US2256687A - Safety striking match - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 23, 1941. E. E. PENTER SAFE'I Y STRIKING MATCH Filed Nov. 27, 194v Eu E. Pa nter,-

INVENTOR. I

Patented Sept. 23, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SAFETY STRIKING MATCH Eli E. Penter, Huntington Park, Calif.

Application November 27, 1940, Serial No. 367,347

6 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to what are commonly known as safety matches, and more particularly to what I have termed a safety striking match, as an improvement upon the generally used safety match involving the rubbing action of an igniting compound or material on the match splint against a special abrasive compound or material on the box or cover, it being the primary object of the invention to provide a match which may be ignited by striking the same endwise against any solid or suitably resistant surface, with safety in so doing, both as regards the surface struck, and the holder of the match.

It is well known that of the two types of matches now in general use, the one which may be ignited by rubbing against any dry surface capable of providing sufiicient friction, cannot be used in many instances where the only dry surfaces immediately available would be damaged by its rubbing thereon and the fact that ignition initially takes place at the point of friction.

The other general type, known as a safety match, must be rubbed against a special abrasive material or compound on the match box or pad, and the disadvantage of this match is that it requires the use of both hands, one to hold the match and one to hold the box or pad.

It is my purpose to provide a match which may be struck, without the necessity of any rubbing action, against any suitable or available surface capable of resistance to a direct blow, and ignited by the use of only the hand holding the match, and without damage to the surface struck, or danger to the holder of the match.

It is a further object, for the above purposes, to provide a match which may be ignited by a single hand operation projecting the same endwise against a resistant surface, and will initially develop ignition at a point remote from both the hand holding the match, and the surface against which it is projected.

It is still another object, in the interest of safety in carrying or transporting the matches, to provide for the above in an arrangement in which the ignition material and the abrasive or friction material are, prior to actual striking of the match in use, safely maintained out of possible contact and, in this sense, remotely disposed relative to each other.

With the above general outline of the invention, its further objects and advantages may be better understood and more thoroughly appreciated in the course of the following detailed description of certain practical exempliiications of the same, and by reference to the accompanying illustrative drawing, which forms a part of this specification, and in which,

Figure 1 is a view illustrating the practical manner of use of the match proposed by this invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the match, the abrasive holder or finger piece being cut and opened. 2

Figure 3 is a side view, with the abrasive holder in vertical, longitudinal section.

Figure 4 is an edge view with the abrasive holder in vertical, longitudinal section.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing the coacting portions of the ignition train and the abrasive holder.

Figure 6 is an edge view in elevation of a match constituting a slightly modified form of the invention.

Figure '7 is a similar view showing the abrasive holder of Figure 6 in section and in igniting position during use of the match, and,

Figure 8 is an enlarged cross section through the match taken substantially on line 8+8 of Figure 7.

Referring now particularly to Figures 1 to 5 inclusive, I propose a match consisting of a splint 10 which is preferably rectangular in cross'sec-v tion and which may be made of any suitable material capable of sustaining the same against a quick, sharp endwise impact against a resistant surface.

At one end, the splint I0. is coated, or otherwise provided, with a head of ignition material indicated at H, and a train of such material, as indicated at 12, is provided lengthwise of, and partially along, the splint H], from the head II to a point intermediate the ends of the splint substantially remote from the head. This ignition train I2, whose outer end joins the main ignition head ll, preferably terminates at its opposite or inner end in a. nodular extremity I3.

Sleeved on the opposite end portion of the splint I0 is a tubular abrasive holder or finger piece l4, preferably snugly, though slidably, embracing the splint, with a tightly closed outer end, as by means of a suitably fixed internal plug l5 which limits movement of the holder or finger piece [4 in the direction of the ignition head or end of the splint.

Within one side of the inner end of the holder l4 it is provided with an abrasive compound or material It coated thereon or otherwise fixed thereto, and in the assembly of the holder on the splint, the former is telescoped on the splint with its abrasive H6 at the same side as the ignition train l2, and is fixed with respect to the splint with its inner end spaced lengthwise of the latter with respect to the inner end or nodule I3 of the ignition train. This is accomplished by readily frangible means as for instance glue or other suitable adhesive H, see Figures 4 and 5, at the opposite side of the splint, the outer closed end l5 of the holder l4 being at this time spaced from the corresponding enclosed end of the splint l0.

