IMPROVEMENTS IN MATCH-BOXES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Darling and John Jex Long, both of Glasgow, in
the County of Lanark, North Britain, for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN
MATCH-BOXES.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Darling and John
Jex Long at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th December
1882.
JOHN DARLING, and JOHN JEX LONG, both of Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North-Britain. IMPROVEMENTS IN MATCH-BOXES."
:
"
This Invention which relates to improvements in the construction of match
boxes, has for its object to provide means of striking or lighting and
holding the matches, and of protecting the lights from the wind when used
outside.
In constructing the improved match box, the sliding box or drawer which holds
the matches is formed of a wooden splint or shaving, or of thin cardboard, or of
metal, of the usual shape, but the rectangular covering of the box instead of being
open ended as usual and being made of a wooden shaving is made of metal or
other equivalent non-inflammable substance, and preferably with one end nearly
closed, and the other open, so that the inner box part can be withdrawn by one
end. One side or edge of the metallic or outer portion of the match box is cut by
stamping or otherwise to form a spring tongue piece or longitudinal slip in the side
of the box, whose free end does not extend quite to the closed end of the box, and
which is bent or set inwards to bear on the sliding inner part of the box. The
outer surface of this spring tongue piece is roughened in stamping, or by other
means, and is used as the usual sand paper or igniting surface to strike the matches
on, after the sliding or drawer portion of the box has been partly withdrawn. Ou
striking the match on this inwardly bent tongue piece, the match slips off the end
of the tongue piece into the metallic casing, and into the chamber which is formed
between the end of the drawer (which is partly withdrawn) and the closed end of
the outer casing, where the flame or light is effectually protected from wind or
rain. To permit of the escape of the fumes after striking the match, and the
admission of air, perforations or small holes are cut in the outer casing near the
closed end, and to enable the light to be used for lighting a cigar, pipe, or for other

page_text: lighting purposes, a larger hole is cut either in the closed end of the casing, or in
one of the sides adjacent to it, through which the cigar may be inserted, and
through which the flame may rise.
A tapered or V-shaped slot or aperture is cut in the side of the box, or in a
metallic piece attached to it, just beyond the end of the tongue piece on which the
match is struck, and after the lighted match has been slipped into the chamber at
the end of the box opposite the opening through which the cigar is lit, the match
may be securely held by pressing it into this V-like aperture, the tapering edges of
the aperture being barbed or jagged to grip the match.
It will be obvious that the improvements of this Invention are susceptible of
various modifications other than those described to suit different forms and
constructions of match boxes; the essential novelty and improvements being, the
forming of an outer metal or other equivalent casing, so that when the inner
match-box is drawn out, it forms a new or improved igniting chamber for the
match to protect it from wind and rain, and enable the light to be used for lighting
cigars, pipes, or other lighting purposes; as also an improved friction lighting
surface and match holder.
i

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Darling and John Jex Long in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 28th June 1883.
JOHN DARLING, and JOHN JEX LONG, both of Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North-Britain. IMPROVEMENTS IN MATCH-BOXES.'
"2
Our said Invention relates to improvements in the construction of match
boxes, and has for its object to provide means of " striking or lighting and
holding the matches, and of protecting the lights from the wind when used
outside.
In constructing the improved match box, which is shown in side and end
elevations in Figures 1 and 2, and in perspective in Figure 3 of the accompanying
Drawings, the sliding drawer A which holds the matches, is formed of a wooden
splint or shaving, or of thin cardboard, or of metal, of the usual shape, but the
rectangular covering B of the box instead of being open ended, and being made of
a wooden shaving, is made of sheet metal or other non-inflammable substance,
with one end B' closed, and the other open, so that the inner box A can be
withdrawn at one end. One side or edge B of the metallic or outer portion of the
match box is cut by stamping or otherwise, to form a spring tongue in the side
of the box, whose free end does not extend quite to the closed end of the box, and
which is bent or set inwards, as indicated in Figure 1, to bear on the sliding inner
part A of the box. The outer surface of this spring tongue b is roughened in
stamping or by other means, and is used as the igniting surface to strike the
matches on, after the sliding or drawer portion of the box has been partly
withdrawn. On striking the match on this inwardly bent tongue b, the match
slips off the end of the tongue into the metallic casing B, that is into the
chamber B3 which is formed between the end of the drawer (which is partly
withdrawn) and the closed end B' of the outer casing. In this chamber B, the
flame or light is effectually protected from wind or rain. To permit of the escape
of the fumes after striking the match, and for the admission of air, perforations or
small holes c are cut in the top or bottom of the outer casing near the closed
end B, and to enable the light to be used for lighting a cigar, pipe, or for other
lighting purposes, a larger hole b¹ is cut either in the closed end B of the casing.
or in one of the sides adjacent to it, through which the cigar may be inserted, and
through which the flame may risc.
A tapered or V shaped slot or aperture 6 is cut in the side B of the box, or in
a metallic piece attached to it, just beyond the end of the tongue on which the
match is struck, and after the lighted match has been slipped into the protecting
chamber B³, the match may be securely held by pressing it into this V like
aperture 6, the tapering edges of the aperture being barbed or jagged to grip the
match.
The match-box casing B is by preference formed of a single piece of sheet-metal
which is struck to the requisite shape, is bent to a rectangular form and joined
longitudinally by overlapping and pressing together the overlapped edges without
the use of solder. The closed end B' is formed by folding over flaps from the top
and bottom or sides, out of which a semi-circular portion has been cut to form
when closed, the aperture through which the cigar is lit.
Having thus described our said Invention and the manner in which the same is
to be performed, we declare that what we claim is
First. A flame protecting match box consisting of the sliding drawer A, and the
outer casing B, having one end closed, and formed with an aperture for lighting a

page_text: cigar, the top or side perforated for admission of air, and one side formed with a
roughened tongue or ignition surface band a barbed slot be for retaining the match
when lit, substantially as herein described.
Second. The match-box casing B, formed of a single piece of sheet metal, with
a closed end B', having an aperture b' in it, one side formed with a spring
tongue band a barbed slot. b and having perforations c formed in another side.
such casing being adapted to form with the usual sliding match drawer, a
protecting chamber in which the lighted match may burn, all substantially as
described and for the purpose herein set forth.
In Witness Whereof, we the said John Darling, and the said John Jex Long,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twentyfifth day of June, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty-three.
Witness,
WALLACE FAIRWEATHER, C.E., Fel. Inst. P.A.,
of W. R. M. Thomson & C°.
Patent Agents,
JOHN DARLING.
JOHN JEX LONG.
Glasgow.