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 9th December 1880.
FIRMIN SIMON COLAS, of Boulevard Saint Denis, 1, at Paris, Manufacturer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PROVISION AND OTHER BOXES OR CASES."
May Invention has for its object an improved construction of box or case for
preserving provisions, whereby economy and rapidity of manufacture is realised,
combined with perfect hermeticity and facility of opening at the moment when the
consumption of the alimental or other produce contained in the box or case is
required.
It consists in the application and use to a square, circular, or other shaped box
or case, of a lid or closure formed on its periphery, with a ledge or rim projecting
downwards to a convenient depth, and beat or stamped out in a single piece. By
the tearing of the ledge or rim, the opening of the box or case is effected without
the aid of any special tool.
For this purpose the ledge or rim is formed at about two thirds of its height,
following a certain line with a shoulder or sharp projecting circular arris or angle,
which has the effect of weakening somewhat the wall following that line, the length
of which will be exclusively that of the tear required.
By means of a slit or opening made in the ledge or rim below the said projection,
I introduce into the lid a small band soldered, rivetted, or clasped against the
internal face of the ledge or rim. At the outside of the latter this band is rolled
up into a ring which affords a hold for the opening tool or key. This key could
be delivered with the box, in which case it is held in the ring.
The box being filled and the lid placed thereon, the lower part of the ledge or
rim is hermetically soldered to the box or case. For opening this latter, the end
of the key, screw driver, or other instrument is introduced into the ring and turned

page_text: repeatedly round, in doing which the ledge or rim of the lid is torn along the line
of its shoulder or projecting arris or angle and rolled upon the key. When
sufficiently torn away for obtaining a hold on the same, the tearing is continued by
hand.
The remaining part of the ledge or rim should be large enough for holding on 5
the box and close it until its contents are completly exhausted.
The ring above described may be also of a circular form, and fixed by a tongue
of tin soldered to the ledge or rim. The tearing away being then effected by a
lever of any kind introduced into the ring.
This Invention may be applied to boxes of any form and purpose, for vegetables, 1
various meats, fish, and other articles.

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
30th May 1881.
k
FIRMIN SIMON COLAS, of Boulevard Saint Denis, 1, at Paris, Manufacturer.
IMPROVEMENTS IN PROVISION AND OTHER BOXES OR CASES."
My Invention has for its object an improved construction of box, case, or tin for
preserving provisions, whereby economy and rapidity of manufacture are realized,
combined with perfect airtightness, and the facility with which the same may be
opened at the required moment.
The construction of the characteristic part of this box, case, or tin requires no
other tools than stamping or punching machines and widening tools.
The box, case, or tin is readily opened without the slightest trouble either by
a key delivered with the same, or by a screw driver or other suitable tool.
The accompanying Drawings illustrate the mode of manufacture of the box, case,
or tin, and the manner of opening the same.
Fig. 1 shews in elevation a cylindrically shaped provision box or tin (provided
with a key for opening same).
Fig. 2 is a vertical section of same.
Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line a, b, of Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section of the ledge, rim, or flange of the cover or lid
detached from its box.
Fig. 5 shews a specimen of key which could be delivered with the boxes or tins.
Fig. 6 is a plan of a rectangular box or tin suitable for holding sardines or the
like, and showing the mode of working the opening tool or key.
In the sections the thicknesses of the walls or sides of the boxes or tins are
considerably exaggerated for the sake of clearness.
The system or method of closure of these boxes or tins B consists of a cover or
lid c provided with a rim, flange, or ledge 6 of suitable width, stamped or punched
out at a single blow; the opening is effected by tearing away this rim, flange, or
ledge, and without using any wire or special tool.
For this purpose the ledge, flange, or rim b is formed at about two thirds of its
height, following the line m, n, with a shoulder d, by means of the widening tools,
or with a sharp circular arris angle or projection. This projection m, n, has the
effect of weakening somewhat the wall following this line, along which the tearing
away will take place.
By means of a slit or opening ƒ made in the flange, ledge, or rim below the
projection m, n, I introduce into the lid a small metal band or strip g, and I solder,
rivet, or attach the same to the internal face of the ledge or rim b, as shewn in
Fig. 4. On the outside this band or strip is rolled up into a ring or loop, and
affords a hold for the opening tool or key.
This key k, which is of T shape, and is shewn in Fig. 5, could be delivered with
the box or tin, and in such case could be carried by the ring or loop g.
The box, case, or tin B being filled and the lid placed thereon, the lower edge of
the ledge, flange, or rim is then hermetically soldered.
To open the box, case, or tin the end of the key k or the point of a screw driver
or other instrument is introduced into the ring or loop g, and is turned repeatedly
round, as seen in Fig. 6, thus tearing away the ledge, flange, or rim of the lid
along the line of its shoulder, or projecting arris or angle m, n, and rolling it upon
the key. When this band or strip 6' is sufficiently long to obtain a hold on the
same the tearing is continued by hand.

page_text: The remaining part b² of the ledge, flange, or rim should be sufficiently large for
holding on the box and keeping it closed until its contents have been consumed..
The ring or loop g may be also of circular form and fixed by a tongue of tin
soldered to the ledge, flange, or rim b; the tearing away can then be effected by a
lever of any kind introduced into the ring or loop.
My Invention may be applied to boxes of any form and for any purpose, as, for
instance, to boxes for containing vegetables, meats, fish, and other articles or
substances.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same may be performed, I declare that I claim,—
The improved construction of provision and other boxes, cases, or tins, in which
a metallic tongue or strip is so arranged that the opening of the box, case, or tin
can be readily effected by means of the same, substantially in the manner
herein before described and shewn in the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Firmin Simon Colas, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twentieth day of May, in the year 1881.
Witness,
ALBERT CAHEN,
Civil Engineer,
of Boulevard Saint Denis, 1,
at Paris.
ATTTATJ
DIMUST