Improvements in Boxes for Matches, Cigarettes, and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Oct., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 23rd July, 1900-Accepted, 6th Oct., 1900
Improvements in Boxes for Matches, Cigarettes, and the like.
I. ANDREW JOHN FREDRIKSON, of Smalands Taberg, Sweden, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to match boxes, cigarette boxes and other small boxes
consisting of an exterior case or cover, and a drawer adapted to slide in the
said case, and has for its objects to construct the sliding drawer from one piece
or blank and to cause the lid of the drawer to automatically open and close when
pulling or pushing the draw out and in.
For this purpose the lid of the drawer that hinges on the upper part of the
cover is also connected to the upper part of the cover by means of a flexible
piece of paper, cloth, leather or such like, preferably of the same width as the
box. One end of said connecting piece is fixed to the inside of the upper part of
the cover at or near its front opening and the other end is fixed to the lid of the
drawer for instance, at or near the centre of the same, the intermediate part of
said connecting piece being left free. The said free part is of greater length
than the distance between the front opening of the cover and the point where the
connecting piece is fixed to it, so that when the drawer is sufficiently pushed or
pulled forward the forward end projects beyond the end of cover, the free part
of the connecting piece is strained and causes the front part of the lid of the
drawer to rise and swing backwards. For facilitating such movement of the
front part of the lid the lid is preferably provided with one or more folds or
creases. When the drawer is pushed or pulled backwards the lid is automatically
shut by engaging with the upper part of the cover.
The connecting piece may be cut out from the lid of the drawer, or the con-
necting piece may consist of a prolongation of a label pasted to the front part
of the lid of the drawer or on the upper side of the cover.
In some cases I provide one or both side walls of the lid of the drawer with an
inward flange or projection so as to strengthen the lid and prevent it from being
pressed down into the drawer.
Another object of my invention is to dispense with paste, glue or fastenings
and such like in making the drawer and its lid. For this purpose I give the
blank, from which the drawer and the lid is made, a special form, and fold it in
such a manner, that the parts will firmly bind themselves together.
The blank for a lid having side strengthening pieces and end projections
consists of a rectangular piece having an envelope flap and two side wings taper-
ing away from the flap into the body. The side wings are folded up at right
angles to the body and are partially cut so that the ends can be folded across the
blank to meet one another. The body is then folded up against the face of this
wing and then down its other face and the flap is bent at right angles to be flat
against the body. A tongue is cut out from the body and the end of the flap is
put under the tongue.

page_text: The blank for the body of the box consists of a bottom piece around which
are the side and end pieces of double the depth of the box and end or corner
pieces in the four corners so left. On one of the side or end pieces which is
shorter than the others to allow for the height of the false bottom is the false
bottom having on each of its sides and ends except the joining end of a narrow
strip of the width that it is desired to raise the false bottom above the bottom.
A tongue is cut out at one end of the false bottom and projects through a slit
cut in the end of the box. If the box is provided with a lid, the lid is joined
'to one end of the false bottom by a strip that brings it up to the top of the box.
One part of the double sides is not folded into the box but left parallel with
the bottom to prevent the lid being forced into the box and to keep it at the
end.
Dated this 24th dor of October 1899
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.. Agents.
Improvements in Boxes for matches, Cigarettes, and the like.
I. ANDREW JOHN FREDRIKSOx, of Smalands Taberg, Sweden, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention & in what manner the same is to he
performed, to be particularly described & ascertained in & by the following
statement:—
This invention relates to matchboxes, cigarette-boxes and other small or greater
boxes consisting of an exterior case or box and a drawer adapted to slide in the
said case, and has for its object to cause a lid or flap or other movable part of
the drawer to automatically open and close when pulling or pushing the drawer
out and in. For this purpose the movable part of the drawer is connected to the
corresponding inside of the box by means of a thin and flexible but inelastic
piece or strip of paper, cloth, leather or such like, preferably of (nearly) the
same width as the box. The said strip may consist of a prolongation of the label,
if preferred, and the strip itself may have a prolongation, which can be used as
a seal for preventing changing of the contents of the box.
