Improvements in the Mechanism of Biscuit Boxes and other like Receptacles.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 31st May, 1886.
Complete Left, 21st Mar., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 29th Apr., 1887.
Improvements in the Mechanism of Biscuit Boxes and other like
Receptacles.
I JAMES PINDER Colonial Works, Carver Street, Sheffield in the County of York
Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of my said invention for IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MECHANISM OF BISCUIT BOXES AND OTHER LIKE RECEPTACLES to be as
follows:-
My invention refers to an improved construction of the mechanical arrangements
for opening and closing Biscuit Boxes, and which may be applied to other like
receptacles, the object being to render the opening and closing action of the divided
body and of the lids, easy and perfect.
In carrying out my invention in its application to a biscuit box for example, the
body of which is made in two parts hinged together at the bottom edges (resembling
the ordinary cockleshell) and secured at the top, when closed, by means of a spring
catch, the whole being supported between the sides of a suitable framework which
forms the feet and handle; I support the body by attaching it to the frame on each
side in the following manner; at a short distance from the hinge which connects the
two parts, I fix a short pin or stud projecting from each part towards the frame or
standard, and on each of these pins a short connecting rod is placed, the opposite ends
of which fit upon a stud or pin conveniently fixed in the vertical centre of the
standard or frame and preferably upon a cross bar connecting the two legs of the
frame. The description of the mechanism on one side of the body applies to that upon
the other side.
It will thus be seen that the body (of two parts) is supported by and can rock upon
ID 71

page_text: a centre-pin fixed upon the frame at each side of the body, and that the four short
connecting rods allow the two parts to open and close by means of the hinge before
mentioned, also that when the parts are closed the hinge is in its lowest position, but
when open the hinge is raised about an inch and a half above its former position.
Each part is closed by a flat lid to retain the contents in their proper compartments,
and these lids are opened automatically in the following manner; each lid works upon
and forms part of the hinge, and has a projection formed upon it at one side or end.
Each part of the body at one end of the hinge has a curved projection which comes in
contact with the projection upon the lid of the opposite compartment when the box is
partly opened, and raises it up to a vertical position or thereabouts, the other lid being
raised in a similar manner; they close (by their own weight) their several compart-
ments when at an angle of about forty-five-degrees incline.
Dated the 27th day of May 1886

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Mechanism of Biscuit Boxes and other like
Receptacles.
I, JAMES PINDER Colonial Works, Carver Street, Sheffield in the County of York
Manufacturer, 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 :-
My invention refers to an improved construction of the mechanical arrangements
for opening and closing Biscuit Boxes, and which may be applied to other like
receptacles, the object being to render the opening and closing action of the divided
body of such articles and their lids easy and perfect.
And in order that my invention may be clearly understood I have annexed a sheet
of drawings illustrating its application to a Biscuit-Box, in which the same letters of
reference indicate the same parts in any of the figures in which they may occur.
Fig. 1, represents the lower portion of a Biscuit-Box with part of standard removed
to show mechanism:
Fig. 2, shows the position of various parts when the two compartments are being
separated.
Fig. 3, shows the position of the various parts when the box is wide open.
In carrying out my invention as applied to a Biscuit Box for example, the body of
which is made in two compartments A & A', which are hinged together and may be
formed somewhat resembling a cockle shell, with the hinge at the lowest point, and a
spring catch at the top to hold the two parts together when closed; I support the
two compartiments A and A',.between suitable uprights or standards B, by means of
two connecting rods C, C, fixed upon short projecting studs or pins on the sides of the
compartments (D, D.) the other ends of the connecting rods fitting on a similar stud,
pin, or axis E, conveniently fixed upon a cross bar F, which connects the lower parts
of each standard B.
The description of the mechanism on one side of the box, describes that upon the
other side and it will thus be seen that the body consisting of two parts or compart-
ments hinged together at G, see Fig. 2. is supported by four connecting rods, two at
each end, fixed upon the studs or pins E attached to the Standards B, arranged in
such a manner"
that the two parts A and A' may be opened and closed upon the
hinge G, the said binge being at its lowest position when the box is closed as shown
in Fig. 1, and at its highest point when the box is open as in Fig. 3. As the com-
partments are in a vertical position when the box is closed, it is necessary to provide
each part with a lid to retain the biscuits or other contents in their respective
compartments and also to prevent their escape when the box is being opened or closed,
and it is desirable that thei
raction should be automatic.

page_text: I obtain such action in the following way, each lid works upon and forms part of
the hinge G, and has a flat projecting piece I at one end near the hinge; each part of
the body is also provided with a curved hook J which is arranged to come in contact
with the flat projection (before mentioned as on the lid) of the opposite compartment,
when the box is partly, opened, see Fig. 2, and to raise it to a vertical position
or thereabouts, when the opening movement is continued; cach lid is raisod
simultaneously.
The method of bringing the curved hooks J into and out of contact with the lids is
thus effected; in opening the box, the connecting rods first turn on the centre pins E,
until they come in contact with two projecting pins K on the inside of the standard B,
sec Fig. 2, and during this movement the hooks do not operate upon the lids.
Further down-pressure causes the compartments to swivel or turn on the pins D,
and to raise the hinge G from the position in Fig. 2 to that of Fig. 3, and during
that movement the hooks J act against.the lids. When the box is fully open the two
compartments are horizontal and the lids vertical so that the contents can be readily
withdrawn.
A suitable spring, such as a spiral" coiled round the hinge pin, presses the lids
against the receptacle when the hooks J are out of action.
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-In the construction of Biscuit-boxes and similar receptacles made with two
closing parts as hereinbefore described, the arrangement of the mechanism for
opening and closing the lids of the two compartments, substantially as described and
illustrated.
2 In the mechanism for operating the lids of Biscuit-boxes, the combination of the
connecting rods C, C, fitting on pins D, D), projecting from the sides of the compart-
ments, and upon fixed centre pins E, on the standard or Frame, the hooked levers J,
and the projections I on the lids, substantially as described and shown.
ROBT. F. DRURY,
Agent for the Applicant.