IMPROVEMENTS IN CIGAR CASES FOR EFFECTING THE SIMULTANEOUS AND AUTOMATIC CUTTING AND LIGHTING OF THE CIGARS
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Arthur Charles Henderson, of No. 31, Charing
Cross, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CIGAR CASES FOR EFFECTING THE SIMULTANEOUS AND
AUTOMATIC CUTTING AND LIGHTING OF THE CIGARS."-A communication
from abroad by Léon Courtchoux, Manufacturer, of Sedan, in the
Department of Ardennes, France.
Sealed the 21st June 1872, and dated the 30th December 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Arthur Charles Hen-
derson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 30th December 1871.
I, ARTHUR CHARLES HENDERSON, of No. 31, Charing Cross, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CIGAR CASES FOR EFFECTING THE
SIMULTANEOUS AND AUTOMATIC CUTTING AND LIGHTING OF THE CIGARS," a com-
munication from abroad by Léon Courtchoux, Manufacturer, of Sedan,
in the Department of Ardennes, France, to be as follows:-

page_text: The object of this Invention is to combine with cigar cases the
automatical and simultaneous cutting and lighting of the cigars.
The case, which may be of any of the ordinary forms, is divided into a
suitable number of compartments by metallic or other partitions. The
thick end of the cigar is furnished with a ring of tinder and phosphorus,
which comes in contact with the striated surface of a disc or plate
between which and the end of the cigar case is a spring admitting of the
depression of the plate to accommodate the introduction of the various
lengthed cigars. Between each compartment is a shaft pivoting in the
centre whilst its two ends are supplied, the lower one with a lever for
raising the large end of the cigar and rubbing it against the striated
plate, whilst the other bears a cutting blade, so that the cutting and
lighting is effected simultaneously by pressing on a knob attached to the
head of each shaft. Or the case may consist of a single compartment,
so that by inserting a cigar the lighting and cutting are effected in
precisely the same manner.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Arthur Charles Henderson, in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 24th June 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ARTHUR
CHARLES HENDERSON, of No. 31, Charing Cross, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of December, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-
fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Arthur Charles Henderson, Her special
licence that I, the said Arthur Charles Henderson, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Arthur Charles
Henderson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for

page_text: "IMPROVEMENTS IN CIGAR CASES FOR EFFECTING THE SIMULTANEOUS AND AUTO-
MATIC CUTTING AND LIGHTING OF THE CIGARS," a communication to me from
abroad by Léon Courtchoux, Manufacturer, of Sedan, in the Department
of Ardennes, France, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Arthur Charles Henderson, 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 immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Arthur Charles Henderson, do
hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement and accompanying Drawings, that
is to say :-
The object of this Invention is to combine with cigar cases the
automatical and simultaneous cutting and lighting of the cigars. This
may be effected in two ways, as will be hereafter explained, the principle
however remains unchanged.
It has not been deemed necessary to illustrate the cigar case, as it may
be of any suitable form, and divided into any number of compartments,
by metallic or other partitions, or it may consist of a single compartment
and a cigar inserted as occasion may require. The thick end of the
cigar is furnished with a ring or cap of tinder and phosphorous, which is
made to come in contact with the striated surface of a disc or plate
between which and the end of the case or porte-cigar is a spring
admitting of the depression of the plate to accommodate the introduction
of the various lengthed cigars. Between each compartment or chamber
is a shaft or tube pivoting in the centre whilst its two ends are supplied,
the lower one with a lever for raising the large end of the cigar and
rubbing it against the striated disc or plate, whilst the other bears
a cutting blade, so that the cutting and lighting are effected simul-
taneously by pressing on a button or knob attached to the head of each
shaft.
The above description will be more readily understood by reference to
the accompanying Drawings with the aid of the following detailed
particulars of the mechanism for effecting the purposes above-mentioned
and forming the subject of the Invention.

page_text: turns on a projecting part of the tube t, and is furnished with a pin h,
which is its check when closed against the lever l. A notch i is made
in this disc to act as a detent against the pin j on the tube b. Round
the axis o of the plate g, is placed a spring p, the upper end of which is
fixed to the tube, and the lower one to the axis. Thus it will be seen
that when closed, vide Figs. 7, 8, and 11, if the lever is pressed upon,
as soon as the piece 9, which is no longer secured by the pin h, which
rested against the lever 1, succumbs to the action of the spring p, and
opens quickly and occupies the position shown by Fig. 12, and the
projection 9 and pin j limit its course.
Supposing then the cigar provided with its cap and placed in the
tube b, and that the latter is closed by the lighting plate g, the spiral
springs r, r, draw the tube 6 within the tube a, and the plate g presses
on the end of the cigar; then taking the apparatus in the right hand and
pressing the thumb on the button f of the cutting blade c, and pressing
the thumb of the left hand on the lever 1, both the cutting and lighting
of the cigar are effected simultaneously, and the springs r, r, draw in
the tube b within that of a sufficiently close as to leave enough of the
now lighted and cut cigar to easily withdraw it.
In the same manner a cigar case may be constructed so that by
turning an external button or knob the cigars therein contained are made
to revolve, so that each in its turn presents itself to the apparatus for
cutting and lighting them in succession.
Fig. 6 represents the cap already referred to; in Fig. 2 it is supposed
to be lighted; in Fig. 9 it is shown in section also lighted; it consists
of a tube t, of paper or other inflammable substance, and the top 8 is
composed of a layer of phosphorous, and immediately beneath which
is a layer of tinder v, which latter rests on the top of the cap x, between
which and the tinder the head of the pin z lodges, and the point of
which is plunged into the end of the cigar, so that it cannot fall off, and
no matter whether wet or windy it cannot fail to light the cigar. This
cap may be employed independently of the porte-cigar if desired.
I claim,―
m
11:1 outting the nignns simul

page_text: bears the friction disc e, and the other the cutting blade d, together with
the phosphorous and tinder cap shown in the respective Figures from
1 to 6 inclusive.
Secondly. The porte-cigar shown by the Figures 7 to 12 inclusive, and
consisting of two tubes a and b, one placed within the other, the tube b
being closed by the friction plate g, and the lower end bearing the cutting
blade c, and button f. These tubes and chambers may either be
employed singly or be arranged in a cigar case in any suitable
manner.
Thirdly. The construction of a box, the cigars contained in which by
turning the external knob are each presented in succession to the action
of the cutting and lighting apparatus, the principle in each case being
precisely similar.
In witness whereof, I, the said Arthur Charles Henderson, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of June,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
two.
DSONT
A. C. HENDERSON. (L.S.)