US2360270A - Match packet - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 10, 1944. E E, PEN-[ER 2,360,270

MATCH PACKET Filed arch 1, 1943 i? Hm m ,Z

ATTORNEY Patented Oct. l, 1944 UNiTED sms f gitane Maron packer lEli E. Pentel', Huntington Park, Calii. application March i, iets, serian No. @177,518

(ci. 20c-29) 3 Claims.

The present invention relates particularly to that type of safety matches commonly produced and used in what are knownas match packets, wherein the match splints are parts of match combs secured in a folded cover, a portion of which constitutes an opening flap adapted, in the closed position, to cover the splints and their striking tips or heads.

Commonly, the covers of match packets of the above type, have portions embracing, and fixed to, the base portions of the combs at the lower ends-oi the'match splints, one of the embracing portions of the cover having an external surface coating chemically constituted to cause ignition of the coated splint tips or heads by abrasion.

In the use of such packets the cover, after having been opened to permit of detachment of a splint, should be closed While the match is ignited, in order to avoid the danger of communication of ignition to the remaining splints, and though the match packets usually are imprinted with such instruction, it is, in many instances, overlooked through carelessness, and with painful and, in some instances, disastrous results.

It is plain, and Well known, that the cover of the usual match packet serves a necessary and important safety purpose, in addition to the fact that it provides a surface for the imprinting of advertisements of various character.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a match packet in which the splint striking surface or means is so constituted and arranged as to protect the undetached splints from danger of ignition during ignition of a detached splint, and to thus edectively eliminate such danger whether or not the cover is closed while abrasively igniting a splint, and indeed, whether or not a cover, as such, is present.

It is further well known that the splint combs ol the common match packets are necessarily formed of heavy paper or paper board, even though Wood splints are more economical and are superior in use by reason of their greater strength and adaptability to avoid flexure and fracture during striking, and their greater rev sistance tothe weakening eiect of moist air on the more hygroscopic paper. The reason for the common use of paper splints is the fact that in the present manufacture of match splints the comb blanks are rst slit to form the splints, and then alternate splints are laterally bent or offset before passing .through the heading chemical so as to separate the free ends of the splints whereby individual heads are formed and sufcient chemical is accumulated on each splint end to provide for quick and efiicient ignition.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a method and means whereby the individual heading of the splints, in the first instance, is eliminated, so as to avoid a wedgeshaped packet, which is now the common result of lateral offsetting of the splints to provide individual heads, and also to do away with the usual step of laterally osetting the splints, and to permit of the use oi wood splints in the place of paper splints wherever it may be desirable for any reason to do this. The result of the present invention is a match packet which may be of the same thickness from end to end, in order to pack effectively without alternate re versal of the packets, and which may be safely used without the necessity of opening and closing a cover flap.

The best mode thus far devised for carrying the invention into practical effect is shown in the accompanying drawing, and will now be described in detail in reference thereto. In the drawing, which forms a part of this speciiication:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a comb blank, which may be either paper or wood.

Figure 2 is a similar View of the blank after it has, during the next step rof manufacture, passed through the heading chemical to form a thin, deep coating continuously along one edge portion thereof.

Figure 3 is another similar view, showing the next step which consists in partially slitting the blank to form the splints, the slits being extended through the coating applied in the previous step.

Figure 'l is another similar view of a complete match packet, embodying all of the essentials of safety according to the present invention, and including splints and splint combs produced in accordance with the present method.

Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the possible use of side cover` members for printing and advertising matter.

Figure 6 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through the assembly oi Figure 5, taken substantially on line 6 6 oi said gure.

Figure 7 is a perspective view illustrating the manner of holding the packet of Figure d while striking a match splint.

Figure 8 is a similar view showing a modified and simplified packet, and

Figure 9 is an enlarged partial vertical sectional view taken substantially on line 9-9 of Figure 8.

Referring :now to the above ilgures, and starting with a. thin rectangular blank it, as in Figure 1, which may be of either paper or wood, the method according to the present invention, proposes the passing of one edge portion of the blank I it through a head forming chemical so as to form a coating of such. material on said edge portion, as indicated at ii in Figure 2. This step ispreferably regulated, as by goveriing the speed of the coating operation, and the consistency lof the heading chemical, so that the coating is evenly thinly and uniformly along .the sides of the blank adjacent the coated edge, and extends for a substantial distance from said edge to pro 'theopposite edge of the blank. so that a comb' I3 will be formed in which the splints I4 and their heads I5 will be in a single line and in the,

same plane with one another and with the base IB, or unsiitted edge portion of the blank. Due to this, the splint heads will remain, until removed\ for striking, in sidewise or lateral abutting relation so as to mutually cooperate to avoid ready distortion of the comb. Furthermore,since there has been no offsetting of the splints to initially form individual heads, it is obvious a wood blank may be used which is thinner -than would be. -necessary if formed of paper.

