IMPROVEMENTS IN BOXES OR RECEPTACLES FOR BISCUITS AND OTHER ARTICLES OR SUBSTANCES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Stanifortb, of Sheffield, in the County of York,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BOXES OR RECEPTACLES FOR BISCUITS
AND OTHER ARTICLES OR SUBSTANCES."
Sealed the 16th April 1880, and dated the 20th October 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Staniforth at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th October 1879.
WILLIAM STANIFORTH, of Sheffield, in the County of York.
"IMPROVEMENTS
IN BOXES OR RECEPTACLES FOR BISCUITS AND OTHER ARTICLES OR SUBSTANCES."
My Invention relates chiefly to boxes or receptacles for containing biscuits for
the service of the table, but it is also applicable to boxes or receptacles for other
articles or substances.
According to one mode of constructing ordinary biscuit boxes each box consists
of two compartments, which may contain biscuits of different kinds (for example),
each compartment being closed by a perforated lid to prevent the falling out or
mixing of the biscuits. The two compartments are hinged together on the under-
side and connected to vertical slides, and other means are provided to insure the
uniform motion of the two slides and compartments.
Now according to my Invention, as applied to boxes of this description, I employ
a horizontal slide on each side of the compartments; each slide may consist (for
example) of a cylinder and piston, one portion being fixed to the stand and also
forming a fixed centre for one compartment to swivel upon, the sliding portion being
similarly attached to the other compartment, so that in the act of opening the box
the pistons are drawn out of the cylinders or the cylinders are moved outwards over
the pistons so as to secure the requisite guidance and afford the necessary play.
The operation is reversed in the act of closing the box. The slides may be either
single, so as to extend and contract at one end only, or they may be double, that is,
two slides to one piston or cylinder, in which case a vertical guide or guides would
be necessary, which may be placed in any suitable position. In all cases the two
compartments are joined together by a hinge or joint.
By the use of my Invention greater simplicity in the construction and action
of the working parts is obtained, whilst the shape and general appearance of the
box are considerably improved.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Staniforth in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 20th
April 1880.
WILLIAM STANIFORTH, of Sheffield, in the County of York.
"IMPROVEMENTS
IN BOXES OR RECEPTACLES FOR BISCUITS AND OTHER ARTICLES OR SUBSTANCES."
My said Invention relates chiefly to boxes or receptacles for containing biscuits
for the service of the table, but it is also applicable to boxes or receptacles for other
articles or substances.
According to one mode of constructing ordinary biscuit boxes each box consists
of two compartments, which may contain biscuits of different kinds (for example),
each compartment being closed by a perforated lid to prevent the falling out or
mixing of the biscuits. The two compartments are hinged together on the under-
side and connected to vertical slides, and other means are provided to insure the
uniform motion of two slides and compartments.
Now according to my said Invention, as applied to boxes of this description, I
employ a horizontal slide on each side of the compartments; each slide may consist
(for example) of a cylinder and piston, one portion being fixed to the stand and also
formning a fixed centre for one compartment to swivel upon, whilst the sliding
portion is similarly attached to the other compartment, so that in the act of opening
the box the pistons are drawn out of the cylinders or the cylinders are moved
outwards over the pistons so as to secure the requisite guidance and afford the
necessary play. The operation is reversed in the act of closing the box.
The slides may be either single, so as to extend and contract at one end only, or
they may be double, that is to say, two slides may be employed to one piston or
cylinder, in which case a vertical guide or guides are necessary, which may be
placed in any suitable position; in all cases the two compartments are joined
together by a hinge or joint.
By the use of my said Invention greater simplicity in the construction and action
of the working parts is obtained, whilst the shape and general appearance of the
box are considerably improved.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood,
I shall now proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose
shall refer to the several Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings, the same letters
of reference indicating corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings represents a side clevation of a biscuit
box constructed with two single slides, and Figure 2 is a corresponding horizontal
section of the same.
Figure 3 represents a side elevation of a biscuit box constructed with two double
slides.
Figure 4 is a corresponding horizontal section of the same, and Figure 5 is a
detail section, to be hereinafter referred to.
Figure 6 is a detail plan illustrating another modification.
In the arrangement illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the box is supported on a
stand or frame A carrying two cylinders B within which slide pistons or plungers C.
