US1186567A - Match-box. - Google Patents

Description

E. E. FORD.

MATCH BOX.

APPLICATION FILED 050.21. 1915.

1,186,567. Patented June l3gl9l6.

ELIOT E. FORD, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO HARRY A. MURRAY, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

MATCH-BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 13, 191 s.

' Application filed December 27, 19-15. Serial N 0. 68,667.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Emo'r E. FORD, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Newark, county of Essex, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Match-Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a match box and is designed so that it holds a package of matches of an ordinary type now in use, the package consisting of paper matches that are clamped at oneend into a paper folder, the other end of the folder forming a fiap which passes over the head of the matches and is tucked underneath a short tight flap at the other end, this short flap having an ignition surface on its outer face.

The invention is designed to provide a match box of this kind which provides an open space through which the flap can be opened and closed so that the removal of the individual matches by tearing them from the package is as convenient as heretofore, the box having a aw which is normally arranged so that it covers the ignition surface of the package, being held in normal position by a spring or like means.

The invention is further designed to provide a box of this kind having a jaw provided with a fingerpiece so disposed that when the finger-piece is pressed by the thumb, the box being held by the fingers of the hand, the jaw swings open to uncover the ignition surface of the package, the jaw and the box when so opened acting to protect the fingers so that when a match is struck the ignition of the match or any flying fragments from the head of the match will not burn the fingers or thumb. The jaw can also be employed for pressing on a match head which is placed on the ignition surface of the package so that the match can be drawn longitudinally from the end of the box to ignite the match. The match box can be made in many different styles, can be suitably ornamented or can be left plain if desired. One embodiment of the match box, however, is shown in the accompanying drawing'in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a match box constructed according to this invention, the match box having a package of {matches in it, andFig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the center of the match box and the package of matches, this figure being on a larger scale than Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section of one end of the match box and package, this view being similar to Fig. 2, and illustrating how the box isused when a match is lighted by a longitudinal withdrawal, and Fig. 1 is a section on line 4-4:, in Fig. 2.

The match box has a main or body por tion 10 which is made either plain or ornamental as desired, and is usually made of non-combustible material, sheet metal being the best adapted for this purpose, and I usually make the body portion by bending up the sheet of metal so that it is formed of one piece into the body portion, consisting of a bottom 11, side walls 12 and 13, an end wall 1 1, and an end wall. 15, the end wall 15 being preferably made less in height than the other walls for purposes to be hereinafter described. The box is usually big enough to freely receive a package of matches, these packages being in themselves old and consisting of sheets of heavy paper or cardboard 16 which are slitted to form the'match splints 17 which are provided in turn at their outer ends with the heads 18. A cover 19 is on the package, being formed at its lower end into a short flap 20 which is bent over the lower ends of the paper sheets 16, being usually fastened to these sheets by means, such as a staple 21, which holds them all together and provides the short flap with the end 22 that is loose so that the long flap or cover flap 23 can have its lower end 2-1 passed under the end 22 of the short flap 20, the friction and resiliency of the parts being enough to hold the end 24 in place. Such package of matches is placed in the match box 10 with the end of the package that has the short flap adjacent to the end wall 15, the short flap 20 having its outer face 25 provided with suitable ignition material so that when one of the matches, which are safety matches usually, is struck on the surface 25 it will be lighted. The top of the body portion is open to permit the easy insertion and removal of the flap 23 from its closed or covering position, the entrance of the fingers for this purpose being facilitated by the provision of cut lights.

away or recessed portions 26 in the side walls 12 and 13 of the body portion. A jaw 27 is arranged sothat'it covers the ignition surface of the match package, this jaw having a number of diflerent functions, one of which is to protect the ignition surface against undue wear and rubbing against articles in the pocket, the jaw being arranged so that itswings on the pivot 28 and having side flanges 29 which fit inside the side walls 12 and 13. The jaw is pressed to itsnormal position, which is a closed position, by means of a suitable spring, as 80, the drawing in Fig. 4 showing one of these springs on each side of the jaw. The spring 30 thus normally forces the jaw to a position against or close to the ignition surface 25.

