Improvements in Show Boxes for Holding and Displaying Goods Formed in Packets, Pieces, or in Bulk.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Feb., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 11th Nov., 1893-Accepted, 16th Dec., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Show Boxes for Holding and Displaying Goods
Formed in Packets, Pieces, or in Bulk.
We, WILLIAM BRADFORD, of 9 Church Street, in the City of Liverpool,
Tobacco Manufacturer and ALFRED GRUNDY, of the same place, Manager, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object compound show case and box in which articles
of a uniform size and shape or even material in bulk can be exhibited and sold and
part of their contents abstracted from time to time without it appearing
proportionately emptier. On the lid of the box which is supported by tapes so as
to stand at a steep angle, I place the show card. The box is provided with a false
bottom and a device whereby from time to time the false bottom can be raised by
hand or even automatically. The false bottom is coloured and formed so as to
closely imitate a layer of the contents. One mode of raising the bottom is as
follows: Four or more flaps are attached to the edges at the lowest part of the
sides of the box, say, one flap to each side; each pair of flaps are of the same size.
There are holes in the bottom below the flaps to enable the finger to be inserted to
press these flaps up and in order to enable the flaps to have a wider bearing surface
for the false bottom. I prefer to form the flaps with a narrow piece hinged to their
end and capable of folding downwards, but also capable of lying flat on the bottom
of the box. Supposing the box has three layers of packets, the bottom of the box
is formed to represent also the top of a layer of packets. The box is filled with
the false bottom lying flat on the prostrate flaps. When one layer has been taken
out and sold, the lowest pair of flaps are raised; this raises the false bottom and its
contents to the height of one layer of packets. The box now appears full; the
second layer of packets being withdrawn, the second pair of flaps are raised to
support the false bottom, and again the box appears full.
It will be obvious however that there are several methods of raising the box,
such as springs, or in round boxes a cross piece travelling in a groove or pawls
fitting into notches, or the like. We find however after very large number of
experiments that the false bottom already proposed, and aforesaid flaps, work most
satisfactory.
Dated the 10th don of February 1899
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Patent Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Show Boxes for Holding and Displaying Goods
Formed in Packets, Pieces, or in Bulk.
We, WILLIAM BRADFORD of 9, Church Street, in the City of Liverpool,
Tobacco Manufacturer and ALFRED GRUNDY, of the same place, Manager, 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 has for its object a combined show case and box in which articles
of a uniform size and shape or even material in bulk can be exhibited and sold, and
part of their contents extracted from time to time without it appearing pro-

page_text: The invention is best described by aid of the accompanying drawings, in which,
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the box with the lower flaps raised to place the
false bottom on;
Figure 2 is a false bottom designed for packets of tobacco;
Figure 3 is a vertical section of box A showing the false bottom raised at one
end and being raised at the other to the higher level. On the lid of the box,
which is supported by tapes as shown, we prefer to fix a handsome show card which
is not set forth in the drawings, as, had we inserted an advertisement in this
manner, it would have been probably not admitted.
Referring to Figure 1-
A A are two flaps hinged to the side angle of the box so that they can lie flat or
be raised vertically: B B two holes in the box large enough to admit the finger.
C, Figure 2, is a false bottom painted so as to closely imitate a range of articles to
be sold, such as packets of tobacco, packets of needles, cubes of black lead or blue,
or any other articles, or where the box is used to supply articles in bulk, it can be
plain and simply covered with a thin layer of the article in bulk. DD, Figures 1
and 3, are two flaps similar to flaps A but hinged to the end angles of the box,
and B B holes to admit the finger similar to holes B.
The mode of action is as follows-
The false bottom is inserted lying on the bottom of the box on the recumbent
flaps. The box is now filled with the merchandise. When, in the course of
selling, a layer or two of this merchandise has been disposed of, the lower flaps A
are raised; this again enables the box to appear full. When the box is still more
empty or there is only a single layer left, the bottom is again raised, packets can
still be taken out, the bottom of the box so closely resembling these packets as to
appear to be packets and thus the box still looks nearly full. In some instances,
three or four or more sets of flaps are used and the uppermost ones bring the false
bottom to the top of the box. By this means, it can be made to appear a full box
when absolutely empty.
It will be obvious that there are many other ways of raising the bottom, thus, a
weak and very elastic coiled spring or set of springs could support the bottom.
These would raise the bottom up in proportion as the weight on the false bottom is
lessened. Secondly, the false bottom could be supported on one or more cross
pieces travelling in grooves, or on strings attached to one side and passing over the
edge of the other side and either fastened in such manner that they can be
lengthened or shortened, and there are other numerous ways which could be easily
devised for this purpose. After considerable experiment, we have found however
the plan delineated altogether the best.
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. An improvement in show boxes for holding and displaying goods formed in
packets, pieces, or in bulk, which consists in adding thereto a false bottom with
mechanism whereby that false bottom can be raised either continually or inter-
mittently as the material is supplied.
2. The combination of the false bottom, the pairs of flaps and the finger holes
substantially as described.
3. In a box used for packets and the like, a false bottom capable of being
raised to any required height and simulating in appearance the material contained
therein.
Dated this 10th day of November 1893.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Patent Agents for the Applicants.