IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR OPENING CLOSED PACKAGES
Year: 1883

page_text: "
LETTERS PATENT to Friedrich Carl Glaser, of Berlin, in the Kingdom of
Prussia, and Empire of Germany, Engineer and ratent Agent, for an Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR OPENING CLOSED PACKAGES
communicated to him by Friedrich Helvig Arnd a person resident at Weimar
in the Empire of Germany.
"
Prussia, and Empire of Germany, Engineer and ratent Agent, for an invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR OPENING CLOSED PACKAGES
communicated to him by Friedrich Helvig Arnd a person resident at Weimar
in the Empire of Germany.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Friedrich Carl Glaser at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th March 1883.
"
FRIEDRICH CARL GLASER, of Berlin, in the Kingdom of Prussia, and Empire of
Germany, Engineer and Patent Agent, IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS AND APPARATUS
FOR OPENING CLOSED PACKAGES a Communication to me by 'Friedrich Helvig
Arnd, a person resident at Weimar, in the Empire of Germany,
This invention relates to an improved method of opening closed packages, and
the means by which it is carried into effect will be readily understood by reference
to the accompanying Sheet of Drawing upon which:-Fig: 1 represents in cross
section a portion of a sheet-metal case. The cover is indicated by the letter D and
the case body by G. The soldering of the case is performed by laying a narrow
sheet metal strip S, round the case and soldering it by its upper edge to the cover
and by its lower edge to the case body the ends in some measure gripping one
over the other.
The opening of the case so soldered up may be effected either by tearing through
the solder, or by tearing through the sheet metal strip itself, according to the form
and dimension of the case and to the nature of the material, of the sheet metal strip
and of the solder.
:
In Fig 2 a glowed wire or similar body F, is laid in underneath the sheet metal
strip and fixed at one of its ends, its other end projecting out from beneath the
sheet metal strip. To this projecting end is attached a handle, ring, small bar, or
such like. The wire may also be inserted as shewn in Fig.: 3. On being pulled,
the wire in both cases tears through the solder at u, Figs: 4 and 5, so that the
cover may be easily lifted off. The soldering should be done with some care; the

