IMPROVEMENTS IN PORTABLE INKHOLDERS AND MATCH BOXES
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Leuchars, of No. 38, Piccadilly, in the
County of Middlesex, Dressing Case Manufacturer, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PORTABLE INKHOLDERS AND MATCH BOXES."
Sealed the 4th October 1860, and dated the 5th April 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Leuchars at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 5th
April 1860.
I, WILLIAM LEUCHARS, of No. 38, Piccadilly in the County of Middlesex,
Dressing Case Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PORTABLE INKHOLDERS AND MATCH BOXES," to
be as follows:
The object of this Invention is to construct portable ink holders and match
boxes, so as to render them more secure than boxes of the ordinary
construction.
This I propose effecting by placing a small swivel handle in the lid of the
box, which is so constructed, that when out of use it is flush with the surface
of the lid, but when raised and turned in a circular direction, actuates a
spring catch of suitable construction, thereby unfastening the box at the part
where the box opens, the circular moveable part passing through the lid to the
interior of the box. For ink, or other liquid holders, I propose covering the
inner part of the spring movement with flexible material, which forms the pad
and prevents the escape of the fluid when the box is carried.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Leuchars in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
5th October 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
LEUCHARS, of No. 38, Piccadilly, in the County of Middlesex, Dressing Case
Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of April in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-third year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said William Leuchars, Her special licence that I, the said William
Leuchars, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said William Leuchars, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN PORTABLE INKHOLDERS AND MATCH BOXES," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said William Leuchars, my executors or admin-
istrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their
hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Leuchars, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, that is to say :-
The object of this Invention is to construct portable inkholders and match-
boxes, so as to render them more secure than boxes of the ordinary
construction.
In order to explain my said Invention as completely as possible, I now
proceed to describe the means I am acquainted with for carrying the same
into practical effect, as follows:-
I entirely dispense with the ordinary thumb springs in the front of boxes now
used for holding ink or matches, and place instead thereof a small handle or
plate, of ornamental or other suitable construction, on the lid of the box, which

page_text: passing through the outer surface of the lid, communicates with a spring catch
or other simple mechanical contrivance inside the lid; thus, when the handle or
plate is turned in a circular direction, it actuates the spring catch, thereby
unfastening the box.
For ink, or other liquid holders, I cover the inner part of the spring move-
ment with flexible material, which forms the pad, and prevents the escape
of the fluid when the box is being carried, or when it is packed, the
principal object being to prevent accidents happening by the unfastening of
the box, which frequently occur when anything presses against the thumb
springs of boxes of the ordinary construction.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, I would remark in conclusion,
that I do not confine or restrict myself to the precise details as herein
described, as various descriptions of springs and handles or plates may be
used to accomplish the same purpose, without in any way departing from the
principle of my Invention, but what I claim as of my Invention, intended to be
secured to me by the herein in part recited Letters Patent is, dispensing with
the thumb springs in ordinary use, as applied to the front of inkholders and
match boxes, and using instead thereof suitable springs, spring catches, or
other mechanical contrivance on the upper part of such boxes, in the manner
herein described for the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Leuchars, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fifth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty.
5
W. LEUCHARS. (L.S.)
Witness,
S. J. WETHERELL,
Clerk, to Messrs Prince & Co. Patent Agents,
4, Trafalgar Square, Charing Cross.