Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 24th June, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 24th June, 1895-Accepted, 3rd Aug., 1895
I, SAMUEL EDWIN BALL, Salesman, of Dayton, County of Montgomery, State
of Ohio, United States of America, 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 receptacles.
The object of the invention is to provide mechanism through the agency of
which, the matches are fed, singly, to a convenient position for the fingers to
catch hold thereof, and the act of removing said matches one by one, causes
their ignition, so that the striking of the matches on the wall or elsewhere is
unnecessary.
A further object is to inclose said mechanism in a case of ornamental design,.
so that an appearance of cheapness or inferiority will not interfere with the ready
sale.
With these objects in view the invention consists of parts that are fully described
in the following Specification, and pointed out in the claims.
In the annexed drawings,
Figure 1, is a front elevation of my improved match safe;
Fig. 2, a longitudinal section, showing the position of the movable parts before
the operation to discharge a match;
Fig. 3, an enlarged detached view of the incline slide ;
Fig. 4, an enlarged detached view of the stationary incline;
Fig. 5, detached detail top view of the slide.
In the several views similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
(A) designates the inclosing case having a vertical concave portion. (A') in its
front, in which there a slot (a). Through this slot the end of each match (b)
projects when said matches are fed to the position to be taken hold of by the
fingers. This case is preferably constructed of metal casting with any ornamental
designs on the sides thereof that the eye may fancy or the taste dictate, as thereby
an appearance of cheapness is avoided, while the cost of production is not
materially enhanced.
The mechanism is mainly supported on the rear of the case and consists of the
following devices:
The hopper in which the matches are primarily placed, consists of a base (B)
forming the bottom of said hopper, and a plate (C) placed at a right angle to
said base, and having a transverse opening (c) into and through which the matches
gravitate.
The base (B) of the hopper is arranged on an incline to insure a proper
gravitation of the matches, substantially as is shown in Fig. 2.

page_text: (D) indicates a plate rigidly mounted on an angle preferably of about forty-five
degrees. This plate is provided with a ledge (d) extending across its upper end
over which the matches slide, as hereinafter referred to, and a slot (d') also to be
again referred to.
(E) designates a slide maintained in an operative position by the incline (D)
upon which it slides in the same plane, and the base (B) of the hopper. This
slide (E) has a transverse slot (e) that normally lies on a line with the upper
surface of the base (B), and is adapted to receive the matches one at a time
therefrom and to hold said match while the rear of said slot is inclosed by the
incline (D).
(F) designates a shelf having a series of openings over which a piece of wire
gauze f¹ is secured. This shelf is placed in a position to receive the matches one
by one as they drop from the ledge (d). As the match reaches said shelf the end
having the combustible matter is clamped against the wire gauze (f¹) or any other
suitable roughened surface, by the clamp (G), and the end to be taken hold of
projects as shown in Figure 1; the slot (a) having the curved form shown, to
admit of an uninterrupted movement of each match to the position therein, shown
in Figure 1. The object of the clamp (G) is to cause an ignition of each match as
it is drawn from the shelf. The said clamp has its journal pins mounted in ears (h)
that project from the shelf (F).
(i) designates a helical spring the ends of which are attached to the upper end
of the clamp, and to a lower point on the rear of the case at (¹). This spring
draws said clamp to the normal downward position shown in Fig. 2, and said clamp
is thereby caused to exert a sufficient pressure on the head of the match to cause
an ignition of said match as it is drawn outwardly, in contact with the wire
gauze (f).
The movement of the slide (E) and clamp (G) are effected simultaneously
through the following devices:
(j) designates a lever which is rigidly mounted on a shaft that is loosely
journaled in bearings in the front and rear of the case.
(k) and (k) are connecting rods attached to the slide (E) and to the clamp (G).
These rods are attached to the respective ends of the lever (j) as shown in
Figure 2.
(m) designates a crank positioned on the outside of the front portion of the case,
and is rigidly attached to the shaft to which the lever (j) is attached. The
normal position of said crank is shown in Figures 1 and 2. A quarter turn of
said crank slides the plate (E) to a position to discharge a match from the slot (e),
and opens the clamp (G) to permit said match to gravitate to the shelf (F) where
it is clamped and held by said clamp (G).
The slot (d) in the incline (D) permits the rod (k) to move upward when
actuating the slide (E) to a position to discharge a match. A release of the
crank (m) permits the slide, and clamp to resume their normal positions shown in
Fig. 2, under the tension of spring (i).
The slide (E) has a side plate or shield (E') designated to prevent the removal
of a match from the safe until said match has reached its proper place under the
clamp (G). This shield closes the opening (a) as the slide is moved upwardly,
and until said slide returns to its normal (lower) position.
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
1 claim is-
1. In a match receptacle, the combination with a casing provided with a
recessed part (A') having a slot therein; of a shelf provided with a roughened
surface upon which matches are automatically placed; a spring-controlled clamp
pivoted adjacent to said shelf and adapted to open, and to close upon each match;
and means for simultaneously actuating said clamp; and delivering matches to
said shelf, substantially as described.

page_text: 2. In a match receptacle, the combination with an inclosing case; of a shelf;
a clamp pivotally mounted on said shelf; a stationary incline having its upper end
adjacent to said shelf; a slide provided with a transverse slot adapted to contain a
match, movable against said incline; and means for simultaneously moving said
slide and clamp to discharge a match from the slot, over the upper end of said
incline, in a position to be pressed by said clamp, substantially as described.
3. In a match receptacle, the combination with a casing provided with a hopper
as described; of a stationary incline; a slide provided with a transverse slot
movable against said incline; a shelf adjacent to the upper end of said slide
adapted to catch the matches one at a time as delivered over the incline by said
slide a clamp pivoted to said shelf adapted to close upon each match as it falls
upon said shelf; a lever; rods connecting said clamp and slide to said lever,
substantially as described.
Dated this 24th day of June 1895.
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
18 Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.