The one end of the strip is fastened to the movable part of the drawer and thus
projects outside the box when the drawer is in the outer position. This pro-
jecting part of the strip may suitably be printed as a label or provided with
advertisement or such like.
It may be observed that the strip being thin-the thinner the better and of
inelastic material is very easily fastened by means of glue, paste or such like to
the box and the drawer and that it takes a very little room not at all deteriorating
the aspect nor diminishing the durability of the box or drawer. Experiments
have shown that even the thinnest paper used for said strip will sustain a very
great number of openings and closings and will not tear off before the contents
of the drawer are totally consumed.
In some instances there may be used two or more narrower strips placed side
by side or a distance apart from each other instead of one broad strip only.
Though I prefer to make the drawer of a single piece of cardboard or such like
in the manner described at the end of this specification I wish not to limit the
use of the strip or strips stated above to such a drawer, as said strip or strips may
just as well be applied to drawers of every kind or construction.
In some
instances I provide the drawer with a lid or flap at each end, so that the drawer
can be opened in either direction.

page_text: An easy access to the cigars or cigarettes etc., when the drawer is open, is
obtained by giving the lid or flap a peculiar form or place or by using two
or more lids or flaps at the same end of the drawer.
On the accompanying drawings:
of
Fig. 1 is the exterior case or box h, seen from above and with the strip
paper or such like pasted to the middle of the inner surface of one of the two
narrow sides as shown at 6, so that both ends of the strip remain free.
Fig. 2 is the exterior case or box h seen from the narrow side and with the
strip fastened to the inner surface of said narrow side at 63, so that only one
end of the strip is free.
Fig. 3 is a complete box with its drawers in open position.
Fig. 4 & 5 are another complete box seen from above and from the side with
the drawer in open state.
Fig. 6 shows the same box with the drawer partly pushed out but uncovering
the sealing v.
Fig. 7 is another complete box with opened drawer, seen from the side.
Fig. 8 is a complete box seen from the end and in open state, the drawer having
four flaps at the same end which open simultaneously for totally uncovering the
contents (cigarettes) at this end.
Fig. 9 is a complete box seen from the side in open state, the drawer having
two movable flaps at the same end.
Fig. 10 is a side view of a complete box, the drawer of which is totally removed
from the exterior case.
Fig. 11 is the same box with the drawer inserted but in open state.
Fig. 12 is the same box with the drawer closed but not fully inserted.
Fig. 13, 14 & 15, show the mode of making a drawer such as that seen in
Fig. 9 of a single blank and without paste, or such like.
Fig. 16 is a vertical transverse section of the drawer of Fig. 10-12.
Fig. 17 is the blank for said drawer the greater part of the lid d being broken
away.
Fig. 18 is a modification of a part of the blank.
Fig. 19 is a part of a vertical longitudinal section of a drawer, the blank of
which is modified as in Fig. 18.
Fig. 20 is a part of a modification of the blank shown in Fig. 17.
Fig. 21 & 22 are modifications of a part of the blank.
Referring first to Fig. 3 it will be seen that the drawer in this figure has two
flaps, one at each end, so that it can be opened in either direction. Each
flap should be connected to a strip but one strip is sufficient provided both flaps
are in connection with the same wall of the drawer. The strip should then
be fastened into the box as shown in Fig. 1, so that both ends remain free
and project from the open ends of the box, only the middle part being pasted
to the corresponding inside of the box. The drawers is then partly inserted into
the box so that the one end of the strip b can be pasted to the projecting
flap. Then the drawer is pushed inwards so much that the opposite flap Al
will project from the box, and the other end 2 of the strip bis pasted to said
flap
When the drawer is fully inserted in the box the strip is totally
enclosed and no part of it is visible, the free part between band and the free
part between 2 and 3 being folded, as well understood. When the drawer is
pushed out into the position shown in Fig. 3, the free part between and
will be unfolded and strained so that the flap k automatically is opened. In the
construction shown the flap extends not over the whole end of the drawer. The
remaining part of the end wall is formed by a tongue z, which can be swung
down for affording better access to the cigarettes or other contents of the drawer
if necessary. When pressing the finger against said tongue the drawer is pushed
inwards and the flap k automatically closed, the tongue being at the same time
secured in the closed position by the flap which overlaps the projecting part of
the tongue,

page_text: When the drawer has a flap at only the one end, the strip & should have the
form shown in Fig. 2, the free end 62 of course being of no use in such a case.
