Improvements in Match Boxes.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Nov., 1893—Accepted, 30th Dec., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Match Boxes.
I, JOSEF SULC, Merchant of Karolinenthal, Prague, Bohemia in the Empire of
Austro-Hungary, 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 :-
The present invention has for its object a new kind of match-box such that its
contents can be taken out on both sides of the box. The improved box offers the
further advantages, that it is formed out of a single piece, and does not require to
be stuck together, to preserve its shape so that it is adapted for continued and
repeated use.
In none of the match-boxes hitherto made can the matches be taken out on both
sides, still less do they admit of frequent refilling, because even if they are formed
of a single piece they are only held together by gum or paste.
This invention offers, in addition the following advantages;-
1. Certain and immediate recognition of the "headed" ends of the matches, as
the box is made slightly tapering and the matches are laid with their heads at the
broader end so that even in the dark a match can be readily grasped in proper
position for ignition and a light struck.
2. Complete prevention of risk of explosion or the simultaneous ignition of the
contents, as but one match at a time can be taken out, and the box automatically
closes immediately after the withdrawal of a match; and
3. The matches are securely enclosed, so that they can never fall out of the
box.
The accompanying drawing shows the improved match-box.
Fig. 1 shows the match-box in the open position as stamped out of a sheet of
pasteboard or a thin sheet metal.
Fig. 2 shows the method of forming the match-box.
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the matchbox in the half-opened position.
Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the matchbox when closed.
Fig. 5 is a front view and
Fig. 6 a side view of the match-box.
The match-box blanks are cut out of pasteboard or sheet-metal, by a stamp of
the shape shown in Fig. 1; and as will be seen the blank comprises the bottom-
plate a on which the matches are to be laid, and which is provided with four
flaps b, c, d, e. The two head-pieces f & 9 which fasten on to the bottom-plate,
serve as rubbing surfaces when the box is put together and for that purpose are
suitably covered. Attached to the two headpieces are the two cross-pieces or
stays h, i, each of which is similarly provided with two flaps k l, m n, which
correspond with those on the bottom-plate, respectively, as they combine to form
the side openings.
The cross-piece i is also provided at its upper end with two flaps o, p, which, when
the box put together, engage in two notches or slits q, r, provided for that purpose
n the cross-piece h and thereby hold the box fast closed. The cross-piece / in the
completed box, is brought underneath the crosspiece i and its upper end is passed
hrough the loops with which i is fitted to receive it.
The operation of filling and putting the box together is as follows;-
In the first place, the four flaps b, c, d, & e of the bottom-plate a are turned up
nd the matches are laid side by side in the space thus formed; then, the head-
ieces f, g, with the cross-pieces & i are bent up and around the cross-piece h
eing slipped into the loops the flaps o and p of cross-piece i inserted in the slits or
otches gr and lastly the flaps k, l, m, n, bent in and underneath the cross-pieces.
[Price 8d.1

page_text: At the sides of the box thus formed there will be two slits or openings t u through
which the matches can be withdrawn; and in consequence of the elasticity of the
flaps, those slits will close immediately after the extraction of a match. The two
head-pieces project slightly beyond the edges of the connected flaps and thereby
afford cover and protection to the opening which is temporarily made whenever a
match is taken out of the box.
As already observed, the bottom-plate is formed somewhat tapering as shown in
Fig. 1 in addition to which the one head piece (f) is made slightly smaller than
the other (9) and thus the position of the match-heads is recognised at once.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
-
1. A match-box so arranged that the matches can be extracted on both sides and
formed in one piece out of pasteboard or sheet-metal without being cemented or
soldered together the blank being bent up on both sides of the bottom-plate (a)
until the two head-pieces (f, g,) which serve as rubbing surfaces stand at right-
angles to the said bottom-plate and the two cross-pieces (h,i,) again are bent down at
right angles to the head-pieces and joined together in such way that one cross
piece (h) is inserted in a loop (s) on the other cross-piece (i) and the latter is
provided with two flaps (o, p) which are slipped into corresponding slits (9,7,) in
the former crosspiece while the extraction of the matches on both sides is rendered
possible by the provision of flaps (b, c, d, e,) on the bottom-plate and (k, l, m, n) on
the cross-pieces which flaps in the finished box form slits (t, u) and at the same
time openings (v, w) by means of which a single match can be drawn out of the
box substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2. A form and mode of construction for the matchbox described and claimed in
Claim 1 essentially characterised by the bottom plate tapering slightly from one
end towards the other and one of the head-plates being correspondingly made larger
than the opposite one so that the position of the matchheads is readily recognisable
substantially as described.
Dated this 28th day of November 1893.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.