Having thus formed thel combs, a two-comb packet, as indicated in Figure 4, may be assembled with the two combs I3 separated along their bases I6 by a separator strip I1, and with binding strips I8 along the outer portions of the bases IB. The binding strips I8, comb bases IB and separator'strip I1 may be glued, cemented or otherwise secured to one another as by means of members completely covering the outer sides of the combs. However, in the event such cover members are used, it is o nly1 for advertising or' like'purDOses, since the protection afforded by the Vstriking groove Il substantially eliminates any necessity for further protection of the undetached splints.'

It is also possible, -as seen in Figures 8 and 9, to do away with the binding strips Il of Figure 4, by so connecting the bases It! of the combs IS", to the separatorstrip I1, that their lower edges project below the separator strip and form extensions 24. By chamfering the inner surfaces of the extensions 24, a tapering striking groove 2I- is formed, the lower edge 'of the separator strip and the inner surfaces of the chamfered extensions being coated with a striking chemical, 'as seen at 2l. This form of the invention presents a packet of utmost simplicity, stripped of non-essentials, and ,well adapted to serve any purpose for which a safety matchpacket is ordiv narily used, except that of advertising. Even in the latter respect, matter printed directly on the blank of each comb may well serve for limited advertising.

`The method and construction thus shown and described offers great advantages in practical use, notv only in the manufacture of the match packets, and the combs thereof, but in effectiveness as regards certain and safe ignition in use and convenience and economy not only in packaging for sale. but convenience ofthe substantiallya penetrating clip I9, and it is obvious that the thickness of the strips-I1 and I8 may easily be such that the complete packet will be as thick at its base portion as at the splint heads. Thus the packets may be effectively boxed or packaged vwithoutalternate reversal, as with the usual wedge-shaped packets, and packing space, in this way, economized.

As a further and important feature of the invention, permitting the packet of Figure 4 to be complete without the necessity of a cover, it will be noted that the outer bindingstrips I8 have free edges lengthwise thereof, projecting beyond the confined corresponding edges Vof the comb bases I6 and the separator strip I1, as indicated at 2d, so as to form between the extensions 20, a striking groove 2I. Within this groove 2i, the end surfaces of the combs I3 and separator strip Il, as Well as the inner surfaces of the binding strip extensions l2li, there is applied a coating, as at 22, of a chemical striking material against which the head of a detached splint may be ig-l nited by friction as it is drawn lengthwise of, and within, the groove. The igniting head will, at the same time, be so isolated with respect to the remaining undetached splints of the combs of the packet, that the latter will be protected from danger of accidental ignition, since the groove 2| opens away from the headed ends of the undetached splints.

l Further eiective protection may be afforded by holding the packet with its undetached splints covered in the hand as in Figure 7, and with the striking groove 2I uppermost in convenient position for striking a detached splint, but this is merely anextra precaution, and is not by any means an essential as that of the closing of the cover flap of an ordinary match packet.

If it is desirable, for advertising or other printed matter, the binding strips I8 of the comb assembly of Figure 4, may be replaced by side cover members 2l, as in Figures 5 and 6, such uniformlyfiat packerl when carried in the pocket or purse.

Having thus fully is claimed is:

1. A match packet, consisting of a pair of parallel splint combs including opposingly connected base portions, each having a series of upstanding splints with striking heads at their upper free ends remote from said base portions, the said base portions having chamfered lower facing edges forming a groove between and along the same', and a friction striking material on one or more of the chamfered surfaces or walls of said groove.

2. A match packet comprising a pair of opposing, substantially parallel splint combs, each comb including a base portion in a single. piece, and a series .o f splints upstanding from said base portion and. having upper striking heads, the splints and heads of each comb being respectively alined, land a separator strip -disposedbetween and rigidly connected to, said base portions, with its lower edge in vertically spaced, substantially parallel relation above the lower edges of said base portions, to thus form with the latter edges a groove along the bottom of the packet, of the width of said strip, opening away from the splint heads, and a friction igniting material on one or more of the walls of said groove.

i 3. A match packet comprising a' pair of opposing splint combs, each comb comprising a base disclosed the invention, what portion in a single piece and a series of splints upstanding from said base portion and having upper striking heads, a separator strip disposedbetween, and connected to, said base portions of

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