IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF DRESSING CASES, JEWEL CASES, GAME BOXES, AND SPIRIT AND OTHER CASES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Betjemann, George William Betjemann, and John
Betjemann, all of 36 and 38, Pentonville Road, in the County of Middlesex,
Desk and Dressing Case Manufacturers, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF DRESSING CASES, JEWEL CASES, GAME BOXES, AND
SPIRIT AND OTHER CASES."
Sealed the 27th April 1877, and dated the 5th March 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Betjemann, George:
William Betjemann, and John Betjemann, at the Office of the Commissioners
of Patents on the 5th March 1877.
GEORGE BETJEMANN, GEORGE WILLIAM BETJEMANN, and JOHN BETJEMANN, all of
36 and 38, Pentonville Road, in the County of Middlesex, Desk and Dressing Case
Manufacturers. “IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTIon of Dressing Cases, Jewel
CASES, GAME BOXES, AND SPIRIT AND OTHER CASES."
Our Invention applies to that class of box or case in which the trays, "instead of
being arranged to be lifted out therefrom, are hinged by vertical hinges to the sides
of the box or case.
Hitherto in such description of box or case only one tray has been so mounted
at one or both sides, by which means the contents of the box or case were not so
fully displayed, nor so readily accessible as in boxes or cases constructed according
to our Invention. Now according to our Invention we mount at one or both sides.
of the box or case two trays, which when closed are superposed the one upon the
other, but in opening them the upper tray is first moved on its hinge a quarter of
a revolution, and then by means of a suitable catch in its further rotation on its
axis acts upon the lower tray to turn it upon its hinge until the first tray has
completed a semi-revolution, when the second tray will have completed a quarter
revolution. The hinges employed may be spring hinges, so that on the lid of the
box or case being raised, or catches being liberated, the hinges may cause the
trays to be automatically operated.
A catch or stop is employed to retain the lower tray in position until the upper.
one has moved a certain distance, when such stop or catch is caused to liberate the
lower tray and permit of its being moved.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Betjemann, George William Betjemann, and John Betjemann,
in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 5th September 1877.
GEORGE BETJEMANN, GEORGE WILLIAM BETJEMANN, and JOHN BETJEMANN, all of
36 and 38, Pentonville Road, in the County of Middlesex, Desk and Dressing Case
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF DRESSING CASES, JEWEL
CASES, GAME BOXES, AND SPIRIT AND OTHER CASES."
Manufacturers.
Our Invention applies to that class of box or case in which the trays, instead of
being arranged to be lifted out therefrom, are hinged by vertical binges to the sides
of the box or case.
Hitherto in such description of box or case only one tray has been so mounted at
one or both sides, by which means the contents of the box or case were not so
fully displayed, nor so readily accessible as in boxes or cases constructed according
to our Invention. Now according to our Invention we mount at one or both sides
of the box or case two trays, which when closed are superposed the one upon the
other, but in opening them the upper tray is first moved on its hinge a quarter
of a revolution, and then by means of a suitable stop or catch in its further rotation
on its axis acts upon the lower tray to turn it upon its hinge until the first tray
has completed a semi-revolution, when the second tray will have completed a
quarter revolution. The hinges employed may be spring hinges, so that on the lid
of the box or case being raised, or catches being liberated, the hinges may cause the
trays to be automatically operated.
A catch or stop is employed to retain the lower tray in position until the upper
one has moved a certain distance, when such stop or catch is caused to liberate the
lower tray and permit of its being moved.
And in order that our said Invention may be more clearly understood and
readily carried into effect, we will proceed, aided by the accompanying Drawings,
Figure 1 is a front view, Figure 2 is an end view, Figure 3 is a front view, and
Figures 4 and 5 are two plans of a dressing case having our improvements applied
thereto.
a is the body of the case; b is the lid; and c is a fall-down front constructed in the
manner now well understood. d, d, and e, e, are trays which are connected by
vertical hinges f. f, g, g, to the sides of the box or case. These trays are arranged
in pairs at each side of the box or case, and the trays of each pair are, when closed,
superposed the one on the other, but in opening them, the upper tray d is first
moved on its hinge fa quarter of a revolution, as shown at the left hand of Figures
3 and 5, and at the right hand of Figure 4, and then by means of a stop or catch h
(shown more clearly at Figure 6) in its further rotation on its axis or hinge facts
upon the lower tray e to turn it upon its hinge or axis g until the first tray d has
completed a semi-revolution, when the tray e will have completed a quarter
revolution, as represented at the right hand of Figures 3 and 5.
The stops or catches hare secured to the upper edges of trays e, and act
against the brass edging of trays d, a quadrant groove being cut, or a suitable space
being left in the bottom of each tray d to permit of the free movement of the latter
over the stop or catch h during a quarter revolution. Stops or catches i are also
fixed to the sides of the box or case to act on the trays e, and quadrant grooves are
formed, or spaces are left in the bottoms of trays e, and such stops or catches i
act in a similar manner to that in which the stops or catches h act on the trays d
to prevent the trays e being opened out beyond the position shown in the
Drawings, that is to say, beyond a quarter revolution. The trays e may each be
provided, as shown, with a drawer c¹, or they may be otherwise arranged,

page_text: The hinges f, f, g, g, employed may be spring hinges, so that on the lid of the box
or case being raised, or catches being liberated, the hinges may cause the trays to be
automatically operated, but we prefer to employ hinges of the ordinary character.
A spring catch or stop j is fixed to the part a¹ of the body of the case or box a
to retain the lower tray e in position until the upper one d has moved a certain
distance, when by depressing such stop or spring catch j by the hand, it is caused
to liberate the lower tray e, and permit of its being moved.
This spring catch or stop j may however be dispensed with, and the trays d, e,
and box, or case, may be fitted up in any convenient or desirable manner, and if
desired only one pair of trays d, e, may be employed.
Having thus described the nature of our said Invention, and the mode in which
we carry the same into effect, we would have it understood that what we claim is
mounting at one or both sides of the box or case, two trays, which, when closed,
are superposed the one upon the other, but which, on being opened out, are
arranged to display fully the contents and fittings thereof, in manner substantially
as herein shown and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Betjemann, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Third day of September, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
G. BETJEMANN. (L.S.)