Improvements in Boxes for Containing Balls or Reels of Cotton, Thread, and similar Materials.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Oct., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Apr., 1890-Accepted, 21st June, 1890
ROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Boxes for Containing Balls or Reels of Cotton,
Thread, and similar Materials.
1. TOM BASTIN, of Offa Road, Southend, Bedford, in the county of Bedford,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to boxes for containing balls or reels of cotton, thread, silk,
string and other materials, and has for its object to effect economy and convenience in
the use of such materials.
My improved box may be made of wood, sheet-metal or other material, and is
preferably of a polygonal shape to prevent it from rolling. In one part of the box is
formed a hole or slot through which the thread or other material is passed; and in
connection with the box is arranged a fixed cutter in such a manner that, when the
thread or the like is drawn against the same, it will be severed.
In order to prevent too much thread or the like being inadvertently withdrawn and
to ensure sufficient tension to enable the thread or the like to be severed I provide a
frictional or tension device. In the case of a reel this device is preferably in the form
of a spiral spring, which, when the box is closed with a reel therein, prevents the
said reel from turning except as the thread is drawn therefrom. In the case of a
ball the tension is advantageously exerted upon the thread or the like itself after it
leaves the ball.
It is obvious that I can construct a box adapted to contain any required number of
balls or reels.
The lid or cover of the box is advantageously perforated, so that the number or
size of the thread or the like can be readily ascertained.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Boxes for Containing Balls or Reels of Cotton,
Thread, and similar Materials.
1, TOM BASTIN, of Offa Road, Southend, Bedford, in the county of Bedford,
Engineer, 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 :-
This invention relates to boxes for containing reels or balls of cotton, thread, silk,
string or other materials, and has for its object to effect economy and convenience
in the use of such materials.
According to my invention each box is provided with a cutter by means of which
any desired length of cotton or the like may be cut off, and also with a friction device
for preventing too much cotton or the like from being inadvertently withdrawn, and
for ensuring sufficient tension to enable the cutting to be readily effected.
To enable my invention to be fully understood I will describe the same with
reference to the accompanying drawing, in which :-
my invention ; and
Figure 1 is an elevation of a box constructed according to
Figure 2 is a plan of the same with the lid or cover removed;
Figure 3 is an underside view of the said box ; and
Figure 4 is a perspective view.
Figure 5 is a section

page_text: Figures 6 and 7 are vertical and horizontal sections respectively illustrating a
modification of my invention.
a is the body of the box, and is the lid ; c is the cutter which, as shown, is secured
to the bottom of the box, its cutting edge being placed adjacent to a slot or recess d
formed at the angle of the box, and e is a slot formed in the side of the box and
through which the end of the cotton or the like is passed. is a spindle which is
preferably arranged in the centre of the box to carry the reel or ball therein. As
shown in figure this spindle is represented as rivetted to the cutter, the rivetting
being effected prior to the introduction of the latter into the box, so that two
rivets g; g serve for maintaining both the cutter and spindle in place. h is the friction
device for maintaining the tension of the cotton or the like.
When the box is designed to be used for reels only the necessary friction is
advantageously applied to the reel itself, and for this purpose I have represented the
friction device in the form of a coiled spring secured with one end beneath the cutter,
and serving when a reel is in the box to press the same against the lid thereof.
When, however, the box is to receive balls of cotton or the like the friction device
is preferably adapted to bear upon the cotton or the like itself, and for this purpose
it is advantageously in the form of a flat spring, (as shown in figures 6 and 7) pressing
against the side of the box, the cotton as it is drawn from the said box passing
between the latter and the spring. It is to be understood that this form of friction
device is also applicable in connection with reels, instead of the device shown in
figures 2 and 5.
It will be obvious with this construction that after a sufficient length of cotton or
the like has been withdrawn from the box, it can be readily severed from that upon
the reel or ball by pressing it against the cutter, and that after the cotton or other
material is so severed, a sufficient length projects through the slot e to enable the
cotton or the like to be grasped when another length is required.
The lid or cover of the box is advantageously perforated so that the number or size
of the cotton or the like within it can be ascertained.
It is obvious that a box can be constructed adapted to contain two or more reels.
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. The combination with a box for containing cotton, thread, silk and similar
materials, of a cutter by means of which any desired length of such materials may
be severed, and a friction device for maintaining the tension of the same, substantially
as, and for the purposes, described.
2. The combination with a box having a cutter and a friction device, of a spindle
upon which the reel or ball of cotton or the like can be placed, substantially as set
forth.
3. The combination with a box for containing cotton, thread, silk or similar materials,
of a cutter, the cutting edge of which is adjacent to a slot formed in the walls or sides
of the box, and a friction device adapted to press the reel upon which the cotton or
the like is wound into frictional contact with the said box, substantially as described
with reference to figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawing.
4. The combination with a box adapted to contain reels or balls of cotton, thread or
the like, of a cutter and a friction device adapted to bear directly upon such cotton
thread or the like, substantially as described with reference to figures 6 and 7 of the
drawing.
33 1 J
1 1000
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.