A suitable finger-piece is provided for manually operating the jaw against the in- .fiuence of the spring 30, such finger-piece being preferably madeby bending up the back edge of the jaw 27 to form a flange 31, this. flange being slightly inclined so that it will not project too far above the general surface ofthe box but will provide enough surface for acomfortable pressure by the thumb. When the box is to be'used, the cover flap 23 is pulled out and a match 17 is detached in the usual way by first bending it and then pulling it transversely from its place, and the cover flap 23 is then closed. The box is held in one hand, the thumb being pressed on the finger-piece 31, the fingers being underneath the box, and this pressure opens the jaw 27 to the dotted position shown in Fig. 2. When it is in this position it uncovers the ignition surface and the match 17, shown in broken lines in Fig. 2, can be struck on this ignition surface, and any excessive flare or any flying particles from the match head will not burn the hand, since the hand is well protected and there is no liability of injury. At the same 7 time the ignition surface being backed up by the metal box is not appreciably flexible and it provides aafirm surface on which the I match can be struck. In some brands of *lIlfliZCllBS, however, particularly the thin kind, if they are struck transversely, and if the force of the stroke is not well regu: lated, the match is easily broken before it Such matches, however, withstand a longitudinalstrain, and if it is desired to light the match by, pulling 7 it longitudina 1ly,the jaw 27 is swung to its open positionas shown in Fig. 2. The match is then.

laid as shown in Fig.3, that is to a position j well underneath the jaw and the jaw .is then allowedto spring shut as shown in Fig. 3. The springs that actuate the jaw thus press the head of the match down firmly against the ignition surface 25, and when the match is pulled out longitudinally through the end 15 of the box-it is lighted.

This method of lighting matches with this box is absolutely safe and positive and no broken matches result. The match can be withdrawnfrom either side, because to provide for this I make the end wall 15 low enough so that the match can easily be pulled out without its head engaging the top edge of the end wall 15. r

This match box can be very cheaply made, consists of but few parts, is safe, and has plenty of space provided on it that is flat and is well adapted for the placing of advertising matter thereon.

closed position, and a package of matches in said box, the package having an ignition surface underneath the jaw.

2. A match box having an open top, a swinging jaw to close a part of the top, a spring for normally holding the jaw in closed position, a package of matches in said box, the package having an ignition surface underneath thejaw, and a finger-piece on the jaw for moving it against the pressure of the spring, the box and jaw being constructed so that at theend of the box a space is provided for the withdrawal of a match. 3. A match box comprising a bottom,

7 sides and ends, one of said ends being reduced in height, ajaw swinging on the box adapted to normally have its free end adjacent to the reduced .end, a package of matches in said box having an ignition sur face underneath the jaw, a spring for norsurface, and a lip on the rear of the jaw to form a finger-piece.

4:. A match box having an open top, a aw swinging, onthe box and adapted to jaw being adjacent to one end of the box,

and an inclined lip on the back end of the jaw adapted to act as a finger-piece so that when the box and the jaw are squeezed to mally forcing the jaw toward the ignition close part of the top, the outer end of the open the jaw the fingers'are shielded, the 1 package of matches in the box having an ignition surface under the jaw. i a

5. A match box having an open top, a

jaw swinging on the box and adapted to close part of the top, the outer end of the aw being adjacent -'to one end of the box,

and an inclined lip on the back end of the jaw adapted to act as a finger-piece so that when the side Walls adjacent to said flap being out the box and the jaw are squeezed to open away at their top edges so that the flap can the jaw the fingers are shielded, the package be grasped. 10 of matches in the box having an ignition In testimony that I claim the foregoing, I

' surface under the jaw, the package of have hereunto set my hand, this 23rd day matches having a flexible flap which can be of December, 1915. Withdrawn through the open part of the top, ELIOT E. FORD.

copies of thin patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addreuulng the Commlaaiomer of Ratents, Washington, D. G."

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