Improvements in Match Boxes.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 17th July, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 17th Apr., 1890-Accepted, 17th May, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Match Boxes.
A communication to me from abroad by T. ALFRED STELZNER, of Wiesbaden, in the
Empire of Germany, Doctor of Philosophy.
I, EDMUND EDWARDS, of the firm of Edwards and Co., Patent Agents and
Engineers, of 35, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
This invention relates to improvements in match boxes and it has for its object to
provide a match box from which the matches are singly and separately delivered one
by one and whilst being drawn from the box, are automatically ignited and ready for
use to light a cigar, candle, or any other object.
The improved match box consists of a cylindrical box preferably of sheet metal, to
the lower side of which a parallel channel or tube is connected communicating with
the interior of the cylinder by a slot of the length of a match. The front or top plate
of the cylinder has a central opening leaving an outer annular ring against which the
front end of a central fluted roller rests. This fluted roller consists of a hollow
cylindrical body having parallel longitudinal fluted grooves or flutes around its
circumference, and fitting into the cylindrical box first described its end being closed
by a disc.
The ribs or webs forming the grooves or flutes may be bent from sheet metal or may
be cast integral with the hollow body and end. Each flute is arranged to contain
one match at a time, the matches being filled into the flutes through the open front
end of the cylinder and they are singly and separately discharged through the slot
into the parallel channel or tube by turning the fluted roller gradually, so as to
bring one flute after another into a position corresponding with the slot.
Within the parallel tube or channel a sliding piece is arranged having a knob or
handle projecting through a longitudinal slot in the tube. By drawing the knob
towards the open end of the channel as far as the slot will allow, the match will be
partly expelled from the channel, and by drawing it fully out by hand, its head or
igniting end which remains within the slide will be made to pass between rubbing
plates arranged in the open end of the tube where the head is ignited and the match
comes forth burning and ready for immediate use. The slide is then pushed back to
the rear end of the tube and a fresh match may be made to fall into the latter. The
flutes are refilled with matches when necessary from a stock contained in the hollow
central part of the fluted roller.
The front end of the cylinder is closed by a lid having a flange over the cylinder,
or secured by other suitable means.
To feed the matches, one by one, from the flutes of the roller into the parallel tube
or channel, the said roller must be turned round sufficiently to place the next flute
immediately over the slot.
This partial turn may be imparted to the roller by various means. For instance,
at or about the middle of the length of the outer cylinder an annular hollow ring or
channel may be arranged around the latter, its ends resting against the sides of the
parallel tube. Within the said ring or channel a spring is arranged, one end of which
is rivetted or otherwise secured to the outer cylinder, whilst the other, free end carries
a spring pivoted pawl which passes through a slot in the outer cylinder, and engages
with the webs or ribs of the fluted roller. On the back of the said spring a projection
is formed or secured, which passes out through a slot in the annular channel. By
pressing down the said projection with the finger towards the opposite end of the
slot in which it works, the pawl will turn the finted roller sufficiently to place the next
flute over the slot, thus allowing the match contained within the said flute to fall into

page_text: •
the channel or tube from which it is withdrawn by the slide, and finally by hand, as
already described.
The rubbing plates are suitably arranged within the open end of the tube and are
held in position by their own elasticity. They consist of an elastic plate of sheet
metal, bent so as to form a tapering passage for the match. The inside surfaces of
the said passage have a coating of suitable rubbing substance, to ignite the head of the
match, when it is drawn through the said passage. The match accordingly is drawn
out burning and ready for immediate use.
In another modification for turning the fluted roller, to the bottom or end of the
cylindric fluted roller a knob or handle is secured and a circular series of holes or
recesses corresponding in number to the flutes of the roller, are provided at the outside
surface of the said end. A catch or pin is pressed against the said end plate by a
spring and engages with the holes or recesses as they come opposite to the catch by
turning the end plate and fluted roller by the knob. One side of the catch or pin is
bevelled, and the corresponding side of the holes or recesses is similarly formed and
by this means the fluted roller can be turned only in one direction, the bevelled pin
sliding on the bevelled surface of the recess.
A third modification for turning the fluted roller, consists in imparting motion to
it by means of a coiled clock-spring on the axis of which a ratchet wheel is secured
into which engages a double armed pawl operated by a projecting pin which when
forced down, lifts the stopping pawl and sets the wheel free to turn one tooth, by
which the next flute will be brought over the slot of the tube or channel and throw
its match into the said channel, as before.
From the channel or tube the match is then withdrawn by the slide and ignited by
pulling it fully out as above described.
Dated this 17th day of July 1889.
EDWARDS & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Match Boxes.
A communication to me from abroad by T. ALFRED STELZNER, of Wiesbaden, in the
Empire of Germany, Doctor of Philosophy.
I, EDMUND EDWARDS of the firm of Edwards and Co., Patent Agents and
Engineers, of 35, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane 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 and
accompanying drawing (that is to say) :-
This invention relates to improvements in match boxes and it has for its object to
provide a match box from which the matches are singly and separately delivered one
by one and whilst being drawn from the box, are automatically ignited and ready
for use to light a cigar, candle, or any other object.
In the accompanying drawing which is in illustration of the invention,
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a match box constructed according to the invention,
Figure 2 is a front view of the same,
Figure 3 is a longitudinal section of the same,
Figure 4 is a transverse section of the same,
Figure 5 represents the rubbing plate, in side elevation and plan,
Figures 6 and 7 are respectively a longitudinal section and a side elevation of a
modification of the box, and
Figures 9, 10 and 11 are, respectively, a longitudinal section and two transverse
sections of another modification of the box.
The improved match box consists of a cylindrical box A preferably of sheet metal, to
the lower side of which a parallel channel or tube B is connected communicating
with the interior of the cylinder A by a slot C of the length of a match.