If it is desired to use a sealing strip for the box, such sealing strip may consist
of a prolongation », Fig. 1, of the strip . The end e of such prolongation may
be fastened either to the drawers or to the box h. The strip may suitably be
provided with perforations at p and p for facilitating the tearing off of the seal-
ing when the box is to be opened.
The box shown in Fig. 4, 5 & 6 is of substantially the same construction as
that shown in Fig. 3, except that the flap (or flaps) is hinged to a broad side
(while in Fig. 3 they are hinged to a narrow side of the drawer), the strip being
accordingly fastened to the corresponding broad side of the box h.
In the box shown in Fig. 7 the tongue and eventually also the corresponding
wall of the drawer are dispensed with, the flap k covering the whole end of the
drawer. The box is closed by lifting the flap with the finger and pushing it
inwards.
In the box illustrated in Fig. S the drawer has four flaps k at the one end
hinged each to a side, said flaps having each a strip, fastened to the corresponding
sides of the box, so that the four flaps will open simultaneously or substantially
so when the drawer is pushed out. The box is closed by bringing the two greater
flaps together and then pushing in the drawer.
The box shown in Fig. 9 has two opposite flaps k at the one end of the drawer
and accordingly two strips b.
In Fig. 10, 11, & 12 the drawer has a flexible lid connected to the one end
of the drawer, so that the latter can be totally drawn out from the box even if
the strip has been fastened to the lid, whereby the filling of the drawer is
facilitated. The box can be closed at the one end and the drawer pulled out by
means of a tongue as shown. The lid d may be provided with one or more creases
near the point, where the strip is fastened to the lid, in order to increase the
flexibility and thus facilitate the automatical swinging up and down of the
front part of the latter when the drawer is moved out and in.
In Fig. 3-9 inclusive the flaps are provided with front and side walls.
Fig. 13-15 will illustrate how I make such flaps without using paste, glue or
such like. As type I have chosen the drawer of Fig. 9, which is provided with
two flaps. This drawer may be made of a single piece or blank of card board
or such like, having the form shown in Fig. 13. Fig. 14 and 15 are a side and
plan view of the same blank partly folded. The part forms the rear wall and
the parts 2 and 3 form side walls, while the other parts 4, 5 etc. form bottom and
lid with their flaps. Each flap consists of the main part 5, side parts 6 with
laps 7, front parts 8, 9, and end part 10. The laps 7 are separated from the
parts 8, 9 by a cut, and the parts 6 are separated from the parts 2 by a similar
cut. In the main part 5 is made an angular or curved cut for forming a tongue 11.
which is directed towards the end part 10. The side parts 6 should be folded
upwards so as to form right angles with the main part 5, and the laps 7
should be folded inwards to form right angles with the side parts 6, as shown in
Fig. 14 and 15. Then the parts 8, 9 10 are folded inwards over the laps 7, so
that the latter may be included between the front parts 8, 9, while the end
part 10 is pressed down against the main part 5 and is locked in this position
by putting the top of said end part under the tongue 11 as shown below in Fig. 14
and 15.
It is obvious that the laps 7, the double front parts 8, 9, the end part 10, and
the tongue 11 may be used generally in constructing angular boxes or drawers
without paste or glue.
