Improvements in Combined Match Boxes and Cigar Cutters.
Year: 1885

page_text: Improvements in Combined Match Boxes and Cigar Cutters.
I, WILLIAM Phillips Thompson Fel. Inst. P.A. of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool in the County of Lancaster and
323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer do hereby declare
the nature of the said invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN COMBINED MATCH BOXES
AND CIGAR CUTTERS (a communication from abroad by William Mathew Ducker
of the City, County and State of New York, in the United States of America,
Manufacturer) and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:—
This invention consists of a match box having a hinged cover, the cover provided
with an opening on each side and a tube or tubes to form a passage extending
through the cover transversely, of suitable size to receive the end of a cigar, and
a cutting blade or knife arranged relative to such passage to cross the same on
shutting down the lid or cover on the box, the passage being free when the box is
open, the tube with the cigar being forced across the knife, and the knife being
supported by the box to cut off the end of the cigar by the operation of closing
the cover on the box.
It is illustrated in the annexed drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a match box with the lid closed; Figure 2 a similar
view, the box open; Figure 3 a view looking from the front to the back of the
box, the lid in elevation, the front of the box cut away to show the parts; Figure 4
is a broadside section through the line x, x of Figure 3, showing one method of
arranging the knife; Figure 5 is a side view of the box, the cover in broadside
section to show another method of arranging the knife Figure G is a plan of the
box Figure 5 looking from the front toward the back; Figure 7 is a longitudinal
transverse section of part of the box Figure 6 looking from the back forward,
showing the end of the cigar cut off; Figure 10 is a side view of part of a box
showing another way of carrying out the invention, the lid being closed; Figure 11
is a broadside section of the box Figure 10, the lid open; Figure 12 is a transverse
section on the line y, y of Figure 10, looking from the back to the front; Figure 13
is a similar view showing the cigar tip cut off; Figure 15 is a plan of part of a .

page_text: box and the lid, with portions of the side of the lid broken_away to show the
parts, and showing another method of arranging the knife; Figures 8, 9, 14, 16,
and 17 show details of construction and parts.
Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in all the drawings.
A represents the box, and B the lid. The box is provided with a snap, a to
catch and hold the lid down when the box is closed; shoulders, bb on the sides,
to fit within the lid and support it against lateral pressure; and a roughened
part (shown in Figure 4) for striking matches, as is customary.
In the lid of the box to receive the end of a cigar is arranged a passage c of
suitable size, which extends entirely through the lid transversely so that when the
lid is open the passage c is free to allow the insertion of the tip or end of a cigar.
This passage may be formed by making a hole on each side of the lid, the holes
being opposite each other, and inserting therein the conical tubes, d d from each
side, which are securely fastened to the lid by soldering or otherwise, their inner
ends coming so near together as to leave only a small open space or slot e wide
enough to permit the knifefto enter between them, as shown in Figures 1 to 7.
In the arrangement of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 7, a hinged knife f
is used preferably hinged on the same hingepin g with the lid. A spring / acts
upon the knife and lid, whose functions are to throw back the lid when the box is
opened, and also to hold the knife ƒ away from the passage c when the lid is thrown
back. The spring may be applied in several ways as shown. As shown in
Figure 4, the spring his fastened to the lid, and also to the knife f in the slot i
(more plainly shown in Figure 8) and it is of such size and adjustment that when
the lid is thrown back the spring will hold the knife faway from the passage c, as
shown in Figure 4 and when the lid is closed down upon the box the knife f will
be supported by the shoulder l, on the box and forced upward into the lid across
the passage c against the pressure of the spring h which spring thereby becomes
operative to throw back the lid when the snap, a is released. As shown in
Figure 5 a bottom j is provided which supports the knife f from below, and the
spring may simply rest on the upper edge of the knife near the point. In
Figure 5 is shown by the dotted lines h' another form of spring which may be used
also shown in side view in Figure 16 and in front view in Figure 17. This
spring is fitted into the space between the back of the lid and the tubes ad and
bears upon the knife near its hinged end. The bottom j is secured within the lid
and far enough above its lower edge to leave space for the shoulder bb. This
bottom has a slot on the line on which the knife is to move wide enough to
permit the knife f to move freely within it, but somewhat shorter than the knife
to provide a shoulder or rest for the loose end of the knife near the front of the lid,
to retain the knife within the lid, the scope of movement of the knife fand the
spring or being thus limited by the bottom j. A slot 8 in the bottom j leaving
a small projection at the front of the lid, receives the snap a to hold the lid when
the box is closed. The best way to attach the bottom j to the lid is to, provide
shoulders for it to rest upon, these shoulders may consist of the pieces j' secured
within the lid to each side, upon the edges of which the bottom j rests and is
soldered in place.
To support the knife ƒ for cutting through the cigar, a shoulder is placed on
the back of the box in such position as to give the knife a firm support and force
it across the passage c when the lid is being closed, so as to cut off the end of the
cigar by the operation of closing the lid. A convenient way to secure this form of
knife to the box is to use two narrow strips of thin metal bend them back upon
themselves, rounding the bent parts to enclose the pin g cut away parts of each of
the rounded portions, leaving coinciding projecting portions with a space midway
for the knife f interlock them in hinge forin by the pin g as shown in side view in
Figure 8 and in front view in Figure 9 and rivet them to the box and lid respec-
tively as clearly shown in Figure 4 riveting with them on to the box also a suitable
piece having a shoulder l. This forms a strong hinge and stiffens the back of the
box and lid,

