IMPROVEMENTS IN CASES OR RECEPTACLES FOR NEEDLES, PINS, MATCHES, PENS, CARDS, STAMPS, PHOTOGRAPHS, AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES
Year: 1871

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Avery at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 14th
January 1871.
I, WILLIAM AVERY, of Redditch, in the County of Worcester, Manu-
facturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN CASES OR RECEPTACLES FOR NEEDLES, PINS, MATCHES, PENS,
CARDS, STAMPS, PHOTOGRAPHS, AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES," to be as follows,
that is to say :-
My Invention refers to various improved methods of forming cases
or receptacles for holding or containing the articles above enumerated,
the object of such improvements being to provide ready and effectual
methods for opening or closing the cases or receptacles, for extracting
or exhibiting, and for the fastening up of the articles contained therein.
The cases or receptacles I purpose making of metal, wood, paper,
ivory, bone, fabrics, or other suitable materials, either alone or in
combination.
I form a case or receptacle which may be made to contain one or
more packets or quarters of needles, consisting of a front and back

page_text: plate, the one held within the other by means of partially clipped or
turned over edges. Upon the face of the front plate is a slot in which
works a thumb bit or stud attached to an inner sheath or case containing
the needles and propelling such inner sheath or case up and down for
the purpose of exposing or retiring the needles. The front plate is
bowed or suitably formed at one or both ends to act as a spring and
open out sufficiently for the passage of the needle packet or packets to
expose the needles when desired, and upon the retiring of the needle
packet or packets the spring part will return into position clipping
upon or over the edge of the back plate and securely closing the case.
Or I form a case or receptacle for needles consisting of a front and back
plate suitably clipped and grooved to slide within each other and con-
taining an inner needle packet plate suitably tempered to act as a spring,
so that upon sliding down the front plate to expose the needles and the
consequent freeing of the spring plate, the needles will be raised from
the back plate for readier extraction from the packet.
Again, I form a case or receptacle for containing four quarters or
packets of needles and consisting of two pairs of packet cases pivotted
and connected to each other upon their inner side edges and also
hinged at their bottom ends for folding up. To close a receptacle so
formed the packet cases are first folded up by means of the bottom
hinges; the one pair of packet cases is then turned upon the pivot
connections so as to slide and be contained between the second pair
of packet cases which will form an outer case, and the whole will be
secured and fastened up by a lid or clip upon the inner pair of cases
clipping or fitting over the top ends of the outer pair.
Or I form a case or receptacle for needles to contain four or other
suitable number of packets, by hinging a series of plates together and
connecting the packet cases to the free ends of the plates in such
manner that the plates and cases slide upon and are housed within
each other, the plates representing the radii of a circle, and the packet
cases in their sliding movement describing a portion of the circumference
of such circle. In connection with this case I also arrange a box or
receptacle for pins or other similar articles.
I also make a needle case or sheath by taking a metal blank having
the centre part suitably cut out and turning up a portion of the side and
top and bottom edges to form a framework, into which I insert a case
of paper or other suitable material covered with silk or other woven.

page_text: fabric, as may be preferred. The turned up edges are then folded down
or clamped upon the case, thus forming a binding; and in the top edge
is cut a slot or opening sufficient to allow of the passage of a needle
packet or suitable quantity of stuck needles.
Or I make a needle case or wrapper consisting of a back part having
a flap for securing into the front part, and I connect the back and front
parts by a folding ribbon in the centre or fold of which I secure the
needle packet, thus upon opening the wrapper the folding ribbon
will become straightened and force or take upwards the needle packet
for the readier extraction of the needles.
By another method I arrange a needle receptacle having an outer
case or sheath with a hinged lid or cover, to which I attach a ribbon
having its other end secured to an inner needle packet case, so that upon
opening or throwing back the lid or cover the needle packet case will be at
the same time raised partially out of the sheath or outer case to expose.
the needles, and in closing down the lid will take back the inner case'
into position.
Another improved form of needle case for containing any suitable
number of needle packets consists of an outer sheath or case hinged by.
a rule joint to the lid or cover. When fastened this case presents an
appearance similar to a closed rule, and I purpose, if desired, marking
upon the sides or edges any required measure, so that when opened' out
the case may form a six-inch rule or other suitable length.
་
Or I make a needle case or packet by taking a suitable length of
elastic material of the requisite width, upon which are secured the stuck
needles, and to form an opening case I fasten two pieces of wood, metal,
bone, or other suitable material which meet midway or thereabouts.
To expose or extract the needles the elastic case is pulled at each
end beyond the heads of the needles, and the head of the case may be
thrown back.
Again I form a square or oblong sheath or case in which is secured a
revolving semicircular pad containing packets of needles, the pad turning.
upon a rivet centre and working out of the side edges of the outer case
to expose the needles.
I also form an improved receptacle for containing packets or cases
of needles ready for sale and suitable for use in shops, in show boxes,
or otherwise. The receptacle consists of an outer case or holder for

page_text: containing any desired number of packets or cases of needles held in
the holder at the top by clips or catches, the holder having a loose
bottom held up by a spring so that upon sliding out a packet or case
from the top of the holder the spring bottom will force upwards the
remaining packets or cases and bring each succeeding packet or case
into position for being slid out or removed. This form of holder may
be suitably adapted as a railway ticket or card holder or for other
similar use when it is required to slide out consecutively a series of such
articles.
· By another arrangement I form an outer cover or sheath in which
works a horizontal sliding case or receptacle suitable for pins, matches,
pens, or other similar articles, and I perforate the top surface of the
outer and inner case with a hole of sufficient size and in such a position
that upon. the inner case being drawn partially out the two holes shall
be immediately under each other, so as to expose the articles in the case
for ready extraction.
Again I form a case or receptacle for pins, matches, pens, or other
similar articles having the front part partially closed in as a pocket, the
case being fastened up by folding side flaps and a top or bottom tongue
piece.
A simple description of envelope or wrapper for pins may be formed
by having a pocket similar to a purse pocket and secured or fastened up
by means of a tongue piece or band.
I also make another kind of receptacle for pins, matches, or pens by
the arrangement of a case having perforated top and bottom edges for
containing a suitable number of pens, matches, or pins held therein
vertically in rows, such edges being covered over by horizontal sliding
caps actuated by thumb bits.
.
I purpose adapting several of the needle cases or receptacles I have
described for the purpose of holding or containing pens, cards, stamps,
photographs, or other similar articles.