Improvements in Cigarette and Cigar Cases, Match Boxes, Purses, Card Cases, and other like Receptacles.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 20th July, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 19th Apr., 1894-Accepted, 25th May, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cigarette and Cigar Cases, Match Boxes, Purses,
Card Cases, and other like Receptacles.
We, JOHN ROSE, and EZRA BROUGH, trading as Rose and Brough, of
20 Hockley Street, in the City of Birmingham, Manufacturers, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to receptacles or holders for containing articles such for
example as cigarettes, cards, matches, pens, crayons, pins and the like, and has for
its object, an automatic closing receptacle, efficient in its action, and capable of
being opened by applying pressure by the thumb and finger at one end, and further,
the said receptacle is cheaply produced, without the employment of costly tools.
The means of opening, or the clearance left at one end for the opening, (in a
match box or cigarette or like case) constitutes a match striker, by the inside
inclined or V walls of the same being serrated or roughened.
In carrying out our invention in connection with a metallic match box, we take
two shallow and concaved or dish-shaped shell blanks, with a like end of each of
the said blanks shamfered outwardly or cut away, so as to leave a sufficient
clearance for the proper opening of the box when the said cut-away ends are pressed
by the thumb and finger.
Thus the shamfered end parts are filled in by a closure plate, forming as it were
an outwardly inclined heel, and with the joints coming at or near the inward
termination of the said closure plate, so that the halves of the box have their joint
centres coming inwards of the lower or back ends.
Two of such sides or shells are placed together, with their opposed concaved
faces presented to each other, and with the joints of the one connected to the joints
of the other by a secret or concealed spring in the form of a long flat spring
threaded through the eyes of them, which are preferably two in number on each
part.
We propose
that an outer and an inner joint should come upon the said parts
respectively, and that the said joints, when put together, should form a continuous
knuckle joint, and that the ends of the flat spring should be fixed or made fast
respectively to the ends of the outer joints, after the spring band has received the
required amount of twisting or torsion necessary in order to efficiently close the box
after pressure has ceased to be applied to the end for opening.
The shamfered parts form stops or abutments for limiting the opening of the
sides or halves of the box (which open book-wise) whilst the ends at which pressure
is applied for opening constitute levers.
The insides of the shells or halves or an inside of one of the shells, are or is fitted
with pockets, recesses, cases, holders or the like, wherein matches, cigarettes or
other small articles are placed; and which pockets preferably have open mouths.
The cut-away backs or bottoms, when the box is closed, forms a V-shaped
channel, whose sides may be serrated or roughened for the striking of matches.
Instead of employing a torsion spring free about its middle, and made fast at its
ends to the opposite end joints of the box, we may employ a coiled torsion spring,
or we may employ a plain coiled spring with the ends bearing against or connected
respectively to or near the joints of the halves.
The application of our invention to other articles such as cigar and cigarette
cases, card case, pen and crayon boxes, purses, needle and pin cases and the like

page_text: differs in no essential respect from its application to a match box as hereinbefore
described.
J
T1 1902
JOHN
ROSE,
EZRA BROUGH,
By Henry Skerrett,
Agent for Applicants.
Improvements in Cigarette and Cigar Cases, Match Boxes, Purses,
Card Cases, and other like Receptacles.
We, JOHN ROSE, and EZRA BROUGH, trading as Rose and Brough, of
20 Hockley Street, in the City of Birminghan, Manufacturers, 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 receptacles or holders for containing articles such for
example as cigarettes, cards, matches, pens, crayons, pins and the like, and has for
its object, an automatic closing receptacle, efficient in its action, and capable of
being opened by applying pressure by the thumb and finger at one end of the said
article, and further, the said receptacle is cheaply produced, without the employment
of costly tools.
The means of opening, or the clearance left at one end to admit of the opening
(in a match box or cigarette or like case) constitutes a grooved match striker, by
the inside inclined or V walls of the same being serrated or roughened.
In carrying out our invention, in connection with a metallic match box, we take
two shallow and concaved or dish-shaped shell blanks, with a like end of each of
the said blanks shamfered outwardly or cut away, so as to leave a sufficient
clearance to admit of the proper opening of the halves of the box when the said
cut-away ends are pressed or brought together by the thumb and finger.
Each of the open shamfered end parts are filled in by a closure plate, forming as
it were an inwardly inclined heel, and with the joints of the sectional halves coming
at or near the inward termination of the said closure plate, so that the halves of the
box have their joint centres coming inwards of the lower or back ends.
Two of such sides or shells are placed together, with their opposed concaved
faces presented to each other, and with the joints of the one connected to the
joints of the other by a secret or concealed spring in the form of a long flat spring
threaded through the eyes (which are preferably two in number) on each part.
We propose that an outer and an inner joint should come upon the said parts
respectively, and that the said joints, when put together, should form a continuous
knuckle joint, and that the ends of the flat spring should be fixed or made fast
respectively to the ends of the outer joints after the spring band has received the
required amount of twisting or torsion necessary in order to efficiently close the box
after pressure has ceased to be applied to the end for opening.
The shamfered parts form stops or abutments for limiting the opening of the
sides or halves of the box (which opens book-wise) whilst the ends at which
pressure is applied for opening constitute levers.
The insides of the shells or halves or an inside of one of the shells, are or is fitted
with pockets, recesses, cases, holders or the like, wherein matches, cigarettes or other
small articles are placed, and which pockets preferably have open mouths.
The cut-away backs or bottoms, when the box is closed, form a V-shaped channel,
whose sides may be serrated or roughened for the striking of matches.
Instead of employing a torsion spring free about its middle and made fast at its

