IMPROVEMENTS IN AND IN BOXES OR CASES FOR PUTTING UP SAMPLES FOR TRANSMISSION BY POST
Year: 1880

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Alexander Melville Clarke at the
Offico of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th February 1880. A com-
munication from abroad by Joseph Leclerc, of Paris, France.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AND IN BOXES OR CASES FOR PUTTING UP
SAMPLES FOR TRANSMISSION BY POST." [A communication from abroad by Josephi
Leclerc, of Paris, France.]
This Invention relates to improvements in putting up samples of all kinds,
whether liquids or solids, for transmission by post.
The improvements comprise, 1st, a glass bottle to contain the product; 2nd, an
inner box or case of pasteboard, wood, or other material, in which the bottle packed
in wadding is placed; and 3rd, an outer case of tin plate or other metal.
The Invention is illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, in which Figure 1
shows an outside view of the improved postal box or case, and Figure 2 a longi-
tudinal section showing the arrangement of the inner case and bottle, the packing
material é being removed at a to show the bottle. Figure 3 represents the bottle
which it is preferred to employ for pharmaceutical preparations or perfumes; and
Figure 4 shows a plan of the screw cap of said bottle. Different kinds of bottles
are used according to the nature of the substance to be enclosed. For solids, a
wide mouthed bottle closed by a cork or glass stopper; for liquids, a bottle of the
form shown at a, closed either by a cork or glass stopper; and for pharmaceutical
preparations a bottle of the formn shown at b, Figure 3, closed hermetically by a
screw cap c provided with a washer or pad of special composition, indicated in
dotted lines at d:
To avoid damage by the breakage of the bottle a it is packed in wadding e,
which is enveloped in a linen or other wrapper or bag, the wadding being retained
firmly in place by an elastic ring for its equivalent; or the edges of the wadding
may be simply glued together with the same object.
Bran, sawdust, or other absorbent material may also be substituted as a packing
instead of wadding. The bottle after being thus enclosed is placed in a cylindrical
envelope or case h, Figure 2, of wood or other material, as before mentioned. If
of wood it is preferably made of a double layer of scale board, of which the inner
layer rises beyond the outer layer for the lid to fit upon at i.
The bottle enclosed in its sheath or envelope is then placed in the sheet metal
box or case, also of cylindrical form, and the end closed preferably with an india-
rubber cover m, the edges of which are turned down over the sides of the case, as

page_text: shown in dotted 'lines in Figure 2. This covering, which may also be of gutta-
percha, leather, or other material, serves to hermetically close the case l, and over
it is placed a metallic cover n, which clamps the edges of the india rubber or other
covering firmly down upon the metal case. To facilitate the opening of the box
flanges are formed on it at each end, and to still further secure the lid a cord or
band o, preferably of indiarubber, is passed around it lengthwise, as shown in
Figure 1. An address label q is also applied to the box.
Figuros 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 show a modified arrangement, in which another method
of closing the metal case and fixing its cover is employed, the case being made of
rectangular or other form, according to the purpose to which it is to be applied.
Figure 5 shows an elevation of a postal box or case of rectangular form, and
Figure 6 a section of same; Figuro 7 is a transverse section of the cover, and
Figure 8 a section of the sheet of indiarubber or other material placed beneath the
cover; Figure 9 is an elevation of a cylindrical box or case provided with an
improved means of securing the cover.
The modified arrangement for closing the case consists of a cover a, Figures 5, 6,
7, having a thick inner lining of swanskin or similar material b. A small sheet of
indiarubber or other impervious material c is first placed over the mouth of the
case, as shown in Figure 6, upon which the cover a is then applied and secured
by a string passed through eyes e on the cover and body of the case.
In Figure 9 the means of fastening the cover consist of a projecting rim on the
cover and bottom of the case having perforations, as at f, through which the cord
is passed in a zigzag direction, whereby the lid is much more securely held than in
the other arrangements. The mode of closing and securing the cover last described
is equally applicable to boxes of round, square, or of other form. Another modifi-
cation, represented in Figures 10 and 11, relates to the mode of closing the box,
and also to the mode of packing bottles used for the transit of liquids by post.
Figure 10 shows an elevation, and Figure 11 a section of a box with a bottle
enclosed. The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in these two
Figures.
In this arrangement the tying on of the lid, as in the former case, is dispensed
with, the cover a being provided with a hook b of a form adapted to engage with
a bead or rim c on the box. A notch d in said rim allows the hook to pass in
order to engage with the bead, which is effected by turning the lid round, the
movement being reversed to disengage it. Several of these hooks may be applied
if desired.
For the conveyance of liquids I employ the improved mode of packing repre-
sented in Figure 11.
The bottle e for the liquid is enclosed in wadding or other absorbent material,
and then in an envelope or bag of indiarubber or other impervious tissue. The
bottle thus enclosed is then placed in a wooden box g, which is in turn placed in
a metallic box as before. No possible escape of liquid can occur in the event of
the bottle breaking, as the liquid will be retained within the impervious envelope f.
An eyelet may be formed on the hook b, Figure 10, for attaching an address
label. The advantages of this improved mode of putting up samples for postal
purposes are (1), small samples of all kinds may be rapidly made up; (2) absence
of danger in case of breakage of a glass bottle containing liquid; (3) the cases are
very cheaply made, and may be used over and over again; (4) the contents of the
cases can be readily inspected by the postal authorities.