US713151A - Match-safe. - Google Patents

Description

Patented Nov. All, 1902..

H. T. HANDLE.

MATCH SAFE. -mflplication med Feb. s, 1902.)

(No Model.)

UNITED STATE-s.

HARRY T. RANDLE, 0F CLAYTON, MlSSOURl.

MATCH-SAFE.

SPEGIFICATIONIforming part of Letters Patent No. *713,1 51, dated November 1 1, 1902.

Application filed Fehrua ry 8. 1902. Serial No, 93,198. (No model) To @ZZ wwn/t t may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY T. RANDLE, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Clayton, in `the county of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Match-Safe, of Which'the following is a specifieation.-

This invention relates generally to match-- safes, and particularly to that class wherein an ordinary box of matches is housed within the same. Y

The object of the invention is to present a cheap, thoroughly-efficient, and durable form of match-safe of the character specified, in the use of which waste or loss of matches will be avoided and the certain feeding of the matches to the point of discharge will be et'- fected in a ready and positive manner.

W'ith these and other objects in view, as'

will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction and combination of parts of a match-safe, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanyingr drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts, there is illustrated one form of embodiment of the invention capable of carrying the Same into practical operation, it being understood that the'elements therein exhibited may be varied or'changedv as to shape, proportion, and exact manner of assemblage without departing from the scope of the invention, and in these drawings- Y f Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a matchsafe characterizing this invention. Fig. 2 is a view in vertical longitudinal section therethrough, showing more particularly the manner of supporting a match-box therein.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the body of the match-safe, and 2 the back thereof. The body maybe constructed of any suitable material, preferably of metal, and may be stamped, cast, or otherwise fashioned to the shape desired, and may or may not be ornamented, as'desired.' uAs here shown, the front 3 of the safeis a solid structure; but, if preferred, a panel of glass maybe let into it, thus to expose to View theV name ofthe manufacturer of the box of matches contained in the sal'e, and as this will be obvious de;

tailed illustration thereof is deemed unnecessary. Each side 4 of the safe is provided with a suitable striking-surface 5, (one only b'ei-ng shown l1erein,) which may be produced by securing a piece of abrasive material to the sides or by striking up the metal to present a roughened field. The bottom portion of the front is provided with a semicircular recess 6, through which the fingers of the person removing the matches from the safe will be inserted, and on each side of the opening there is provided an L-shaped ledge 7, adapted to receive a surplus match, should more than one be removed from the safe, the carrier thus provided being disposed close to the bottom of the box and operating to control the escape of matches to the front of the safe and to hold them in parallelism. The bottom Bof the box isin two sections, spaced apart a sufficient distance to permit Ainsertion of thefingers in removing the matches, and extends ont some distance. beyond the front of the safe, and has its sides and corners upturned, preferably at right angles to the front, as at 9, to present a pan, in which the matches will fall, the flanges at thefront of the bottoni operating to prevent matches from fall- 'ing to the floor.

y The safe-body may be secured in any suitable manner -to the back 2, which latter may be mad'e'of metal, wood, or fibrous material, in this instance by being pivoted thereto at the upper rear corners by nails or tacks 10, which latter also serve to hold a cover or lid 11 in position; but it is to be understood that, if preferred, the body of the safe may be pivoted to the back at its rear bottom portion, as indicated by dotted lines, as at l2, in which case the flanges of the cover 11 will serve to hold the body in Vertical position and against dropping forward. .In use the back will be secured by nails or screws 13 to a suitable support, such as a wall, and being thus rigidly held a match may readily be struck upon the surfaces 5 without catching hold of the body in the act. The attaching means for securing the box in position will in use be entirely hidden from view, thus adding to the neat and finished appearance of the device. Further,V the'body willbe se- IOO curely held in place against being dislodged if it be roughly grasped, as in the night-time, or be struck, as by a duster.

For table or other uses two of the bodies may be secured to a single back, in which event the structure will be self-supporting, or, if preferred, when two safes are thus assembled they may be mounted upon a suitable pedestal, about which they will revolve.

As herein shown, the bottom 8 occupies a plane at right angles to the front 3; but it will be obvious that, if preferred, this may slant downwardly from the back in order to eect proper feeding of the matches toward the front of the body.

Secured to the back is a stop 14, consisting in this instance of a piece of wire bent into rectangular form and having its ends inserted in the back, the said stop operating to limit the downward movement of the match-box 15 and to hold it the proper distance above the bottom of the safe to insure discharge of all of the contained matches.

While the device is herein shown as combined with a match-box, it is to be understood that the latter may be omitted and the matches be supplied in bulk to the safe proper.

In placinga box of matches in the safe the closure at one end of the box is removed and the box is placed .within the safe with its open end resting upon the stop 14, it being understood, of course, that during this operation the body will be swung outward to permit placing of the box of matches therein, and as soon as the box is positioned Within the safe the matches will by gravity be fed to the bottom thereof, whence they may readily be removed. The placing of a full box ot matches within the safe not only assures that they will be fed as desired and be held in parallelism, but also obviates the necessity of removing the matches from the box and feeding them to the safe, in which procedure, unless great care be exercised, some of the matches will not be properly placed within the holder, and will thus tend to prevent proper operation of the device.

An advantage accruing from having the feed from the bottom of the safe is that it may be placed higher above the floor of the room, and thus more out of reach of small children. If desired, the body of the safe may be of a size to receive extra large boxes of matches or two or three of the ordinary sized boxes, in which oase only the box at the front of the safe would be opened, the others remaining closed until the rst is exhausted, after which it would be thrust back of the rear box, thus to force the second box to the front, and soon.

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

l. A match-safe comprising a back, and a body secured thereto and provided at its lower end with a match-escape opening and with surplus match receiving means disposed above the opening.

2. A match-safe comprising a back, and a body secured thereto and provided at its lower end with a match escape opening having match-retaining means adjacent thereto, and surplus match receiving means disposed above the opening.

3. A match-safe comprising a back, a body hinged thereto and provided with a cover, a match-engaging stop carried by the back, a bottom provided with a match-escape opening, and with match-retaining means, and surplus match -receiving means disposed above the opening.

4. A match-safe comprsinga back, a body hinged thereto at its upperend and provided with a cover, a match-engagin g stop carried by the back, a bottom provided with a matchescape opening and with match -retaining means, and surplus-match-receiving means disposed above the opening.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in. the presence of two witnesses.

HARRY T. RANDLE.

Witnesses:

THEO. BAYER, HENRY STERKER.

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