Improvements in Match-boxes.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application; 1st June, 1892-Accepted; 9th July, 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Match-boxes.
I, KARL KRNKA of 44 Halkova Trivinohrady, Prague, Austria, Manufacturer,
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 match boxes and it has for its object
1st. To form a match-box that will render unnecessary the inconvenience and
annoyance incidental to the opening and shutting of the drawer or cover that will
be so made that the matches can be extracted very quickly; and that will prevent
the matches falling out spontaneously.
2nd. To prevent the matches knocking together in the box,-that is to say, to
prevent friction and the resulting noise-even when there is only a small number of
matches.
3rd. To so place the matches in the box that it is possible to always catch them
by the proper end and bring each of them, even in the darkness, with the head
directly on the striking surface. By this arrangement the head is never touched
by the fingers.
4th. To prevent the heads of the matches touching each other in the box;
and
5th. To reduce the weight of the box in comparison with ordinary boxes.
And in order that my said invention may be properly understood, I have here-
unto appended an explanatory sheet of drawings, whereon
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an empty match-box.
Fig. 2 is a plan view looking on top.
Fig. 3 is a plan view looking at the bottom.
Figs. 4 and 5 are the views of the prepared paper-strip, from which the box is to
be formed.
Figs. 6 and 7 are side and plan views of a filled box; and
Figs. 8 and 9 are illustrations of different match-cells.
The form of the box depends upon the number and size of the matches which it
has to receive. The interior of the box is divided cellularly, so that each match
(or a number of them) has a cell for itself. The diameter of each cell is such that
the head of the match is held fast with an elastic grip; the match can be very
easily taken out, but is prevented from being shaken out.
Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate the method of making the cells Z. A portion of the
paper-strip, which serves to form the entire box, is rippled, that is to say, provided
with numerous undulating elevations and cavities and the remaining plain part is
wound round the rippled part and glued to it so as to form the side wall S of the
box. A bottom plate B finishes the whole box. The necessary striking surface
can be made or fitted either on the side walls or on the bottom B.
The height of the box is made smaller than the length of the matches H, so
that the ends of the matches stick out above the top of the box and can be,
consequently, easily grasped by the fingers. The drawing illustrates a box with
only a double row of matches. A box of this size can be easily placed in the
smallest vest pocket. Boxes can, of course, be made with two or more rows of
matches.
It is not necessary to form the cells Z and the side walls S of a single paper
strip as the box can be made separately and the matches enclosed by a cellular
paper strip. The cellular paper may be manufactured in endless strips and suitable
pieces cut off and put or pasted into the empty boxes. When this is done the
filling of the boxes may be done by machinery. Also in the case first above

page_text: described the matches can be put in the rippled portion Z, Fig. 4, by means of a
machine before the plain strip S is wound round and glued.
If it is desired to make boxes to contain only a single row of matches the side
walls are corrugated in the manner shown at Fig. 8 so that the two corrugated
sides when secured together form the series of cells Z' in which the matches are
placed.
Boxes to contain more than one row can be made in the same manner. A plain
strip Z Fig. 9 is in this case placed between the corrugated sides_or_vice versa.
The spaces between the partition Z³ and the sides form the cells. In Fig. 9 two
rows of cells are thus formed.
The improved match box can be made of paper, metal or other suitable material.
If it is made of metal a very thin plate is used. The rippled metal plate requires
no side-walls.
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 :-
A match box, the body of which is made with a number of cells or cellular
spaces for the reception of the matches, substantially as hereinbefore described
with reference to the drawings annexed.
Dated this 31st day of May 1890
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.