IMPROVEMENTS IN PROVISION AND OTHER BOXES OR CASES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Firmin Simon Colas, of Boulevard Saint Denis, 1, at
Paris, Manufacturer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PROVISION AND
OTHER BOXES OR CASES."
'
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Firmin Simon Colas at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th June 1880.
FIRMIN SIMON COLAS, of Boulevard Saint Denis, 1, at Paris, Manufacturer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PROVISION AND OTHER BOXES OR CASES."
This Invention has reference to metallic boxes or cases employed for preserving
provisions or other substances, and its object is to provide means of closing such
boxes or cases which shall be simple, quick, and economical, and allow of the boxes
or cases being readily opened. By my Invention, as hereinafter described, all these
conditions are fulfilled, no special tools are required, and the folding, seaming, and
other machines ordinarily employed are dispensed with.
The box is provided, as usual, with a cover, which after the box has been filled
and closed is soldered hermetically along its lower edge. The cover may either be
made in two pieces, viz., the top or cover proper and a band soldered to it as a
flange, or it may be made in a single piece stamped of the proper form. The process
of manufacture is the same in both cases so far as concerns the characteristic feature
of my Invention. My Invention is based on the mode of inserting an iron. or steel
wire between the box and the cover, this wire extending a sufficient distance out of
the channel or place in which it is lodged to allow a button, pin, or other device on
its end to be taken hold of.
To receive this wire I form in the interior of the flange of the cover a récéss
extending all round it, and sufficiently large to allow of the wire boing inserted
through a bole formed for the purpose, and being pushed without resistance all
round the box. The recess forms an external projection, and may be produced in
the separate band when the cover is made in two pieces, as before explained, or in
the finished or stamped cover; it can be readily made by tools such as are used by
tinsmiths. After the wire has been inserted, the hole through which it was passed
s closed by solder to prevent the re-entrance of air, and at the same time fix the
vire to the box. The cover may be soldered to the box before or after the insertion
f the wire.
In order to open the box it is held by one hand while the wire is pulled by the
ther. The flange of the cover is thus torn open and the upper part separated, a
ufficient flange being however preserved to properly close the box again until the
ontents have been consumed, thereby preventing evaporation and the entrance of
ust

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Firmin Simon Colas in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 16th
December 1880.
FIRMIN SIMON COLAS, of Boulevard Saint Denis, 1, at Paris, Manufacturer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PROVISION AND OTHER BOXES OR CASES."
This Invention has reference to metallic boxes or cases employed for preserving
provisions or other substances, and its object is to provide means of closing such
boxes or cases which shall be simple, quick, and economical, and allow of the boxes
or cases being readily opened.
By my Invention, as hereinafter described, all these conditions are fulfilled; no
special tools are required, and the folding, seaming, and other machines ordinarily
employed are dispensed with. The insertion of a wire between the box and its
cover for opening the box is very easily effected after the cover has been placed
on the box, and the hermiticity of the latter is ensured by soldering.
Figure 1 of the annexed Drawings represents a box made and closed according
to my Invention; Figure 2 is a vertical section of the same; Figure 3, a horizontal
section taken through the place where the wire is lodged; Figure 4, an outside
view of the box while being opened; Figure 5 shows a detached band which may
form the flange of the cover; Figure 6 is a section of the cover when it is stamped
in one piece with its flange.
The box bis provided, as usual, with a cover c, which after the box has been
The cover may
filled and closed is soldered hermetically along its lower edge x.
either be made in two pieces, as is scen in Figure 2, viz., the top or cover proper k
and a band c (Figure 5) soldered to it as a flange, or it may be made in a single
piece stamped of the proper form, as represented in Figure 6. The process of
inanufacture is the same in both cases so far as concerns the characteristic feature
of my Invention. My Invention is based on the mode of inserting an iron or steel
wire f between the box and the cover, the end of this wire extending a sufficient
distance out of the channel or place in which it is lodged to allow a button, pin, or
other device g theron to be taken hold of.
To receive this wire I form in the interior of the flange of the cover a recess
extending all round it, and sufficiently large to allow of the wire f being inserted
through a hole o formed for the purpose, and being pushed without resistance, all
round the box (see Figure 3). The recess forms an external projection, and may
be produced in the separate band (Figure 5) when the cover is made in two pieces,
as before explained, or in the finished cover (Figure 2), or in the stamped cover
(Figure 6); it can be readily made by tools such as are used by tinsmiths. After
the wire has been inserted, the hole o, through which it was passed, is closed by
solder to prevent the re-entrance of air, and at the same time fix the wire to the
box. The cover may be soldered to the box before or after the insertion of the
wirc.
In order to open the box it is held by one hand while the wire is pulled by the
other. The flange of the cover is thus torn open, as is seen in Figure 4, and the
upper part separated; a sufficient flange being however preserved to properly close
the box again until the contents have been consumed, thereby preventing
evaporation and the entrance of dust.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I declare that I do not claim broadly as part of my
present Invention the employment of a wire so arranged that the opening of the
box or case can be effected by pulling the wire, and thereby making it tear open
part of the flange of the cover, as this is described in the Specification of former

page_text: Letters Patent granted to me and dated the 26th November 1879, No. 4835; what
I do claim as my present Invention is,
First. The insertion of a wire between a box or case and the flange of its cover,
substantially in the manner and for the purpose hereinbefore described and
represented in the annexed Drawings.
Second. Forming a recess around the inside of the flange of the cover of a box or
case to receive a wire which is inserted, through a hole made for the purpose, and
then closing this hole by soldering, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore
described and represented in the annexed Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, 'the said Firmin Simon Colas, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of December, One thousand eight
hundred and eighty.
Witness,
ALBERT CAHEN,
Civil Engineer,
of Boulevard St. Denis, 1,
at Paris.
FIRMIN SIMON COLAS. (L.S.)