page_text: solder may be prevented from flowing in too freely by pressure and if necessary by
smearing a clay paste or lard (tallow). The paste must have become perfectly dry
before the soldering process is carried out.
When a solder of the kind easily rendered fluid and a metal for the sheet strip
to which the solder adheres but moderately well, are employed; the solder may be
torn through direct. To this end the sheet metal strip is provided with a handle,
ring, or small bar, or small tuber Fig: 10. The strip may be torn away either
simply by means of the handle, or also by turning an ordinary fork stuck with with
the prong in the small tube, and gradually winding the sheet metal strip thereon.
To facilitate the tearing off, the sheet metal strip may in this case be put
together in two parts. The one part may have the forms represented in Figs: 6,
7, 8 and 9 as may be suitable, and as shewn in Fig: 10 is soldered to the other
half at the edges indicated by c, d, close under the end arranged for taking hold of.
The sheet metal strip so composed is laid round the case and soldered above to the
cover, below, to the bottom piece of the case and the ends so soldered one over the
other that the end of the part a provided with the arrangement for holding comes
to lie under the part B.
The form of case represented in Fig: 11 has an open space about 2 millimetres
broad between the edge of the cover and the side of the case body, besides which
the sides of the cover and case body lie in the same plane. This form allows of the
clay being securely introduced and of the application of a narrow close fitting sheet
metal strip which is consequently easily torn off. A further enhancement of the
effect to be obtained is arrived at by the form shewn in Fig: 12 where the
encircling sheet metal strip lies between two shoulders and in the same plane as
the sides of the cover and case body. If sheet zinc for example, should be
employed for the encircling strip, the strip itself may be torn through instead of
the solder, by means of the wire inserted as shewn in Fig: 2. The end of the
wire projecting from out of the sheet metal strip is as previously described
provided with a handle, ring, small bar or tube; The strip is torn through as
above stated simply by means of the handle, or this may also be effected by
turning an ordinary fork stuck with the prong in the tube and gradually winding
the wire thereon. In this case it is advantageous that the wire be held within a
swelling or groove of the sheet metal strip. If the wire be applied inside the
case it may be soldered to it the whole of its length.
If the closing of the case be effected by means of material that may be torn
through still more readily, paper for example, then instead of the wire an inserted
thread is sufficient.
In the case of square boxes etc, it is sufficient when the thread is applied not
right round but only on three sides thereof. The wire may also as shown in
Fig 13 be laid within the sheet metal strip. The strip is then soldered to the
cover and upon closing the case to this latter. The two ends of the strip are laid
into one another to the extent of about 1 centimetre.
The sheet metal strip may also be applied as in Fig: 14, or may be put in
between the cover and case body in Fig: 15, or again according to Fig: 16 it
may be jointed to and even with the cover plate, or it may form part of the
cover which is made in one piece.
Fig: 17 shews a form which is applicable in the case of angular cases.
Figs 18, 19, 20 and 21 shew other forms for use where the case is not closed
with a cover properly so called but only with a plate of sheet metal. Fig: 22
shows the manner of opening. The advantages of the arrangement are obvious.
All trouble and inconvenience in the operation of opening is avoided. The case
is not spoilt in opening it. The contents of the case may during requirement
be kept closed by the cover.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Friedrich Carl Glaser in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
11th September 1883.
FRIEDRICH CARL GLASER of Berlin in Kingdom of Prussia and Empire of
Germany, Engineer and Patent Agent, "IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS AND APPARATUS
FOR OPENING CLOSED PACKAGES. A Communication to me by Friedrich Helvig
Arnd, a person resident at Weimar in the Empire of Germany
This Invention relates to improvements in means and apparatus for opening
closed packages by the aid of a wire inserted in the package or metal case in such
a manner that by pulling thereupon the metal body may be torn and the cover
or lid be removed or lifted at pleasure.
In my provisional specification, and upon the Sheet of Drawing accompanying
the same, I have described and shown a variety of forms by which I proposed to
attain this object, but I now give preference to a modification of the form shown
Figure 21 of the drawings accompanying my Provisional specification, and
Figures 1 and 4 of the Drawings hereunto annexed; Figures 2 and 5 showing the
modification whilst Figures 3 and 6 show the overlap being cut through by the wire.
I have given preference to the modification shown Figure of the sheet of
Drawing hereunto annexed over all the forms described and shown in my
provisional specification, because by reason of the great facility of its production,
the security of the soldering, and convenience for opening, it appears to be the most
suitable for manufacture on a large scale.
It will be seen at Figure 2 that the body of the case is provided as at Figure 1
with an inward overlap A in which the wire B is laid.
The lower edge of the overlap is somewhat raised up away from the body of
the case as at C, and this is of the greatest importance, inasmuch that any solder
that may run through is caught thereby, and any soldering together of the overlap
with the body is rendered impossible.
The overlap with the inserted wire has at the longitudinal seam of the body one
end laid within the other to the extent of say about one centimetre or two fifths of
an english inch.
This entering of one end of the overlap within the other has for object to cause
the overlap after its separation from the body to be in the form of a ring or band
closed in itself.
The inner end of the wire is fastened to the overlap so that both cover
and overlap, which are soldered together at D, may be taken off by means of the
wire.
In order to prevent injury the projecting wire and the loop formed on it should
be lightly soldered to the case, that it may remain practicable to insert the prong of
a table fork within the loop, so that upon turning the fork the wire becomes wound
thereon, cuts through the sheet metal, separates the overlap from the body and at
the same time lifts the cover from the case.
The projecting end of the wire may be furnished with a ring, bar or any suitable
device which may facilitate the pulling thereupon to open the package.
The lid or cover may be a simple plate, as at Figure 1, or be provided with a
flange, as at Figure 2.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of the Invention communicated
to me as aforesaid and in what manner the same is or may be performed
I Claim as secured to me by the herein before in part recited Letters Patent :
Firstly The arrangement on the body of Sheet metal cases or packages

page_text: of an inward overlap (A) in combination with an inserted wire (B) by means of
which this overlap may be separated from the body of the case, substantially as
described.
:
Secondly The inclination of the lower edge of the overlap from the body of the
case (as at C) to prevent their becoming soldered together.
In Witness whereof I the said Friedrich Carl Glaser have hereunto set my hand
and seal this eighth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight
hundred and Eighty three.
FRIEDRICH CARL GLASER (L.S.)