AN IMPROVED ARTISTS' COLOUR BOX
Year: 1884

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I, CHARLES DAVIS, of the firm of Davis Brothers, Artists' Colour Box
Manufacturers, of 24, Webber Street, Blackfriars, in the County of Surrey,
do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "AN IMPROVED ARTISTS' COLOUR
BOX," and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
:-
The object of my invention is the production of an improved colour box, and
consists in a new method of retaining the pans or cakes of colour in their places,
which renders their removal more easy and cleanly than with either the bar box
with screw, or with the box with flaps at end, as at present in usc.
My improvement consists in bingeing the inner side of each compartment to tho
box, and turning its top edge over far enough to cover the adjacent edges of the
pans or cakes, while a corresponding projection or flange on the side of the box
covers their opposite edges. This hinged side is furnished with a catch engaging
in a small box staple, or with other convenient form of catch, placed at right
angles across the compartment. I fix a small thumb bit to the top edge of the
hinged side, to facilitate the releasing of the catch, when it is desired to open a
compartiment for the removal, or replacing, of a pan or cake.
I propose to employ the ordinary form of colour box, with or without com-
partments and folding palette covers.
In order that my invention, and the means whereby the same can be put into
successful operation, may be thoroughly understood, I will describe it in dotail,
referring to the accompanying drawings which are to be taken as part of this
specification and read therewith, and in which corresponding parts are marked,
throughout the figures in which they occur, with the same reference letter.
Figure 1 illustrates my invention in plan. The left hand compartment is shown
as containing six pans of colour, three on each side of the box staple, and with the
hinged side closed. The right hand side compartment is shewn as empty, with
the hinged side open, and in a position convenient for inserting or removing pans
or cakes.
Figure 2 is a sectional elevation at the line, a b, on Figure 1.
Each side a of a compartment, is hinged to the box, as shown at b. Its innor
face carries a sharp-nosed catch, c, which readily engages with the deflected edge, d,
of the box staple, c, so soon as the side is raised into a vertical position. The
pans or cakes are retained in position by a longitudinal projection or flange, f
springing from the body of the box, acting in concert, when the hinged side is

page_text: closed, with a corresponding flange, g, formed thereupon. A small thumb piece, h,
is added to the, hinged side, at a point opposite the box staple, to facilitate the
releasing of the catch therefrom.
When only one catch is used to a compartment, I fix it in the centre, as in the
figures, although as many may be used as desirable. When a central compartment
is required, it could be made single, with. both sides hinged, or double, with the
outer side of each compartment hinged.
Lateral divisions to separate the pans or cakes, and to prevent them smearing
each other, can be added if desired.
I would have it understood that I may make the inner sides, a, loose and sliding
in grooves, on the inner faces of the ends of the box, instead of being hinged,
in which case the relative position of the catch and staple would be modified
accordingly.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is =
First. In a colour box, the combination of the flange, g, on the top of the inner
side of each compartment with the flange, f, on the body of the box, for the
purpose of retaining the cakes or pans in their proper position for use, as herein
before described with reference to the accompanying figures.
Second. In a colour box in which one side (or both) of each compartment is
made hinged or loose, the use of one (or more) fastenings, or other catches engaging
in a suitable manner, for the purpose of keeping the said inner side upright, as
herein beforo described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Third. In a colour box in which one side of a compartment is made hinged or
loose, the formation on the top thereof of a flange for the purpose of retaining
the pans or cakes in position, as herein before described with reference to the
accompanying Drawings.
Dand thin ish dow of Ontabos 1904