IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU- FACTURE OF METALLIC BOXES OR CASES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Robert Edward Grubb, of Knight Rider Street, in
the City of London, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU-
FACTURE OF METALLIC BOXES OR CASES."
Sealed the 21st May 1880, in pursuance of an Order of the Lord Chancellor, and
dated the 19th August 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Robert Edward
Grubb at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th August
1879.
"
CHARLES ROBERT EDWARD GRUBB, of Knight Rider Street, in the City of
London. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF METALLIC BOXES OR CASES."
This Invention relates to the manufacture of metallic boxes or cases suitable for
holding wax matches and other small articles.
The box, which may be of rectangular or of any other desired figure, I form of
three pieces of sheet metal, viz., a strip of sufficient length to form the sides and
ends of the box with one joint, a rectangular or other suitably shaped piece to
form the bottom, and a similar piece to constitute the lid. The strip of metal
employed to form the sides and ends of the box is pressed into a trough shaped
form in cross section, the edges being curled upwards; this strip is then bent round
a former, its angles being rounded so as to present no sharp projections. The
extremities of the strip are then bent round so as to permit of their lapping the
one over the other inside the framing formed by the strip, and by applying a
nipping pressure thereto a junction of the ends.is effected without the use of solder.
In stamping out this strip, lateral projections are provided at the back for turning
over to hold the hinge pin, and a similar provision is made when stamping out
the lid, which is by preference slightly dished, so that its edges may fit close upon
the framing.
A certain amount of spring is given to the lid of the box by nipping.up the
lateral projections which hold the hinge pin in such a manner as to bear against
the back portion of the lid.
To form the bottom of the box I stamp out a piece of metal to a shape corre-
sponding to that of the lid, but with flanges on each edge. These flanges I bend
upwards and inwards to allow of the bottom entering the framing, and then by
applying pressure to these flanges I.bend them over so that they may grip the
turned in bottom edges of the framing. I thus produce a secure junction, and that

page_text: without the use of solder. Or instead of flanging the edges of the bottom piece
I stamp it out with projecting spurs, some of which may enter within the framing
while the others remain outside.
By applying pressure to these spurs they will clip the framing and secure the
bottom in place.
.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, and of
an Order of the Lord Chancellor, filed by the said Charles Robert Edward
Grubb in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 21st May 1880.
CHARLES ROBERT EDWARD GRUBB, of Knight Rider Street, in the City of
London.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF METALLIC BOXES OR CASES."
This Invention relates to the manufacture of metallic boxes or cases suitable for
holding wax matches and other small articles.
The box with its lid, which box may be of rectangular or of any other desired
figure, I form of three pieces of sheet metal, videlicet, a strip of sufficient length
to form the sides and ends of the box with one joint, a rectangular or other suitably
shaped piece to form the bottom, and a similar piece to constitute the lid. The
strip of metal employed to form the sides and ends of the box is pressed into a
trough shaped form in cross section, the edges being curled upwards. This strip is
then bent by means of suitable "formers," its angles being rounded so as to present
no sharp projections. The extremities of the strip are then bent round so as to
permit of their lapping the one over the other inside the framing formed by the
strip, and by applying a nipping pressure thereto a junction of the ends is effected
without the use of solder. In stamping out this- strip, lateral projections are
provided at the back for turning over to hold the hinge pin, and a similar
provision is made when stamping out the lid, which is by preference slightly
dished, so that its edges may fit close upon the framing.
A certain amount of spring may be given to the lid of the box either by nipping
up the lateral projections which hold the hinge pin in such a manner as to bear
against the back portion of the lid, or by slightly bending down the back corners
of the lid itself.
To form the bottom of the box I stamp out a piece of metal to a shape corre-
sponding to that of the lid, but with flanges on each edge. These flanges I. bend
upwards and inwards to allow of the bottom entering the framing, and then by
applying pressure to these flanges I bend them over so that they may grip. the
turned in bottom edges of the framing. I thus produce a secure junction, and, that
without the use of solder. Or instead of flanging the edges of the bottom piece
-stamp it out with projecting spurs, some of which may enter within the framing
while the others remain outside.
By applying pressure to these spurs they will clip. the framing and secure the
bottom in its place.

page_text: Having thus described the nature of my Invention I will now proceed to more
particularly describe the same by reference to the accompanying Drawing, which
illustrates my Invention as applied to the manufacture of a small rectangular
spring lid box suitable for holding matches. Similar letters in all the Figures
represent similar parts.
Figure 1 shews the shape of the sheet metal blank or strip cut or stamped to the
required size to form the sides and ends of the box; this blank is pressed into a
trough-like form with the edges curled upwards, as will be seen by reference to
Figure 2, which is a cross section of the same when pressed, Figure 3 being a view
of the inner side of the same; the extremities c, d, of the strip are bent round as
shewn in the end views, Figures 4 and 5. The blank, Figure 1, in being stamped
out is formed with the projections a, a, a, a, at the back, and before the blank is
pressed into its trough-like form these projections are turned over the pin or
wire b, shewn in Figure 3, and also in section at Figure 6, such pin or wire forming
the hinge pin to which the lid is attached, as hereinafter described. The trough-
like strip is next bent by "formers" or mandrils, the angles being rounded so as
to present no sharp corners, as shewn in plan at Figure 7, and the bent pieces c, d,
at the ends are lapped the one over the other inside the framing e formed by the
trough-like strip, and by applying a nipping pressure to the same a junction of the
ends is effected without the use of solder, as will be seen by referring to f, Figure 8,
which is a horizontal section of Figure 7; the top edge of the front of the frame
at g is bent slightly forward so as to form a lip or projecting piece on which
catches a corresponding clip formed on the front of the lid of the box, as hereinafter
described.
Figure 9 shews the shape of the blank employed for forming the bottom of the
box; the flanges h, h, h, h, on the edges of this blank are turned inwards and
upwards, as shewn in Figure 10, to allow of the bottom being placed in the
framing e, Figure 7, then by applying pressure to the flanges h I bend them over
so that they may grip the turned in bottom edges i of the framing e, as will be
seen by reference to Figures 11 and 12, which shew a longitudinal and transverse
section respectively of the complete box. I thus produce a secure junction, and that
without the use of solder. The bottom of the box is roughened in the ordinary
manner, as shewn, to form a friction surface on which to strike the matches.
Or instead of flanging the edges of the bottom piece I may stamp it out with
projecting spurs, some of which may enter within the framing while the othèrs
remain outside, and by then applying pressure to these spurs they will clip the
framing and secure the bottom in place, as is well understood. In this case I prefer
disbing the bottom similarly to the lid instead of forming it as hereinbefore
described.
Figure 13 shews the shape of the blank which I cut or stamp out of sheet metal
to form the lid; j,j, j, are projections at the back, which are turned over, as shewn
in Figure 14, and in the sectional view at Figure 15, so as to pass over the hinge
pin b; is a projection in the front, which is bent over to form a clip, which when
the lid of the box is shut takes or snaps over the lip or projecting piece g, so as to
keep the lid closed, as shewn in Figure 12. The piece forming the lid is also
slightly dished (as shewn in the sectional view at Figure 15) so that its edges may
fit close upon the framing. The projections jare passed under the hinge pin b and
are then nipped over the inside of the same, and the lid is then hinged to the box,
as will be seen by reference to Figure 12.
To open the box it is simply necessary to press inwards the front m of the box
so as to move the lip or catch g free from the clip k; and for the purpose of giving
a certain amount of spring to the lid, so that it may fly or spring open when the
front of the box is pressed inwards, the two back corners l, l, of the lid are bent
downwards, so that the said corners when the lid is nearly shut, as shewn in
Figure 16, press upon the edge of the framing or body of the box, and a certain
amount of pressure is required so as to somewhat inflect the corners Z, Z, in order to
close the lid. When the catch is released by pressing in the front of the box, as

page_text: herein before described, the said corners in recoiling or recovering their normal
position force the lid upwards and cause it to spring open to its full extent.
Or the required spring may be given to the lid of the box by nipping up the
lateral projections of the frame which hold the hinge pin in such a manner as to
bear against the back portion of the lid. I, however, find that the first described
method of causing the lid to spring up is a more simple and efficacious method than
the latter mentioned method, and I therefore prefer it..
Figure 17 is a front view showing the box closed..
I have described. and shewn in the Drawing a box of small size suitable for
-containing matches, but it will be understood that such boxes may also be used for
other purposes, such as for containing pens, or needles, and the, like, in which, case
the bottom of the box would not require; to be roughened; the top of the box may
be stamped. with any required device, name, or trade mark, and for. boxes for
containing the better class of goods the whole surface or part of the surface of the
box may be stamped with any suitable, ornament or design. The boxes may also
be made of larger size so as to render them suitable for different purposes, and also
by varying the relative dimensions of the parts boxes may be made having the
lid to open at one of the narrow ends of the box, and in such a case the other end
forms the bottom, as shewn in Figure 18. It will also be understood that instead
of a hinged lid a sliding lid may be employed.
.
Having thus described my Invention and the best means with which I am
acquainted for carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that I make
no claim to the manufacture of any metallic box the sides and bottom of which are
made of one piece of metal, but what I do claim as the Invention to be secured to
me by the hereinbefore.in part recited Letters Patent is,―
Firstly. The improved metallic box with spring hinged lid herein before described
and illustrated in the Drawing hereunto annexed:
Secondly. The. improvements in the construction of metallic boxes herein
described, whereby the body (that is, the sides, ends, and bottom) of the box is made
of two pieces of metal united without solder, in the manner herein described and
illustrated in the Drawings hereunto annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Robert Edward Grubb, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty first day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
Witness,
G. F. REDFERN,
4, South St.,
Finsbury.
CHARLES R..E. GRUBB. (L.S.)