IMPROVEMENTS IN CARD CASES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Percy Frederick Tarbutt, of 4, Broad Sanctuary, in the
City of Westminster, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CARD CASES."
211 AT
Lo 107.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Percy Frederick Tarbutt at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th November 1877.
PERCY FREDERICK TARBUTT, of 4, Broad Sanctuary, in the City of Westminster.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN CARD CASES."
The object of the Invention is to facilitate the extraction of one card at a time
from the case. To accomplish this I attach to any part of the case, preferably to
the lid or opening part, one or more arms, springs, or levers, which are made to press
against one of the cards enclosed in the case. The surface in contact with the card
or part of it is furnished with or composed of india-rubber or any substance which
exercises considerable friction on card. On this surface being raised, the single card
with which it is in contact is also raised.
Whether the lever, arm, or spring (levers, arms, or springs) are attached to the
opening part of the case or not, I prefer to so arrange that the act of opening also
raises the card; but it is evident that any suitable arrangement may be made for
acting upon the lever, arm, or spring (levers, arms, or springs) with the hand. If
necessary I increase the friction of the cards at their edges against the case, so as
more effectually to prevent more than one card being raised.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Percy Frederick Tarbutt in the Great Seal Patent Office- on the
6th May 1878.
PERCY FREDERICK TARBUTT, of 4, Broad Sanctuary, in the City of Westminster.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN CARD CASES."
This Invention has for its object the raising one or more cards simultaneously
and automatically by simply opening the lid of a card case, so as to dispense with
the trouble of selecting and taking the same out by hand as heretofore.
My present improvements apply to that class of card cases wherein the lid or
opening part is hinged or otherwise attached to the case; and in the following
description I will first confine myself to describing how a card case is fitted with a
single spring, arm, or lever.
To carry out my Invention I proceed as follows:-I attach one end of a spring,
arm, or lever, or its equivalent, to the lid or opening part of the card case in such a
manner, that when the lid is closed, the other or free end of such spring projects
downwards into the case. Such free end is either wholly or partially covered by,
or it may be entirely composed of some substance, such as india-rubber, which
exercises considerable friction on the surface of the card in contact therewith. The
fixed end of the spring, arm, or lever is so attached to the lid or opening part of the
case that the free end presses with more or less force against such one of the cards
enclosed in the case as lies next the spring.
When the lid is opened, the spring, arm, or lever is raised with it, and the card
with which the frictional surface or end of the spring, arm, or lever is in contact is
lifted partially from the body of the case. Thus each time the case is opened, a
fresh card is presented for use.
When desired, two or more springs, arms, or levers may be employed to raise two
cards simultaneously from the case, and in this multiple arrangement each one of
such springs, levers, or arms is so fitted as to press against one of the outer cards of
two or more packs in the case. Also I prefer when adopting this multiple arrange-
ment to divide the body of the case into two or more compartments, each compart-
ment containing a separate pack of cards.
And in order that my said Invention may be better understood, and more readily
carried into effect. I will now proceed to describe the accompanying Drawings.

page_text: the others, or (if it be the last card in the case) above the side of the case, and holds
it in the position indicated in Figures 2 and 5.
I prefer that the inside lining of the body of the case should rise a little above
the top edge of the outer covering of the same, as shewn at L, Figures 1 and 2, so
as to prevent the free end R of the spring S from warping out over the top of the
case when the same is open and empty.
Figures 6 and 7 shew a duplicate form of arrangement of my Invention, the
former being a view in longitudinal section through the line E, F, Figure 7, with
the cards removed; and Figure 7 shewing a view in cross section through the line
C, D, Figure 6. In this arrangement the spring S₁ is attached to the lid of the
case in the manner already described and illustrated, while the spring S² is attached
to a longitudinal piece or stay g, which is inserted in the lid for this purpose. The
case itself is shewn as being divided into two compartments by means of a longi-
tudinal partition P.
When the lid is opened, the spring S' lifts one card out of the compartment V,
and the spring S³ raises another card from the compartment V
It is obvious that in the multiple arrangement of my Invention, any convenient
number of springs and partitions may be employed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and the manner of carrying the same into effect, I would have it understood
that I do not confine myself to the precise details herein-before set forth, as the same
may be varied without departing from the principle of my Invention, but what I
claim is, the raising one or more cards partially from the body of a card case
simultaneously and automatically with the opening of the lid thereof by means of
one or more suitable springs, levers, or arms, or their equivalents, actuated and
arranged substantially in the manner herein-before described and illustrated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Percy Frederick Tarbutt, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Sixth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
ELT & Co.,
PERCY FREDERICK TARBUTT. (L.S.)
British and Foreign Patent Office,
33, Southampton Buildings,
Holborn,
London, W.C.