Improvements in Coal Boxes or Vases.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Feb., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 14th Mar., 1895-Accepted, 1st June, 1895
Improvements in Coal Boxes or Vases.
I, JOHN THOMAS MILSON HIRCOCK of 15 Walter Street, Nechells, Birmingham
in the County of Warwick, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my said
invention to be as follows:-
My invention has for its object improvements in coal boxes or vases by which
I render the opening of the lid much more easy and convenient inasmuch as it is
not necessary to stoop so low when effecting this. My improvement is simple and
effective and does not materially increase the cost of the box or vase.
In carrying my invention into effect the box is formed of the usual shape and is
provided with a cross pivotted shaft having two arms which project at right angles
to the shaft outside each side of the box. The fore-ends of these arms engage with
and slide in grooved plates or grooves formed upon the edges of the inclined lid
A slot is formed in
which is hinged to hang down at an incline in the usual way.
the top of the box and a lever which is slightly cranked is attached to the cross shaft.
The action of opening the lid is effected by pushing the handle back in a downward
direction which raises the arms and with them the lid. The lever handle also
forms the handle by which the box or vase is carried so that no other handle is
necessary. It will be readily understood that by this arrangement there is no
mechanism which can get out of order or be damaged by the lumps of coal coming
in contact.
Dated this 22nd February 1895.
GEORGE
BARKER,
77, Colmore Row, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.
I, JOHN THOMAS MILSON HIRCOCK of 15 Walter Street Nechells, Birmingham,
in the County of Warwick, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my said
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 has for its object improvements in coal boxes or vases by which
I render the opening of the lid much more easy and convenient inasmuch as it is
not necessary to stoop so low when effecting this. My improvement is simple and
effective and does not materially increase the cost of the box or vase.
In carrying my invention into effect the box is formed of the usual shape and is
provided with a cross pivotted shaft having two arms which project at right angles
to the shaft outside each side of the box. The fore-ends of these arms engage with
and slide in grooved plates or grooves formed upon the edges of the inclined lid
which is hinged to hang down at an incline in the usual way. A slot is formed in the
top of the box and a lever which is slightly cranked is attached to the cross shaft.
The action of opening the lid is effected by pushing the handle back in a downward
The lever handle also
direction which rises the arms and with them the lid.
forms the handle by which the box or vase is carried so that no other handle is

page_text: Decessary.
It will be readily understood that by this arrangement there is no
mechanism which can get out of order or be damaged by the lumps of coal coming
in contact.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood and more easily carried
into practice we have appended hereunto a double sized sheet of drawings upon
which we have fully illustrated the nature of my said improvements applied to a
coal box.
Figure 1., is a view of one of our improved coal boxes.
Figure 2., is a longitudinal section through same showing the lid closed.
Figure 3., is a similar section to Figure 2 but showing the lid open.
Figure 4 is a cross section through the box showing the lid opening arrangement
in elevation.
The box B may be formed of any usual shape and design such as illustrated by
Figure 1 and is provided with the cross shaft D which is mounted to revolve in
the casing of the box B at 1 and b². This shaft is provided with the arms d'
and d which form part of the shaft, or are attached separately upon the outside of
the box, and which although here shown plain may be ornamented to any desired
extent. The fore ends of these arms engage with the slot or groove e¹ which is
formed in the sides of the lid E or which may be formed under or on the top of the
lid with the same result.
The lever A is attached to the cross shaft D at ds and projects up above the top
of the box which is slotted at 63 for this purpose. The top part a' of the handle
support A is hinged to the lever part A at a' and is provided with a stop a so
that after being pushed back it may be allowed to remain in a vertical position as
shown at Figure 3 but this hinge may be dispensed with in which case the handle
would take the position shown by dotted lines as in Figure 3. The arins d' and d
may be placed inside the box as shown by Figure 5 in which view the handle is
also shown minus the hinge a' or the arms may be arranged within the thickness
of the casing with side plates to cover saine. The action of opening the lid E is
effected by pushing the handle back in a downward direction as shown by the
arrow in Figure 2 which thus raises the arms d and d2 and lid E. The cross
shaft D may be jointed at the centre d³ for the purpose of allowing the opening
arrangement to be attached to the box after the box is finished.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1st. The improvements in coal boxes or vases substantially as and for the purpose
herein set forth and shown upon the accompanying drawings.
2nd. In coal boxes and such like articles the mode of and means for opening
and closing the lid substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth and
shown.
Dated this 11th day of March 1895.
GEORGE BARKER,
77, Colmore Row, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant..