IMPROVEMENTS IN CASES OR RECEPTACLES FOR NEEDLES, PINS, MATCHES, PENS, CARDS, STAMPS, PHOTOGRAPHS, COTTON, AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Avery, of Redditch, in the County of
Worcester, Manufacturer, and Albert Fenton, of the same Place,
Machinist, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CASES OR RECEPTACLES
FOR NEEDLES, PINS, MATCHES, PENS, CARDS, STAMPS, PHOTOGRAPHS, COTTON,
AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES."
Sealed the 21st January 1870, and dated the 14th October 1869.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Avery and Albert
Fenton at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
Petition and Declaration, on the 14th October 1869, pursuant to
the 9th Section of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, WILLIAM
AVERY, of Redditch, in the County of Worcester, Manufacturer, and
ALBERT FENTON, of the same Place, Machinist, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CASES OR RECEPTACLES
FOR NEEDLES, PINS, MATCHES, PENS, CARDS, STAMPS, PHOTOGRAPHS, COTTON, AND
OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES," and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following

page_text: statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto
attached, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
Our Invention refers more particularly to improvements in the
formation of cases or receptacles for needles, though to this use of the
cases or receptacles we do not purpose limiting ourselves, as they may
be employed for holding or containing pins, matches, pens, cards, stamps,
photographs, cotton, and other similar articles, the cases or receptacles
being made of suitable size to meet the requirements of the articles to
be contained therein.
Our improvements have for their object the providing of effectual methods
for opening and closing the cases or receptacles with ready means for
extracting or exhibiting the articles contained in the same when requisite.
Referring to the Drawings hereunto attached, Figure 1 represents a
needle case formed by preference of thin metal in the view with the
front plate removed. (a) is the needle packet holder, sliding up and
down in the case, and actuated by means of a crank arm (b) attached to
the lid or cover (c) which works upon a centre (c¹). Upon opening the
lid (c) of the case to expose the needles the needle packet holder (a)
will also move upwards, taking with it the needle packet so that the
needles may be readily extracted therefrom. Upon closing the lid (c) it
will take down into position the needle packet with its holder (a). By
these means the needle packet is self-acting, moving upwards or down-
wards in the case as it is opened or closed.
Figure 2 represents in an open and closed edge view another method
of readily exposing the needles when desired. The front plate (d) slides
within the grooved back plate (d'), which has its upper part (d³)
hinged to the lower part (d), the part (d) forming the top or
cover, and the case being perfectly secure when the sliding plate (d) fits
within the grooved top and side edges of the top or cover (d'); in this
case the needle packet does not move. Or, as shewn in Figure 3, the
front part (e) may contain the needle packet, whilst to expose the
needles the back part (e¹) may slide upwards by means of pins or studs
(f) working in side grooves (f¹), the back part (e¹) being hinged or
connected by the pins (f.)
Figure 4 shews a case in which the chief object is to raise the needles
for ready extraction as the top part (g) is thrown open, the closing of
the same depressing or taking back into position the needle packet. In

page_text: the view with the outer plate (h) removed (i) is the needle packet
holder, which is formed as a double hinge, the intermediate part (1)
being hinged to the sides of the cover or top part (g); thus when the top
part (g) is thrown back to expose the needles the double hinged part
and needle packet holder (i) will slightly ascend the case, as represented
in the view of the case with the cover (g) thrown open:
Or the same result may be obtained of raising or depressing the
needle packet as shewn in Figure 5, in which case a small lever arm (k)
is secured to the cover part (1) at the point where the cover part (2)
is hinged to the outer case (m), the cover part being also hinged to
the needle packet holder, so that when the lever arm (k) is moved in an
upward direction the cover part (t) is turned over upon its axes (1¹), and
thereby raises the needle packet. The reverse action to close the parts
will take back the needle packet into position.
Or again the needle packet may be raised or depressed and the cover
at the same time opened or closed, as shewn in Figure 6. (n) is the
cover part and back in one, having a lever tail piece (n¹), which when
pressed inwards causes the cover part (n) to move outwards on its axes
(n) and also the needle packet upwards by means of the intermediate
hinge piece (o), which is connected to the front of the case and to the
lever tail piece (¹), the needle packet being held between the parts.
Figure 7 illustrates a case of a tubular form in section having a double-
bar or ramrod (p, p¹); the one bar (p) works up and down within a
small tube or needle receiver which is open on one side by means of a
narrow passage to the larger chamber or needle receptacle (2); the other
part (p) of the double bar or ramrod is merely a guide rod sliding on
the other side of the case and having a suitable stop piece.
In the section of the case shewn the larger chamber is represented
as having been filled with needles, and when required to extract one for
use the double bar or ramrod must be drawn down to a level with the
needle points, when the small tube or needle receiver will be clear to.
receive a needle through the narrow passage from the needle chamber
or receptacle (r), the narrow opening being just of sufficient width to
admit of the passage of one needle only at a time. When the needle is
in the needle receiver the double bar or ramrod is pushed upwards, when
the rod (p) will force out of the top of the needle tube the needle for
use, and the ramrod being further pushed up into place securely fastens

page_text: up the needle case. In some instances we prefer to use a single bar or
ramrod for the needle tube without the addition of a guide bar on the
other side of the case.
Or, as illustrated in Figure 8, we also propose to form a double case
similar to that last described, or if required we can form such cases
with more than two chambers, similar to those marked (r), for various
sizes of needles, each chamber having a separate ramrod or needle bar
worked by the hand from the free ends of the same, or by means of a
stud (s) traversing a slot, as shewn in the edge view, Figure 8. The top
and bottom ends of these tubular cases may be suitably stoppered or
fastened up.
Figure 9 illustrates a circular needle case for containing either four
packets, as indicated in dotted lines, or any other suitable number of
packets. The packets are secured within the outer case (t) to an inner
revolving pad (¹) worked by a turn button (2) or other suitable means,
so that when a needle is required for use the turning of the inner pad
will bring the needle packets to the openings (u), and if preferred only
one opening (u) may be formed in the outer case, to which all the
packets are brought consecutively.
Or again, instead of arranging the needle packets flat upon an inner
pad, we purpose securing them, as shewn in Figure 10, to the spindle
or axis of the case, so as to be capable of being brought to a suitable
opening cut in the rim of the case when a needle is required for use.
Figure 11 is intended to shew a circular needle case having its axis
or spindle (v) put out of centre in order to give to the needle packet
pad (¹) an eccentric action sufficient to expose the needle packets con-
tained in the inner pad or case (¹) when required; and Figure 12 is
a similar case, with the needle packets arranged edgeways, the spaces
between the needle packets being suitably formed for pins if desired.
Figure 13 illustrates a description of needle case in which we form
an outer sheath or case (w) open at each end to receive two sliding pads
or plates (x, x¹,) arranged with needle packets thereon, as, for instance,
two upon each pad or plate. In the outer sheath (w) are cut openings
numbered as required to correspond with the sizes of needles contained
in the packets. When any of the needles are required for use, the pad or
plate nearest the opening marked the requisite size is pulled out of the
sheath until the needle packet corresponding to the opening shews
itself; a needle may then be extracted and the pad pushed back into