As thus assembled, the telescoping abrasive holder, which as above suggested constitutes the hand or finger piece of the match, is held apart from the ignition train in a manner toclearly and safely avoid the danger of premature ignition and to require that the match, grasped in the fingers of one hand by its holder M, be struck for ignitionpurposes endwise against a resistant surface, as plainly seen in Figure 1. :Tljiefs'triking, as-against'such a surface, merely requires-a quick, sharp-impact ata single point, without rubbing, and-may be imposed on a polished fsurface without danger of marring or marking-the same, since it is only necessary that the frangible anchorage of the holder at H be ntense to-permit-the latter tobe shifted for its lii'fiitd movement length-wise of the splintito'ward the ignition head of the latter.

' -During the above movementof the holder rela tive to thespIintQtheabrasiVe material It rubs overthe nodule [3 at the inner end of the ignition train 12, and initiallyafiects ignition, which'it M11 be nfited isfat apoint substantially remote from the fingers as well as from the striking surface, or in other words the striking endof the splint. fI'he snatch fi s then" removed from the striking surface immediately following its natural rebound therefrom and is safely at a considerable-distance therefrom by the time the flame has traveledlalong the' ignition train to the ignition head H where the-fiame-is increased to a point-capable of promoting ignition of'the splint itself.

A By' the above means, and in ner, the striking of the match is accomplished withcthe-use :o'fonehand only,land'with complete safety to thelhand as well as to the surface against which the matchis struck. "fByireferenceto'iFigures 6 to 8 inclusiveit will be 'noted that the ignition head ll may be located at a point spaced from the striking end it of 'the splint 0* so that in striking the match no portionnof theiignition material will come into contactwith the'surfaceagainst which the splint end 18 impacts. T-hus it "will be possible to safly'use 'the match-against a table surface covered by a tablecloth without danger of staining the'lcloth-with a color spot at the'point of contact,' which mi ght res'ult from ignition material. In all other respects the construction'of the matchbf-Figures 6 to8 inc'lusive may" be substantially ith'e' same as' 'that previously described and shown in Figures 1 to fi inclusive.

- i Having thus fully described'my invention, what l claim isz l'iAiimatchcomprising a splint adapted to be struck endwiselagainsta resistant surface, without rubbing. or'marring contact," said splint having a head of ignition material thereon at,or I

near,.iits'striking end, and a train ofdgnition material-extending, lengthwise thereon from said head to,:a;;pointintermediate the ends of the the abovejman- 'having an abrasive movable into frictional engagement with the inner portion of the ignition train upon lengthwisemovement of the holder on, and relative to, the splint.

2. An endwise striking match comprising a splint having an ignition head at, or near, its

striking end, and an ignition train extendin lengthwise thereof and partially therealong from said head, and an abrasive holder forming a finger piece and sleeved on the other end portion of the splint, having .a frangible connection with thesplint normally fixing the holder in spaced relation to the inner end of the ignition train,

:said holder having an abrasive 'at, or near, its

finnerilen'd;

;3..A;;match'compri'sing a splint adapted to be stmickendwiseagainst a resistant surface and havin'gan' ignition head at, or near,its1str.iking .end, and. an. .ignition' train extendingzlengthwise partially Itherealong from said head, :a: finger ip'iece: sleeved on the .OthEI' end portion ofrthe splint "having: an abrasive at, or near, its inner 'endfto. frictionally'contact the ignition train, andmeans frangibly connecting'the said finger piecewith the splint and normally *holdingthe abrasive of the-former in-spaced relation to,:.and from contact with, the ignition train;

4; A match comprising .a' splint having an ignition head 'at,or near,' one"end thereof, a 'finger :piebeslidable relatively to the splint at its. other =end;:ccoperating means on thesplint and-the inner end of said finger, piece for initiating ignition fat'iaipoint remote from" the ignition head-means for'icommunicating initial ignition 'from said point to the ignition head, and means normally holding'the finger piece in position with the said cooperating means in spaced apart relation lengthwise ofthe splint.

l 5.;A match comprising a'splint having amain ignition'head at,;o'r near, one end thereof, :a-finger piece slidably disposed on the other-end portion of the splint, relatively engageable means on the-:splint and theinner portion :of the finger piecerfor initiating ignition =ata point remote f-rompthe' ignition head upon movement ofthe fingergpiece toward the head end of the'splint', means normally preventing; such'movement :of the finger piece and maintaining said engageable means" iii-spaced relation, means for commnnicating initial ignition to theignitionhead, andwmeans limiting effective movement of the finger piece toward the head end of the splint.

65A match comprising asplint having a main ignition head' at, or near, one end thereof, a finger piece slidable onthe otherend portion of' the splint, relatively engageable means on' the splint and the inner end of said finger piece for initially causing ignition at a point remote from'the head andsubsequently communicating ignition to the head, means normally holding the finger piece in a position wherein said engageable means are spaced apart; and means limiting effective movement of the finger piece toward: the head end of 1 thesplint.

- ELI E. PENTER.

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