IMPROVE- MENTS IN CARD CASES
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in
the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN CARD CASES."-A communication from abroad by François
Auguste Lamontagne, of the City of Montreal, in the Province of
Canada, Gentleman.
Sealed the 12th October 1866, and dated the 16th April 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
16th April 1866.
I, JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CARD CASES," a communication to me from abroad by
François Auguste Lamontagne, of the City of Montreal, in the Province of
Canada, Gentleman, to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object certain improvements in card cases or
holders for visiting cards, which will enable a card to be expelled singly through
a slit in the side or end of the case without the necessity for opening the
same after it has been charged until a fresh supply is required.
In carrying out this Invention the following combination of parts is employed.
The case or holder is provided with a hinged or other lid having a slot made
therein, in which slot is fitted so as to be capable of sliding freely therein a

page_text: metal or other slide having two sharp points on its under surface projecting
inside the card case. A helical spring is fitted inside this slot, and tends to
keep the slide when released pressed against that end of the slot farthest from
the slit through which the cards are protruded. This slide is held in its
guiding slot by having projecting lips formed on the under side, and there is
sufficient vertical play allowed to admit of the points rising clear of the cards
when the spring forces back the slide. On the bottom or side of the case
opposite to that containing the slide there are fitted two or more helical
or flat blade springs, upon which springs rest a metal plate nearly filling the
inner area of the case, and kept in position by lugs fitting freely into slots in
the sides of the case. This plate serves as the support for the pile of cards
when introduced into the case, and the springs beneath tend to keep the back
or face of the top card of the pile against the under side of the lid, and oppo-
site to or level with the slit through which the card is to be propelled. In
order to ensure the pile being kept in proper order upon the metal plate it is
provided with clips which overlap the cards, and apply a very slight pressure
thereon. In addition to the springs for keeping the cards elevated whilst in
the case there is an additional blade spring provided with a pin at its free
end, which pin when in its normal position approaches the under side of the
cover, but when a card is pushed out by the action of the sharp points of the
slide, on the slide being moved along its slot the pin will be slightly depressed
and moved forward by the card, and will allow the card to pass out, but will
stop any other card which may tend to pass along with it, thus ensuring the
delivery of one card only at a time. The plate which supports the pile of
cards is slotted in the centre, so that when the last card of the pile has been
delivered through the slit the fine points on the slide will enter such .slot in
place of coming in contact with the surface of the plate, and being consequently
blunted or injured thereby.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8
15th October 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters 3
Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord One

page_text: thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the twenty-ninth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
John Henry Johnson, Her special license that I, the said John Henry
Johnson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said John Henry Johnson, my executors, administrators, or assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN CARD CASES," a communication to me from abroad by François
Auguste Lamontagne, of the City of Montreal, in the Province of Canada,
Gentleman, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John
Henry Johnson, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be. performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date. of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Henry Johnson, do hereby declare
the nature of the said 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 to the
letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:
The said Invention has for its object certain improvements in card cases or.
holders for visiting cards which will enable a card. to be expelled singly
through a slit in the side or end of the case without the necessity for opening
the same after it has been charged until a fresh supply is required.
In carrying out this Invention the following combination of parts is em-
ployed-The case or holder is provided with a hinged or other lid having a
slot made therein, in which slot is fitted so as to be capable of sliding freely
therein a metal or other slide having two sharp points on its under surface
projecting inside the card case. A helical spring is fitted inside this slot, and
tends to keep the slide when released pressed against that end of the slot
farthest from the slit through which the cards are protruded. This slide is
held in its guiding slot by having projecting lips formed on the under side,
and. there is sufficient vertical play allowed to admit of the points rising clear
of the cards when the spring forces back the slide. At the bottom or side of
the case opposite to that containing the slide. there are fitted two or more
helical or flat blade springs, upon which springs rests a metal plate or false

page_text: bottom nearly filling the inner area of the case, and kept in position by lugs
fitting freely into slots in the sides of the case. This plate or false bottom
serves as the support for the pile of cards when introduced into the case, and
the springs beneath tend to keep the back or face of the top card of the pile
against the under side of the lid and opposite to or level with the slit through
which the card is to be propelled. In order to ensure the pile being kept in
proper order upon the metal plate or false bottom it is provided with clips
which overlap the cards, and apply a very slight pressure thereon. In addition
to the springs for keeping the cards elevated whilst in the case there is an
additional blade spring provided with a pin at its free end, which pin when in
its normal position approaches the under side of the cover, but when a card is
pushed out by the action of the sharp points of the slide, on the slide being
moved along its slot, the pin will be slightly depressed and moved forward by
the card, and will allow the card to pass out, but will stop any other card
which may tend to pass along with it, thus ensuring the delivery of one card
only at a time. The plate which supports the pile of cards is slotted in the
centre, so that when the last card of the pile has been delivered through the
slit the fine points on the slide will enter such slot in place of coming in
contact with, the surface of the plate and being consequently blunted or injured
thereby.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose I shall
refer to the several Figures on the Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed, the
same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Figure 1 of the Drawings represents a top view of the card case provided
with a brass or other metal plate; Figure 2 is a similar view with the brass
or metal plate removed; Figure 3 represents the same with lid removed;
Figure 4 is a like view with the zinc or metal plate or false bottom removed;
Figure 5 is a front side view of the card case; Figure 6 an end view shewing
the aperture or slit through which the card issues; Figure 7 is a transverse
section taken through the card case along the line A, B, in Figure 8; Figure 8
is a longitudinal section taken through the card case with the lid open;
Figure 9 is a longitudinal section through the card case with the lid closed;
and Figure 10 shows enlarged views of the moveable slide on the top of the
case.
a represents the body of the card case, which may be of any suitable material,
such as wood, papier machie, ivory, leather, or any kind of metal or com-
position; by preference it is of rectangula form, as shewn in the Drawings, and
of any convenient size suitable for ladies' use, and provided with a moveable.

