Improvements in Cigar and Cigarette Cases.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improvements in Cigar and Cigarette Cases.
I, JOHN WALTER TOWNSEND, of " Wendreda," Lancaster Road, Wimbledon, in
the County of Surrey, Builder, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
My invention relates to the cases or holders for cigarettes and cigars, such as
are carried by smokers, and it has for its objects improvements in the construction
of such cases by which a single cigar or cigarette can be more easily withdrawn,
and at the same time those remaining in the case are not liable to fall out.
In order to carry out my invention I form the case in two halves or sides, hinged
together and preferably arranged with the usual spring and catch, by which, when
the latter is pressed, the two sides fly open and disclose the contents of the case.
Each half of the case has a spring arm extending across its internal surface, by
means of which the cigars or cigarettes are held with sufficient pressure to prevent
their falling out when the case is opened. Each side or half of the case is made
with a projecting rim at the two sides and at one end, the other end being left
without any such rim, in such manner that when the case is closed the open edge of
one end is closed by the projecting rim upon the opposite half of the case, and
vice versa.
In this way, when the cigarette or cigar case is opened one of the articles con-
tained on either side of it can be pushed forward and removed without any tendency
to break or injure them.
The two halves of the case may be corrugated or recessed internally with a
sufficient number of corrugations or recesses of the proper size to receive single
cigars or cigarettes.
The cases may be made of metal or other suitable material, and are simple in
construction and effective in appearance, and by their use a single cigar or cigarette
can be removed with great ease and convenience.
Improvements in Cigar and Cigarette Cases.
I, JOHN WALTER TOWNSEND, of "Wendreda," Lancaster Road, Wimbledon, in
the County of Surrey, Builder, do hereby declare the nature of this invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement, and accompanying drawing, that is
to say:-.
My invention relates to the cases or holders for cigarettes and cigars, such as
are carried by smokers, and it has for its objects improvements in the construction

page_text: of such cases, by which improvements a single cigar or cigarette can be more easily
withdrawn, and at the same time those remaining in the case are not liable to fall
out, or be injured.
The accompanying drawing is in illustration of my invention. Figure 1 is a
front view of a cigarette case closed. Figure 2 is an end view of the same; and
Figure 3 represents the case open.
In the drawing the invention is shewn applied to a cigarette case capable of
holding twelve cigarettes:
In order to carry out my invention I form the case in two halves or sides a and b,
hinged together at the edges at c and preferably arranged with the usual spring
and a catch d, so that when the latter is pressed the two sides a and b fly open and
disclose the contents of the case, as shown in Figure 3.
Each half of the case has a light spring hinged arm e extending across its internal
surface, by means of which the cigars or cigarettes are lightly held down, but with
sufficient pressure to prevent their falling out when the case is opened. Instead
of the spring arms e shown, indiarubber bands or equivalent devices may be used.
Each side or half of the case is made with a projecting rim f at its two sides and
at one end, the other end at h being left without any such rim, in such manner
that when the case is closed the open edge h of one end is closed by the projecting
rim upon the opposite half of the case, and vice versa. The rim described, at one
end of each half of the case, may be provided above with caps i, to receive the ends
of the cigarettes k, or cigars, as shown. Or, instead of having caps, the ends may
be left flat.
In this way, when the cigarette or cigar case is opened by separating the two
halves a and b, one of the articles contained on either side of it can be pushed
forward as shown in the lower half of Figure 3, and removed, without any tendency
to break or injure them.
The two halves of the case may be corrugated or recessed internally as shown
with a sufficient number of shallow longitudinal corrugations or recesses of the
proper size to receive single cigars or cigarettes. The case is shown somewhat
arohed or curved in end view, as shown in Figure 2, so as to be more conveniently
carried in the pocket.
The cases may be made of metal or other suitable material, and of sizes adapted
for cigars or for cigarettes, any desired number of which they may be made to hold.
They are simple in construction and effective in appearance, and by their use a
single cigar or cigarette may be removed with great ease and convenience.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:.
1. In cases for cigars or cigarettes, the two halves such as a and b, hinged
together, the alternate ends of the two halves at 1, 7 being left open, but being closed,
when the case is shut, by the other ends of the two halves, substantially as described
and illustrated.
2. In the cases for cigars or cigarettes described and claimed in Claim 1, the
caps i, i, at one end of each half of the case, substantially as described and
illustrated.
3. In the cases for cigars or cigarettes described and claimed in Claim 1, the
spring holders e, e, for retaining the cigars or cigarettes in position, substantially
as described and illustrated.
Dated this 20th den of Tana
1000
EDWARDS & Co.,
65 and 66, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.