US1724712A - Match box - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 13, 1929.

. E. B. HOUGH 1,724,712

HATCH BOX Filed March 9, 1927 INVENTOR 4 Edward B. HOUEH .FI' 2 BY J aluminum ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 13, 1929.

UNITED STATES EDWARD B. HOUGH, F PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

MATCH BOX.

Application filed March 9, 1927. Serial No. 173,830.

The invention relates to match boxes of the type usually carried around 111 the pocket and used to hold a package of matches having a striking surface, and,

more particularly, to a construction of a match box of this type having a fire wall between the matches and the striking surface so that in striking a match the travel of fire from the striking surface to the matches will be positively prevented.

According to the invention a match box is provided which may comprise a pair of covers in one or both of which may be disposed a package or book of matches of the usual construction. In a match box in which a match book is provided in each cover, each cover may be provided with a fire wall between the matches and the striking surface, which walls may overlap when the covers are in approximately closed position. The fire walls may also serve as retaining means for holding the books in the covers. In order to light a match it may be placed with its head between the striking surfaces of the match box and the match given a quick pull out of the box. The fire wall positively prevents any travel of fire or sparks from the striking surfaces to the matches in the box.

The invention also consists in certain new and original features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

Various other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following particular description and from an inspection of' the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings Fig. l represents a longitudinal section through the match box, the covers being shown in open position, one cover being shown as having a book of matches therein and the other cover being shown empty for "purpose of clearly showing the construction of the cover.

'Fig. 2 represents a plan view of one of the covers, the match box being in open position.

50 'Fig. 3 is a detailed section through the hinge.-

Fig. 4 is a perspective showing a match being disposed between the striking surfaces in position to be pulled out of the box to light the match.

walls generally in the s gether at their-back In the followingdescription and in the claims parts will be identified by specific names for convenience, but they are intended to be as generic in their application to similar parts as the art will permit.

Like reference characters denote like parts in the several figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawing a match box is shown, for the purpose of illustration, arranged to have a match book in each cover. It will be understood, however, that the invention is equally applicable to a match box arranged to have a match book in one of the covers only.

The match box may comprise a pair of covers 1 and 2, the base cover 1 comprising a bottom wall 3, a front wall 4, a back wall 5 and side walls 6. The shape is generally rectangular with the front and back walls rounding into the bottom wall. The cover is made slightly deeper at the back end, the depth decreasing uniformly toward the front end. Each side wall 6v may have a notch 13 which is disposed at the end of the striking strip 27 of the match book 23 for a purpose hereinafter shown.

The base cover 1 is provided with a transverse member 7 extending1 between the side ape of an angle iron. The horizontal flange 8 of the transverse member 7 has reduced extensions which fit in holes 9 in the sides 6 of the cover. Tongues are punched out of the horizontal flange 8 and bent upwardly and away from the hinge to form hooks 10 for a purpose herein described more in detail. The transverse member 7 has a vertical flange 11 extending upwardly to act as a fire wall.

The top cover 2 is made substantially the same as the top cover 1 and has a fire wall 12 which overlaps the fire wall 11 when the box is closed or in the position for striking a match as shown in Fig. 4. I

The covers are hingedly connected towallsby a hinge construction having a spring built therein to continually ur e the covers into closed relation. This fiinge, a detail of which is shown in Fig. 3, may be made up of interfitting knuckles secured to the covers, alternate knuckles 17 and 18 of one cover interfitting alternate knuckles l9 and 20 on the other. A hollow pintle 14 may be provided having a coil spring 15 disposed therein, the ends 16 of the spring, being bent to engage notches in the end hinge knuckles 17 and 20 so that the spring will continually urge the covers into closed position.

It is obvious that this match box may be used with diiferent forms of match books or match packages. For purposes of illustrating the invention a single form of match book will be described. This match book 23 is of a type commonly used and comprises a plurality of sheets of paper board partially cut to.- form matches 25, the sheets being fastened between the back cover 26 of thematch book and the striking member 27 by a fastener 24. The; striking strip or member 27'is provided with striking materialto provid'e a striking surface for igniting the matches in the well known manner.

