US533647A

US533647A - Match-box

Info

Publication number: US533647A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1895-02-05
Anticipated expiration: 1912-02-05

Description

M. HOLM.

MATCH BOX.

{No Model.)

Patented Feb. 5,1895.

UNITED STATES PATENT MARTIN HOLM, OF HILLSBOROUGH, TEXAS.

MATCH-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 533,647, dated February 5, 1895 Application filed March 21, 1894. Serial No. 504,537. (No model!) To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARTIN HoLM, a citizen of the United States. residing at Hillsborough, in the county of Hill and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Match-Boxes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an improvement in match safes, or boxes, the object being to so construct a box for this purpose as to prevent the wholesale removal therefrom of large numbers of matches by users and borrowers and their consequent wasteful expenditure, which, when this happens, as it commonly does in hotels and stores, makes the cost of matches an item of considerable expense to the proprietor.

The invention therefore consists in a construction which permits only one match to be taken from the box at a time, and also in the combination, construction and arrangement of parts, substantially as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating my invention: Figure l is a perspective view of my improved match box. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same. Fig. 3 is another vertical section taken at right angles to the section of Fig. 2 through the cover and showing a modified form of the inner bottom, or follower.

Like letters of reference denote like parts in all the figures.

A denotes the box proper which may be of any shape, size and form, it being preferably round or square. This box has a slide cover a which is provided withv an elongated slot 0, of suitable length and size to permit a single match to be taken laterally out through it from the box, and slot G having finger notches c c, to enable the user to insert two fingers alongside the match so as to remove it through the slot.

Within the box A is a stationary plate D which serves as the bottom of the box because the matches rest upon it. This plate is horizontal and fills the cross-section of the box corresponding in shape thereto. This plate D has the function of a follower. It is supported upon a standard or post D, which is mounted on a fiat base D The post D able the match box to have an automatic feed whereby the matches shall be kept close to the slot 0, as long as any are left in the box.

The box A is filled with matches by removing the slide cover a and placing them in a horizontal bundle therein upon the follower D until the box is entirely full and when this is so the follower D will be in contact with the bottom of the box. As the matches are gradually removed oneby one from the box A by the users taking them singly through the slot C, the box A will by gravity automatically descend sufficiently to keep the up per portion of the matches in contact with the under side of the cover a and near the slot 0. The automatic feeding will continue until all the matches are exhausted. In order that the matches may be near the slot 0 when there are but very few of them remaining in the box, as shown in Fig. 3, I preferably concave the upper side of the follower or plate D, as at (Z. The few matches will on this concavity assume by gravity a position near the middle of the follower and directly beneath the slot.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In a match safe, the combination of the movable box having a removable slide cover which is provided with an elongated slot through which the matches may be removed laterally from the box, said slide having finger notches, and the inner horizontal stationary plate supported on a fixed post which is mounted upon the base, said plate serving as the bottom of the movable box, all the parts being arranged so that as the contents of the box are removed from the top, the said box will telescope upon its stationary bottom which will act as a follower to the remaining contents, all substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MARTIN HOLM.

itnesses:

W. V. BENTLEY; Ill. LEW'IS.