Improvements in Match Boxes.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Oct., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 7th July, 1892-Accepted, 13th Aug., 1892
Improvements in Match Boxes.
JOHN THEWLIS, 30 Grace Street, Leeds, in the West Riding of the County
of York, Engine Tenter, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
A loose wood or metal cylinder 24" long 14" diameter with longitudinal slit
therein inserted in a wood or metal case having removable circular ends and
fixed supports to form a stand for the operation of the cylinder above mentioned.
The cylinder being supplied with matches readily revolves at the touch of
the operator's finger when a match is secured between two metal teeth at the
outside of the cylinder and is brought to the top thereof and delivered at the
slit with each revolution.
Dated thi. Qiush Inn of Onthou 1901
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Match Boxes.
I, JOHN THEWLIS, 30 Grace Street, Leeds, in the West Riding of the County
of York, Engine Tenter, du 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 :-
A loose wood, metal, or other cylinder, (which to suit ordinary wooden
matches, should not be less than about 24 inches long by 14 inches diameter)
with longitudinal slit therein, is inserted in a wood, metal or other case, having
removable circular ends, and fixed supports, to form a stand for the operation
of the above mentioned cylinder. The cylinder being supplied with matches
readily revolves at the touch of the operator's finger when a match (having
fallen through the slit when undermost) is secured by two metal or other teeth
at the outside of the cylinder, or their equivalents, and is brought to the top
thereof and delivered at the mouth of the slit at every revolution.
In order to fully explain my invention I have annexed a drawing showing
modes of carrying it into effect.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal elevation of my match-box, half of which is in section,
and Fig. 2 is a corresponding transverse section; whilst
Fig. 3 is a corner of a longitudinal section arranged with ball bearings for the
cylinder to turn upon. This design lends itself to the manufacture of the article
in wood, thick metal, glass, earthenware, and the like, wholly or in part.
Figs. 4 & 5 are similar sections to Figs. 1 & 2. In this arrangement the
cylinder is supposed to be of thin sheet metal, arranged to revolve on bearings
at each end, with the outer case of some thicker substance.
is
Figs. 6 & 7 are sections similar to those at Figs. 1 & 2. This arrangement
very
similar to that shown in Figs. 4 & 5; all, except the base, being formed
of thin sheet metal, whilst the outer end covers, which fit over the outer casing
serve to carry the central axis.
Fig. 8 shows how an abutting lining may be arranged inside the end-covers of
Fig. 7.
Fig. 9 shows, in sectional elevation, a corner of a thin metal cylinder arranged
to run on ball bearings (after the manner of Fig. 3).
The drawings must be taken as showing the underlying principle, as the details
[Price 8d.]

page_text: may be varied at pleasure. The same letters refer to the same parts, or their
equivalents, (as far as possible) in all the figures.
Referring to Figs. 1 & 2, A is the match-holding cylinder; B the outer case,
which has protecting sides B¹, B', and here forms also the stand, base, or fixed-
support; C, C, are the circular end-covers, which, preferably with the aid of a
convenient packing at C, fit the ends of the outer case B. Attached to the
covers C are certain inner shields D, D, which prevent a match falling inwards
when nearing delivery, as shown in Fig. 2. Here the thickness of the shell of the
cylinder allows a match to cradle itself in the longitudinal slit F without requiring
further teeth. The lowest dotted position F is that at which the match falls into
the slit. The cylinder being turned round by the operator's finger, resting on the
top, the match, if moved to the right hand, would be cradled and carried round as
shown at F. Suppose, however, it both travels up to the left, and, after arriving
at the position F³, endeavours to fall inwards:Here it would be caught, as
shown, by the inner shield D. These shields may be arranged in many ways;
they may meet at the centre, or one long shield may project from one cover only,
and they may be carried down the sides as far as desirable, etc., etc.
F in each fig. shows a portion of a match delivered at the top of the cylinder.
The matches are first inserted at a hole E in the end cover which may be after-
wards corked up to stop the exit. As however the match box is intended to be
non-portable it may be screwed down, or otherwise secured to a heavy base, so
that matches once inserted could only be extracted in the arranged way.
Fig. 3 shows how the cylinder and outer-case may be prolonged and the end-
covers arranged to admit ball bearings, G, for the cylinder to roll upon. As this
cylinder, like Figs. 4 and 6, has a connecting strip at A', several match-delivering
slits may be arranged on its periphery. In Fig. 1 the slit extends from end to
end, hence only one such is permissible in that case.
A feature in all the arrangements shown lies in the tips of the stored matches
touching fixed ends C³ as this tends to keep them in true line for falling into the
exit slit.
In Figs. 4 & 5, A is the cylinder which is pivotted at G, G, on fixed-end
supports. B is the outer case, which may be made in halves, together with the
base, to facilitate fitting together. The revolving end-covers C, C, form discs
which turn on the supports G, G, and so carry the cylinder A. The central pivots
may be prolonged, as at G₁, from side to side, either, as shown here, by being
cranked upwards, or by being carried straight across as in Fig. 6. The inner
shield D is here shown fixed to the shaft and so likewise are the fixed ends C³ C'.
The supports, GG, may be nipped between the half bases, as shown, or they may
be attached to the protecting sides B'. F is the exit slit, and F1, F, are the teeth
which engage with the match. The space into which the match falls, and out of
which the teeth lift it, is clearly shown both here and in Figs. 6 & 7.
The arrangement in Figs. 6 & 7 differs chiefly in having the protecting sides B¹
made of thin sheeting and prolonged at the ends so as to carry fixed outer end
covers C, C³, which in turn carry the ends of the fixed central shaft G¹. This
shaft is here shown bung straight across, but it can be cranked up as in Fig. 4.
Fixed end plates C', and an inner protecting shield D, are also affixed. Where
the protecting sides B', B', stop inside the outer covers C³, an abutting edge H
should be provided as in Fig. 8, to keep all in correct line.
Fig. 9 is a corner section of a thin sheet metal match box arranged with ball
bearings somewhat after the manner of Fig. 3. In this case no central pivots are
of course required, but inner discs C³, as shown, are wanted, unless the covers C³
are bent inwards after the style of those in Fig. 3.
Holes for inserting the matches must be arranged in and through the end-
cover, &c., in every case and any suitable means may be used for closing them if
thought desirable. At the centre of each match-slit a finger-way is cut as shown
in Figs. 1 & 2. A roughed or raised pathway for the fingers should also run round
the circumference of the cylinder to facilitate rotation.

page_text: 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 :-
(1). A revolving match-box arranged, constructed, and operated substantially as
described herein and shown on the drawing, with the object and for the purpose set
forth.
(2). A revolving match-box arranged substantially as shown in Figs. 1 and 2,
whether the cylinder be mounted on ball bearings, as in Figs. 3 and 9, or not, with
the object and for the purpose set forth.
(3). The revolving match-box arranged to turn on end pivots substantially after
the manner described and shown in Figs. 4 and 5, with the object and for the
purpose set forth.
(4). The revolving match-box arranged to turn on end pivots encased in fixed
end covers substantially as described and shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8 with the object
and for the purpose set forth.
MALZO
WM. SNOWDON,
9, Old Bank Chambers, Leeds, Yorks, Agent for the Applicant.