AN IMPROVED MATCH-BOX
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention of
"
AN IMPROVED MATCH-BOX." A communication from abroad by Georg
Wenstrom, of Stockholm, Sweden.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th January 1880.
66
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. AN IMPROVED MATCH-BOX." [A communication
from abroad by Georg Wenstrom, of Stockholm, Sweden.]
The chief objects of this Invention are to facilitate the lighting of cigars in the
open air, and the cutting off of the cigar ends. The said match-box consists chiefly
of one outer and one inner case or box. The inner case is made to slide in the
outer one, and is divided into two parts, one for the matches and another for lighting
the cigars; on the underside of the inner case or cap there is a cutter for cutting off
the cigars when put into a hole in the outer case. The outer case or box is provided
with two grooves, one on each side, and in these grooves is fitted a metal-plate
containing a strip of sand-paper, phosphoric-paper, or other igniting material. At
right angles to, and fixed on this plate, there is another plate; these two plates
together form a receptacle for the cuttings, which can thus be saved for future use.
The said match-box has a very suitable and convenient form for the pocket; it
may be made of German-silver or other suitable material.
The aforesaid first named metal-plate is provided with two edges for keeping in
place the strip of sand paper or other material on which the matches are ignited
from below; this plate is kept in its place by grooves in the outer case, and can
easily be removed for changing the sand paper or taking out the cuttings. Two
buttons are fixed in the sides of the inner case sliding in the grooves on the outer
box; these grooves are so formed as to prevent the inner case being drawn out too
far in opening the box, but by slightly pressing the sides of the inner case it may
be drawn out altogether. The matches are to be taken out through an opening in
гр
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page_text: the inner case. The said cutter is fixed on the inner case in such a position that
when the said case is pressed down, it will pass over a hole in the side of the outer
case for the end of the cigar to be put in when the same is to be cut off. A hole
is formed in the side of the inner case for lighting the cigars, and there are other
holes for the escape of the gases produced by the combustion. An aperture
extending through the sides of both cases is enlarged in the outer case, while in the
inner case it is scarcely wide enough to admit a common match.
In using this improved match-box the inner cap is drawn out as far as the
buttons will permit; a match can then be taken therefrom, and when placed in the
said aperture and rubbed against the sand paper by drawing it upwards into the
upper narrow part of the said aperture will be kept burning opposite the hole where
the cigar is to be lighted.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
29th July 1880.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "AN IMPROVED MATCH-BOX." A communication
from abroad by Georg Wenstrom, of Stockholm, Sweden.
The chief objects of this Invention are to facilitate the lighting of cigars in the
open air, and the cutting off of the cigar ends, and to effect these objects I construct
a match box as follows, that is to say:-The said match-box consists chiefly of an
outer and an inner case or box. The inner case is made to slide in the outer one,
and is divided into two compartments, one for the matches and the other for lighting
the cigars. On the under side of the inner case there is a cutter or blade for cutting
off the cigar ends when put into a hole in the outer case. The said outer case or
box is provided with two grooves, one on each side, and in these grooves is fitted a
metal plate containing a strip of sand paper, phosphoric paper, or other igniting
material. At a right angle to, and fixed on this plate, there is another plate; these
two plates together form a receptacle for the cuttings, which can thus be saved for
future use. The said match-box will be found to be very compact and convenient
for the pocket; it may be made of German-silver or other suitable material.
The said Invention is illustrated in the accompanying Drawing, in which,-
Figure is a side elevation.
Figure 2 is an edge elevation, and
Figure 3 a plan or end view of the same.
a is the inner case or box drawn out ready for lighting a cigar, and b is the outer
case or box; c is the aforesaid metal plate provided with two flanges or edges p, p,
for keeping in place the sand paper or other material on which the matches are
rubbed or struck to ignite them. This material is put in from below on the plate
c, and at a right angle to it is fixed the plate q. The plate c is kept in its place by
its edges in the grooves d, d, and can easily be removed for changing the sand paper
or taking out the cuttings. Two studs or buttons are fixed at r, r, in the sides of
the inner case, so as to slide in the grooves d, d, on the outer case or box; these
grooves are so formed as to prevent the drawing of the inner box too far out of the
outer box, but by slightly pressing the sides of the inner box or case it may be
released, so that it can be drawn completely out. e is the compartment in the inner
box for the matches, which are to be taken out through the opening f; g: is the
receptacle in the outer box for the cuttings; i is the cutter fixed on the inner case
or box, and covering the hole h. when the inner case is pressed down, this hole being
made in the side of the outer case for the end of the cigar to be put in when the
same is to be cut off; k is a hole in the side of the inner case for lighting the cigars,
and I, 1, are holes for the escape of the gases of combustion; m is an aperture
extending through the sides of both cases; this aperture is enlarged at n in the
outer case, while in the inner case at o it is scarcely wide enough to admit a common
match.
In using this improved match-box the inner case is drawn out as far as the afore-
said buttons r, r, will permit; a match can then be taken therefrom, and when
placed in the aperture n and rubbed against the sand paper by drawing it upwards
into the upper narrow part of the said aperture the match will be kept burning
opposite the hole where the cigar is lighted.
Having thus fully described the said Invention, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,-
A match box constructed with an inner case fitted to slide in an outer case, the

page_text: inner case being provided with the cutter for taking off the ends of the cigars, the
compartment and hole for lighting the cigars, the holes for the escape of the gases
of combustion, and the compartment for the matches; while the outer case is pro-
vided with the receptacles for the cuttings, the hole for the insertion of the cigar
ends, the grooves and metal plate for fixing the igniting paper, the said cases also
having the aperture into which the matches are inserted to light the same, all
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty eighth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
W. ROB. LAKE. (L.S.)