Improvements in Match Boxes, to Secure the Automatic Delivery of a Single Match at a Time.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Feb., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 26th Nov., 1895-Accepted, 11th Jan., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Match Boxes, to Secure the Automatic Delivery of
a Single Match at a Time.
FREDERICK JAMES COMMIN, 7, Bedford Circus, Exeter, Surveyor, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
To an ordinary metal match-box 1 make the following alterations and
additions―
1. In the lower edge of the front of the box I cut a slot for its whole length with
the exception of about 16" at each end sufficiently wide to allow of a single match
passing out at a time.
2. Against the front of the box on the inside in a line with and directly over the
slot I place a horizontal division for the whole length of the box of about 32" in
width in the centre and about 3½" less at each end, the additional width of the
centre portion being bent slightly downwards towards the bottom of the box.
#
3. I slightly hollow the front portion of the bottom of the box below the general
surface as is done in many of the boxes now made. In the portion of the box
below the horizontal. division above described and between the same and the
hollowed portion of bottom I fit up for the whole length of the box a metal circular
tube of about "internal diameter, and so arranged that it is held in position at
each end for about 1th of its length by the ends of the box or otherwise, so that
it can be easily made to revolve on its axis.
4. In this tube I cut a slot equal in width to nearly one-half its diameter
extending to within 16".at each end, and instead of removing the whole of the part
thus cut out I turn out a small portion of it so that when, in position it projects
beyond the front of the box through the slot mentioned in Paragraph 1.
5. I affix to the sides of the box internally metal guides sloped from the side
inwards sufficient to prevent matches catching in the th at the end of the tube
where there is no slot.
The action is as follows-The box having first been filled with matches, to
obtain one it is necessary to revolve the tube (which is easily done by means of the
small portion projecting beyond the front of the box) so that the slot in it is towards
the inside of the box, by a slight jerk one of the matches is then shaken into the
tube through the slot in same, and more are prevented from following by the
horizontal division.. The tube is then revolved so that a portion of the slot is
opposite the slot cut in the front of the box, when the match falls out through the
same, more being prevented from following by the revolving tube having closed
the opening between the inside edge of the horizontal division and the bottom of
the box. The operation may be repeated as often as a match is required.
Dated this 25th day of February 1895.

page_text: Improvements in Match Boxes, to Secure the Automatic Delivery of
a Single Match at a Time.
I, FREDERICK JAMES COMMIN, 7, Bedford Circus, Exeter, Surveyor, 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 :-
Describing the invention as applied to.the automatic delivery of matches one at
a time, I make the following alterations and additions to, an ordinary metal
match box-
In the lower edge of the front of the box I cut a slot for its whole length and
sufficiently wide to allow of a single match passing out at a time. Against the
"front of the box on the inside and on a line with and directly over the slot' I place
a horizontal division, this division' being "wide or thereabouts and extending the
whole length of the box with the exception of about "at each end. In the
perfecting of my invention I have found it desirable to alter this horizontal
division slightly from that 'described in my Provisional Specification. The space
underneath such horizontal division should be just sufficiently large enough to
allow a single match to run under it, but not enough for two to pass one on the top
"of the other.
I slightly hollow the front portion of the bottom of the box below the general
surface to take the tube hereinafter mentioned. In the portion of the box below
the horizontal division and between the same and the hollow portion last mentioned
Ifit up for the whole length of the box a metal circular tube of internal
diameter, so arranged that it is held in position at each end in portions of the sides
of the box bossed out for the purpose or in any other suitable manner so-that it
'can be easily made to revolve on its axis. In this tube I cut a slot equal in width
to nearly one half its diameter extending almost to each end and instead of
removing the whole of the part thus cut out' I turn out small portion of it so that
when in position it projects beyond the front of the box through the slot before
mentioned and can be used for revolving the tube on its axis. One edge of the
portion of the tube then remaining I shape is shown in the drawing hereinafter
referred to.
Where necessary I affix to the sides of the box internally metal guides sloped
from the sides inwards sufficiently to prevent matches getting against the end of
the tube where the slot has not been cut in same.
In the accompanying drawings
Fig. 1 shows a transverse section through an ordinary metal match box such as
is used in the automatic penny-in-the-slot machines, fitted with my improvement,
showing the remaining portion of tube (after its having been cut as above described).
. closing the slot S in frout of box.
Fig. 2 is a transverse section of a portion of the front of the box'with the tube A
revolved so that the slot S in front of box is open.
Fig. 3 is a plan of such box with, the cover removed: showing the horizontal
division B.
Fig. 4 is a plan of the tube A showing the small portion C used for revolving the
same and the shaped edge D above referred to.
The action is as follows-The box having first been filled with matches and the
tube being in the position shown in Fig. 1, to obtain a match it is necessary to tilt
one forward into the tube A under the horizontal division B. The tube is then
revolved into the position shown in Fig. 2, and the match, on tilting up the box,
falls through the slot S in the front, more being prevented from following by the
ร

page_text: revolving tube having closed the opening between the under side of the horizontal.
division and the bottom of the box.
To obtain further matches the tube must be revolved back in the position of
Fig. 1 and the operation repeated.
The horizontal tube and division can of course be fitted to any match box of
suitable shape.
Although the above description speaks of it as applied to a match box, the
invention, by varying the sizes of the various parts, may be used for other
purposes than the delivery of matches, it being adapted for the delivery one at a
time from boxes of any small rod shaped article of circular or other suitable
section, such as pencils penholders, leads for re-filling pencil cases, tooth
picks, &c.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is
The arrangement of tube and horizontal division practically as herein described
fitted to a box for the delivery one at a time through a slot in the front, back, or
side thereof of any rod shaped articles, such as matches, pencils, pen holders,
re-fills for pencil cases sealing wax, tooth picks, &c.
Dated this 25th day of November 1895.
FRED. J. COMMIN.