AN IMPROVED BOX FOR CONTAINING TOOTH AND OTHER POWDERS
Year: 1884

page_text: I, EDWARD ESKELL of 445 Strand, London W.C. in the County of Middlesex,
Surgeon Dentist, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "AN IMPROVED
BOX FOR CONTAINING TOOTH AND OTHER POWDERS" to be as follows:-
I construct my improved box of an oblong rectangular form, and entirely close
it, with the exception of a narrow rectangular orifice, equal in length to the width
of the box, at one of the ends.-This end I form of a blunt wedge shape, by sloping
the ends of two opposite sides of the box towards each other, thus contracting the
end of the box into the rectangular orifice before mentioned.--The end is closed by
a lid hinged to one side of the box, of sufficient size to completely enclose the wedge
shaped portion when shut, so that it then presents the appearance of a plain oblong
rectangular box.
The box is filled with tooth powder through the rectangular orifice, and the lid is
made of such a depth internally that when closed, the inner side of the top fits
down upon and effectually closes such orifice, so that the box may then be turned
over into any position, without the powder being able to escape. If a further
precaution against the escape of the powder is desired, I form the inside of the lid
of the same shape as the wedge shaped end of the box, so that when shut, it more
completely closes, or seals the orifice.-To use the box, the lid is opened, and the
box turned upside down, the rectangular orifice being placed upon the bristles of
the tooth brush, and then removed, when it will be found that just the proper
quantity of powder is left upon the brush for use-Or if preferred, the end of the
box may be merely held over the brush without touching it, and a few grains of
powder be allowed to fall upon the brush.
The advantages of my improved box are:-that when closed, it can be turned
about in any position without the powder escaping, thus making it very convenient
for use when travelling; that only just as much powder as is wanted at a time'is
placed upon the brush, thus avoiding waste; that the brush need never touch the
box or the powder in it, and thus the powder never becomes damp, and cakes or
clogs in the box, as in the usual plan, where the brush is simply dipped into the
powder in an open box; and any number of persons can therefore use the same box
with perfect propriety.
The box may be constructed of pasteboard, wood, metal, or any other suitable
substances and I do not confine myself to making it of a square section, as it may
be of rectangular, circular, or elliptical section as preferred, and the lid may be
attached by a hinge, or be capable of removal, like the lid of a pill box.

page_text: The same letters indicate the same parts in each figure.
Fig 1 is an elevation of my improved box when constructed of a square section,
with the lid thrown open-Fig 2 is a plan of same-and Fig 3 a sectional
elevation with the lid closed.
a is a narrow rectangular orifice, and is the only opening to the interior of the
.box-bb are the sloping sides, giving a wedge shape to the end of the box-c is
the lid hinged to the box at d. The hinge d is preferably constructed of linen
leather, or other suitable materials.-At e just below the sloping sides bb is a
straight portion, upon which the lid fits firmly, and a shoulder f upon which it
abuts when closed, as shown in Fig 3-The depth of the lid is such that when shut,
it fits closely upon the orifice a, as also shown in Fig 3.-If preferred, the lid may
be drawn off entirely like the lid of an ordinary pill box, instead of being attached
by a hinge.
Fig 4. represents an elevation
section and Fig 5 a plan of same.
of a box of similar construction of a circular
In this case the small orifice is shown as a circle,
and the sloping sides bb form a cone; the lid being of necessity loose, and, not
connected by a binge.
The opening in the round box may be of any other shape desired.
Figs 6 and 7 represent an elevation and plan of a box similar to Figs 4 and 5,
but of an oval section.-The orifice may be of any other form than shown in the
Drawings Figs 8 and 9 represent an elevation and plan of a box of square section,
similar to that shown in Figs 1 and 2, but in this case only one side b slopes, the
other being vertical, so that the orifice a is on one side of the box-The box is
ordinarily filled with powder through the orifice a-But as a more convenient
method of accomplishing this operation is desirable, I sometimes construct my
improved box as shown in Fig 10 with the internal lining g removable from the
main body of the box, a slip of thin paper is pasted over the orifice a, and g is
then easily filled with powder through the end i, which is.quite open-g is then slid
into, h, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 10, in which it fits tightly, and the lid
shut-To use the box, it is only necessary to open the lid, remove the thin paper
from a, turn the box upside down, and place the orifice a upon the bristles of the
brush, and remove it, when it will be found that just the proper quantity of

page_text: powder is left upon the brush for use.-Or if preferred, the end of the box may be
merely held over the brush without touching it, and a few grains of powder be
allowed to fall upon the brush.
The principal advantages of my improved box are; That when the lid is closed,
as the inside of the lid shuts tightly upon the orifice a, the box can be turned about
in any position without the powder escaping, thus making it very convenient for
use when travelling; that only just as much powder as is wanted at a time is
placed upon the brush, thus avoiding waste; that the brush need never touch the
box or the powder in it; and thus the powder never becomes damp and cakes or
clogs in the box, as in the usual plan, where the brush is simply dipped into the
powder in an open box, and any number of persons can therefore use the same box
with perfect propriety.
The box may be constructed of pasteboard metal or any other suitable substance,
and I do not necessarily confine myself to making it of the particular sections shown
as it may for instance be constructed of a triangular section as shewn in plan at
Fig 11 or of a polygonal section, so long as the section or shape of the box permits
the essential features of the Invention being employed. The advantage of the
wedge or conical shaped ends is that there are no corners for the lodgement of the
powder, and the box can consequently be completely emptied-Should the fit of
the lid upon the orifice. be injured through any course, any powder which may
escape in consequence through a will not get out of the box, but will be securely
retained in the space between the lid and the sloping wedge shaped or conical
sides.
My improved box may be used to contain tooth powder or any other similar
powder or substance, such as plate powder for instance.
Having now particulary 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 A box of suitable section, with a contracted orifice a and sloping sides bb
constructed in the manner and for the purposes as herein shown and described.
2 A box with contracted orifice a and sloping sides 6 b. having a lid c to close
such orifice a in the manner and for the purposes herein shown and described.
3 A box with contracted orifice a sloping sides bb and lid e provided with a
removable internal lining g Fig 10 for readily filling such box in the manner herein
shown and described.
Dated this twenty fifth day of October 1884.