Improvements in Hinges and Fastenings for Cases, Boxes, Trunks, Purses, and for like Objects.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Sept., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 24th June, 1896-Accepted, 1st Aug., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Hinges and Fastenings for Cases, Boxes, Trunks,
Purses, and for like Objects.
We, HENRY HOPKINS, of 26 Trinity Street, Borough, London, S.E., and
ARTHUR ROBINSON, of 26 Grosvenor Park Road, Walthamstow, London, E.,
Engravers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention has reference to an improved method of arranging and constructing
hinges, whereby we are enabled to open a case, box, trunk, or similar articles from
either side, the hinge being formed so as to permit of a movement being made upon
one edge or upon the opposite edge with equal advantage.
In carrying our invention into effect when constructing a case suitable for
holding cigars, cigarettes, matches or the like, we form the hinge as a bar or
bridge piece, having a number of rolled beads or pivot sleeves on each side, the
one side to enter upon one edge of the case or box, and the other side to engage
with the opposite side or edge of the top of the box, so that the bridge piece or
hinge piece ties the two parts of the box together, and a pin or pivot which
connects the one side, permits motion to be made upon that while the pivot which
connects the opposite or upper side of the box permits of like motion being made
upon that.
We prefer to arrange two such hinge bridge pieces formed and placed one at
each end, the bridge pieces passing across the end while the hinge piece passes
down the sides of the box or case segments. We make the one case to be attached
with half the hinge piece secured on one edge while the opposite edge of the case
is plain, but upon the portion forming the upper part of the opposite edge of the
case we attach the other hinge bridge piece, so that the box is tied together by
means of two hinge bridge pieces, the portions which come opposite to each other
forming the hinges being connected the one to the upper and the other to the
lower part of the case, thus permitting that the case can be opened from either
side upon the hinges.
It will be understood that a continuous hinge is formed along each edge of the
case or box, one half being upon the lower and the other half being upon the upper
portion of the box.
We provide any desired number of hinge pieces, sometimes making the bridge
pieces to run across the case or box and to form divisions within the box under
which any cigar, cigarette or the like may be placed, although we find it
convenient when providing for a full clear space within the box to arrange our
hinges so that the bridge piece is somewhat in the form of the letter U, or
hannel form.
We place any desired catch or ordinary fastenings or springs upon the box
rames or we may arrange a lock in any usual well known manner.
When constructing trunks and large boxes we employ the same essential feature
f a semi-hinge on one part of the box while the other part of the hinge is jointed
o the lid, a bridge piece enabling the hinge to be employed as a pivot either on
he one edge or the other as may be desired.
We lock the box by means of any ordinary staple catch and padlock, arranging
hem either upon the ends or in the ordinary manner upon the sides, a double lock
eing by preference emplazed

page_text: When constructing work boxes, purses, or other fancy articles to have a double
opening or double hinge, we make the configuration of the bridge piece of a
somewhat fancy shape and we modify the method of forming the hinge to suit the
class of article to which it is to be attached.
We do not limit the application of our invention to any particular form of
box, case, trunk, or cover, but employ the system herein before described with
modifications to suit the particular application for which it is intended.
Dated this 24th day of September 1895.
MARKS & CLERK,
18 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.
.Improvements in Hinges and Fastenings for Cases, Boxes, Trunks,
Purses, and for like Objects.
!
We, HENRY HOPKINS, of 26 Trinity Street, Borough, London S.E., and
ARTHUR ROBINSON, of 26 Grosvenor Park Road, Walthamstow, London E.,
Engravers, 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 :-
Our invention has reference to improvements in hinges, whereby we are enabled
to open a case, box, trunk, or similar article from either side, the hinge being
formed so as to permit of a movement being made upon one edge or upon the
opposite edge with equal advantage.
"
.
In the accompanying sheet of explanatory, drawings-
Figure 1 is an open plan of a cigarette case made in accordance with our
invention.
Figure 2 is a closed side elevation thereof, while
Figure 3 is a closed end elevation shewing the lid D in dotted lines opened out
on each side.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of a trunk made in accordance with our
invention.
In carrying our invention into effect when constructing a case suitable for
holding cigars, cigarettes, matches, or the like as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, we
form the hinge as a connecting bar or bridge piece A having a number of roller
beads or pivot sleeves B B on each side, those upon the one side to enter into
alignment with other intermediate sleeves C fixed upon one edge of the half case,
and those upon the other side to enter into alignment with intermediate sleeves
provided upon the opposite edge of the other half case, so that by such means as
the insertion of pins through the pivotting sleeves the bridge piece or hinge piece
ties the two parts or halves of the case together, and the pin connecting the one
side, permits motion to be made upon that while the pin connecting the opposite
side of the box permits of like motion being made upon that.
We prefer to arrange two such hinge bridge pieces A A' formed and placed one
at each end, the bridge pieces passing across the ends while the hinge pieces pass
down the sides of the box or case segments D, D¹. We make the one half case
or segment D to be attached with the hinge piece A¹ on one edge extending along
one half the length thereof leaving the remainder of its length plain. The other
half case or segment D¹ has secured upon its contiguous edge at the upper hal
thereof, the hinge piece A. The opposite hinging edges A* A* of the bridge o
connecting. pieces A A' are secured by such means as pins to the opposite edges o
the respective parts or segments constituting the case, so that at the upper end o
the case one arm of the hinge bridge piece A is pivotally secured to one edge of on

