Improvements in Coal Boxes and other Boxes or Receptacles for Holding Fuel.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 8th July, 1886.
Complete Left, 7th Apr., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 10th May, 1887.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Coal Boxes and other Boxes or Receptacles for
Holding Fuel.
I, JOSEPH TONRY, of Hall Works, Temple Street, Wolverhampton in the County of
Stafford, tin-plate worker and japanner, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
--
The chief object of this invention is to construct coal boxes and other boxes or
receptacles for holding fuel in such a manner that the front of the box or receptacle,
and which usually forms the lid, may be raised to open the box in such a manner that
the front or ornamented face of such part will be exposed to view, instead of the inner
face as is usual; but this invention also affords the additional advantage of providing
convenient means whereby a clear opening may be given at the front and top of
the box to afford free access to the interior, and also to enable the lining, when such
is employed, to be more readily removed and replaced than in the case of the ordinary
construction of coal box; and the invention includes also the employment of a scoop-
shaped lining for the purpose hereinafter described.
According to this invention, the ordinary lid of the box or receptacle is hinged to
the top in the usual or any convenient manner, and the top of the box or receptacle is
itself hinged to the back thereof. The top of the box or receptacle rests, when down,
upon ledges projecting from the inner faces of the sides of such box or receptacle,
and the hinged front rests, when down, upon or against corresponding ledges at
the front.
The front of the box or receptacle may be opened for access to the interior by
simply raising up such front and resting the lower edge of it upon the upper ledges.
As the front is raised the top also rises therewith, turning upon its hinges at the back,
and thus forms a support to the hinged end of the front when the latter is open. The
front and top of the box or receptacle may be opened clear by first raising the front,
as described, and then moving it back against the hinged top and turning the two
parts thus hinged together in a backward direction until they are stopped by the hinge
joints, or by other suitable stop.

page_text: A fillet (or stops) is formed to project from the inner face of the hinged front at or
near the bottom thereof, and this fillet passes under the bottom ends of the front ledges
when the box or receptacle is closed, and securely prevents the box or receptacle from
being opened except by first lifting the hinged front, and thus permits of the box or
receptacle being raised by a handle fixed upon the top in the usual way.
The lining, when such is employed, may be formed of a scoop-shape, and be removed
from the box or receptacle to discharge fuel from the scoop upon the fire.
Dated this Seventh day of July 1886.
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton,
Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Coal Boxes and other Boxes or Receptacles for
Holding Fuel.
I, JOSEPH TONRY, of Hall Works, Temple Street, Wolverhampton in the County of
Stafford, tin-plate worker and japanner, 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, reference being had to the accompanying
drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon (that is to say):-
The chief object of this invention is to construct coal boxes, and other boxes or
receptacles for holding fuel, in such a manner that the front of the box or receptacle,
and which usually forms the lid, may be raised to open the box in such a manner that
the front or ornamented face of such part will be exposed to view, when such part is
open, instead of the inner face as is usual; but this invention also affords the additional
advantage of providing convenient means whereby a clear opening may be given at
the front and top of the box to afford free access to the interior, and also to enable the
lining, when such is employed, to be more readily removed and replaced than in
the case of the ordinary construction of box; and the invention includes also the
employment of a scoop-shaped lining for the purpose of being employed as a scuttle
from which to throw the fuel upon the fire.
This invention will be clearly understood on reference to the accompanying
drawings, of which those on sheet 1 illustrate the invention, by way of example, as
applied to a wooden coal-box, and those on sheet 2 as applied to a sheet metal
coal box,

