Improvements in and relating to Pocket Metallic Match Boxes.
Year: 1894

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Pocket Metallic Match Boxes.
I, ROBERT PEMBERTON BROWN, of 10 Josephine Avenue, Brixton Hill,
London, Inventor, 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 relates to improvements in and relating to metallic match boxes,
and refers more particularly to that class of pocket metallic match boxes in which the
said boxes are formed or provided with roughened surfaces for the purpose of enabling
a match to be ignited by being quickly rubbed thereon. A disadvantage hitherto
appertaining to the class of match boxes has been that said boxes were useless for
the purpose of igniting what are known as "safety" matches, which require a
specially prepared surface upon which they must be rubbed, and the object of my
invention is to obviate this disadvantage by providing metallic match boxes of
the class referred to with meaus, hereinafter fully described, which will enable both
ordinary matches or "safety" matches to be readily kindled thereon.
In order that my invention may be readily understood reference is made to the
accompanying drawings wherein like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout
the several figures, and in which :-
Figure 1, represents a side elevation of my improved metallic match box.
Figure 2, represents a sectional front elevation of my improved metallic match
box, the section being on the line V W Figure 1.
Figure 3, represents a sectional plan view of my improved metallic match box,
the section being on the line X Y Figure 1.
Figure 4, represents a detachable striking surface hereinafter referred to.
an
In carrying my invention into practice, I make a pocket metallic match
box A in the usual manner, said match box A having a suitable lid B
and being formed or provided with roughened sides C upon which
ordinary match or fusee may be ignited in the usual way, but at the edges
of each of the sides C I form or provide the match box A with an outwardly
extending flange or the like D, said flange D being formed with a groove E, the
arrangement being such that a suitably shaped detachable striking surface F may
be inserted into the said groove E by being "sprung" therein, as shown in
Figures 2 and 3. The detachable striking surface F may be made of cardboard,
wood or other suitable material, and is covered on one or both sides with a com-
pound which will ignite a "safety" match when rubbel thereon. The manner of
using my improved match box is briefly as follows:-If the match box be filled
with ordinary matches or fusees, they are ignited by contact on the roughened
sides C of the box A, as described. If, however, the match box be filled or
re-filled with "safety" matches, then it is only necessary to insert a chemically
prepared striking surface F into each of the grooves E, thus adapting my improved
match box to be used both for ordinary or "safety" matches, or the chemically
prepared surface may be previously inserted.
I prefer to put a few striking surfaces F loosely into the box A so as to be
readily at hand when required.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner,the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
:-
In a pocket metallic match box A having a suitable lid B and formed or provided
with roughened sides C, the combination of flanges D, each flange D being formed

page_text: with a groove E adapted to receive a chemically prepared striking surface F, the
said striking surface F being prepared to ignite a "safety" match when quickly
rubbed thereon, all adapted, arranged and operating for the purposes and
substantially as described and illustrated.
Dated this 18th day of October 1894.
WILLIAM ELDER,
Applicant's Agent.