Improvements in and connected with Boxes for Containing Matches, Cigarettes, Visiting Cards, and the like.
Year: 1896

page_text: 5
Date of Application, 27th Jan.. 1896
4000
A
20th
1005
Complete Specification Left, 20th Apr., 1806 Accepted, 30th May, 1906
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Boxes for Containing Matches,
Cigarettes, Visiting Cards, and the like.
I, ALFRED EBENEZER Box, of 88, Bell Road, Seacombe, Cheshire,
Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said invention to be
as follows:-
This invention relates to boxes which are used for the purpose of containing
matches, cigarettes and the like, and refers to a novel construction of said boxes
and also to means for opening and closing the lids of the same.
Boxes constructed according to this invention are preferably formed of sheet
metal, which is pressed spun or stamped to the shape required, and where they are
formed of two or more pieces the edges of the respective constituent pieces may be
seamed and swaged or soldered together.
As one example of a box constructed according to my invention, and for the
purpose of containing matches or the like, I prefer to form a box of two oblong
pieces of sheet metal, three sides of which are drawn up or dished to form the sides
and bottom of the box. The edges of such drawn up portions may be seamed and
swaged together or soldered or attached by means of tongues and slits formed in
abutting edges. In cutting the blanks of said pieces of metal 1 prefer to form
therein provisions which serve as hinge pieces and guides for the lid of the box,
and also any other provisions which may be required.
The lid of such a box may be formed of one or more pieces of metal stamped to
the shape required, the blanks of said pieces being provided with hinge pieces and
any other provisions required.
As a means for opening and closing the lid of a box such as above described,
I provide a torsional spring in the interior of the box, which acts upon a projection
or arm formed upon the lid. The spring is connected to the projection by means
of a link or its equivalent. Formed upon or forming part of said link is a stud or
button, the neck of which passes through and travels in a slot cut in the side of the
box, the head of the stud being upon the outside of the box. To open the lid the
stud is slid upwardly by the thumb or finger.
In modifications of a lid opering device such as above described, the projection
upon the lid may be connected with levers controlled by either torsional springs or
springs in compression, and actuated by an outside stud or button as above
described.
Dated this 25th day of January 1896.
J. A. COUBROUGH,
Registered Patent Agent,
10, St. George's Crescent, Liverpool, Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in and connected with Boxes for Containing Matches,
Cigarettes, Visiting Cards, and the like.
I, ALFRED EBENEZER Box, of 88, Bell Road, Seacombe, Cheshire,
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 :-
This invention relates to boxes for containing matches, cigars, cigarettes, visiting
cards and the like, and consists of a novel construction of such boxes and of novel
means for opening and closing their lids.
Boxes formed according to this invention are preferably constructed of sheet
metal, which is stamped and drawn up to the shape required. In cutting the
blanks for this purpose I prefer to form therein provisions which serve as hinge
pieces and guides for the lid of the box, and also any other provisions which may
be required.
The lid of such a box may be formed of one or more pieces of metal stamped to
the shape required, hinge pieces and other necessary provisions being provided in
the blanks.
As a means for opening and closing the lid of a box such as above referred to,
I provide a tension spring within the box, which is connected to a projection
formed on the lid. The spring may be connected directly to the lid, or by a
link or its equivalent. Where the spring is directly attached to the lid I provide
a stud or projection on each side of the latter, by which it may be raised by the
thumb; but where there is a link connection I form or attach said stud or
projection on the link, the shank of the stud passing through a slot in the metal of
the box.
In the drawings,
Fig. 1 is a group shewing metallic drawn-up blanks forming a match box
according to this invention.
Figure 2 is a side view and Figure 3 an end view of the completed box.
Figure 4 is a sectional view shewing a lid closing device according to this
invention, and
Fig. 5 is a cross section of the box.
Figure 6 is a side view, Figure 7 a sectional view and Figure 8 a cross section
of a card case provided with a lid opening and closing device according to this
invention.
Figures 9, 10 and 11 are side views of a modified form of lid opening and closing
device according to this invention, applied to a cigarette case, Figure 12 being a
detail thereof.
With reference to Figure 1, I may form a match box of two pieces of
metal A, A, forming the front and back of the box and drawn up at a to form the
sides. The portions A, A, may however-be stamped out of one piece of metal, in
which case they are connected by a neck a².. The portions A, A are held together
by tongues a which are lapped over and swaged in the press, the neck a being
also compressed in this operation. Hinge pieces as in the box and lid are bent
around a pin to form a hinge, guide pieces a for the lid being likewise provided in
blanks A, A. Where the box is provided with a lid closing device according to
this invention, I form a recess a in the box to receive a spring hereafter referred
to, such spring being held by the tongue a' which is pressed out of the metal by a
dull punch and turned over onto the spring.
As a means of closing the lid B of such a box, or other equivalent box, I dispose
a rubber or spiral spring b within the recess a, one end of which is attached to the
tongue a and the other end to a projection 6' formed on or attached to the lid B,

