IMPROVE- MENTS IN OR ADDITIONS TO MATCH BOXES
Year: 1884

page_text: I BENJAMIN MAY of Kingwood Road, Moseley, in the County of Worcester
Commercial Traveller do hereby declare the nature of said invention for IMPROVE-
MENTS IN OR ADDITIONS TO MATCH BOXES to be as follows:-
My invention consists in constructing, arranging and combining in the manner
hereinafter described, Match boxes and the parts of such boxes for holding matches;
whereby the Matches are extracted from the said box singularly or one at a time
and ignited ready for use in the process of extraction, and that in consequence of
the simplicity of construction it is little liable to get out of order.
I will describe my invention as applied to a box and parts thereof; made from
sheet metal.
In constructing and arranging according to my invention, I take by preference,
a flat rectangular box and on one of the longer sides thereof, a tubular chamber is
situated open at its upper end in which a jointed half tube or trough slides and
works therein, for the purpose hereinafter described-Connection between the box
and the tubular chamber is effected by a longitudinal slit or passage having the
breadth of a match through nearly the whole length of the chamber-A longitudinal
slot is also situated on the outside of the tubular chamber described of a suitable
length to allow the jointed half tube hereinafter called the match carrier to be
moved up the said chamber to the desired extent-The half tube has a stud with
a head upon its end, the stem of the stud moves in the slot described; there is also
a cross slot at the bottom of the longitudinal slot, in which the neck of the stud
passes for the purpose of rotating and determining the exact position of the open
side of the match carrier with respect to the slit or passage in the chamber leading
to the box-The chamber has also near its upper end, a bulbus part, at a point
where the head of the match is provided in passing the match longitudinally
through the slit leading from the box to the chamber.
I will now describe the operation of extracting Matches from the box and
effecting their ignition.
The box containing the matches is turned upon its side; a match then passes
longitudinally with its head uppermost, through the slit leading to the tubular
chamber into the open trough of the match carrier-The bottom of the match rests
upon a socket at the end thereof, while the head of the match is presented to the

page_text: open end of the tubular chamber-The match lying within the trough of the carrier
is partially rotated by means of the stud or head being moved from out of the cross
slot into the longitudinal slot, and thereby closing the slit or passage between the
cylindrical case and box-The match carrier in this position forms an internal support
for the match-By now pressing the stud up the longitudinal slot, the head of the
match is forcibly impressed against a roughened or serrated surface on the inside
of the chamber igniting the said match and at the same time forcing the match
through the open or top end of the chamber-The stem or upper part of the match
carrier now falls upon its joint the ignited match being held and supported in the
socket end of the carrier which still remains within the chamber.
The ignition of the match is assisted by a flat spring in the back of the trough
of the carrier which presses the liead of the match against the roughened surface
which is slightly yielding by the metal being slit longitudinally in addition to
which a yielding spring may be disposed at the entrance of the match chamber
being formed from the metal of the box.
The Matches are introduced through an ordinary liḍ or cover.
Dated this twenty-ninth day of February One thousand eight hundred and

page_text: I, BENJAMIN MAY of Kingwood Road, Moseley, in the County of Worcester,
Commercial Traveller, do hereby declare the nature of said invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN OR ADDITIONS TO MATCH BOXES," and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
My invention consists in constructing, arranging and combining in the manner
hereinafter described, match boxes, and the parts of such boxes for holding matches;
whereby the matches are extracted from the said box singularly or one at a time
and ignited ready for use in the process of extraction and that in consequence of
the simplicity of construction it is little liable to get out of order,
I will describe my invention as applied to a box and parts thereof; made from
sheet metal.
In constructing and arranging according to my invention, I take by preference, a.
flat rectangular box; and on one of the longer side thereof, a tubular chamber is
situated open at its upper end in which a jointed half tube or trough slides and
works therein, for the purpose hereinafter described-Connection between the box
and the tubular chamber is effected by a longitudinal slit or passage having the
breadth of a match through nearly the whole length of the chamber-A longitudinal
slot is also situated on the outside of the tubular chamber described of a suitable
length to allow the jointed half tube hereinafter called the match carrier to be
moved up the said chamber to the desired extent The half tube has a stud with a
head upon its end, the stem of the stud moves in the slot described; there is also a
cross slot at the bottom of the longitudinal slot, in which the neck of the stud
passes, for the purpose of rotating and determining the exact position of the
open side of the match carrier, with respect to the slit or passage in the chamber,
leading to the box. The chamber has also near its upper end, a bulbous part, at a
point where the head of the match is provided in passing the match longitudinally
through the slit leading from the box to the chamber.
I will now describe the operation of extracting matches from the box, and.
effecting their ignition.
The box containing the matches is turned upon its side; a match is then shook
with its head uppermost, through the slit leading to the tubular chamber, into the
open trough of the match carrier. The bottom of the match rests upon a socket at
the end thereof, while the head of the match is presented to the open end of the
tubular chamber. The match lying within the trough of the carrier, is partially
rotated by means of the stud or head being moved from out of the cross slot into
the longitudinal slot, and thereby closing the slit or passage between the cylindrical
case and box. The match carrier in this position forms an internal support for the
match. By now passing the stud up the longitudinal slot, the head of the match
is forcibly impressed against a roughened or sirrated surface on the inside of the
chamber, igniting the said match, and at the same time forcing the match through
the open or top end of the chamber. The stem or upper part of the match carrier
now falls upon its joint, the ignited match being held and supported in the socket
end of the carrier, which still remains within the chamber.
The ignition of the match is assisted by a flat spring in the back of the trough
of the carrier which presses the head of the match against the roughened surface
which is slightly yielding by the metal being slit longitudinally in addition to
which, a yielding spring may be disposed at the entrance of the match chamber
being formed from the metal of the box.
The matches are introduced through an ordinary lid or cover.

page_text: I will now proceed to describe with reference to the accompanying Drawing, the
manner in which my invention is to be performed.
Figure 1 represents in front elevation a match box provided with extracting and
igniting mechanism constructed according to my invention-The match carrier, by
which the match is extracted through the open or top end of the match carrier
chamber is in the position which it assumes when it is ready to receive a match from
the, box or store with which the chamber is in communication-Figure 2 is an end
elevation showing the position of the guiding pin of the match carrying slide-
Figure 3 shows the same view as figure 1, with the pin of the match carrying.
slide opposite the guiding slot In figure 4.a match is shewn having been
withdrawn and ignited in the act of extracting it from the: box and supported and
held for use; so that after a match has been extracted and ignited as represented
in figure 4, the box forms a holder by which the match is held for the lighting of a
cigar or pipe-Figure 5 is a longitudinal section of figure 1, and figure 6 is a
longitudinal section of figure 3-Figure 7 is a longitudinal section of figure 4-
Figure 8 is a transverse vertical section on the dotted lines figure 1, and figure 9 is
a horizontal section of figure 1 on the dotted lines A. B, and figure 10 is also a
horizontal section on the dotted lines C. D figure 3-Figuro 11 is the match carrier
or withdrawal slide separately-In figure 12 the mouth of the match carrier tube
is slit so as to form yielding or spring igniting jaws through which the match is
drawn for ignition.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in the several figures of
the Drawing.
a is the match box which is preferably of a rectangular form, of about the length
of a single match-b is the match carrier tube or chamber in which the match
carrier c slides-d is the slit or grip through which a match passes longitudinally
from the store or box chamber into the trough of the match carrier-c² is a pin or
stud for rotating the match carrier so as to bring the open trough of the match
carrier in front of the slit d, and further, after a match has been deposited in the
cavity of the match carrier, it is then rotated by the pin or stud c² as best seen in
figure 3-The match carrier, chamber or barrel is made bulbous near its top end,
and marked 63 in which the head of the match lies before its extraction―The
extreme open end of the said chamber b is contracted and serrated or roughened
on its inside-b* is the vertical guiding slot and 65 the horizontal slot for allowing
the pin c² to partially rotate-c³ is a cup or socket into which the end of the match
fits and seats itself The match carrier c. is jointed at e to the socket ca in order
that it may turn or fall from the side of the match, and g is the roughened or
serrated surface.
I will now describe the mode of extracting matches from the box, and at the
same time effecting their ignition for use.
The box a figure 1 containing the matches m, is turned upon its side, when a
match passes from the store longitudinally through the slit d into the open trough
of the match carrier c-The head of the match is presented to the open mouth of
the chamber b―The match lying within the trough c of the carrier is partially
rotated by means of the neck. or stud c³ it having been moved out of the cross
slot into the longitudinal slot 6%, and thereby closing the slit or passage d
between the cylindrical chamber and box, the match carrier c when in this position
forms an internal support for the match-By now pushing the stud or neck c² up
the longitudinal slot 6 the head of the match m is forcibly impressed against a
roughened or serrated surface on the inside of the open end 6s igniting the said
match, and at the same time forcing it through the open top of the chamber b-
The upper part of the match carrier c now falls upon its joint, the ignited match
being held and supported partly within the chamber by the lower part of the
.carrier as seen in figures 4 and 7-The ignition of the match is assisted by a
spring c which presses the head of the match against the roughened surface.
In figure 12 the end of the match carrier is thickened, for pressing the head of
the match on its withdrawal against the roughened surface; -

page_text: The top of the chamber instead of being made bulbous as before described inay
be made as represented in figure 13-Or the ignition of the match may be
effected by being drawn in contact with a knife edge e figure 14 which is made
from the metal of the case-In figure 15 the mouth of the chamber through
which the match is withdrawn is slit longitudinally, marked ƒ as represented in
figures 15 and 16; so that on the withdrawal of the match, the sides yield or open
out on the match being withdrawn, the inner sides being roughened, ignite the
match; or instead of a spring being carried by the carrier, it may be situated at
the mouth of its chamber-The trough of the match carrier is made sufficiently
deep through its entire length for the covering of the wax stem, and allowing the
head of the match only to be exposed; so that the wax constituting the stem shall
not come in direct contact with the igniting surface or expedient.
.
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―
First. The Improvements in a combined match box, match extractor and ignitor
as described and set forth in the several figures of the Drawing.
Secondly. The improvements in or additions to match boxes hereinbefore
described and represented in the several figures of the Drawing; that is to say, a
match box having a chamber at one end, in which a match carrier rotates and slides,
for the purpose of extracting and at the same time igniting a match, the chamber
and box being in communication with each other by a slit, which allows only a
single match to pass at a time, the parts being arranged, combined and operating in
the way and for the purpose substantially as described and illustrated.
Thirdly A combined match box, extractor and ignitor consisting of a box a,
chamber b, b. 63, jointed carrier c c slit d, and slots 64, 65 as described and set
forth in figures 1 to 12 of the Drawings.
Fourthly-The modifications described and set forth in figures 13, 14, 15 and 16
of the accompanying Drawings.
DL:
1
1
100