page_text: lid or cover b, which is scarcely attached to the side of the case by hinges or
other suitable fastenings, and opens to the extent and in the manner shewn in
Figures 7 and 8. The under side of this cover may be chamfered off from
the centre each way to the sides, in order to lessen the friction or rubbing
surface of the material on the card underneath. c is a brass or other metal
plate secured to the top of the cover, and having a longitudinal slot made
therein, as shewn in Figure 1, for the reception of a travelling slide e, herein-
after described, and shewn on an enlarged scale at Figure 10 in side elevation.
The plate c covers a second slot of somewhat larger dimensions made in the
cover for the reception of a spiral spring d, as shewn in Figures 3, 7, 8, and 9.
The end of this spiral or other spring farthest from the moveable slide 6 is
secured to the cover, whilst the end adjoining the slide is free to move to and
fro as acted on by the slide. This slide is arranged to move freely in the
groove of the case cover, and is held in place by projection lips, on the lower
side are two or more pins, which, when the slide is pressed down and moved
forward come in contact with the card resting underneath, and by the junction
thus effected move the card. forward, projecting it through the aperture or slit
at the end of the case, as shewn in Figures 6 and 9. The card in this
position can be taken hold of by the fingers, and as the slide is released it
springs upwards by the pressure of the spiral spring against the inclined
surface of its front side, as shewn in side view Figure 10, and assumes the
position shewn by the dotted lines, and so being released from the card is at
once forced back to the other end of the slot in the cover by the action of the
spring; or in place of the pins an indian-rubber cushion may be attached to
the lower side of the moveable slide; the friction created by pressing the
moveable slide down on the card moving it forward. f is a moveable zinc or
other metal plate or false bottom fitting in the case for the reception of the
cards, as shewn in Figures 3, 7, 8, and 9; it is provided with a longitudinal
slot, as shewn in Figure 3, in order that the fine pins in the moveable slide
may not come in contact with the metal and so sustain injury. It is also
provided with two lugs on its sides working freely in two grooves in the slides
of the case, as shewn in Figures 3, 4, 7, and 8; these lugs serve to keep the
plate in its proper position; 9, 9, are clasps or bands, which serve to keep the
cards firmly in place on the metal plate f; they may be arranged in short
lengths properly secured to the sides of the case, as shewn in Figure 3, at or
near each end of the card, or one continuous, one may be used extending
entirely across the card in the rear of the pins, and two short ones placed in
front; h, h, are two flat blade or other springs attached to the bottom of the
case, and assuming the form shewn in Figures 4, 7, 8, and 9;. these springs

page_text: support the metal plate f, and keep it with the cards on its top pressed up
against the lower side of the cover; i is a spring and pin placed at the
discharging end of the case, as shewn in Figures 3, 4, 7, 8, and 9, the upper
end of the pin when in its normal position approaches to the under side of the
cover, and as the card passes against it during its, onward movement the pin
is forced forward, and at the same time in a downward direction, allowing one
card to pass over its top, and keeping the remaining ones back. The case
being arranged with the various parts in working order, the requisite number
of cards are introduced, placing them on the plate or false bottom f under the
bands 9, 9, and closing the cover b, tightly securing it to the side of the case
with the spring or fastening shewn in the Drawings; in this position the
plate f, with its cards will be pressed up against the under side of the cover b
by the action of the springs h, h, the lugs attached to the sides of the plate f
and working in suitable grooves in the sides of the case a, keeping the whole
in the proper position. The moveable slide e is now pressed down until the
small pius or indian-rubber come in contact with the uppermost card, and after
the contact is effected the slide is moved forward, carrying the card with it,
and so over the top of the spring i out through the aperture in the end of the
card case. The slide being released by the finger is at once thrown up and
detached from the card, and flies back to the other end of the groove in the
cover by the action of the spiral spring. The card can now be slipped out of
the case with the fingers and another treated in the same manner, and so on,
as long as any remain in the case, the springs h, h, below the plate f keeping.
it and its cards pressed up against the lower side of the cover in immediate
contact with the fine pins or indian-rubber attached to the moveable slide,
when the same is pressed down... When no cards remain in the case the
plate f is still pressed up against the cover, but in consequence of the slots in.
the plate the pins sustain no damage in the event of being pressed down and
moved forward in the usual manner.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I would observe in, conclusion that what I consider to be novel
and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent is,--
First, the general construction and arrangement of card cases, substantially
in the manner and for the purpose herein-before described and illustrated by
my Drawings..
Second, the application and use to and in card cases of the slotted plate f,
pini, bands 9, and peculiarly formed slide e, combined and operating sub-

page_text: stantially as and for the purpose berein-before described and illustrated by my
Drawings.
o
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twelfth day of October, One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-six.
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (L.S.)