Improvements in Match Boxes and in the Construction thereof.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 27th June, 1891-Accepted, 29th Aug., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Match Boxes and in the Construction thereof.
I JOHANN BOHUSLAV FIEDLER, Mechanic of Royal Weinberge near Prague
in the Kingdom of Hungary and Empire of Austria 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 :-
Match boxes constructed according to the invention heremafter described differ
from other similar devices hitherto known inasmuch as they are formed of one
single piece of metal cardboard pasteboard millboard or other strong paper or
material, they have not got the usual lid or cover and the withdrawal of a match
is effected directly through a notch formed in the box.
Match boxes hitherto used are provided with a lid which necessitates the
making of such boxes of stiff material and the formation thereof by means of
several parts connected together by a hinge. In consequence of this arrangement
of the hinge and of the hinge pin match boxes are more expensive to make at the
same time the arrangement of a lid soon impairs the safe closing of the box.
These defects are fully remedied by the match box constructed according to
this invention. In this box a spring closing device is arranged which retains the
matches and allows of one match being withdrawn and seized between the index
finger and the thumb in a notch formed between the spring openings.
Several modifications of this invention are shown in the accompanying drawings
in which
Figures 1 to 3 show the formation of a box with rounded edges.
Figures 4, 5 and 6 show a box of quadrangular form having a lateral notch.
Figures 7, 8 and 9 show a box with a roughened part for igniting the matches
as they are being withdrawn from the box.
Figures 10, 11 and 12 show a match box arranged in the above manner which
is provided with a special sheath for clamping the unburnt match.
Figures 13 and 14 show another form of match box.
Figures 15 and 16 show another form in which the notch is formed on the edge
of the box.
Figures 17, 18 and 19 show a box in which the joints are formed in the middle
of the box.
Figure 1 shows as an illustration of the mode of manufacture of Figures 1 to 3
the form of the metal or paper sheet such as stamped to form the box. Figure 2
is an outer view of the box. Figure 3 a rear view thereof.
Figure 4 illustrates the mode of manufacture of. Figures 4 to 6 and shows the
shape of the stamped sheet metal Figure 5 being an outside view and Figure 6
an end view of the same.
Figure 7 is a rear view of the form shown in Figure 8 and Figure 9 a front
view showing the friction plate or part. Figure 10 is a rear view of the modi-
fication shown in Figure 11 Figure 12 is a front view and Figure 13 shows the
front or rear view of the form of box shown in Figure 14. Figure 15 being a
similar view of the modification shown in Figure 16. Figure 17 shows the shape
of the plate which serves to form the box of Figure 18 of which Figure 19 is a
rear view.
One feature is common to all the boxes shown in the drawings that is to say
they are made without a lid of a single piece or sheet of metal cardboard or paper a
and are furnished with openings 6 fitting upon one another when the boxes are
formed or put together and by means of which the match required to be withdrawn
is seized. The plate a is furnished with lateral parts which form the two bottom
parts d of the finished box. Further the stamped metal plate a has lateral tabs e

page_text: which are afterwards bent over and permit of the several parts being attached
together to form a solid whole. The parts ff which abut against one another in
the finished box form a spring opening and firmly hold the matches but yield to a
stronger pressure exerted by the finger tips. The slotted plate is advantageously
bent over at the slot edges (see Figure 3) to enable more resiliency to be imparted
to the opposite ends of the finished box and to prevent the latter wearing at this
part thus increasing its solidity.
In the arrangement shown in Figures 1 to 3 the parts f form an opening at one
end in the centre of the box while in the arrangement of Figures 4 to 6 the same
is shown in one corner and for this purpose the stamped metal strip must be
folded in a different manner to form the box and in order to allow the fingers to
seize a match the notch must be cut deeper than the other.
Figures 7 and 8 illustrate another mode of manufacture. In this case a special
slot having the size and form of a match is stamped in one side of the box and
through it the matches are placed in the box. There is further provided on one
end of the box a sheath like closed appendage while the other end carries on
both sides a roughened surface by rubbing on which the matches withdrawn from
the box can be forthwith ignited. The sheath serves as a counter bearing for
the match which is being ignited being grasped by the hand when the match is
drawn through the roughened surface.
In the mode of manufacture illustrated in Figures 10 to 12 the opening is
furnished with a spring sheath 7 which can be separated or opened and in which
the match end held in the hand can be inserted so that this match may be burnt
throughout its length and thus fully utilized.
In the mode of manufacture of Figures 13 and 14 a slot is formed in the
middle; in that of Figures 15 and 16 one side is curved and the two sides are
nade resilient.
The box shown in Figures 17, 18 and 19 is characterized by the partial joints
of the box being formed in the bottom thereof.
The filling of the above described match boxes is effected by pressing the box
in a longitudinal direction whereby the opening or g is made to gape or through
the opening Figure 8 or it can be effected before the box is closed that is to say
while it is being manufactured.
The roughened or striking surface for igniting the matches may be arranged on
the back or the sides or otherwise.
The boxes are in every way suitable for phosphor matches or for the Swedish
or so-called fulminating matches. The chief advantage of these boxes consists in
the direct withdrawal of a match through the spring cleft or opening with a singlé
movement of the finger tips. Thus not only the troublesome opening of the box
but also the dropping out of the matches are entirely prevented while the burning
match can be inserted in such spring cleft and be thoroughly consumed without
danger to the fingers.
Having now particularly 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 match box manufactured of a single piece of metal cardboard stout paper
and the like the sides and bottom of which are bent one over the other and fixed
by the tabse this box allowing a match to be withdrawn at one grasp without
opening a lid in such a manner that two lateral parts abuting upon one another
are not connected together but act resiliently and are furnished centrally with a
notch whereby to grasp the match substantially in the manner and for the purposes
hereinbefore described and represented in the drawings hereunto annexed.
2. In the match box claimed above the arrangement of the opening on the
edge of two side parts abutting together at an angle substantially as shown and
described.
3. In the match box claimed above the arrangement of a slot on one side for

page_text: filling the matches in substantially in the manner and for the purpose hereinbefore
described and shown in the drawings annexed.
4. In the match box claimed above the arrangement of a frictional roughened
surface on one side of the resilient lateral parts for igniting the matches in
combination with the sheath as counter bearing for the match being ignited
substantially in the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore described and
illustrated in the drawings hereunto annexed.
5. In the match box claimed above the arrangement of a spring box for holding
the burning match substantially in the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore
described and represented in the drawings hereunto annexed.
6. In the match box claimed above the arrangement of resilient sides which
yield or gape by pressing the bottom parts to allow of the box being filled sub-
stantially in the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore described and represented
in the drawings hereunto annexed.
Doted this 05th day of Tune 1801
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
34, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Patentce.