IMPROVEMENTS IN BOXES FOR HOLDING MATCHES, PENS, NEEDLES, PINS, AND OTHER ARTICLES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Henry Ann, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BOXES
FOR HOLDING MATCHES, PENS, NEEDLES, PINS, AND OTHER ARTICLES."
Sealed the 15th May 1877, and dated the 21st November 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Henry Ann at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st November 1876.
ROBERT HENRY ANN, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Manufacturer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BOXES FOR HOLDING MATCHES, PENS, NEEDLES, PINS, AND OTHER
ARTICLES."
My Invention consists in constructing and arranging in the manner herein-after
described the parts of boxes for holding matchies, pens, needles, pins, and other
articles.
Boxes constructed according to my Invention are composed of but few parts; they
are self-closing, they open symmetrically, and from the simplicity of their construction
are not liable to get out of order.
In constructing a box according to my Invention I make it principally of three
parts, namely, of a flat internal case, open at top, constituting the box proper, and
an outer case or covering made in two longitudinal halves. The half cases are
jointed to one another and to the internal case by a joint similar to that of a pair
of forceps, the joint pin passing through ears made in the meeting edges of the half
cases. The jointed half cases are longer than the internal case or box proper, their
lower ends working nearly against the lower end of the said internal case, but their
upper ends project considerably above the open top of the internal case, and when
in their normal position close over and cover the said open top of the case.
Parts
of the sides and bottoms of the half cases below the joint are cut away to permit the
half cases to open to the required angle. By pressing the edges of the lower or tail
ends of the jointed half cases by the thumb and finger they are made to approach
one another, and the upper parts or lids of the said half cases are made to separate
from one another and uncover the open top of the internal case. By relaxing the
pressure on the tail ends of the half cases they separate and the lids or upper parts
close upon one another and cover the internal case. The self-closing of the half
cases is effected by means of nearly flat steel springs situated between the outer
edges of the internal box or case and the inner edges of the jointed half cases, the

page_text: free ends of the said springs bearing against the tail parts of the half cases so as to
press them outwards and cause the upper or lid parts to close upon and cover the
open top of the internal case. The figure of the sides of the internal case is such as
to permit of the compression of the springs when pressure is put upon the tail ends
of the jointed half cases for opening the box.
For the purpose of causing the lid end of each half case to open equidistantly
from the middle line of the internal case a stud is fixed on the outside of the said
internal case and below and in a line with the axis on which the half cases turn,
and semicircular holes are made in the opposed edges of the tail ends of the half
When the box or case is fully opened these holes take upon the stud described
which acts as a stop and the tail ends are thereby prevented from advancing
beyond the middle of the internal case, and hence the lid ends are opened equi-
distantly from the middle of the open box or case.
cases.
Boxes constructed according to iny Invention may be made either of sheet metal
or of some strong and rigid non-metallic material.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Robert Henry Ann in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 15th
May 1877.
ROBERT HENRY ANN, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Manufacturer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BOXES FOR HOLDING MATCHES, PENS, NEEDLES, PINS, AND
OTHER ARTICLES."
My Invention consists in constructing and arranging in the manner herein-after
described the parts of boxes for holding matches, pens, needles, pins, and other
articles.
Boxes constructed according to my Invention are composed of but few parts;
they are self-closing, they open symmetrically, and from the simplicity of their con-
struction are not liable to get out of order.
In constructing a box according to my Invention I make it principally of three
parts, namely, of a flat internal case open at top constituting the box proper, and an
outer case or covering made in two longitudinal halves. These half cases are jointed
to one another and to the internal case by a joint similar to that of a pair of forceps,
the joint pin passing through eyes made on the meeting edges of the half cases.
The jointed half cases are longer than the internal case or box proper, their lower
ends working nearly against the lower end of the said internal case, but their upper
ends project considerably above the open top of the internal case, and when in their
normal position close over and cover the said open top of the case. Parts of the
sides and bottoms of the half cases below the joint are cut away to permit the half
cases to open to the required angle. By pressing the edges of the lower or tail ends of
the jointed half cases by the thumb and finger they are made to approach one another,
and the upper parts or lids of the said half cases are made to separate from one
another and uncover the open top of the internal case.
the tail ends of the half cases they separate, and the lids or upper parts close upon
By relaxing the pressure on
another and cover the internal case. The self-closing of the half cases is effected
by means of nearly flat steel springs situate between the outer edges of the internal
box or case and the inner edges of the jointed half cases, the free ends of the said
springs bearing against the tail parts of the half cases so as to press them outwards
and cause the upper or lid parts to close upon and cover the open top of the internal
case. The figure of the sides of the internal case is such as to perinit of the com-
pression of the springs when pressure is put upon the tail ends of the jointed half
cases for opening the box.
For the purpose of causing the lid end of each half case to open- equidistantly
from the middle line of the internal case a stud may be fixed on the outside of the
said internal case and below and in a line with the joint on which the half cases

