US2031011A

US2031011A - Package of matches

Info

Publication number: US2031011A
Application number: US654207A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edwin M Solon
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1933-01-30
Filing date: 1933-01-30
Publication date: 1936-02-18
Anticipated expiration: 1953-02-18

Description

Feb. 18, 1936. E M SOLON PACKAGE of' MATCHES Filed Jan. 30

Inc/@1415K A dwf/7 M60/on M mm UNTE STATES PATENT QFFICE PACKAGE OF MATCHES Edwin M. Solon, Chicago, Ill. Application `lanuary 30, 1933, Serial No. 654.207 Y 3 Claims.

The invention relates generally to matches and more particularly to a package of matches.

The general object of the invention is toproa new and improved package of matches which is compact, which contains a relatively large number of matches of convenient size, and

A further object is to provide a package of this character which, when some of the matches have been used, by its size, indicates the quantity of matches remaining.

Still another object is to provide a package permitting the matches to be struck Without danger of accidentally igniting those remaining as part of the package.

A still further object is to provide a package which permits the size of package.

Another object is to provide a package of matches which presents a fresh striking surface for each match as the matches are used.

Another object is to provide a match having a striking surface thereon for use in igniting another match.

A further object is to provide a novel method of packaging matches.

Other objects and advantages will become ap- 35 parent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a package of matches embodying the features of the invention. 40 Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the package when the matches are ready for use.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the matches used in the package herein shown.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, each match, as shown in Fig. 5, comprises a strip 50 It of rigid burnable material such as stiff paper used in the ordinary paper match, the strip preferably being of greater width than thickness.

' At one end of the strip, a head I I is formed, which comprises the usual igniting material adapted, 55 on being struck on a suitable surface, to set re to the strip I. At the other end of the strip, a striking surface I2 is provided. The material used on such surface and the igniting material in the head preferably are those ordinarily used for the so-called safety match, although the striking surface may be made merely of an abrasive and the head of such material as may be readily ignited by such abrasive.

In making up the package, a plurality of such matches are bound together with their side faces in face-to-face relation. In such relation, the heads I I at one end of the matches and the striking surfaces I2 at the other end are of substantially the same thickness, so that the ends of the package are of equal width and the intermediate portions of the matches are held in spaced relation.

In the preferred form of match, the material constituting the head I I is placed only on one side face and on the edges of the strip I0, thusY leaving the other side face bare, while the striking surface I2 at the other end of the match is placed on said other side face. Thus, the heads II and the striking surfaces I2 bear a staggered relation to each other in the package, and since the head leaves one side face bare, a relatively small amount of igniting material is used, thus reducing the cost. The head may be formed in this manner by placing two matches side-by-side and dipping them in the igniting material at the same time, thus further reducing the cost, and then separating them preferably before the igniting material has hardened.

When it is desired to use a match, the end match on the side of the package on which the striking surface I2 appears is removed. The removal of said end match uncovers the striking surface on the next match, which surface is to be used in striking the match removed. A fresh striking surface is thereby provided for striking each match, and the package gradually eliminates itself as the matches are used.

To avoid danger of igniting the matches remaining in the package, the movement employed instriking a match is preferably in a direction away from the head. But, should it be struck by a movement in the other direction, the side face above, so that there is practically no danger of igniting the matches remaining in the package. To bind the matches together in making up the package, means is provided which rigidly holds the matches together but which permits .one to be readily removed without disturbing the bindmaterial affixed ing of the remainder, thus leaving the remainder of the package intact. Such means is preferably severable as by tearing or cutting. As shown herein, this means comprises a pair of strips I3 of relatively thin material such as tissue paper which does not add materially to the thickness of the package and which may be easily severed. The strips I3 extend transversely across the matches on the respective sides of the package and are secured to each match as by gluing them to the respective edges thereof. Preferably the strips I3 extend across the intermediate portions of the matches which are held in spaced relation to each other by the heads and striking surfaces, so that the strips may be cut by running the thumb nail along in the space between two matches.

For the purpose of selling or distributing packages of such matches, the matches when bound together may be wrapped preferably in transparent material such as cellophane, as shown at I4 in Figs. l and 2, and card I5 carrying advertising matter may be enclosed within the wrapping, such card being visible therethrough. If so desired, printing may be placed on each match intermediate the ends and preferably on the side faces.

In use, the cellophane wrapping and the card are removed, and the match at the side of the package at which the striking surface I2 appears (the left side as shown in Fig. 3) is removed from the others by tearing the binding strips I3 or eutting them with the thumb nail. Such removal of the end match exposes the fresh striking surface on the next match, which may be used in igniting the removed match, Thus, as the matches are used, the package gradually eliminates itself, there being no rigid cover which occupies substantially the same amount of space as long as any matches remain. The size of package, after some matches have been used clearly gives an indication of the number of matches remaining.

The package is compact, and a maximum length of match is permitted for a given size of package, since no part of the length of the match is used solely for binding.

I claim as my invention:

'1. A package of matches adapted to diminish in size as the matches are used comprising, in combination, a plurality of matches each cornprising a rigid strip of burnable material, igniting on one-side face of each strip adjacent one end leaving the opposed side face bare, striking material amxed on said bare face adjacent the other end of each strip, said matches being arranged in face-to-face relation with the igniting and striking materials holding said strips in spaced relation to each other, and a binding strip glued to the edge of each of said strips and extending laterally intermediate the ends thereof and bridging the space between the strips, said binding strip being made of readily severable material whereby each match may be disconnected from the others by severing the binding strip at the space between said match and the next adjacent match.

2. A package of matches comprising in combination, a plurality of matches each comprising a stiif strip of inflammable material, igniting material attached on one side face of each strip adjoining one end leaving the opposed side face bare, striking material attached on said bare face adjacent the opposite end of match strip, said k striking and igniting materials being of approximately the same thickness, said matches being alined in face-to-face relationship with the igniting and striking materials holding the match strips in spaced relation to each other, and a pair of readily severable transverse binding strips adhering to opposite edges of said match strips whereby each match may be parted from the other matches in the packet by severing the binding strips at the space match next adjoining,

3. A package of matches comprising, in combination, a plurality of matches each comprising a strip of ignitable material having edge faces and relatively broad side faces, igniting material affixed on one of the broad side faces at one end of the strip leaving the opposed side face bare, striking material affixed on said bare side at the other end of the strip, said matches being arranged witli their broader faces opposing each other with the igniting and striking materials providing spaces between the match strips between the igniting and striking materials, and thin readily tearable paper glued to the edge faces of the match strips and located between the igniting and striking materials and bridging the spaces between the match strips whereby each match may be readily detached from the package by running a finger nail in the space between said match and the next adjacent match and thereby cutting said paper.

EDWIN M. SOLON.

between a match and the