Improvements in Match Boxes.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 8th May, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 27th Jan., 1890-Accepted, 1st Mar.. 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Match Boxes.
WILLIAM KILSBY Jeweller of 1 Harewood Terrace Southall Middlesex, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to make match boxes so that the matches are easily
obtained and ignited.
This I effect in the following manner
I make any shaped box but at one part the farthest removed from the frictional
part of match as they lay in the box I make a plate having a serrated roughened
or chemically prepared surface This is hinged or affixed to one side and has a spring
spiral or other shaped spring pressing this serrated plate on the bottom plate, this
spring is made only the strength to ignite the match when drawn between the serrated
or otherwise prepared plates I prefer the spiral spring so affixed to plate after the
manner of the old wooden mousetrap arrangement, but it is obvious that I can use
other shaped springs for this purpose
The box is so constructed that it will not allow the match to turn round.
I lift this plate by means of a lever, or a guage sliding between the serrated or
otherwise prepared plates or I can use the lever and guage together or the spring
can be left open by means of the guage or slide, this guage or slide is slightly larger
than the stem of match and allows the match to come out easily all but the head; if
the match is then pulled sharply it immediately ignites. I can leave this guage in
permanently and put a cover over it, leave it open, or pull back the guage and that
will close it by means of the spring
This spring is made sufficiently strong to ignite the match but not to pull the head
off, and by it can regulate the pressure on the head The matches are put into the
box, the heads being the farthest removed from the spring or sei rated part. When I
wish to get a light from the match I push the guage or otherwise shake the box
slightly and a match or matches fall out all but the head I pull sharply & it imme-
diately ignites.
Dated this 8th dow of 1000
Dated this 8th day of May 1880.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Match Boxes.
I, WILLIAM KILSBY, No. 1, Harewood Terrace, Southall, Middlesex, Jeweller, 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
My invention relates to improvements in match boxes, and is more particularly
applicable to those intended to be carried in the pocket, or fixed in the handles of
umbrellas or sticks Its object is to provide in an improved manner for the withdrawal
and ignition of a single match by a single simple act.
In carrying my invention into practical effect, I provide a box of a suitable size and
of the usual pocket, or other convenient, shape, in so far as this, that the matches shall
lie longitudinally therein without being able to turn in the plane of their longitudinal
Any suitable or well known device may be provided for allowing the box to be
ахез
charged.
The guard or closing plate may be formed out of the material of the box, or be
hinged to it, and the necessary controlling spring for returning the guard or lid may
be provided by the natural resilience of the metal. I prefer, however, to make use

page_text: of a special spring, such as is so well known in connection with mouse and
rat traps.
The box is made to slope down at one end towards the mouth along as many sides
as is desirable for the purpose of facilitating the production of a match, by preventing
their jamming.
For the purpose of holding back the guard, I provide a suitable thumb-piece
push piece, or lever, as may be, respectively, convenient. 'The ignition surface may
be either a chemical or frictional igniter, according to the type of match it is intended
to charge the box with
In order that my invention and the means by which the same is to be carried into
effect, may be thoroughly understood, I will now describe them in detail, referring in
so doing to the accompanying figures which are to be taken as part of this specification
and read therewith.
Fig 1 is an elevation of a match box shewing the side furnished with a self-spring
guard to the front
Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section corresponding therewith, shewing how the
matches drop down the throat without jamming.
Fig 3 is a side elevation of the same box shewing a match hanging by its head in
the mouth, and ready to be withdrawn
Fig 4 is a reverse elevation corresponding with Fig 1.
Figs. 5 and 6 are, respectively, front and side elevation of a match box with a lever
and spring
device for controlling the mouth.
Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a match box made according to my invention with
a hinged door, sloped or inclined throat, and a rat-trap spring.
Fig. 8 is a perspective view; and Fig. 9, a longitudinal section, illustrating a
modification of the construction illustrated in Fig. 7.
Referring to Figs 1 and 2, A is the ordinary box, and a, its lid. The front of the
box is bevelled towards the opposite side so as to produce an incline c terminating in a
sloped throat, one side of which is a spring guard d. The projection of the guard
past the mouth provides a convenient thumb bit, e.
If the box be held mouth downwards, and the guard d be held back by the thumb
bit, e, then will a match, b, drop, but as the guard cannot be pulled back far enough
to make the throat sufficiently wide to pass a match-head, 61, the match will hang
there. A pull drags it past the ignition surfaces within the throat, and it is withdrawn
ignited
Referring to Figs 5 and 6 ; in addition to the incline, c, there are two others, c², c³,
so that the throat is narrowed down to the extent of producing a mouth not large
enough to pass more than one match at a time.
The movable side of the throat is formed by the serrated end, e¹, of a lever, f, which
has its fulcrum on the box-side, and presents its opposite end, g, outside the box
where it is provided with a suitable returning spring, g¹ I do not confine myself to
making a match box with either one or three inclines.
Referring to Fig 7, the incline and the movable side of the throat are in one piece,
together producing the guard for the mouth. It is hinged to the side of the box, and
is provided with a spring h. In connection with this figure, I wish to draw attention
to the adaptability of the spring controlled hinged incline, d, to exert a degree of
pressure upon the stems of all the matches sufficient to keep them in the box.
The modification illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9 consists of a slide, 2, operated by a
thumb bit,. The nose, 2, of the slide is bevelled at an angle to correspond with the
incline of the cover, d' The function of the slide is two-fold. If it be pushed forward
for a short distance,—say, half its maximum travel, it will open the mouth of the
box wide enough to allow of a match-stem being withdrawn, or dropping down i
the box is held in the proper position. If it is pushed forward to the end of it
travel, the guard will be raised so far that the mouth will be wide enough to
admut a fresh supply of matches, heads first, thus dispensing with the necessity of
making the box with the usual lid, a
The special advantages of the lever and inclined guard construction illustrated in

page_text: Figs. 5 and 6, but more particularly of the trap spring and inclined guard construction
illustrated in Figs. 7, 8 and 9, are as follows.
1 The mouth is automatically adjustable in point of width to the thickness of
the match-stems, so thit the user of the box can refill it satisfactorily with any make
of match without it being necessary for him to have particular regard to the thickness
of the stems.
2. The box is self-closing so that it will not allow the stems to protrude from it
when it is in the pocket.
3. The empty box can be recharged through its mouth if the latter be opened to the
full width by the slide.
4. As the guard can always close down upon a stem, the mouth of the box can be
used as a holder for a lighted match.
5 The inclined throat prevents the matches jamming when the box is turned end-up
to let one drop out.
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 The combination of box contracted or inclined throat and self adjusting guard, '
as set forth with reference to Figs 5 to 9.
2 The combination of inclined, movable side of the throat or guard, and trap spring,
as set forth with reference to Figs. 7 to 9.
3 The combination of incline, movable side of the throat or guard, trap spring,
and ignition surface, as set forth with reference to Figs. 7 to 9
4. The combination of inclined movable side of throat or guard, trap spring, and slide,
as set forth with reference to Figs. 7 to 9.
Dated the 27th dow of January 1890.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
22, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.