IMPROVEMENTS IN BOXES FOR MATCHES AND OTHER ARTICLES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Frederick Bennet, of South Hackney, in the County
of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BOXES FOR MATCHES
AND OTHER ARTICLES."
Sealed the 25th April 1879, and dated the 29th October 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Frederick Bennet at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th October 1878.
JOHN FREDERICK BENNET, of South Hackney, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BOXES FOR MATCHES AND OTHER ARTICLES."
This Invention is especially applicable to boxes made of sheet metal.
I apply this Invention to a inetallic box, which is high in proportion to its cross
section, by hinging the lid to the back edge of the box and forming it there with an
extension piece downward, against which the upper part or end of the back of the box
can be slightly bent or pressed inward, and thereby open the lid, a spring bringing it
back. When the pressure is taken off the back of the box is free of the sides of
the box.
As applied to a flat metallic box, that is, where the height or thickness is small
in proportion to the area, I also form the lid at the hinge side or end with a down-
ward and slightly outward bend or extension, which passes inside (or it may be
outside) the back of the box. By applying pressure to the outward bent part of
the lid it opens; a spring brings it back when the pressure is taken off.
As applied to a flat box with a lid opening by sliding sideways, I similarly fit the
lid with a downward extension beyond the hinge or pivot part, and by applying
pressure against a loose part of the side or rim of the box I operate against the
extension of the lid, and thus slide it open, a spring bringing it back as before; or
the same effect may be produced by pressing a knob acting against the extension or
by pressing against the edge of the lid furthest from the pivot or hinge, in which
case the lid may be made without the extension and loose part of the rim.
The lid and box may be formed with a hole and blade to act as a cigar end
cutter.

page_text: DILCIFICATION" I pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent med by
the said John Frederick Bennet in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 29th
April 1879.
JOHN FREDERICK BENNET, of South Hackney, in the County of Middlesex.
“IMPROVEMENTS IN BOXES FOR MATCHES AND OTHER ARTICLES."
This Invention is especially applicable to boxes made of sheet metal.
I apply this Invention to a metallic box, which is high in proportion to its cross
section, by hinging the lid to the back edge of the box and forming-it-there-with-an-
extension piece downwards, against which the upper part or end of the back of the box
can be slightly bent or pressed inward, and thereby open the lid, a spring bringing it
back. When the pressure is taken off, the back of the box is free of the sides of
the box.
As applied to a flat metallic box, that is, where the height or thickness is small
in proportion to the area, I also form the lid at the hinge side or end with a down-
ward and slightly outward bend or extension, which passes inside (or it may be
outside) the back of the box. By applying pressure to the outward bent part of
the lid it opens a spring; a spring brings it back when the pressure is taken off.
As applied to a flat box with a lid opening by sliding sideways, I similarly fit
the lid with a 'downward extension beyond the hinge or pivot part, and by applying
pressure against a loose part of the side or rim of the box I operate against the
extension of the lid, and thus slide it open, a spring bringing it back as before; or
the same effect may be produced by pressing a knob acting against the extension
or by pressing against the edge of the lid furthest from the pivot or hinge, in which
case the lid may be made without the extension and loose part of the rim.
The lid and box may be formed with a hole and blade to act as a cigar end
cutter.
And in order to explain this Invention more fully I will now proceed to describe
the same with reference to the accompanying Drawing.
Figure 1 is an outside view of a box high in proportion to its cross section ;
Figure 2 is a vertical section of same; Figure 3 is also a section of the box open;
Figure 4 is a plan of a flat box constructed according to this Invention; Figure 5
is a section of same; Figure 6 shows the under side of a sliding cover as applied to
a flat box; Figure 7, section of flat box with sliding cover; Figure 8, plan view of
same without cover; Figure 9, horizontal section of same description of box;
Figure 10, section through line B, B; Figure 11, plan with cover partly open.
In Figures 1, 2, 3, a shows body of box; b, lid; c, extension or tail piece; d, back
of box hinged at e; f, spiral spring. The action is as follows:-Upon pressure
being exerted on the back of the box above the hinge it will slide along the piece c
until it takes against the turned up end x, whereby the lid will be held up, and
upon pressure being exerted on the back piece d below the hinge e it will bring the
back into its normal position, thereby releasing the tail piece c, when the lid will
spring shut.
In Figures 4 and 5 a is the box; b, cover; c, extension or tail piece; f, spiral
.spring; g, Figure 5, is a false back to prevent matches or other articles interfering
with spring. This box is opened by pressing on the cover behind the spring or
.the tail piece c; upon the pressure being taken off the cover will spring shut.
In Figures 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11, a is the box; b, cover; c, extension or tail piece ;
e, pivot on which cover turns; f, spiral spring; g, hole to insert end of cigar for
cutting same; h, cutter. The action is as follows:-Upon the cover being pushed
in the direction of the arrow it will slide open, but upon being released it will spring
shut, and the downward extension piece e will prevent the cover from going too far.
In order to cut off the end of a cigar it is simply necessary to insert the end in the
hole g before releasing the cover, when by the force of the spring the cutter / will

page_text: ut the cigar (or this may be done when opening the box). I do not intend to
mit myself to a spiral spring, as a knife spring may be used in some cases.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
ame is or may be carried into effect, I declare that I claim,-
Constructing boxes for matches and other articles, substantially as described and
epresented in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Frederick Bennet, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.
-JOHN-FBENNET (L.B.)-