AN IMPROVED PASTE-BOARD MATCH-BOX
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for an Invention of AN IMPROVED
PASTE-BOARD MATCH-BOX." A communication from abroad by La Société
Anonyme de l'Imprimerie Marseillaise, of Marseilles, France, represented by
Marius Olive, Manager.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd October 1881.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent. "AN IMPROVED PASTEBOARD MATCH Box." [A com-
munication from abroad by La Société Anonyme de l'Imprimerie Marseillaise,
of Marseilles, France, represented by Marius Olive, Manager.]
This Invention relates to an improved paste board match box, and the Invention
consists, 1st., in the form of the pasteboard blank, whereby the box is rendered
sufficiently strong to retain its shape without the employment of stiffening pieces
of wood or pasteboard. 2ndly. In the method of rendering the lid self closing
without the usual indiarubber spring, thereby dispensing with it and its fastening
pins, thus economising material and labor.
The outer case or sheath of the box has a transverse slot on its upper side
through which the lid of the sliding inner tray or case passes, said slot having a
tongue across it, and the lid of the sliding inner case or tray being also made with
a tongue for a purpose hereafter mentioned.
The Invention is illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, in which Figure 1
represents a longitudinal section on line A, B, Figure 3; Figure 2, a cross section
on line C, D, Figure 3, and Figure 3, a plan of the improved box, the tray being
partly drawn out and the lid raised. Figure 4 is a plan of the box closed.
Figures 5 and 6 show a side elevation and plan with the tray fully drawn out, and
Figures 7 and 8 show respectively the pasteboard blanks for forming the sliding
tray and the outer case.

page_text: The blanks are stamped out of the forms shown in Figures 7 and 8, the most
important parts of which are the aperture and tongue H of the inner sliding case,
and the slot J and tongue I of the outer case, which are respectively made of the
form shown. The two blanks being creased on lines E and F respectively folded
and glued in the usual way, the two parts of the box are fitted together in the
following manner:--The lid G of the sliding tray is turned quite back, as in
Figure 5, and its end inserted through slot J of the outer case, thereby raising
tongue I. The inner case is then pushed in until the tongue H of the lid clears
the point of tongue I, whereupon the latter springs inwards, and by continuing to
push in the sliding tray, the lid is caused to assume first the position shown in
Figure 1, and afterwards that shown in Figure 4, in which it is closed down and
lodged within the outer case, passing above tongue I, and closing the slit J, its
projecting end overlapping the part X of the outer case which is very strong, there
being three thicknesses of cardboard at this point, viz., the overlapping end of
lid G, the part X of the outer case, and the flange L of the inner tray.
To open the box the tray is drawn out by means of its tab K, until the lid G is
turned quite back, as in Figure 5, but the tray is prevented from being drawn out
altogether by the tongue H passing above the tongue I, as shown in Figures 5
and 6.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 21st April 1882.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent.
"AN IMPROVED PASTEBOARD MATCH Box," A com-
munication from abroad by La Société Anonyme de l'Imprimerie Marseillaise, of
Marseilles, France, represented by Marius Olive, Manager.
This Invention relates to an improved pasteboard match box, which is denomi-
nated "l'agréable," and the Invention consists, 1st., in the form of the pasteboard
blanks, whereby the box is rendered sufficiently strong to retain its shape without
the employment of stiffening pieces of wood or pasteboard; 2nd, in the method of
rendering the lid self opening and closing by the mere sliding motion in and out of
the inner tray or case without the use of the usual indiarubber spring, which as
well as its fastening pins is dispensed with, thus economising material and labor.
The outer case or sheath of the box has a transverse slot on its upper side
through which the hinged lid of the sliding inner tray or case passes, said slot
having a tongue across it, and the said lid is also made with a tongue for the
purpose of making the lid self opening and closing in the manner hereafter
described.
The Invention is illustrated in the accompanying Drawings which represent two
examples differing only in certain minor details. Figure 1 represents a longitudinal
section on line A, B, Figure 3; Figure 2, a cross section on line C, D, Figure 3;
and Figure 3, a plan of one modification of the improved box, the tray being partly
drawn out and the lid raised. Figure 4 is a plan of the same box closed.
Figures 5 and 6 show a side elevation and plan with the tray fully drawn out and
the lid thrown back, showing the tongue H passing over the tongue I, and
Figures 7 and 8 show the pasteboard blanks for forming the sliding tray and the
outer case respectively.
The blanks are stamped out of the forms shown in Figures 7 and 8, the inner
sliding case or tray having an aperture and tongue H formed on its lid, and the
outer case having a transverse slot J and a tongue I formed at its upper side as
shown. The two blanks being creased on lines E and F respectively folded and
glued in the usual way, the two parts of the box are fitted together in the following
manner: The lid G of the sliding tray is turned quite back, as in Figure 5, and
its end inserted through slot J of the outer case, thereby raising tongue I. The
inner case is then pushed in until the tongue H of the lid clears the point of
tongue I, whereupon the latter springs inwards, and by continuing to push in the
sliding tray, the lid is caused to assume first the position shown in Figure 1, and
afterwards that shown in Figure 4, in which it is closed down and lodged within
the outer case, passing above tongue I and closing the slit J, its projecting end
overlapping the part X of the outer case which is very strong, there being three
thicknesses of cardboard at this point, viz., the overlapping end of lid G, the
part X of the outer case, and the flange L of the inner tray.
To open the box the tray is drawn out by means of its tab K, until the lid G is
turned quite back, as in Figure 5, but the tray is prevented from being drawn out
altogether by the tongue Ĥ passing above the tongue I, as shown in Figures 5
and 6.
The modification shown in Figures 9 to 14 differs from the foregoing only in the
substitution for the tongue I of the convex edge of the slit Y which answers the
same purpose, and in the fact that the tongue His formed by cutting a semicircular
slit only in the lid instead of the elongated opening as shown in the previous

page_text: example, and in the fact that the tab K instead of being punched out with the
blank, is a separate piece of cardboard united to the front end of the tray as shown,
thereby strengthening this part of the box. The box is otherwise the same as that
before described, and works in precisely the same way.
Having described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the
herein before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
A pasteboard box stamped out complete in two parts (without strengthening
pieces), consisting of an outer sheath formed with the transverse slit J, with or
without a tongue I in combination with an inner sliding tray, having a hinged
lid G formed with a tongue H, the tongue and slot being arranged and operating
to effect the complete opening and closing of the lid, substantially as shown and
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set
my hand and seal. this Twenty first day of April, A.D. 1882.