Improvements in Match Boxes to Secure the Automatic Delivery of a Single Match at a Time.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Aug., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 29th Sept., 1894-Accepted, 3rd Nov., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Match Boxes to Secure the Automatic Delivery of
a Single Match at a Time.
1. FREDERICK JAMES COMMIN, 7, Bedford Circus, Exeter, Surveyor, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The improvement consists in forming a longitudinal division in a match box
opening with a hinged cover on the flat or largest side of the box; the division to
be carried down from the top nearly to the bottom of the box, leaving a space
underneath same sufficient only for one match to pass at a time, and to be fixed
about "from the front of the box. Attached to the cover in such a position as to
ensure its passing between the front of the box and the division is a small pair of
tongs extending in length to the bottom of the box. The action is as follows-
The major portion of the box having been filled with matches, a single one is
passed by a slight jerk under the division into the smaller part of the box, the
cover being a little open. By holding the box so that the bottom slopes forward a
little this match remains in position and on the box being closed is gripped by the
tongs attached to the cover. The cover is then raised, the tongs and match
following; the latter is then easily removed for use, and by a slight tilt and jerk
of the box forward another match passes under the division and the box being
shut is clipped by the tongs as before, and there remains ready for use when
required.
Dated this 30th day of August 1894
FRED. J. COMMIN.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Match Boxes to Secure the Automatic Delivery of
a Single Match at a Time.
I, FREDERICK JAMES COMMIN, of 7 Bedford Circus, Exeter, Surveyor, 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 :-
The improvement consists in forming a longitudinal division in a match box
opening with a hinged cover on the flat or largest side of the box; the division to
be carried down from the top nearly to the bottom of the box, leaving a space
underneath same sufficient only for one match to pass at a time, and to be fixed
about a quarter of an inch from the front of the box. Attached to the cover in
such a position as to ensure its passing between the frout of the box and the
division is a small pair of tongs or grippers extending in length to the bottom of
the box. The action is as follows-The major portion of the box having been
filled with matches, a single one is passed by a slight jerk under the division into
the smaller part of the box, the cover being a little open. By holding the box so
that the bottom slopes forward a little this match remains in position and on the
box being closed is gripped by the tongs or grippers attached to the cover.
cover is then raised, the tongs or grippers and match following, the latter is then
easily removed for use and by a slight jerk and tilt of the box forward another
match passes under the division and the box being shut is clipped by the tongs or
grippers as before, and there remains ready for use when required.
The

page_text: }
But in order to enable my invention to be fully understood I will now proceed
to describe same with the aid of the accompanying sheet of drawings, in
which :-
!
&
Fig. 1, is. a. plan view of my improved match box with the lid or cover
removed.
Fig. 2, a transverse section of same with the lid or cover closed.
Fig. 3, a corresponding section with the lid or cover raised or open, and
Fig. 4, a longitudinal section of same with the lid or cover closed.
A is the body of the case or box which may be of any suitable construction
but is preferably made of stamped metal of the form now in general use for con-
taining wax vestas. B is the longitudinal division in such box and which extends
to near the bottom of same leaving sufficient space between its lower edge and the
bottom for the passage of a single match at a time from one side of the division
(which forms the receptacle into which the matches are placed) to the opposite
side thereof. C is the hinged lid or cover of the box, to the forward end of which
a pair of tongs or grippers D is secured, same being of sufficient length to
extend down to near the bottom of the body of the box when such lid or cover is
closed.
Assuming the lid or cover C to be raised or open as shown in Fig. 3 and the
tongs or grippers D to be empty, while a single match has passed from the side of
the division B which forms the receptacle to the space on the opposite side of such
division, when the lid or cover C is closed the free ends of the tongs or grippers D
will pass over such match and grip same, so that when the lid or cover C is again
raised it will carry such match with it, and the latter can be readily removed by
the fingers from between the two arms of the tongs or grippers.
By a slight jerk or tilt of the box A another match will be caused to pass from
the receptacle to the opposite side of the division B, so that on again closing the
lid or cover C such match will be gripped by the tongs or grippers D and
consequently be carried up with the latter when the box is again opened.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
The improved match box fitted with a division dividing the body of same into
two portions and having a space between its lower edge and the bottom of such box
sufficient to enable a single match to pass at a time from one side of such division
to the opposite side thereof, in combination with a hinged lid or cover carrying a
pair of tongs or grippers secured thereto in such position that when the lid or
cover is closed it will grip a single match which has so passed from one side of
the division to the other and raise same with the lid or cover when the box is
again opened.
Dated this 29th day of September 1894.