Improvements in Opening and Closing Mechanism for Boxes or Cases for Cigars, Cigarettes, Matches, Cards and other Articles.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Nov., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 11th Aug., 1898-Accepted, 17th Sept.,
1898
Improvements in Opening and Closing Mechanism for Boxes or Cases
for Cigars, Cigarettes, Matches, Cards and other Articles.
We, FREDERICK HOPEFUL WEIGHT, of 118, Branston Street, Birmingham,
Manufacturer, and HENRY CHARLES EDWARD WOOD, of 24, Johnstone Street,
Handsworth, near Birmingham, Silversmith, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in opening and closing mechanism
for boxes or cases for cigars, cigarettes, matches, cards and other articles and
consists as follows:
The body of the case or box is usually made of metal but may be of any other
suitable material. The lid forms part of the one side and the one end and is
hinged at the cut away part of the side of the case. The opposite side however
is preferably carried right to the end. A suitable spring device is employed
which tends always to close the said lid, and is preferably effected by making
the hinge pin or wire with a twist in its length, and with its one end fixed so
that in itself it affords the spring closing action.
Upon the side of the case and below the hinge joint a slot hole is made through
which passes a stud, having upon its exterior a sliding push piece, and further
having a link connected to its interior, which said link is also (at its other
end) connected to a projection upon the inside of the lid, near to the joint.
Hence by pushing forward the push piece the lid is opened and may be there
held, and by letting go the said push piece the lid is again automatically closed.
If desired, with but small variation in construction, the push piece may be
made to operate the lid when moving in the opposite direction, that is by being
drawn downwards or instead of these it may consist of a lever to be pushed
sideways with the same result or operation upon the lid. In some cases the
hinge joint may be placed at the end, and yet similarly operated by the push
piece or lever.
Dated this 10th day of November 1897.
CHARLES T. POWELL,
Applicants' Agent.
Improvements in Opening and Closing Mechanism for Boxes or Cases
for Cigars, Cigarettes, Matches, Cards and other Articles.
We, FREDERICK HOPEFUL WEIGHT, of 118, Branston Street, Birmingham,
Manufacturer, and HENRY CHARLES EDWARD Woon, of 24, Johnstone Street,

page_text: Handsworth, near Birmingham, Silversmith, do hereby declare the nature or
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 improvements in opening and closing mechanism
for boxes or cases for cigars, cigarettes, matches, cards and other articles and 5
consists as hereinafter described.
In order to more clearly explain this our invention we have appended here-
unto an illustrative drawing upon which are figures and numbers of reference,
in which:-
Fig. 1, shows a front view, and Fig. 2, a side view of a case made according 1
to this my invention.
Fig. 3, is a sectional side view showing the interior mechanism.
Fig. 4, shows a modification in a portion of the mechanism whereby the lid
may be opened by means of a downward movement of the push piece.
Fig. 5, shows a further modification of the mechanism whereby the lid may
be opened by a horizontal movement of the push piece.
The case or box 7, is usually made of metal, but may be of any other suitable
material. The lid 8, forms part of the one side and the one end and is hinged at 9,
upon the cut away part of the side of the case. The opposite side however is
preferably carried right to the end, in an inclined direction. A suitable spring
device is employed which tends always to close the said lid, and is preferably
effected by making the hinge pin or wire with a twist in its length, and with
its one end rigidly fixed say at 10, to the hinge joint which is a part of the
body, and its other end rigidly fixed to the part 11, which is a part of the lid,
so that in itself it affords the spring closing action, inasmuch as the opening of
the lid exerts a twisting action upon the said wire which reasserts its closed
position when released.
Upon the side of the case and below the hinge joint a slot hole 12, is made
through which passes a stud 13, having upon its exterior a sliding push piece 14,
and further having a link 15, connected to its interior, which said link is also
(at its other end) connected to a projection 16, upon the inside of the lid, near
to the joint. Hence by pushing forward (upward) the push piece in the direction
of arrow 17, the lid is opened and may be there held as seen in Fig. 3, and by
letting go the said push piece the lid is again automatically closed.
If desired, with but small variation in construction, the push piece may
be made to operate the lid when moving in the opposite direction, that is by
being drawn downwards as for instance as shown in Fig. 4, where a horizontal
lever 18, is interposed between the push piece and the link 15. This lever is
pivoted at 19, with its one end connected to the push piece and its other end
to the link 15. It will be thus seen that a downward movement of the push
piece will effect the opening of the lid.
A horizontal or sideway movement of the push piece to effect a similar result
may be done by simply converting the lever 18, into a bell crank lever 18", as
shown in Fig. 5, so that the motion of the push piece is at right angles to the
link 15.
Of course I may alter the position of the hinge 9, and still operate it with
the link and push piece &c. At the lower end of the interior of the case I may
carry a moveable false bottom supported by the extended leg 21, which is con-
nected to the link 15, so that when the latter is raised and the lid opened, there
is a simultaneous raising of the bottom 20, by which the cigarette &c. 22 (shown
in dotted lines) is raised above the top of the case for ready withdrawal.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this our
said invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that
what we claim is:-
1. In boxes or cases for cigars, cigarettes, matches cards, and other articles,
the combination comprising the case 7, having binged lid 8, with projection 16,

page_text: link 15 connected thereto whose other end is operated by push piece 14, through
slot 12, substantially as set forth and showm.
2. A case such as that herein described having hinged lid arranged inclinatory
thereto, projection 16, with link 15, operated by push piece 14, through slot 12.
3. The combination and arrangement as before described in Claims 1 and 2,
but with also the interposing lever 18, as set forth and shown.
4. The combination and arrangement claimed in Claim 1 and 2, but with
also the modified interposing lever 18", as set forth and shown.
Dated this 10th day of August 1898.
CHARLES T. POWELL,
Applicants' Agent, 12, Cherry Street, Birmingham.