US976386A - Pocket match-case. - Google Patents

Description

J. J. MANCHESTER.

POCKET MATCH CASE. APPLIOATION FILED DEO.6, 1909.

Patented NQV. 22, 1910.

INVENTOR m m e n c n m e m ATTORNEY.

rm: NORRIS PETERS co., wnsuma'rozv, u. c.

TINTTED STATES PATENT @FFTQE.

JEROME J. MANCHESTER, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

POCKET MATCH-CASE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JEROME J. MANoHEs- TER, of Indianapolis, county of Marion, and State of Indiana, have invented a certain new and useful Pocket Match-Case; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

The object of this invention is to improve the construction of pocket or portable match cases by way of rendering the same more simple and plain in construction and form, and to improve the ease of manipulating and operating the same, with especial reference to its being held, manipulated and operated by one hand. Other devices of a somewhat similar character have been devised where the device had to be held by one hand and the match discharging means operated by the other hand. It is desirable, however, that the device be held and operated by one hand, and the match be received and struck for lighting by the other hand.

' One feature of the invention, therefore, consists in providing a simple match discharging slide in the lower part of the case, and at the rear end or the end opposite the discharge end, as matches should be discharged outwardly away from the hand of the person or persons holding the same. The external means to be operated for actu' ating said discharging means should be located as near the other or forward end of the case as possible. This is in order to enable the thumb of the hand that holds the case to operate the external button or knob. This can only be done by having the button or knob near the forward end and also in the side wall of the case, so that the hand which operates it can grasp the major portion of the case for holding it while the thumb is operating the discharging means. Therefore, an extension from the discharging means within the casing runs to the external button or operating means for connecting the two and it also serves for guiding and holding the discharging means.

The nature of the invention will be understood from the following description and claim and the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of the case. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the right-hand end of the device as shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a central vertical section through the device reversed as com- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 6, 1909.

Patented Nov. 22, 1910.

Serial No. 531,574.

pared with the position shown in Fig. 1, so that the left-hand end of Fig. 3 is the same as the right-hand end of Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a section similar to that shown in Fig. 3 with matches inclosed and one of them being discharged.

A case 10 is provided and its sides and ends are preferably integral and the holder is rather fiat, as shown in Fig. 2, so that it is fiat in appearance and convenient to handle. At the right-hand end, as appearing in Fig. 1, there is a discharge opening 11 for the matches located at the lower portion of the end, as shown in Fig. 2. This opening is also used for inserting matches.

Within the case there is a discharging means 12 slidable longitudinally on the bottom edge and between the two side walls of the case. It has at its rear end an upward extension 13 about equal to the diameter of a match, which normally lies behind the match, so that when the discharging means is moved longitudinally of the case, the heel portion 13 will push the match 14 out through the opening 11, as shown in Fig. 4, where the actuated position of said discharging means is indicated, while Fig. 3 indicates the unoperated position.

There is a bar or guiding extension 15 secured to or, as here shown, integral with the discharging means 12 and extending forwardly beyond a slot 16 in one side wall of the case and toward the forward end thereof, and 011 its forward end a button or knob 17 is secured, the shank of said button or knob extending through the slot 16 so as to be slidable therein. Hence the discharging means 1.2 and the connecting bar 15, which are integral herein, are guided at their forward end by the slot 16 and button 17. There is also a guide 18 in the form of a tongue punched through the side wall of the case and overlapping the discharging part 12 and the connecting bar 15 near their juncture. Therefore, the discharging part 12 is guided not only between the side walls but also between the tongue 18 and the bottom edge or wall of the case.

In operation the discharging means normally rests in the position shown in Fig. 3, and, therefore, the case can be readily filled with matches through the hole 11 by inverting the case until the matches are all in place. Then by turning the device to the position shown in Fig. 1 and holding it in the left hand with the thumb on the knob 17 the device can not only be held by the left hand, but the discharging means operated by the thumb of the left hand. Vhen the thumb pushes the knob 17 forwardly or to the right as shown in Fig. 1, it will move the discharging means from the position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 4 and partially push a match out, when it is re moved to the right hand and struck either on the roughened surface on the casing or elsewhere. The thumb of the left hand immediately withdraws or moves backwardly the knob 17 so as to return the discharging means to its normal position, as shown in Fig. 3, whereupon the lower match of the series drops in front of the little extension 13 ready to be discharged, when the device is again operated.

\Vhat I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A match case provided with a discharge opening through the lower part of one end thereof, a substantially longitudinal slot in the side wall of the case toward the end thereof containing said opening, a discharging plate located within the case near the end remote from said opening and slidable upon the bottom edge and between the side walls of the case and having an integral extension from its upper portion to and over said slot, an external knob with its shank extending through said slot and secured to said extension, and a guide lug secured to the wall of the case and overlapping said discharging plate.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature in the presence of the witnesses herein named.

JEROME J. MANCHESTER. lVitnesses V. H. Looxwoon, O. M. MOLAUGHLIN.

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