page_text: Referring to the drawings on sheet 1, figure 1 illustrates in longitudinal section a
wooden coal box and sheet-metal lining constructed according to this invention, and
shews the box to be closed. Figure 2 is a corresponding view to figure 1, but shews the
box to be open. The top A is hinged at its back and closes down, when shut, between the
sides of the box, and rests upon two ledges a fixed one against the inner face of each
side, respectively; and the front B of the box is hinged to the front edge of the top
and closes down also, when shut, between the sides of the box, and rests against
ledges b also fixed one on the inner face of each side, respectively. To open the box, the
top A and front B are together raised, by means of the knob c, into their position
shown by figure 2, with the lower edge of the front B resting on each side on a ledge a.
The box may be provided with handles at the side, in lieu of a handle C at the top as
shewn, but when a handle at the top is employed by which to lift the box, projections d
are fixed, one on each side, to the inner face of the bottom of the front. B, and take
under the lower ends of the ledges b when the box is closed, and thus prevent the top
and front from being opened as the box is lifted by the handle C. Figure 3 is a part
longitudinal section through the lower forward end of the box, taken at one side
so as to shew the ledge 6 in section, and clearly shews, also in section, one of the
projections & under the end of such ledge.
It is preferred (though not essential) to form the hinged connection between the
top and front knuckle-jointed, so that the front cannot be opened out in the usual way,
beyond what may be necessary to clear the projections d from under the ledges b, but
must be drawn up and thus raise the top, the operation of opening the box being
thereby facilitated. The knuckle-joint may be formed either in the metallic part of the
hinge, or by causing the upper edge of the front to butt under the front edge of the
top, as shown.
The top A and front B may be opened less or more than shewn by figure 2, and
when the lining is to be lifted out, the top and front are, preferably, opened back as
far as is conveniently practicable. The hinder edge of the top A may be formed to
butt when wide open against the top edge of the back D, or other means, such for
instance as a knuckle-jointed hinge, may be employed to prevent the top falling
back.
Any convenient description of hinged joint may be used for the back of the top A,
a "piano-hinge" formed with a knuckle joint being very suitable for the purpose.
The hinge supposed to be employed in the illustration consists simply of a horizontal
screw a on each side capable of turning easily in a hole in the side of the box, and
screwed firmly into the top.
A shovel may be carried in a holder at the back of the box in the usual manner.
The lining E is formed to a scoope-shape as shewn, and is provided with an ordinary
scuttle handle e at the top, and a handle fat the back which is, preferably, of the class
employed for trunks so that it may, when not in use, lie against the back of the lining
and thus occupy a minimum space between. the back of the lining and the interior of
the back of the box. As the box is opened at the top as well as at the front the lining
may be readily lifted out, by means of the handle e, and used as a scuttle from which
to throw the coal upon the fire.
Referring now to the drawings on sheet 2, figure 4 is a side elevation of a sheet-
metal coal box constructed according to this invention, and is shewn closed; figure 5
is a longitudinal section through the same box when open; and figure 6 is a plan
of figure 5. The application of the invention to this box is the same as to the wooden
box except that the top A and front B rest upon the edges of the sides of the box
instead upon inside ledges, and the side edges of the top and front and the bottom
edge of the front are turned down so as to cover the parting lines when the box is
closed. Handles g g are shewn on the sides of the box, but a single handle be
employed at the top, in lieu thereof, in which case, however, the bottom edge of the
front B should fit under the wired edge h at the front of the bottom of the box
sufficiently to prevent the front and top from being opened out as the box is lifted by
such handle.
A lining, formed as a scuttle, may be employed also with this box, if desired.
may

page_text: When a light gauge of metal is employed in the construction of the box, a stay bar k
may be employed between the sides, to strengthen them. The employment of such
a bar is not, however, very convenient in cases where a scuttle lining is to be used,
and in such cases, if the stay bar is employed at all, it should be kept as much towards
the back as can be conveniently done.
A wooden box inay, if desired, be constructed to close on to the edges of the sides
in the manner described for the metal box, and a metal box may be constructed to
close between the sides in the manner described for the wooden box.
By the employment of this invention the practice of laying back the front of the
box when open against a support, with the consequent risk of injury to the face of
such front, is superseded.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:-
1. A coal box, or other box or receptacle for holding fuel, constructed with the top
hinge at the back and the front hinged to the top, substantially as described, for the
purposes set forth.
2. A coal box, or other box or receptacle for holding fuel, constructed to be opened
and closed substantially as described with reference to the drawings on sheet 1 here-
with, for the purposes set forth.
3. A coal box, or other box or receptacle for holding fuel, constructed to be opened
and closed substantially as described with reference to the drawings on sheet 2 here-
with, for the purposes herewith.
4. In a coal box, or other box or receptacle for holding fuel, constructed to open in
the manner described with reference to the drawings on sheet 1 herewith, the employ-
ment of the ledges a b, substantially as described, for the purposes set forth.
5. In a coal box, or other box or receptacle for holding fuel, constructed in the
manner described in the first claim, means, substantially as described, by which the
box is prevented from being opened as it is lifted up by means of a handle at the top.
6. In a coal box, or other box or receptacle for holding fuel, constructed to open at
both the top and front, the employment of a scoop-shaped lining provided with a
scuttle-handle at the top and a handle at the back, substantially as described, for the
purpose set forth.
7. In a coal box, or other box or receptacle for holding fuel, constructed to open at
both the top and front, a lining constructed and fitted as a scuttle, substantially as
described with reference to the drawings on sheet 1 herewith, for the purpose set
forth.