point of attachment to the box, instead of two as are usual in
such cases, and the restraining tape always lies flat between the box and the support
when folded to.
For purposes of transportation, it is desirable that the box should be protected
by a cheaply constructed cover, E, Fig. 1, which after it has performed its pro-
tective function may be discarded.
The box with its contents is stood by the dealer upon its end, supported by the
hinged support so as to present the aspect seen in Fig. 4. The permanent half-
top, B, of the box is designed to be ornamented by an advertising or display
placard in connection with which the goods are to be sold to the customer.
Under these circumstances the half-top presents the appearance of being the bent
back lid of a box of but half the size of the reality. Upon withdrawing one of the
contained articles, the vertical series to which it belonged at once slides down-
ward, filling the vacancy, so that until the box is more than half emptied it pre-
sents for purposes of display the appearance of a full box.
The self-filling or self-feeding capacity of the box is accompanied with a pleasing
element of surprise to the purchaser, owing to the deceptive appearance of the
size of the box.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim
is:-
1. A display box for containing a series of smaller uniform articles, the width
and depth of the box being equal to, or a multiple of, the similar dimensions of one
of the contained articles; the height being equal to a number of times the similar
dimension of one of the contained articles; the upper portion of the top of the box
being permanently covered with a half-top designed for advertising purposes,
which in height is equal to a less number of times the similar dimension of one
of the contained articles, than that which is represented by the height of the box;
and a hinged support at the back of the box, substantially as described.
2. A transportation and display box, for containing a series of small uniform
articles, the width of the box being a multiple of the similar dimension of one
of the contained articles; the depth of the box being equal to or a multiple of the
similar dimension of one of the contained articles; the height of the box being
equal to a number of times the similar dimension of one of the contained articles;
vertical partitions separating each vertical line of the contained articles; the
upper portion of the top of the box being permanently covered with a half-ton,
designed for advertising purposes, which in height is equal to a less number of
times the similar dimension of one of the contained articles than that which is

page_text: represented by the height of the box, and a hinged support at the back of the box,
substantially as described.
3. A transportation and display box, having attached to its back a hinged support
comprising the support, C; the shorter portion, c, attached to the back of the box; a
hinge uniting C and c at their tops; and a flexible restraining strip, d, fastened to
and uniting the bottom of C and c, substantially as described.
Dated this 16th day of January 1899.
CARPMAEL & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.