page_text: turn, semicircular holes are made in the opposed edges of the tail ends of the half
cases. When the box or case is fully opened these holes take upon the stud
described which acts as a stop and the tail ends are thereby prevented from
advancing beyond the middle of the internal case, and hence the lid ends are opened
equidistantly from the middle of the open box or case.
I will now describe with reference to the accompanying Drawing the manner in
which my Invention may be performed.
Figure 1 represents in side elevation, Figure 2 in plan, and Figure 3 in section, a
metal match box, the parts of which are constructed and combined according to my
Invention; Figures 4, 5, and 6, represent the box open; Figure 7 represents the
two outer half cases of the box detached; and Figure 8 represents in side elevation
and front elevation the box proper or internal case detached.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in the several Figures of the
Drawing.
a is the flat internal case or box proper open at top, and b, c, are the outer cases
of the box, the said outer cases consisting of two longitudinal halves. The said half
cases b, c, are jointed to one another and to the internal case or box a by joints at d,
upon which joints the half cases turn after the manner of a pair of forceps. The
jointing of the half cases b, c, effected by making on the meeting edges of the said
half cases eyes e, e, (see Figure 7), through which eyes hollow rivets or eyelets are
passed and rivetted or expanded on the inner sides of the internal case u. Other
methods of jointing may however be employed.
The internal case a has the curved figure represented, being narrower at bottom
than at top, and the jointed half cases b, c, are longer than the internal case a, the
lower ends of the said half cases b, c, working against or over the bottom of the said
internal case a, but the upper ends of the said half cases project above the open top
of the internal case, and when in the position represented in Figures 1, 2, and 3, close
over and cover the said open top of the case a.
The half cases b, c, are cut away at b, c, below the joint d to permit of the open-
ing of the upper parts or lids of the said half cases to the required angle.
The closing of the half cases b, c, when pressure is removed from their tail ends is
effected by the springs f, f, at the edges of the internal case a. The upper ends of
these springs are rivetted to tlie case a, and their free ends bear against internal
plates g, g, in the lower parts of the half cases b, c.
When it is required to open the box a the lower or tail ends b, c, of the jointed
half cases b, c, are pressed between the thumb and finger. The said lower or tail
ends are thereby made to approach to and abut against one another, and the upper
ends or lids of the said half cases are consequently made to separate from one another
and uncover the open top of the box or internal case a as illustrated in
Figures 4, 5, and 6. On removing the pressure from the tail ends b², c², of the
half cases the springs f, f, which have been compressed press the said tail ends
outwards and cause the upper or lid ends to close upon and cover the open
top of the internal case as illustrated in Figures 1, 2, and 3. By an examina-
tion of Figures 3 and 6, it will be seen that the configuration of the lower
part of the sides of the internal box a permits of the compression of the springs f. f,
when the tail ends of the half cases are pressed together, the said springs when the
pressure on the said tail ends is relaxed resuming their normal shape.
In order to insure the symmetrical opening of the box, that is, causing the lid end
of each half case to open equidistantly from the middle line of the internal case a
a stud may be fixed outside the case a as indicated at h, Figure 8, and semicircular
recesses may be made in the tail ends of the half cases b, c, as indicated at i, i,
Figure 7. When the box or case is fully opened these recesses i, i, take upon the
stud or stop h and thereby prevent the tail ends of the half cases from advancing
beyond the middle of the internal case, and consequently the upper or lid ends are
opened equisdistantly from the middle of the said internal case.
Boxes constructed according to my Invention may be made either of sheetme tal
or of some strong and rigid non-metallic material.

page_text: Having now described the nature of my Invention and the manner in which
the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I claim as my Inven-
tion the improvements in boxes for holding matches, pens, needles, pins, and other
articles herein-before described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawing, that
is to say, the combination of the internal case or box a constructed as described and
illustrated with the self-closing jointed half cases b, b, c, c, substantially as
described and illustrated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Henry Ann, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fourteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-KOVAN
Witness,
GEORGE SHAW.
ROBERT HENRY ANN. (L.S.)