The box or receptacle is constructed in two compartments D, D¹, provided with
suitable lids and having flanges g which, when the box is closed, come in contact
'with each other.
The compartments are connected together by a hinge f, and the compartment D
is capable of turning upon pins or trunnions a working in bearings rigidly connected
to the frame, whilst the compartment D¹ is capable of turning upon pins or
trunnions b working in bearings carried by the sliding pistons or plungers C. The
compartments D, D¹, are provided with suitable handles d to facilitate their
manipulation, and the frame A is also provided with a handle e.

page_text: When the box is open the compartments are in the position shewn in full lines
in the Drawing, and the pistons C are pushed into the cylinders B to the fullest
extent. In the act of closing the box the compartment D turns in the direction of
the arrow, Figure 1, upon the trunnions a, and being connected to the compart-
ment D' by the hinge f, the latter compartment is consequently caused to turn upon
the said hinge and also upon the pins b, forcing these pins to move in a horizontal
direction. The pistons C are thereby caused to slide out of the cylinders B until
the pistons and compartments have assumed the position indicated by dotted lines
at X in Figure 1, in which position the pistons are drawn out of the cylinders to
their fullest extent. On continuing the motion of the compartments until the box
is completely closed the compartments will assume the position indicated by dotted
lines at Y, Figure 1; the pistons C will then be pushed back into the cylinders B
to the fullest extent, and will have returned to the position which they occupied
when the box was open. In order to open the box the same movements take place
in the opposite direction.
In the arrangement illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 each of the cylinders B contains
two pistons or plungers C and C' capable of moving in opposite directions, and the
compartment D in lieu of turning on trunnions working in stationary bearings
connected to the frame, as in the preceeding arrangement, revolves upon trunnions a¹
working in bearings carried by the plungers or pistons C¹. A vertical guide E
attached at its lower extremity to the frame A and supported at its upper extremity
by a suitable ornament attached to the frame is passed through a corresponding
aperture formed in the hinge ƒ (see detail, Figure 5), which hinge is capable of
sliding in a vertical direction upon the said guide.
In the act of closing the box the compartment D turns upon the trunnions a¹ and
the compartment D' turns upon the trunnions b, and both compartments also turn
upon the hingef, which is guided in a vertical direction by the guide E. At the
same time the pistons C and C₁ slide outwards in opposite directions until the
compartments and pistons assume the position indicated by dotted lines at X,
Figure 3, in which position the pistons are drawn out of the cylinders to their
fullest extent. On continuing the motion of the compartments until the box is
completely closed and the compartments have assumed the position indicated by
dotted lines at Y, Figure 3, the pistons C and C₁ will be pushed back into the
cylinders to the fullest extent, and will return to the position which they occupied
when the box was open. The frame in this arrangement is provided with a flange
against which the edges of the compartments clasp when closed.
In lieu of employing the guide bar E, as described with reference to Figures 3
and 4, the modification illustrated in Figure 6 may be adopted, in which the ends
of the hinge pin f' are formed with at V groove, as shewn at f*, and projecting
plates E' attached to the frame are provided, having a vertical edge of corresponding
form engaging with the groove in the end of the hinge pin and acting as a guide to
the hinge. In this case the box is passed partially through the frame and slid over
the guides, and the sliding pistons are then placed in position and secured. The
guide may also be fixed vertically to the inside of the frame at both sides of the
box, and the ends of the joint or hinge pin be extended sufficiently to work or slide
therein, or it may be otherwise modified according to circumstances whilst effecting
the same object.
In the arrangements illustrated the cylinders and pistons are arranged outside
the frame, but it is obvious that they may be arranged inside the legs of the frame
if preferred.
It is obvious that although I have described the slides as being horizontal they
may be placed at a slight angle without departing from the principal of my said
Invention.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect,
I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original, and

page_text: therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part recited
Letters Patent is,―
In boxes or receptacles of the description herein set forth, consisting of two
compartments hinged together for containing biscuits and other articles or
substances, constructing the box or receptacle with a single or double slide at each
side working in a horizontal plane, or in a plane approximating to a horizontal
plane, for the purpose of obtaining a uniform motion of the two compartments,
substantially as hereinbefore described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Staniforth, have to this my Specifi-
cation set my hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of April, One thousand
eight hundred and eighty.
WILLIAM STANIFORTH. (L.S.)