AN IMPROVED TOOL OR " APPARATUS FOR OPENING PACKING CASES, BOXES OR CHESTS AND FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Julius Boult of 323 High Holborn, in the
County of Middlesex, Engineer for an Invention of "AN IMPROVED TOOL OR
"
APPARATUS FOR OPENING PACKING CASES, BOXES OR CHESTS AND FOR
SIMILAR PURPOSES a communication from E Kricker, Pharmaceutical
Chemist, of Essen on the Rhine, German Empire
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Julius Boult at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th December 1883.
"
ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer AN IMPROVED TOOL OR APPARATUS FOR OPENING PACKING CASES
BOXES OR CHESTS AND FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES [a communication from
E Kricker, Pharmaceutical Chemist, of Essen on the Rhine, German Empire]
"
This invention relates to an improved tool or apparatus for forcing open chests
packing cases, boxes, and for similar purposes.
The said tool is somewhat similar in shape to an ordinary pair of pincers or
tongs and the jaws open when the handles close and close when the latter open.
The jaws are of peculiar formation viz: the jaw of the one part when closed
embraces the jaw of the other the outer jaw being forked to allow of this; the two
branches of the forked jaw are connected by a bridge or crosspiece.
The inner jaw has a tapering slot so that it can embrace a nail or the like.
Both jaws are tapered and when the tool is closed are flush with one another
forming a wedge which is inserted between the parts to be separated, say the lid
and body of a box or packing case. The two parts of the tool are united by a pin
on which both parts are free to rotate. This pin also serves as a fulcrum each part
of the tool being a lever. By pressing or drawing together the handles the levers
are turned on the pin and the jaws separate forcing asunder the parts between
which they may be inserted.
Between the two parts there is a spring and one part may carry a block or piece
that can be used as a hammer.

page_text: 23 44
The general shape of this box opener is that of a pair of tongues with the difference
that instead of having jaws of the usual shape, these resemble a centrally divided
wedge.
.
A A¹ are the two legs or levers turning on the pin or rivet a The leg A¹ is
extended so as to form a double wedge shaped nose S₁ S² whilst the wedge S of the
lower leg A enters into the open parts of S1 S2 (see Figure 1) so that both parts
form a single wedge (see Figure 2)
The spring F rivetted upon the leg A and the bridge piece B connecting the
parts S¹ S² of the upper jaw have for their object normally to retain the tool closed
as shown in Figure 2 so that the wedge or nose of the tool may be readily inserted
between the parts to be opened.
The lower jaw S is furnished with a recess b and serves for pulling nails out.
Upon the upper part of leg A a head C is rivetted or cast and serves as a hammer.
The manipulation of this tool for opening boxes is represented in Figure 5.
The nose or fore part is (when closed as represented in Figure 2) introduced
between the surfaces to be separated and then by pressing the legs A. A¹ against
one another the jaws, and consequently the parts between which they are inserted,
are separated. The effect is such that the faces of the jaws press upon the surface
of the wood parts and not upon their edges. When the tool is used in the manner
represented in Figure 5 that is to say with the surfaces of the jaws acting upon the
surface of the lid, a sufficient bearing surface around the centre of the nail is
provided and the splitting of the lid is consequently obviated.
To prevent the nail head being drawn through the wood when cases of soft
wood are being opened, the jaw S is placed upward and the slot b is pressed against
the nail so that the nail will readily be lifted with the lid.
Having now described the nature of the said invention and the manner of
performing the same as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent I claim.
The construction of a tool for opening boxes or cases chiefly characterised by the
legs or levers A A' pivotted at a of which one A¹ is extended into a double wedge

page_text: shaped jaw or nose S1 S2 between the two parts of which the jaw S slotted at b
moves, the jaws being held closed by a spring F against the bridge piece or stop B
substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof I the said Alfred Julius Boult have hereunto set my hand
and seal this sixteenth day of June in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty four
ALFRED J. BOULT (L.S.)