US904766A - Match-box. - Google Patents

Description

J. A. EDES.

MATCH BOX.

APILIOATION FILED JULY 22,1908.

Patented N0v.24, 1908.

UNITED STATES if LATENT OFFICE.

JOHN ALVIN EDES, OF NEWPORT, RHOIDE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO CAROLYN l3. EDES, OF NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND.

MATCH-B OX.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN ALviN Eons, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newport, county of Newport, State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and use ful 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.

The invention relates to match boxes adapted to project the matches therefrom one at a time and admit of the individual matches being ignited by a special form of striking mechanism as they are forced partially from the box, and the object of the invention is to provide a simple and etlicient apparatus for accomplishing the foregoing purposes and that will perform its operations with precision and accuracy and is not liable to the common forms of derangement peculiar to the constructions of boxes heretofore devised for this general operation.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 illustrates in side elevation a match box embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is an end elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section through the box. Fig. 1 is a section on line 14 of Fig. 2. Figs. 5 and 6 are an end elevation and a longitudinal section through the combined detent and striking device.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates the body of the box which comprises an upper magazine section for holding a number of matches, which is provided at its top with a slide cover Toward the bottom of the magazine the sides of the box converge and terminate in a generally cylindrical bottom chamber 3 provided in its lower side with a longitudinal slot 13. Extending longitudinally of the magazine and just above the bottom thereof is an inclined partition 5 which serves to admit matches one at a time in proper position to be ejected through an opening 18 in the end wall of the box.

Slidably mounted in the bottom chamber 3 is a plunger 6, having a finger piece 10 projecting through the slot 13, and a shoulder 11 on its upper side which is adapted to engage the butt end of a match and force the latter forward in the box. In the front end of the cylindrical chamber 18, there is secured a block 8 provided with a Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. July 22, 1908.

Patented Nov. 24, 1908.

Serial No. 444,713.

groove on its upper surface adapted to receive and guide the forward end of a match. Secured to an eye 9 on the rear end of block 8 is a retractile spring 7, which is attached at its other end to the forward end of plunger 6 and serves to pull the plunger forward with a sharp quick motion when said plunger has been retracted by the finger of the operator and then released.

Mounted on the front wall of the box is a cylindrical chamber 14. in which is slidably mounted the combined striker and dctent 20, which latter is provided with a finger piece 21 projecting through a slot 15 in the front wall of said chamber 14. In the chamber 1-1, and between the upper wall thereof and the upper face of the detent 20. is a helical spring 19, which ntnaually holds said dctent in its lower position to overlie the opening 18, and which returns the said dctent to such position after the same has been retracted and released by the finger of the operator. The lower end of the detent 20 is cut away and above the cut away portion is provided with a slot 22, in which is forced a spring finger 24:, having a striking point 25 turned at right angles to the body of the spring and projecting toward the interior of the box, said point 25 normally standing away from the body of detent 20 by reason of the set of the spring finger 24-. T he lower end of detent 20 is slightly grooved or rounded to adapt the same to engage and assist in holding the match after the same has been partially projected from the box.

In order to prevent the match being projected entirely from the box until it is desired to discard the same, there is provided a resilient or yieldable holding member 17 which may conveniently take the form illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and at, and consists of an angularly disposed spring rod attached at its inner end to the bottom of the box and free to move at its outer up-turned end, the extreme point of the latter normally projecting a slight distance over the opening 18 and having a chamfered edge to permit the match to slide over the same and force the spring downward during the initial movement of the match in its passage through the opening 18, said chamfered edge however developing sufficient friction with the match to retard the movement of the latter and finally arrest the same and clamp it against a projecting lip 16 above the opening 18.

In operating the apparatus as herein de scribed, the magazine is supplied with the desired number of matches. When it is desired to use a match from the box, the box is tilted forward slightly to cause the matches to move toward the front wall. Finger piece 10 is then forced backward by the finger of the operator, which retracts plunger (5 until the shoulder 11 thereof passes behind the butt end of the lowermost match, and the latter occupies the position shown in Fig. 3, with its forward end resting on the guide block 8 and its heel engaged by shoulder 11. In this position, the head of the match engages the cut away portion of detent 2O ust above the striking point on the spring member 2%. Detent 20 is then retracted against the pressure of spring 19 by engaging finger piece 21, whereupon striking finger 25 is drawn smartly across the matchhead and ignites the latter. Immediately thereafter the lower end of detent 25 uncovers opening 18 and the forward partof the match is projected through the opening 18 and the head thereof immediately bursts into flame. In passing through the opening, the forward end of the match depresses the yieldable holding member 17, which latter however imposes sufficient friction to retard and finally arrest the movement of the match and ult -t ely clamps the latter in partially projected position against shoulder 16. At the same time and after detent 20 has been released, the latter is forced downward by spring 19 and assists in holding the match in its projected relation. Should it be found desirable to force the match still further out of the box, the plunger 6 may be snapped back again, which has the effect of driving the match further fOl'lVi 'd.

It will be noted that this const action prevents clogging of the matches at the delivery end and insures that the matches will be projected from the the box one at time and that the ignition of the head of each match is certain and positive, owing to the fact that the point 25 on the end of the spring member 2%, when the detent 20 is retracted, is held against the match head under heavy spring pressure and literally tears its Way through the head of the match. Moreover this point or striking member always produces the same frictional effect on the match heads and is not liable to become clogged or obstructed, as is the case where a simple roughened surface is employed on the striker.

hat I claim is 1. In a match box, the combination of the magazine for holding a number of matches, a spring-actuated plunger at the bottom of the magazine for projecting a single match through an opening in the side of the box, a retractable spring held detent normally overlying said orifice, and a spring finger on said detent to engage and ignite the match head when said detent is retracted.

2. In a match box, the combination of the magazine for holding a number of matches, a spring-actuated plunger at the bottom of the magazine for projecting a single match hrough an opening in the side of the box, a retractable spring held detent normally overlying said orifice, a spring finger on said detent to engage and ignite the match head when said detent is retracted, and a yieldable holding member extending in front of said opening and serving to restrain the match when the latter has been partially ejected.

In a match box, the combination of the magazine having converging sides and a generally cylindrical lower chamber, a plunger in said chamber, a stationary guide block in said chamber, a spring connecting said plunger and guide block, a cylindrical chamber on the front of said box having an opening near the bottom thereof through which a single match may be projected by the plunger, a retractable detent in said chamber normally covering said opening, a spring engaging said detent to return the same to normal position, and a spring finger on said detent to engage and ignite the match head when said detent is retracted.

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

JOHN ALVIN EDES.

v itnesses JEREMIAH P. MAHONEY, EDWARD A. EDES.

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