Improvements in Lucher matones.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Aug., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 19th May, 1896-Accepted, 19th Aug., 1896
Improvements in Lucher matones.
We, PERCIVAL FOWLER, of 2, Queen Square Place, Westminster, in the
County of Middlesex, Engineer, and ARTHUR WILLIAM FREDERICK DE COURCY
BOWER, of 43, Redcliffe Road, South Kensington, in the County of Westminster,
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of our invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to lucifer matches of the different kinds ordinarily used,
and ignited by friction against any rough surface or against a surface specially
prepared.
Such lucifer matches are liable to become destroyed and useless if wet or damp,.
and our invention has for its object methods of so preparing them that they are
not injuriously affected by damp.
For this purpose we take lucifer matches manufactured and prepared in any of
the ordinary well-known ways, and we dip their heads, or their heads and part or
the whole of their stems, in a suitable waterproofing material, such for instance as
a mixture of beeswax and resin, a solution of gutta percha in a suitable solvent, or
other suitable waterproof gum, or a waterproof varnish, such as shellac dissolved
in spirit of wine, or other suitable waterproof varnish.
By this means, a thin coating of the waterproof material used is left on the head
and other part of the match, to which such material has been applied as described,
which, whilst not interfering with the ready ignition of the match in the usual way,
affords a perfect protection against dump, so that the matches can be readily and
effectively used in circumstances when it would be impossible to ignite ordinary
matches not rendered waterproof as described.
Before being coated with a waterproof material as described, the matches may,
if desired, be soaked in petroleum or equivalent material in order to render them
more readily iuflammable, and the heads may be treated. with a suitable lubricant
such as oil or grease in order to prevent their adhesion, or abrasion by
friction.
Sometimes a waterproofing material of the kind described may be mixed with
the materials of which the heads of the matches are composed.
We do not confine ourselves to the precise substance or substances of which the
waterproofing material is composed, which may be varied more or less to suit
different circumstances as may be found advisable, our object being to render
lucifer matches incapable of being injuriously affected by wet or damp, so that,
for instance, they can be used without difficulty in rain, or when accidentally
wetted.
Dated this 19th day of August 1895.

page_text: Improvements in Lucifer Matches.
We, PERCIVAL FOWLER, of 2, Queen Square Place, Westminster, in the
County of Middlesex, Engineer, and ARTHUR WILLIAM FREDERICK DE COURCY
BOWER, of 43, Redcliffe Road, South Kensington, in the County of Westminster,
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what
manuer the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, that is to say :-
This invention relates to lucifer matches of the different kinds ordinarily used,
whether ignited by friction against any rough surface, or against a surface specially
prepared.
As such lucifer matches are liable to become spoilt or useless if wet or damp, it
has been proposed to render them impervious to such damp; and our invention
has for its object more especially, new or improved methods of so preparing them
that they are not injuriously affected by wet or damp.
For this purpose we take lucifer matches manufactured and prepared in any
of the ordinary well-known ways, and preferably, after soaking them for a
sufficient distance down from their heads in petroleum, or the like, to increase their
inflammability, we dip their heads, or their heads and part or the whole of their
stems, in a suitable waterproofing material, as hereinafter described which whilst
absolutely preventing them from being injuriously affected by wet or damp, does
not interfere with their ready and effective ignition when required.
The waterproof material which we use as described may be varied to some
extent. For instance, we sometimes take the matches, and we dip their heads, or
their heads and part or the whole of their stems, in a waterproofing mixture
consisting of a mixture of beeswax and resin (in about equal parts), or in a
solution of guttapercha in a suitable solvent, or in a varnish of shellac dissolved in
spirit of wine, or in other like waterproof varnish.
:
Or, sometimes we dip the matches in a bath consisting of a simple solution of
indiarubber (the proportion of which may vary) in a suitable solvent of the well-
known kind, such as bisulphide of carbon.
By this means, when the solvent has evaporated, an extremely thin film or coating
of the waterproof substance described is left upon the head and other part of the
match to which it has been applied, which-whilst not interfering with the ready
ignition of the match in the usual way-affords the desired protection against damp,
more effectively and completely than has beretofore been the case, so that the
matches can be readily used in rain or in circumstances where it would be impossible
to ignite ordinary matches.
Or, the heads, or the heads and part or the whole of the stems, of the matches
may be dipped in a mixture of melted paraffin wax and ozokerit, cerusine, or other
waxy waterproof material of the like kind in about equal proportions, and after
dipping, the surplus material may be wiped off or removed, so that the head of the
match or the head together with a part or the whole of the stem retains a very
thin film of the material used. To the mixture used may, if necessary, be added a
sufficient proportion (for instance about five per cent.) of vegetable or other oil, or
oily substance, in order to prevent any liability to crack.
In some cases the waterproof material may be mixed with the materials of which
the heads of the matches are composed; and in order to prevent or reduce the
liability of adhesion of the tips or heads of the matches, or their abrasion against
each other, the heads of the finished matches may be dipped or soaked in a
suitable liquid or solid lubricant such as oil or grease.
It will be seen that we do not confine ourselves to the precise substance or
substances of which the waterproofing material is composed, as any of those

page_text: described above may be used, the materials and proportions being varied more or less.
to suit different circumstances as may be found advisable. Lucifer matches prepared
with the materials and in the manner described are less capable of being injuriously
affected by wet or damp than has heretofore been the case, so that, for instance,-
they can be used without difficulty in rain, or when accidentally wetted.
-
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:-
1. The method of making lucifer matches so that they are not affected by wet.
or damp, by coating their heads or their heads and part or the whole of their steins.
with waterproof material consisting of a mixture of beeswax and resin, or of a
solution of gutta percha, or of waterproof varnish, or of a simple solution of india-
rubber, or of a mixture of paraffin wax and ozokerit, or cerasine, substantially as
described.
2. In matches made according to Claim 1, the mixing with the waterproof
material, of vegetable or other oil or oily substance, in order to prevent liability to
crack, substantially as described.
3. In matches made according to Claim 1, the dipping or soaking the matches in
petroleum or equivalent material, before coating them with the waterproof
substance, in order to render them more readily inflammable substantially as
described.
4. In matches made according to Claim 1, dipping or soaking the tips or heads.
in liquid or solid lubricant in order to prevent adhesion or abrasion, substantially
as described.
EDWARDS & Co.,
65 and 66, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicants.