US554763A - Match-safe - Google Patents

Description

FFICE.,

PHILIP VISDOM, OF EVANSTON, ILLINOIS.

MATCH-SAFE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 554,763, dated February 18, 1896.

Application filed Apri14, 1895. Serial No. 544,516. (N0 model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PHILIP WISDOM, a citizen of the United States,residing at Evanston, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Match-Safes, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact speciiication.

My invention relates to that class of matchsafes in which a supply of matches is stored and from which one match may be automatically extracted and held in position to be grasped by the user, and in some instances automatically lighted as it is withdrawn.

The primary object of my invention is to grip a single match by positive means, whereby it may be extracted from the bulk or supply of matches and firmly heldin position until grasped by the user.

A further object of my invention is to cause the match to be withdrawn, to fall into a recess or notch in the withdrawing-slide, and when such slide is withdrawn to automatically force the remainder of the matches out of such notch or recess.

A further object of my invention is to exclude the possibility of a lighted match being forced back into the magazine.

With these ends in view my invention consists in certain features of novelty by which the said objects and certain other objects hereinafter appearing are attained, all as vfully explained, with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, and more particularly pointed out in the claims. Y

In thesaid drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved match-safe with the slide withdrawn, the cover thereof being removed and the magazine being empty. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same with the cover in place. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section with the slide pushed in. Fig. 4 is a detail transverse sectional view taken on the line 4 4E, Fig. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the forward end of the magazine, showing the passage through which the heads of the matches emerge; and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a filling-block hereinafter described.

Like signs of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views.

The match-magazine 1 is provided with a removable cover 2, which is preferably secured in place at one end by means of a depressed flange 3 inserted under the flange 4, while the other end is provided with a tongue 5 projecting downwardly into a slot 6 formed in the front end of the box, whereby the end of the cover will be held against lateral movement. This tongue 5 is engaged by a screw 7, which holds the cover down in place.

The bottom of the magazine l is preferably provided with an incline S upon which the matches 9 rest and which extends from the rear end of the box forward to within a short distance of the front end 1, where it is provided with a downward bend 10, which rests upon a block 11, constituting the bottom of the magazine at its forward end. The incline 8 may be secured in place by means of a screw or other device 12 secured in the rear wall of the magazine.

The matches 9 are placed in the magazine transversely of the incline S, so as to roll down the latter into the recess or space between the end wall 1a and the down bend 10, and the matches are retained in this position and prevented from j ostling about by means of a follower-board 13 resting loosely upon them.

The down bend 10 of the incline 8 is provided with a cut-away portion or opening 14C in which is fitted a hollow slide 15 which rests upon the bottom plate 1G. This slide 15 is guided in its movement in and out of the magazine on one side by means of the block 11 which is provided with a salient edge or flange 17 overlapping a flange 18 on one side of the slide 15, the block 11 extending from the wall 1 back to an opening 19, hereinafter described, in the bottom-16. The slide 15 is guided on its other side by means of a ange 2O formed on an extension 21 which supports the slide when it is in its withdrawn position.

The upper side of the slide 15 is closed save for an opening or recess 22, and such upper side constitutes a part of the bottom of that portion of the magazine located between the end wall 1 and the down bend 10. The side portions of the Islide 15 in this recess 22 are inclined forwardly and downwardly, so as to form a notch 23 in each of said side portions of the slide, whereby when the slide is pushed inward in the manner shown in Fig. 3 one or more of the matches resting across the slide will tumble down into these notches 23. Now

IOO

in order that all of such matches save one may be forcedout of the notch Q3 and the remaining one withdrawn with the slide, I provide the slide with a movable tongue or cutoif which, as the slide is withdrawn, rises and forces all of the matches save one out of the notches 23 and at the same time closes the opening or recess 22, so as to form a continuation of the upper side of the slide 15. This tongue or cut-oft is best constituted by a plate or tongue-like portion 2-1 pivoted at 25 within the slide 15 and having aflat portion 2G of sufficient; size to fill the opening or recess 22 in the top of the slide. The outer end or edge of this portion 2V, however, is curved, as shown at 27, and constitutes a jaw for gripping the match-stem against the edge of the notches 2H, which latter constitute a stationary j aw, the curve of the jaw 27 being opposite to the curve of the notches 23, whereby the two jaws will embrace the match. The upper edges of these jaws arc preferably rounded, as shown in Iigs. 2 and $3, so as to avoid engaging with one of the match-stems above when the tongue rises in' the act of forcing the upper matches out of the notches 22). The movable tongue or cut-off thus described is automatically actuated to perform thedescribed function by the act of withdrawing the slide 15, and the act of pushing the slide inward to receive a match autom atically depresses the tongue or cut-off and permits a match to fall into the notches 23. This automatic action maybe best accomplished by making a part of the tongue serve asa handle for actuating` the slide. This part consists of a lever 2S formed on or secured to the heel of the cut-off or tongue and projecting upwardly through an openin(r 29 in the outer end of the slide 15, and being so arranged that when the finger is placed upon it for withdrawing' the slide the portion 2G will automatically and invariably be thrown up into and close the opening 22 in the slide, thus bridging over such opening and preventing the escape of all the matches save the one in the grasp of the jaw 27.

