IMPROVEMENTS IN COLOUR BOXES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Foxall of Drummond Street Euston Square
in the County of Middlesex, Japanner for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN COLOUR BOXES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Foxall at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th January 1883.
THOMAS FOXALL of Drummond Street, Euston Square in the County of
Middlesex, Japanner IMPROVEMENTS IN COLOUR BOXES."
66
This invention relates to the construction of colour boxes for the reception of
pans of moist colour, the objects in view being to reduce the cost of production,
economize space, and afford a better means for securely holding the pans in
position.
Various means for holding in place the china and other pans and half
pans of
colour, have been tried, but they either prevent the facile removal of the used up
pans, or are expensive and troublesome to make, or they occupy too much space in
the box.
Now according to my invention I dispense with partitions between the colours,
and I am thereby enabled to place the pans of colour so close together that their
adjacent sides touch, and I retain them each and all in place by a single strip of
tin or other metal suitably bent and having a deeply notched edge. This strip of
metal partly underlies the pans of colours; the portions of metals between the
notches being bent round or turned up to form a series of springs which press each
against the end of one of the pans of colour, and are sufficiently flexible to adapt
themselves to any variation in the size of the china pans.
The strip of metal which underlies the row of pans is soldered to the bottom of
the box, and the upturned spring portions thereof are preferably made of rounded,
pointed or slightly crenate form, and extend rather above the level of the top of
he pans, so as in part to slightly overhang the edge thereof. I thus reduce the
partitions and the labour required to fix such partitions in the box to a minimum,
single strip of metal cut before hand by stamping out or otherwise to the required
hape, being sufficient, when soldered or otherwise fixed in place, to securely hold
n entire row of pans.
The notches between the spring portions are sufficiently wide to allow of the
lade of a penknife being inserted between them, and the strip of metal is cut
way below the corners of the colour pans so that they are slightly raised above
nd clear of the bottom of the box. The pans can thus be easily prised up when
tis necessary to remove them..

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Thomas Foxall in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 12th July
1883.
THOMAS FOXALL of Drummond Street, Euston Square in the County of
Middlesex, Japanner "IMPROVEMENTS IN COLOUR BOXES"
This Invention relates to the construction of colour boxes for the reception of
pans of moist colour, the objects in view being to reduce the cost of production,
economize space and afford a better means for securely holding the pans in
position.
5
Various means for holding in place the china and other pans and half pans of 1
colour have been tried, but they either prevent the facile removal of the used up
pans, or are expensive and troublesome to make, or they occupy too much space in
the box.
Now according to my Invention I dispense with partitions between the colour
pans, and I am thereby enabled to place the colour pans so close together that their 1
adjacent sides or ends touch, and I retain them each and all in place by a series of
spring tongues formed out of a single strip of tin or other metal suitably notched and
bent. This strip of metal partly underlies the colour pans the portions of metal
between the notches being bent round or turned up to form a series of springs or
tongues which press each against the end or side of one of the colour pans, and are
sufficiently flexible to adapt themselves to any variation in the size of the china
pans due to unequal shrinkage, or otherwise.
The strip of metal which underlies the row of pans is soldered to the bottom of
the box, and the upturned spring portions thereof are preferably made of rounded,
pointed or slightly crenate form, and extend rather above the level of the top of
the pans so as in part to slightly overhang the edges thereof. I thus reduce the
number of partitions and the labour required to fix such partitions in the box to a
minimum; a single strip of metal cut before-hand by stamping out or otherwise to
the required shape and suitably bent being sufficient when soldered or otherwise
fixed in place to securely hold an entire row of pans against a rigid abutment
piece, such as the side wall of the box.
In the accompanying drawing Fig: 1 is a plan view of a colour box fitted with
means for holding the colour pans in place according to my Invention, Fig: 2 is a
transverse section thereof on the line 1. 2. of Fig: 1, and Fig: 3 is a longituḍinal
section on the line 3.4 of Fig: 1.
Fig 4 is a detached view of one of the notched strips of metal before it is bent
into shape for soldering into the box.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the Figures.
A is the body of the colour box, B. B. are the notched and bent metal strips, and
C. C. represent the colour pans and half pans which it will be observed can be
arranged in any order owing to the absence of transverse partitions.-The strips B
are each formed by deeply notching or stamping out one edge of a flat piece of
metal, preferably tin, as shewn in Fig: 4, and by bending up the tongues of
metal b. b. thus formed, along the line 1. 2 of Fig: 4 into the position shewn in
'front view in Fig: 8 and side view in Fig: 2. These strips are then soldered in
place within the box A and the pans and half pans are inserted between the
tongues b. b. and the walls of the box A, as clearly shewn in the drawing, the
tongues of metal b. b. of rounded or crenate form slightly overtopping the edges of
the pans C. C., and serving to hold them securely in place. It will be obvious that
the colour pans may be inserted between the flexible tongues of two parallel rows
of notched and bent strips.

page_text: The colour pans rest on the horizontal portions of the strips of metal, and the
corners of the pans overlie the spaces b. b. The notches or gaps between the
flexible metallic tongues b. b are of sufficient breadth to allow of the insertion of a
penknife blade beneath the overlying corners of the colour pans, by which means
the said pans can be easily prised up and removed when the colour is used up.
By this improved means for holding the colour pans in place great economy in
space, material and labour is effected. The pans can be placed so closely that their
adjacent sides touch, and as there are no cross partitions to interfere, the pans may
be combined in any order and their position altered with facility.
The strips of metal B B, when bent into the proper shape, can be soldered
in with far less labour than the separate partitions at present in vogue, while
the deep notching of the strip effects an economy in metal as well as a useful
purpose.
I do not limit myself to the form of the flexible tongues of metal b. b shewn
in the drawing, as that is susceptible of a variety of modifications, but I prefer to
make them somewhat pointed and of such length that their points or ends will
extend rather above the level of the edges of the pans.
I am aware that spring partitions of V-shape have been used to hold pans of
moist colour in place, but such spring partitions are difficult to fix, occupy much space
and are easily broken off or bent and rendered useless; whereas my improved
notched spring retaining strips are strong, easily fitted in place and allow the
greatest possible amount of space for the pans and brushes.
Having now set forth the nature of my Invention of "Improvements in Colour
Boxes" and explained in what manner the same may be carried into practical
effect, I wish it to be understood that I claim :-
The means above described for retaining the colour pans in place whereby an
economy in space in the packing of the pans is ensured and facility is afforded for
prising up the empty pans.
In witness whereof I the said Thomas Foxall have hereunto set my hand
and seal the ninth day of July in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty three.
THOMAS FOXALL (L.S.)