AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR THE USE OF SMOKERS
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Jean Baptiste Catou, of No. 10, Ruc de la
Fidélité, Paris, in the Republic of France, Gentleman, for tho
T
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Jean Baptiste Caton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 3rd February 1873.
I, JEAN BAPTISTE CATON, of No. 10, Rue de la Fidélité, Paris, in the
Republic of France, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR THE USE OF SMOKERS," to
be as follows, that is to say :—
°
My Invention consists in an improved apparatus for producing the
means of lighting tobacco or cigars whenever required.
The apparatus is constructed of a circular box containing a wick
prepared by any suitable known means; in the centre of the box is
placed a disc of steel provided with a rim grooved on its periphery,

page_text: against which a piece of hard stone is made to bear by means of a
weak spring; the disc may be turned by means of a small handle
outside the box, by which a spiral spring is wound up, and when the
handle is released the disc will be turned back rapidly by the uncoiling
of the spring, and the grooved periphery in rubbing against the piccc 5
of hard stone will produce a number of sparks which will ignite the end
of the prepared wick.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Jean Baptiste Caton in the Great Scal Patent
Office on the 2nd August 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JEAN
BAPTISTE CATON, of No. 10, Rue de la Fidélité, Paris, in the Republic
of France, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing dato the Third day of February, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the
thirty-sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Jean Baptisto Caton, Her special
licence that I, the said Jean Baptiste Caton, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Jean Baptiste
Caton, my exccutors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, usc, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Iuven-
tion for "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR THE USE OF SMOKERS," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Jean Baptiste Caton, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my,
or their, or one of their hands and seals, 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 imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Jean Baptiste Caton, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same

page_text: is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the Drawing hereto
annexed, and to the figures and letters marked thercon, that is to
say:
-
My Invention consists in an improved apparatus affording the means
of lighting tobacco or cigars whenever required.
This improved apparatus is constructed of a circular box containing
a wick prepared by any suitable known means; in the centre of the
box is placed a disc of steel provided with a rim grooved on its
periphery, against which a piece of hard stone is brought to bear by
means of a weak spring; the disc may be turned by means of a small
handle outside the box, by which a spiral spring is wound up, and
when the handle is released the disc will be turned back rapidly by
the uncoiling of the spring, and the grooved periphery in rubbing
against the piece of hard stone will produce a number of sparks which
will ignite the end of the prepared wick.
To make my Invention better understood I will proceed to describe
the same by reference to the accompanying Drawing, in which Figure 1
is a section of my improved apparatus; Figure 2 a plan of the same,
the lid of the box being shewn open; and Figure 3 a plan. Similar
letters in all the Figures represent similar parts.
A is the disc of steel, shewn in section, Figure 1, and grooved on its
circumference; the grooves are divided by notches n, m, n, seen in plan,
Figure 3. This disc is fixed on an axis E provided with a handle F
serving to wind up the spiral spring D, one end of which is fixed
to the axis, and the other end to the cover H forming part of the box.
Over the disc is placed a holder or pincer C held by a spring I fixed
to the box; and in which is held the small piece of hard stone B giving
out sparks by the shock or friction of the steel disc A against it. I
prefer employing grit stone which does not so soon get smooth, and
lasts a long time.
The whole mechanism is enclosed in a box furnished with a cover H.
An interior curved partition serves to separate from the disc A the
prepared wick K, which is supplied by means of a small toothed
pinion G, projecting outside, and which may be turned with tho
finger.

page_text: When the box is closed the wick presses against the small partition R
forming part of the cover S fitted along the circumference of the box,
and opened or closed by turning on its hinge T.
To use the apparatus the cover S is opened and the wick sufficiently
advanced by turning the pinion G, then by means of the handle the 5
spring is wound up. When the handle is released the axis and with it
the disc A will return rapidly, and the friction of the steel against the
stone will produce a shower of sparks which will ignite the wick K;
to extinguish it it is only necessary to lower the wick and then close
the small cover S.
The movement of the disc may be effected in any other convenient
manner than that herein-before described, and I reserve the right of
giving to it a continuous movement by means of a handle and gearing,
and also of using a disc of stone to turn against a piece of steel.
1
My Invention consists principally in making a portable flint and steel 1
for producing fire, by means of a steel disc turning in contact with
a piece of stone, or vice versa.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the best
means I am acquainted with for carrying the same into effect, I wish
it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details 2
herein laid down, but what I claim is, the peculiar arrangement and
construction of apparatus for producing a light for igniting tobacco
or cigars, as hercin-before described and represented in the accom-
panying Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Jean Baptiste Caton, have hereto set 2
my hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of July, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.