The drawer in Fig. 10-12 may be made of a blank of the form shown in
Fig. 17. A drawer made of such blank is shown in vertical transverse section
in Fig. 16. The blank consists of a bottom piece 12 with side pieces 13, with
lid supporting extensions 14, corner pieces 15, 16 and end pieces 17, with corner
piece covers 18, one of which has a prolongation, consisting of an inner bottom 19,

page_text: an end piece 20 (holding the one piece 18 against the piece 17) and the lid d,
the greater part of which is broken away in Figure 17. If it is desired to raise
the inner bottom 19 a distance above the outer bottom 12, the inner bottom
should have narrow side pieces 21 for distancing the same. An end piece 22
of the same width and for the same purpose may also be provided between the
inner bottom piece 19 and the adjacent end piece 18. The tongue t is cut out
in the end piece 18 and forms a prolongation of the inner bottom 19 or of the
end piece 22, when the latter is used. Between the end piece 17 and the bottom 12
is a cut or slot 23 for receiving the said tongue t, and thus holding the other
pieces 17 and 18 together.
The blank is folded along the fine lines so that the corner pieces 15, 16 are
included between the end pieces 17, 18 (see Fig. 19). The tongue t is inserted
in the slit cut 23 and the inner bottom is pushed down in the drawer so formed,
so that the distancing piece 21, 22 can be placed between the bottoms 12. 19,
forming right angles with them (see Fig. 16). The side pieces 14 should form
right angles with the side pieces 13 for sustaining the lid d, as shown in Fig. 16
and for holding the end piece 20 in an upright state. Sometimes the one or
both pieces 14 may be dispensed with or may be shorter as shown at left in
Fig. 17.
It is obvious that the drawer may be made of two blanks instead of one only,
the parts 12-18 forming the one blank and the parts 19 to 22 the other blank, the
one end of which then becomes the form shown in Fig. 21 or that shown in
Fig. 22. In such case when the distancing parts 21, 22 are dispensed with as
shown in Fig. 22 the end piece 18 should preferably have a prolongation 24,
Fig. 18, which will be brought in a horizontal position between the bottoms as
shown in Fig. 19, for locking the end piece 18.
In the modification Fig. 20 the inner bottom 19 forms a prolongation of the
one side piece 14, which latter when folding the blank should be brought flat
against the inside of the adjacent side piece 13.
In Fig. 18 the part enclosed between broken lines may be eliminated.
In some instances the lid d may be dispensed with. In such case the end
piece 20 will be unnecessary but both end pieces 18 should suitably have the
prolongation 24, Fig. 18, provided that the inner bottom is not distanced.
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:-
1) The combination with a box, of a drawer, a closure for the open end of said
drawer and a strip of paper or similar flexible nonelastic material connecting
the said closure with the box and operating to open the closure when the drawer
is pushed or pulled out of the box, substantially as set forth.
2) The combination with an open ended box, of an open ended drawer a closure
for either end of said drawer, and strips of paper or similar non-elastic flexible
material connecting the closures with the box, operating to open one or the other
closure when the drawer is pushed or pulled out of one or the other end of the
box, substantially as described.
3) The combination with a box of a drawer, a closure or lid for said drawer.
a strip of paper or similar flexible material connecting the said closure or lid
with the box, for automatically opening the closure or lid when pushing or
pulling the drawer out of the box, and a prolongation of said strip being used
as a seal for the box or drawer.
4) A box and a drawer constructed and connected substantially as shown in
Fig. 3 and for the purpose set forth.
5) A box and a drawer constructed and connected substantially as shown in
Fig. 4-6.
6) A box and a drawer constructed and connected substantially as shown in
Fig. 7.

page_text: 7) A box and a drawer constructed and connected substantially as described
and shown in Fig. 8.
8) A box and a drawer constructed and connected substantially as shown in
Fig. 9 and 13-15.
9) A box and a drawer constructed and connected substantially as described`
and shown in Fig. 10-12.
10) A drawer having one or more lids, or flaps constructed substantially .as
shown in Fig. 13-15.
11) A drawer constructed substantially as described and shown in Fig. 16 & 17
12) A drawer constructed substantially as described and shown in Fig. 18 & 19.
13) A drawer constructed substantially as described and shown in Fig. 20.
14) A drawer constructed substantially as described with reference to
Fig. 16-22.
Dated this 23rd day of July 1900.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.