page_text: segment D', while the other arm A' is secured to the opposite edge of the other
segment D and at the lower end of the case one arm of the hinge bridge piece A¹
is pivotally secured to one edge of the segment D while the other arm A³ is
pivotally secured to the opposite edge of the segment D¹.
It will be understood that a continuous hinge is formed along each edge of the
case or box, one half being upon the lower and the other half being upon the
upper portion of the box.
We provide any desired number of hinge pieces, sometimes making the bridge
pieces to run across the case or box and to form divisions within the box under
which any cigar, cigarette or the like may be placed, although we find it
convenient when providing for a full clear space within the box to arrange our
hinges so that the bridge piece is somewhat in the form of the letter U, or channel
form, as shown.
We sometimes prefer to employ but one hinge bridge pièce to connect either of
the diametrically opposite edges of the halves or portions of the case or receptacle,
in which case the catches provided upon each side and engaging with each of the
arms of the bridge piece, connect the bridge piece with the unopened portion of
the receptacle, so that two hinge bridge pieces may not be necessitated.
We place any desired catch or ordinary fastenings or springs upon the box
frames or we may arrange a lock in any usual well known manner.
As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 we preferably arrange our catch such as G to
engage with the under edge of the opposite arm of the hinge bridge piece when
the case is closed so that thereby the case may be opened from either side without
affecting the unreleased catch upon the other.
When constructing trunks and large boxes as illustrated in Figure 4 we employ
the same essential feature of a semi-hinge C on one part of the box E while the
other part of the hinge is jointed to the lid F, a bridge piece enabling the hinge to
be employed as a pivot either on the one edge or the other as may be desired.
We lock the box by means of any ordinary staple catch and padlock or other
lock, arranging them either upon the ends or in the ordinary manner upon the
sides, a double lock being by preference employed. In the figure a rim lock G¹
is shown which engages with the free. arm which when closed lies thereupon, so
that the trunk or box may be opened from either side notwithstanding that it may
then be locked upon the other.
When constructing work boxes, purses, or other fancy articles to have a double
opening or double hinge, we make the configuration of the bridge piece of a
somewhat fancy shape and we modify the method of forming the hinge to suit the
class of article to which it is to be attached.
We do not limit the application of our invention to any particular form of
box, case, trunk, or cover, but employ the system herein before described with
modifications to suit the particular application for which it is intended.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is
1. In cigarette cases, boxes, trunks, and like receptacles, the provision of two
hinge bridge pieces of a shape conformable to that of the receptacle, having each
lateral arms pivotally secured to the respective diametrically opposite edges of the
halves or portions of the receptacle, the case or lid being thereby capable of being
opened on either side substantially as described.
2. In cigarette cases, boxes, trunks and the like receptacles, the provision of an
hinge bridge piece of a shape conformable to that of the receptacle, having lateral
arms pivotally secured to diametrically opposite edges of the halves or portions of
the receptacle, the case or lid being thereby capable of being opened on either side.
substantially as described.
3. In cigarette cases, boxes, trunks, and like receptacles, as described in the
preceding claims, the provision of a lock or catch to engage from the edge of one

page_text: · portion of the case with an arm of the hinge bridge piece or pieces, to enable the
opening on one side while the other side is locked or secured substantially as
-described.
4. The improvements. relating to cigarette cases, boxes, trunks and like
-receptacles substantially as and for the purposes herein before described.
Dated this 23rd day of June 1896.
. MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.