Improvements in and relating to Boxes or Holders for Cartridges.
Year: 1887

page_text: Improvements in and relating to Boxes or Holders for Cartridges.
I, JOSEPH JAMES SPEED, of 3 Woodstock Villas, Waltham Cross, in the County
of Herts, Mechanical Engineer, 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 :-
My invention relates to cartridge boxes or holders designed to be attached to a
belt or strap fastened around the soldier or other person, so that he can conveniently
take a cartridge therefrom and insert it in a fire-arm.
The main object of my said invention is to provide for facilitating the withdrawal
or removal of cartridges one by one from such boxes or holders, without the necessity
for raising the lids or covers thereof.
Another object of my said invention is to provide means whereby, when a soldier
changes his position from standing or kneeling to lying down, or vice versa, he
can very readily alter the position of his cartridge-box without entirely detaching the
same from his belt, and may thus always keep the said box in the most favorable
position for effecting the withdrawal or removal of the cartridges therefrom.
My said invention comprises the employment of an oscillating carrier, which forms
a part of the box or holder, and which, when operated by a soldier's hand as herein-
after described, will transfer a cartridge from the said box or holder into the soldier's
hand, and, when released, will automatically resume its normal position ready to
transfer another cartridge in like manner.
My said invention also comprises the use of a spring book in combination with a
hook such as are ordinarily employed, for fastening or securing the cartridge hox or
holder to the beit or strap.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a side elevation, and
Figure 2 a rear elevation of one form of my cartridge-hox.

page_text: A is the box or case, which has a lid or cover B connected therewith by a hinge-
joint at a, and provided with a spring catch 6 for fastening it. The said box or case
is open at its lower end as shown in Figure 3. C is the oscillating carrier, which is
formed with a groove c adapted to hold a cartridge as shown, and which is mounted
upon a pin or bolt D fixed in the ends of the box or case A. A spiral or coiled
spring is placed upon the pin or bolt D. One end of this spring is secured to a pin
or rod e fixed in the box or case A, and the other end thereof to the oscillating
carrier C, so that, when the said carrier is operated as hereinafter described, the said
spring will be wound up or compressed (or the said spring may be so arranged that
it will be unwound or extended), and will, by its reaction, effect the return movement
of the said carrier when the latter is released.
In the cartridge-box shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the carrier C is formed with an
extension c¹ which projects beyond the side of the box or case A so that it may be
easily depressed by the fingers. To get a cartridge out of the magazine, the carrier C
must be turned upon or about the pin or bolt D, by depressing the extension c¹, until
the said carrier occupies the position indicated by dotted lines in Figure 3; the
cartridge contained in the groove c will thus be withdrawn or removed from the box
or case A and brought into such a position that it will fall into the hand whereby the
carrier has been operated.
The surface c² of the carrier C is made concentric with the pin or bolt D; therefore,
the remaining cartridges in the box A will be practically unaffected by the operation
of the carrier (as above described, and the said carrier will at all times close the
aperture at the lower end of the box or case A. As soon, however, as the carrier
resumes its normal position, another cartridge will fall into its groove c.
E is a hook which may be of any well known or suitable description, and which is
attached to the box or case A in any convenient manner. This hook is intended for
securing the cartridge-box to a soldier's belt. F is a spring hook, which is firmly
attached at to the box or case A, and the free end of which touches, or is in close
proximity to the side of the box or case A. This spring hook may be readily caused
to engage with the belt or disengaged therefrom. By this means, the cartridge-box
can be secured to the belt in the ordinary manner for use while the soldier is standing
or kneeling, and, when the soldier has to lie down, he can disengage the hook F from
his belt and allow the cartridge-box to rest upon the ground, so that the cartridges in
the said box will be horizontal or nearly horizontal.
In the cartridge-box shown in Figure 4, the extension c¹ of the carrier C is upon
the opposite side of the pin or bolt D to that occupied by the extension c¹ in the
cartridge-box shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3. Therefore to operate the carrier shown
in Figure 4, the extension must be raised instead of depressed by the fingers. By
this arrangement, I obviate the inconveniences which might arise from the projection
of any part beyond the outer side of the cartridge-box.
G is a spring for ensuring the downward movement of the cartridges in the box or
case A whenever a cartridge is withdrawn therefrom by the carrier C and the said
carrier is returned to its normal position. A follower H is arranged in combination
with the said spring. A string or cord I is attached to this follower and is passed
through a hole in the lid or cover B, so that, when the cartridges have all been with-
drawn from the box or case A, the spring G can be compressed by pulling the cord I,
and the lid B can then be opened to re-charge the box or case A.
I sometimes provide other means than those above described for securing the
cartridge box or holder to a belt or strap in such a manner that one end of the said
box or holder may be readily detached from the said belt or strap for the purpose
above specified, without detaching the other end thereof.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I wish it understood that I claim :-
First. A cartridge box or holder provided with an oscillating carrier whereby the
cartridges may be successively withdrawn or removed therefrom without raising the
lid or cover thereof.

page_text: Second. A cartridge box or holder provided with the hooks substantially as described,
or with other means for securing the same to a belt or strap in such a manner that
one end of the said box or holder can be readily detached from the said belt or strap
without detaching the other end thereof, as, and for the purpose, specified.
Third. The combination of parts comprising the grooved oscillating carrier, and the
spring, substantially as described, whereby I provide for withdrawing or removing
the cartridges successively from a cartridge box or holder, as above specified.
Fourth. The improved apparatus consisting of the parts constructed and combined
substantially as described with reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3, or to Figure 4 of the
drawings for the purpose specified.
Dated this 14th day of June 1887.
JOSEPH JAMES SPEED.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London,
Agents for the Applicant.