In-order to place the book 23 of matches in a cover thebook has its back cover 26 torn so that the. book ofmatches appears as shown in Figs-.1 and 2. To insert the book of matches ina cover, the book is placed with itsstriking member 27 under the transverse member 7 between the transverse member and the hinge, and the book pushed under the transverse member to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the striking member 27 being. disposedin the hooks 10. It'will be understood that. a match book is placed in the top cover: 2 in the same man- When it is desired to ignite azmatch, the match boxmay be opened and a match 25 broken off from the book in the usual man- The match-is then placed in theposition shown in Fig; 4 with its headbetween the striking'members 27 of the match books with the end of the match protruding throughthe notches 13.. The match is then pulled-out. with a jerk, the scraping of the match' head on the striking surfaces insuringquick. andcertain ignition of the match. This construction insures that the matches are easily lighted without the liability of breaking the cardboard shank of the match.

Igmtmgthe remaining matches 1s positively preventedby the'firewalls since, when the matchbox is in the nearly closed position shown in Fig. 4 with the fire walls overit is impossible for sparks to fly nited. match to causev the remaining matches to ignite. such that the case may be inexpensively .made and yet it'will stand up in use and give faithful service.

There are no parts to break or get out'of order, and the match box issimple to operate and the matches may bev ignited with great certainty and safety.

While certain novel features of the invention have beentshown' and described and have been pointed out inthe annexed clalms,

it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and-changes in the forms and Furthermore, the construction is details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those. skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

\Vhat is claimed is:

1. A match box" comprising covers members each having a bottom wall and side and end walls, hinge means connecting said cover members at the back end walls thereof each cover member having a fire wall extending between andfixedly secured to its sidewalls and adapted to hold a package of matches in saidicover member, a side wall of each cover member having a notchdisposed at the end of the striking surfacesof said package, whereby a match may be held with its head between the striking surfaces of said books and pulled out-to light saidmatch.

2. A match box comprising cover: members each being adapted to hold a. plurality of matches and a striking surface, each-cover member having a fire wall betweenvthe. heads of said matches and said. striking surface, said walls overlapping when said cover members are in substantially closed position.

3. A match box comprising a body memher having a rectangular bottom,=;front and back walls and side walls, a'cover hingedly connected to said back wall and engaging said front wall, a side wall having a notch in the top near the front wall, said body having a firstfire wall extending between said side walls for holding a book of body member, a transverse member disposed in said openings, said transverse member having a retaining portion provided with hooks, and an upstanding portion providing a fire wall, said body being adaptedto have a bundle ofmatches having a striking strip held under said retaining portion with the striking strip under'said hooks and the fire wall between said striking strip and the heads of thematches.

5. Inv combination, amatch boxcomprising a body member, a plurality of matches and a striking surface disposed in said body member, a cover member, there being a sliding surface disposed in said cover member, a first fire wall secured to said body member between said striking surface and the heads of said matches, said cover member being unitary and adapted to substantially close the box, a second firewall secured to said cover member and overlapping said.

first fire wall when the box is closed, and hinge means connecting an edge of said cover member to an edge of said body member, whereby a match may be struck by placing the head between said striking surface and sliding surface and then pulling said match.

6. In combination, a match box compris ing a body member, a plurality of matches and a striking surface disposed in said bod member a cover member, there being a sli ing surface disposed in said cover member, said cover member being unitary and adapted to substantially close said box,

hinge means connecting an edge of said cover member to an edge of said body member, safety fire preventing devices providing an effective and complete barrier between said surfaces and the heads of said matches when a match is placed with its head between said surfaces to be pulled out of the box to light the match, said devices allowing at the same time closing of said In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

EDWARD B. HOUGH.

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