page_text: ends to the opposite end joints of the box, we may employ a coiled torsion spring,
or we may employ a plain coiled spring with the ends bearing against or connected
respectively to or near the joints of the halves.
The application of our invention to other articles such as cigar and cigarette
cases, card case, pen and crayon boxes, purses, needle and pin cases and the like
differs in no essential respect from its application to a match box as hereinbefore
described.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing, represents in front elevation, a match
box made or provided with improvements constructed and arranged according to
our invention.
Figure 2 represents a vertical section of the same upon the dotted lines A B
Figure 1.
Figure 3 represents a like section as Figure 2, but with the box open, whilst
Figure 4 represents an underside view of the box when closed as in Figures 1
and 2.
Figure 5 represents an enlarged sectional view of the hinge or lower part of the
said box, showing the construction of the joint and also the formation of the
opposed ends of the halves, which form both the means whereby the box is opened
to a given extent and also a sunken striker up which matches to be struck are
drawn.
Figure 6 is a like view as Figure 5, but with the box opened.
Figure 7 is a longitudinal section of Figure 5 upon the dotted lines C D.
Figure 8 represents a cigarette case constructed according to our invention,
whilst Figure 9 represents a further form of match box and so also does
Figure 10.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the Figures 1 to 7
of the drawing.
In Figures 1 to 7 a, a, are half dish-shaped shells or hollow sectional parts, with
their opposed and open fronts a², a³, coming together, and forming an enclosed box
or case for the reception of matches and other small articles.
a, a are the lower ends of the said half cases, having inclined and set back
parts b, with joints 6, 62, united together by a torsion spring c, threaded through
the axes of the joints 61, 62, and with their ends c², affixed by plugs or other
means c¹.
The torsion spring c, which consists of a flat strip of metal, is partially twisted
prior to the affixing of the ends within the joints.
Thus, the sleeves, are carried by the half shells or cases a, and the joints b²,
are carried by the half shells or cases a', so that assuming that one of the ends c² is
fixed in the joint 62, then the spring c, has given to it a twist or a half turn, and
when under this state of torsion the other end of the said spring is then fixed or
made rigid within the joint 6', so that the normal condition of the spring is to close
the box, so as to bring the half shells or sectional parts together.
The spring c, not only constitutes the means for closing the box, but also forms
the joining-up pin for the joint.
To facilitate the opening of the box, which is done by applying pressure to the
lower ends or parts a, a, below the joint, ribs a are disposed at opposite sides of
the said lower parts a, a.
Located within the interior of the box is a pocket or division plate d, affixed to the
inside part of the half shell a.
Assuming that the box is in the position as in Figure 2, then to open the box,
apply the thumb and finger to the ribs or snugs a', when the sections of the box
open or turn outwardly upon their set-back joints, and with the inclined parts b,
coming together, and forming stops for limiting the opening of the box as
represented in Figures 3 and 6. The groove or channel thus left between the
e,
inclined sides b, which are roughened or serrated, forms a striking channel.
In the cigarette case Figure 8, the inclined sides b, are not serrated but form
simply stops for the limiting of the opening of the sides or half shells.

page_text: Figure 9 is constructed alike unto the other figures, whilst in Figure 10, a is the
box, with an inclined back b, a lid a¹, a joint c, and an extension a*, which forms the
means for the opening of the lid when pressed.
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 :-
First. A cigarette, match or like box, case or receptacle, consisting of two
jointed-together half shells or half tray-shaped cases having returned or set back
and inclined rear parts b, substantially as and for the purpose as described and set
forth in Figures 1 to 9.
Secondly. In cigarette, match and like boxes, cases or receptacles, connecting the
joint parts together by and providing the same with a closing spring, consisting of
a twisted band, strip or the like, with the ends of the same connected to the
respective joints of the half cases respectively, substantially as described and set
forth in Figures 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7.
Thirdly. The improvements in the construction arrangement and combination of
the parts of cigarette, match and like boxes, cases or receptacles, with or without
the torsion spring, substantially as described and set forth.
1004
JOHN ROSE,
EZRA BROUGH,
By Henry Skerrett,
6, Livery Street, Birmingham, Agent for Applicants.