page_text: The front or top plate of the cylinder A has a central opening leaving an outer
annular ring D against which the front end of a central fluted roller E rests. This
flated roller consists of a hollow cylindrical body having parallel longitudinal fluted
grooves or flutes round its circumference, and fitting into the cylindrical box first
described its end being closed by a disc F. The ribs or webs G forming the grooves
may be bent from sheet metal or may be cast integral with the hollow body and
end F. Each flute is arranged to contain one match at a time, the matches being
filled into the flutes through the open front and they are singly and separately
discharged through the slot C into the parallel channel or tube B by turning the
fluted roller E gradually so as to bring one flute after another into a position
corresponding with the slot C. Within the parallel tube or channel B a sliding
piece His arranged having a knob or handle K projecting through a longitudinal
slot J in the tube B. By drawing the knob K towards the open end of the
channel B as far as the slot J will allow, the match will be partly expelled from the
channel, and by drawing it fully out by hand, its head or igniting end, which
remains within the slide H will be made to pass between the rubbing plates L
arranged in the open end of the tube B where the head is ignited and the match
comes forth burning and ready for immediate use. The slide H is then pushed back
to the rear end of the tube B and a fresh match may be made to fall into the latter.
The flutes are refilled with matches when necessary from a stock contained in the
hollow central part of the fluted roller E. The front end of the cylinder A is
closed by a lid N having a flange fitting over the cylinder A or secured by other
suitable means.
To feed the matches one by one from the flutes of the roller E into the
parallel tube or channel B, tho said roller E must be turned round sufficiently to
place the next flute immediately over the slot C. This partial turn may be
imparted to the roller E by various means. For instance, at or about the middle of
the length of the outer cylinder A an annular hollow ring or channel O may be
arranged around the latter, its ends resting against the sides of the parallel tube B.
Within the said ring or channel O a spring P is arranged, one end of which is
rivetted or otherwise secured to the outer cylinder, whilst the other free end carries
a spring pivottod pawl Q which passes through a slot in the outer cylinder and
engages with the webs or ribs of the fluted roller. On the back of the said
spring Pa projection R is formed or socured, which passes out through a slot in the
annular channel O. By pressing down the said projection R with the finger towards
the opposite end of the slot in which it works, the pawl Q will turn the fluted roller
sufficiently to place the next flute over the slot thus allowing the match contained
within the said flute to fall into the channel or tube B from which it is withdrawn by
the slide El, and finally by hand, as already described.
The rubbing plates L are suitably arranged within the open end of the tube B and
are held in position by their own elasticity. They consist of an elastic plate of sheet
metal bent as shewn in figures 2 and 5 so as to form a tapering passage for the
match. The inside surfaces of the said passage having a coating of suitable rubbing
substance, to ignite the head of the match, when it is drawn through the said passage.
The match accordingly is drawn out burning and ready for immediate use.
In another modification for turning the fluted roller E as shewn in figures 6, 7,
and 8, to the bottom or end F of the cylindrical fluted roller E a knob or handle S is
secured and a circular series of holes or recesses U corresponding in number to the
A catch
flutes of the roller, are provided at the outside surface of the said end F.
or pin is pressed against the said end plate F by a spring T and engages with the
holes or recesses U as they come opposite to the catch by turning the end plate and
fluted roller by the knob. One side of the catch or pin is bevelled, as shewn in
figure 8 and the corresponding side of the holes or recesses U is similarly formed
and by this means the fluted roller E can be turned only in one direction, the bevelled
pin sliding on the bevelled surface of the recess.
A third modification for turning the fluted roller, as shewn in figures 9, 10,
γ on
and 11, consists in imparting motion to it by means of a coiled clock spring

page_text: the axis of which a ratchet wheel W is secured into which engages a double-armed
pawl X operated by a projecting pin Y which when forced down lifts the stopping
pawl and sets the wheel free to turn one tooth, by which the next flute will be
brought over the slot of the tabe or channel B and throw the match into the
said channel, as before. From the channel or tube B the match is then withdrawn by
the slide Hand ignited by pulling it fully out, as already described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. An improved match box having a cylindrical box A, a channel or tube B
adjacent to it and communicating with the same by a longitudinal slot C, a slide H
and rubbing plate provided within the said tube. a fluted roller E arranged to turn
within the said cylinder A, and a suitable cover or lid to close the said cylinder,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth and shewn.
2. An improved match box, having a cylinder A, a discharge channel or tube B
adjacent to it, and communicating with the same by a longitudinal slot, a fluted
roller E arranged to turn within the said cylinder A, and a spring P and pawl Q
suitably arranged in connection with the said cylinder and roller E, to turn the said
roller and throw another match into the discharge tube at every movement, sub-
stantially as and for the purpose set forth and shewn.
3. An improved match box, having a cylinder A, a discharge tube B adjacent to
it and communicating with it by a longitudinal slot, a fluted roller arranged to turn
within the said cylinder A, a knob S, secured to the bottom of the roller E to turn
the same, and a bevelled spring catch engaging with corresponding holes or recesses U
within the said bottom plate, substantially as and for the purpose set forth and
shown.
4. An improved match-box, having a cylinder A, a discharge tube B communicating
with the same, a fluted roller E arranged to turn within the said cylinder A, a
clock spring to drive the said roller E, and a ratchet wheel W and pawl X to stop
the motion, the said pawl being under control of a lifting pin y substantially as and
for the purpose set forth and shown.
CHRIS CAT CH
01 Apr LOJU.
EDWARDS & Co.,
35, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London,
Agents for the Applicant.