page_text: position. We also purpose using a single pad or plate with a series of
packets arranged thereon if preferred.
Or again we form a needle case, as represented in Figure 14, by con-
necting together by means of a suitable hinge joint (y) two counter-
parts or cases (y¹, y,) each containing a suitable number of packets of
needles, two being shewn in the Drawings. The outer ends of the two
cases (y', y,) are formed into sheaths upon reverse sides of the case;
these sheaths admit the exposed portions of the needle packets and their
holders upon the closing of the case, the partially opened view of the
case in the Drawings shewing the needle packet holder (A) just entering
the sheath on the one side, whilst the dotted lines indicate a similar
movement of the corresponding parts on the other side of the case.
Figure 15 represents another method of opening and closing a needle
case. In this instance (B) is a sliding cover or case fitting and sliding
upon the flap (C) of the case containing the needle packets. To secure
the case the parts are brought together, and the sliding cover (B)
pushed up under the catch (D), as shewn in the closed view, Figure 15,
when the parts will be secured.
Figure 16 shews in open and closed edge views a needle case in which
the object is to obtain a break-down action of the needle packet cover
(E). When it is required to extract a needle for use we secure an elastic
spring (F) to the cover (E) and to the needle packet case or sheath (G),
thus to expose the needles upon the flap (E¹) being slightly lifted, the
tensile force of the spring (F) will cause a break down of the cover (E),
as shewn in the Drawings, exposing the needles, and at the same time
thrusting forward the needle packet case (G) for the readier extraction
of needles therefrom.
Figure 17 illustrates a cylindrical form of needle case for the con-
taining of any suitable number of packets of needles. (H) is an inner
case arranged for the reception of four packets (I) with their holders
(K), upon which are formed studs (K') working in the slots (L) cut in
the case (H), upon which is fitted a drum or outer case (M) provided
with a slot or slots (L') corresponding to those of the inner case (H); a
slot (N) is also cut upon the top of the drum or case (M). The action of
a case so formed will be thus:-To extract a needle of a required size
the outer case (M) is turned around until the slot (N) comes in a direct
line with the stud of the needle packet required, this will also bring the
slot (L') into position, the stud (K') is then pushed up, taking with it

page_text: the needle packet, which will appear out of the slot (N) above the case
and ready for use.
Figure 18 represents another form of cylindrical needle case suitable
for containing various sizes of needles and other articles, as herein-after
described. (O) is an inner case provided with pockets or recesses, and
(O¹) are sliding needle packet holders or receptacles. Upon the inner
case (O) the outer case (P) is fitted, having openings (P¹) cut upon it
corresponding in number and position to the sliding needle packet
holders or cases (O') which slide within the cylindrical or outer case (P)
by means of thumb bits (0%) so as to bring each needle case (O¹) to a
suitable opening or slot in the top of the outer case (P), when the
needles may be readily extracted therefrom.
We have thus far described our improvements as applied to needle
cases only. We will now proceed to point out some of the applications of
the cases or receptacles specified for the purposes of holding or containing
pins, matches, pens, cards, stamps, photographs, cotton, and other similar
articles, it being understood that alterations with regard to the size or
bulk of the cases must be made to meet the requirements of the articles
to be contained.
The cases or receptacles shewn in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 may all
be readily adapted for the purpose of holding cards and stamps, whilst
some of these may be used as photograph cases, and others, such as
Figures 1, 2, or 5, may be used as match or pin boxes.
Figures 7 and 8 are suitable for match or pin boxes, the same action
delivering the matches or pins as is employed for the needles.
By enlarging the openings (u), Figure 9, the inner pad (4) may be
made to contain miniature photographs, or cards, or stamps.
Figures 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16 are also capable of being readily
converted into photograph, card, or stamp cases of various kinds.
Figures 17 and 18 may have in addition to needle packets, cases, or
pockets, their centre part or open spaces filled with cotton, silk, worsted,
or tape, or the centre part may be formed into a receptacle for pins, pens,
or matches. Or again the case Figure 18 may be fitted up with needles,
pins, matches or pens, or all of these articles in the pockets or recesses
of the inner case. One or both ends of the case may be formed into pin-
cushions, or a thimble holder may be inserted in the one end if preferred.

page_text: It will be seen that the needle packet holders (O¹) close over the pockets
or recesses in the inner case, forming lids or covers thereto.
Generally we prefer to employ sheet metal in the manufacture of the
various cases or receptacles described. To the use of this material we do
not limit ourselves, as other materials, such as paper or cardboard, may
be used with advantage.
Having thus described the nature and object of our said Invention,
and the manner in which the same is to be carried into effect, we
claim, without confining ourselves to the mere outlines or designs of the
various cases or receptacles shewn, the several improvements in cases or
receptacles for needles, pins, matches, pens, cards, stamps, photographs,
cotton, and other similar articles, substantially in manner as herein more
fully set forth and specified.
In witness whereof, we, the said William Avery and Albert Fenton,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Fifth day of October,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-
nine.
WILLIAM AVERY. (L.S.)
ALBERT FENTON.
(L.S.)