IMPROVEMENTS IN BOXES FOR HOLDING MATCHES AND OTHER ARTICLES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Allen, of Number 36, Upper Crown Stree
Reading, in the County of Berks, Fitter, for the Invention of " IMPROVEMENTS
IN BOXES FOR HOLDING MATCHES AND OTHER ARTICLES."
Scaled the 7th October 1876, and dated the 24th July 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Allen at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th July 1876.
THOMAS ALLEN, of Number 36, Upper Crown Street, Reading, in the County of
Berks, Fitter. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BOXES FOR HOLDING MATCHES AND OTHER
ARTICLES."
This Invention has for its object improvements in boxes for holding matches and
other articles.
The box consists of three parts, the first is an inner case which is rectangular in
section and open at one end, which is the top; the second is an outer case fitting
The outer
closely over the inner case and open at the bottom and on one side.
case is jointed to the inner case by the bottom corner on the closed side; at the
other bottom corner of the outer case a pin is fixed and it passes through slots in the
sides of the inner case.
The third part is a sliding tray (or it might be simply a moveable false bottom)
fitting within the inner case; it is connected with the pin before-mentioned.
The action is as follows:-When the outer case is moved about the joint which
connects it with the inner case so as to expose the open mouth of the inner case,
the pin pushes up the sliding tray or bottom and causes the matches or other
articles to be protruded above the top of the inner case.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Allen in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 24th January
1877.
THOMAS ALLEN, of Number 36, Upper Crown Street, Reading, in the County of
Berks, Fitter. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BOXES FOR HOLDING MATCHES AND OTHER
ARTICLES."
This Invention has for its object improvements in boxes for holding matches and
other articles.

page_text: The box consists of three parts, the first is an inner case, which is rectangular
in section, and open at one end, which is the top; the second is an outer case fitting
closely over the inner case, and open at the bottom and on one side. The outer
case is jointed to the inner case by the bottom corner on the closed side; at the other
bottom corner of the outer case a pin is fixed, and it passes through slots in the
sides of the inner case.
The third part is a sliding tray (or it might be simply a moveable false bottom)
fitting within the inner case; it is connected with the pin before mentioned.
The action is as follows:-When the outer case is moved about the joint which
connects it with the inner case so as to expose the open mouth of the inner case,
the pin pushes up the sliding tray or bottom and causes the matches or other articles
to be protruded above the top of the inner case.
In order that my said Invention may be most fully understood and readily carried
into effect I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a box constructed according to my Invention as
it appears when closed; Figure 2 is a similar view representing the box as it
appears when open; Figure 3 is a sectional elevation of the closed box; and Figure 4
is a sectional elevation of the open box; Figure 5 is an edge view.
a is the inner case; it is open at the top and has an outer case jointed to it near one
of its bottom corners at al; it has also curved slots formed in its sides at a², they are
struck from a centre at a¹. bis the outer case; it is open at the bottom and at one
side, and it fits closely over the inner case, its corners opposite to those which
receive the joint pin a¹ are connected by a pin b1, which passes through the slots a*.
c is the moving bottom or tray forming the third part of which this box is composed;
it consists of a plate with its ends c, c¹, bent upwards at right angles, and these
ends fit closely against the narrower sides of the inner case a, they serve to guide
the bottom or tray as it is moved up and down within the case a. c is a lip or
flange descending downwards from the under side of the bottom or tray c; it forms
the means of connecting the same with the pin b¹, a slot being formed in the
flange through which the said pin passes. As already stated, when the outer
case b is moved to one side, so as to expose the mouth of the inner case a, the pin
pushes up the bottom or tray c and raises and exposes the upper ends of the matches
or other articles which the box may contain.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of per-
forming the same, I would have it understood that I claim the construction of boxes
for holding matches and other articles substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Allen, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-third day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.