page_text: the tendency of the spring being to close the lid. To open the lid I provide it on.
each side with an indent or stud 6 by which the lid may be raised by the thumb.
The box can thus be taken and opened in one hand, the other hand being free to
extract and light a match. The ordinary roughened or perforated striking surface.
may be formed on the lid or box.
In practice I may find it desirable to employ india-rubber springs for the
purpose of closing box lids. It must therefore be understood that where spiral
springs are indicated in Figures 4 and 7 of the drawings, india-rubber springs are
equally applicable and contemplated.
Figures 6,-7 and 8 illustrate a lid closing device according to this invention, as
applied to a card case. A denotes the card case and B the lid. b is a rubber or
spiral spring within and attached at one end to the metal of the case by a pin aº.
The upper end of the spring bis connected to the projection on the lid B by a
link c. The lid is raised by the stud d, the shank of which passes through the
slot e in the case A and is screwed or rivetted to the link c. The link c, connecting
the spring 6 and lid, may be stamped and have formed on it a tongue or tongues,
which pass through the slot in the box side and are turned over to form a
thumb-piece.
Figures 9 to 12 shew another form of lid closing device according to this
invention, applied to a cigarette case. In this form of device a compression
spring is used, upon a plunger f which are disposed in a recess a' in the case A,
and covered by a shield k. The shield k is rivetted to the case A by tongues k¹
which pass through slots in the case and are turned over as shewn in Figure 12.
The spring blies between the end f¹ of the plunger and a ring on the shield k,
the plunger being pivotted to the lid B. A roughed thumb-piece g is attached
to the plunger end f¹ by a pin g¹ passing through the slot e in the shield k, by
which the lid may be raised; or the plunger f may be stamped and have formed
on it a tongue or tongues which pass through the slot e and are turned over to form
a thumb-piece.
The projections on the lid B may be tongues formed in the lid blank in the
press, in which case they are preferably slit to receive the end of the spring b, on
which they are clinched; or the projections may be rivetted or otherwise
attached to the lid. Similarly the provisions on the lid shewn in Figures 2, 3
and 4, may be formed in the press or may be studs rivetted to the lid.
I would have it understood that the three forms of lid closing devices shewn in
the drawings are equally applicable to match, cigar, cigarette, or card cases, and
also that such cases to which my improved lid closing devices are applicable need
not necessarily be constructed after the manner described with reference to
Figure 1.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I.
claim is:
1. In metallic boxes for containing matches and the like, which are shaped and.
united by machinery, the formation of the metallic blank or blanks of such boxes in.
one or two pieces provided with tongues or projections which serve as lid guides
hinge pieces, and seam connecting pieces, substantially as described with reference
to Figure 1 of the drawings hereto annexed.
2. As a means of opening and closing the lids of match boxes, cigar, cigarette,.
and card cases, and the like, the employment of a tension spring within and.
attached to the metal of the box and to a projection on the lid thereof, said lid
being provided with a stud or projection by which it may be raised, substantially
as described with reference to Figures 2 to 5 of the drawings hereto annexed.
3. As a means of opening and closing the lids of match boxes, cigar, cigarette,
and card cases, and the like, the employment of a tension spring within and
attached to the metal of the box and connected to a projection on the lid thereof
by a link, said link being provided with a stud or projection passing through a slot.

page_text: in the box, by which the lid may be raised, substantially as described with reference
to Figures 6 to 8 of the drawings hereto annexed.
4. As a means of opening and closing the lids of match boxes, cigar, cigarette,
and card cases, and the like, the employment of a compression spring upon a
plunger pivotted to the lid, the end of said plunger carrying a stud or thumb-piece
passing through a slot in a shield covering said plunger, by which the lid may be
raised, substantially as described with reference to Figures 8 to 12 of the drawings
hereto annexed.
5. The combination with a box constructed in the manner described with
reference to Figure 1, of means for opening and closing the lid of such box
arranged and operating substantially in the manner herein set forth with reference
to Figures 4 to 12 of the drawings hereto annexed.
Dated this 27th day of April 1896.
J. A. COUBROUGH,
Registered Patent Agent,
10 St. George's Crescent, Liverpool, Agent for the Applicant.