Improvements in Match Boxes.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Apr., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Aug., 1895-Accepted, 28th Sept., 1895
We, JOHN FREDERIC FLETCHER, of Blossoms Hotel, Buxton Road, Traveller,
and LEWIS FREDERICK SHARP, of 79, Shaw Heath, Helmet Manufacturer, both
of Stockport in the County of Chester, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object to provide a match-box which can be produced
and retailed at a very low cost, can be readily opened and closed and which is
durable and light.
To this end we form our improved match-box of very light sheet metal,
preferably of aluminium, by stamping the bottom and sides out in one piece
hending the sides at a right angle to the bottom and the edges of the sides
inwardly to form flanges for the reception of the ends, which are stamped out
separately. The side edges of the box ends are bent to form grooves in which
the said side flanges engage, one of the said ends being driven tight and the
other adapted to slide on the said flanges, the former holding the sides of the
box together and the latter being furnished with a roughened or serrated surface
on which the matches are struck.
The lid we hinge to the sides of the box by means of a pin and its back end
by means of a strip or rod to the aforesaid sliding end, in such a manner that
on the latter being slid down, the lid will be raised and the box thus opened,
whilst on it being slid up the lid will drop and close the box. The said strip
or rod may be in the form of a spring or a flat spring may be employed on the
bottom of the box to press upon the lower end of the said strip or rod so as
to assist the raising and lowering of the lid.
If desirable the fixed end of the box may also be roughened or formed with
serrations.
Dated this 5th day of April 1895.
F. BOSSHARDT & Co.,
Agents to Applicants.
Improvements in Match Boxes.
We, JOHN FREDERIC FLETCHER, of Blossoms Hotel, Buxton Road, Traveller,
and LEWIS FREDERICK SHARP, of 79, Shaw Heath, Helmet Manufacturer, both
of Stockport, in the County of Chester, 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 has for its object to provide a match-box which can be produced
and retailed at a very low cost, can be readily opened and closed and which is
durable and light.
And in order that our invention may be more fully understood we have caused
to be appended hereunto one sheet of drawings marked with letters of reference
indicating like parts in the various figures.

page_text: Figs. 1 & 2 are perspective views of the part of the match-box forming the sides
and the bottom before and after having been bent to shape respectively formed in
accordance with our invention,
Fig. 3 shows in perspective separately one of the loose ends,
Fig. 4 is au enlarged sectional view of one of the loose sides in position in the
match-box,
Figs. 5 & 6 are longitudinal sections of the match-box closed and open
respectively,
Fig. 7 is a cross section of Fig. 6,
Fig. 8 a perspective view of the match-box closed and
Fig. 9 a section of the lower portion showing a modification of our improved
match-box.
In carrying out our invention we form our improved match-box of very light
sheet metal, preferably of aluminium, by stamping the bottom a and sides out in
one piece (Fig. 1), bending the sides bat a right angle to the bottom a and the
edges of the sides b, inwardly to form flanges 61 (see Fig. 2), for the reception of
the ends which are stamped out separately. The side edges of the box ends c
are bent to form grooves c¹, see more particularly Fig. 4, in which the side
flanges engage, one of the said ends c being driven tight and the other adapted
to slide on the flanges b. the former holding the box sides b together and the latter
being furnished with a roughened or serrated surface; see Fig. 8, on 'which the
matches are struck.
The lid d we hinge to the box sides by means of a pine and its back end by
means of a strip or rod f to the aforesaid sliding end c, see Figs. 5, 6 & 7, in such a
manner that on the latter being slid down, the lid d will be raised see Figs. 6 & 7,
and the box thus, opened, whilst on the lid d being slid up it will drop and close
the box, see Figs. 5 & 8. The strip or rod f may be in the form of a spring; as
shown in Figs. 5, 6 & 7; or a flat spring may be employed on the box bottom a,
see Fig. 9, against the lower end of the strip or rod' on the end c being slid down
so as to assist the raising' and' lowering of the lid d.
h
"If desirable' the fixed end c of the box may also be roughened' or formed with
Bérrations.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim, is;—
"In match-boxes."
1st. The general construction and combination of parts constituting our
improvements operating substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
2nd. The box bottom a and sides 6 formed in one piece, the sides having
flanges adapted for the reception of the ends c one of which fits loosely, all
substantially as set forth..
3rd. In combination with the loosely fitted end c, specified in the preceding
claim, and the hinged box lid d; the strip or rod fadapted to open the box lid d on
the end c being partly slid out and to close the sanie when being slid back, all
substantially as set forth.
Dated this 22nd day of August 1895.
F. BOSSHARDT & Co.,
4, Corporation Street, Manchester, Agents to Applicants.