page_text: Another way of carrying out the invention is that shown in Figures 10 to 13 in
which the knife instead of moving with the lid is rigidly attached to the box. In
this arrangement the passage c is formed by making a hole o in one side of the lid,
and a corresponding hole which may be a little larger in the opposite side of the
lid, and inserting in this larger hole the tube p, soldered or otherwise secured
in position, which is long enough to reach nearly across the lid, leaving the open
space or slot e as a path for the knife between the inner end of the tube p and the
opposite side of the lid as shown in Figures 12 and 13. This knife m may be
conveniently made with a shoulder n as shown in Figure 14, and riveted to the
back and also to the side of the box, as shown in Figure 11, thereby giving
strength and stiffness to the box.
In Figure 15 is shown a further way of arranging the invention to operate at
the side of the lid. In this, instead of having the knife fastened to the box, as
shown in Figures 10 to 13, two guides or shoulders v vare, secured to the inner
side of the lid, under and between which the knife w is fitted to move up and
down across the opening o. To the lid and to the lower part of the knife w is
attached an annular spring u of suitable size and adjustment to hold the knife w
down far enough to leave free passage through the opening o and tube p when the
lid is open. On the side of the box is secured the shoulder upon which the
back of the knife rests when the box is closed, and which forces the knife across
the opening o and between the end of the tube p and the opposite side of the
lid, and through the cigar by the operation of closing the lid. This spring u also
operates to throw back the lid and to hold the knife away from the cigar receiving
opening when the box is open.
The operation of the invention is as follows: When the lid B is thrown back,
the end of the cigar C is inserted in the passage c, and the lid is then closed down
on the box, by which operation the knife is forced across the passage c and through
the cigar, cutting off the tip D, which falls outside of the box, as shown in
Figures 7 and 13.
It will thus be seen that there is an opening to receive the end of the cigar on
one side of the box, and a tube for discharging the severed tip of the cigar on the
opposite side, with a knife operating across the passage formed by such opening
and tube. In the instance of the invention shown in Figures 10 to 13 and 15,
p is the discharging tube, and the hole o on the opposite side of the lid is the cigar
receiving opening, while in the instance of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 7
either side may be used to receive the end of the cigar and the opposite side will
be the discharging tube.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim ia
1st. A match box consisting of a body and hinged cover, having a cutter
operated to sever the tip of a cigar by the closing of the box, situated in the angle
formed by the body and cover when the box is opened, and having its edge
parallel and contiguous with the side of the box, and protected by a portion
thereof, the box being provided with a hole for a cigar tip situated in the path of
the said cutter when the box is being closed, and a transverse receiver, substantially
as set forth.
2nd. A match box having a hinged lid provided with a passage transversely
through the same, in combination with a knife supported by the box across such
passage when the lid is closed, the lid adapted to move away from the knife and
open such. passage by opening the lid, and to move such passage across the knife
by the operation of closing the lid, substantially as described and shown.
3rd. A match box having a hinged lid provided with an opening on one side,
a coinciding discharge tube in the opposite side, a knife supported by the box
across such opening and between such opening and tube, the lid adapted to move
away from the knife by opening the box and to enclose the knife across the

page_text: opening by the operation of closing the lid down on the box, substantially as
described and shown.
4th. A match box having a hinged lid provided with an opening for the insertion
of a tip of a cigar and a discharging tube for the severed tips, in combination with
a knife adjusted to move with the lid, a spring secured to the lid and. bearing upon
the knife, and a shoulder on the box adapted to support such knife and force it
across such opening by the operation of closing the lid, all arranged and operating
as and for the purpose specified.
5th. A match box A provided with a knife hinged to swing with the lid and
a shoulder on the box in the path of such knife, in combination with the lid B
having a passage c and bottom with slot k and a spring secured to the lid and
bearing upon the knife, all arranged operating as and for the purpose specified.