The width oi' the magazine 1 is determined by the length of the matches, and its width is such that the heads of the matches may rest lightly against the side wall of the magazine. The slide 15, however, is located at a slight distance from the side wall of the magazine, as shown in Fig. 4C, so that the jaw 27 will not grip and ignite the head. The slide is held in this position by t-hc'iflange 2O and a ilange 30 which constitutes a continuation of the ilange 20.

The forward wallln of the magazine comes down even with the top of the slide 15, but the space between. the side ol' the slide and the side wall of the magazine in line with the heads of the matches is left open, so as to form a passage'il through which the head of the match in the grasp of the jaw 37 passes when being withdrawn by the slide. Arranged just outside the magazine and in line with this opening 31 is a striker 32, consistin g of a corrugated or roughcned plate having a spring 33 secured to the side of the magazine by means of a screw or other suitable device, whereby as the match is withdrawii in the grasp of the jaw 27 its head will be grated against the striker E 2 and automatically ignited, while the projecting end of its stem will be held aloof from the table or support 21 in position to be grasped bythe hand of the user, the match being released the instant the finger is removed from the lever 28. In order that the match may not by any possibility be forced back into the magazine after it has been withdrawn sufficiently far to become ignited, I arrange over the passa-ge $51 a valve 35, which is adapted to rise and let the match-head pass when being withdrawn by the slide; but when an attempt is made to force the match hack into the magazine it will engage with and sever the head of the match, or at all events arrest its inward movement. This valve preferably consists of a plate having a knife-edge 3G on the outer side of its inner edge projecting down wai-diy over the passage 231, the plate being supported by an arm E57 pivotally connected to the side wall of the magazine by screw 38.

In order that the match may not be removed from the grasp of the jaws until it has been ignited, l arrange a shield 3i) over one side of the slide 15 in such a position that the projecting end of the match-stem will be covered until the match has been drawn past or substantially against the striker I have shown the magazine 1 provided with a filling-block 410, which is for the purpose of reducing the width of the magazine when it is desired to fill it with matches of a shorter length. This filling-block 4:0 will be complementary in shape to the vertical longitudinal section of the magazine, and when in the magazine will beheld in place against one of its side walls bythe follower-board 13.

If desired, a spring-blade 32 may be sccured to the side of the magazine and arranged opposite and inclined toward the scratcher 32, so as to be struck by the stem of the match and force the head against the striker in the event the match-head should fall short of the'striker in the first instance. One of the side walls of the magazine at a point below the incline 8 is provided with one or more openings 41 for the admission of the end of a cigar, and the slide 15 is provided with a laterallyprojecting arm 112, which carries a double-acting knife /1-3 arranged to cross the openings 41 when the slide 15 is rcciprocated, thus simultaneously cutting off the end of the cigar and lighting the match. The ends severed from the cigars fall through the opening 19 in th e bottom plate 16 into a box 43, in which the feet 4l of the safe rests. The filling-block 40 may also be placed in the box 43 under the plate 1G when not in use.

Having thus described my invention, what IOO IIO

I claim as new therein, and 4desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A match-safe having in combination a magazine, a slide arranged contiguous to said magazine and having a notch or recess for receiving a match from the magazine, and a tongue or cut-off movable independently of said slide and having an exterior operatinghandle for forcing the remainder of the matches out of said notch or recess, substantially as set forth.

2. A match-safe having in combination a magazine, a slide arranged in said magazine and having a recess adapted to receive the matches, a tongue pivoted in said slide and having a portion 26 adapted to close said recess and form a continuation of the upper side of the slide, and a jaw 27 adapted to grip a single match in said recess, and an operating-lever secured to said tongue for operating the tongue and slide, substantially as set forth.

3. A match-safe having in combination a magazine, a slide having a notch or recess adapted to receive a match from the magazine, a tongue or cut-off pivoted to said slide and adapted to rise in said recess and grip the match therein, and a common operatinglever for said slide and cut-off, substantially as set forth.

4. A match-safe having in combination a magazine, a slide whose surface is above the bottom of said magazine, and said surface being provided with a notch or recess adapted to receive the matches, a tongue pivoted in said slide and having at one end a portion adapted to close said notch or recess and at its other end an operating-lever projecting from the slide and arranged on the exterior of the magazine whereby the slide and tongue may be simultaneously operated, substantially as set forth.

5. A match-safe having in combination a magazine, a slide having a notch or recess adapted to receive a match from the magazine, means for gripping the match in said recess and withdrawing it from the magazine, a striker arranged in the line of movement of the head of the match, and a flexible blade arranged opposite said striker and being inclined toward it in the line of movement of the stem of the match, for forcing the head of the match against said striker, substantially as set forth.

6. A match-safe having in combination a magazine, a slide forming a part of the bottom of said magazine and having a notch formed in the top thereof for receiving the match, a tongue pivoted in said slide and having a shoulder adapted in conjunction with said notch to embrace a single match and to force the remainder of said matches out of said notch, said tongue being provided with an exterior operating-handle, substantially as set forth.

'7. A match-safe having in combination a magazine, a slide having a notch in the upper side thereof for receiving a match, a striker arranged on one side of said slide, and a springplate arranged transversely of a line passing lengthwise of said notch, on the other side of said slide, substantially as set forth.

PHILIP WISDOM. Witnesses:

F. A. HOPKINS, EDNA B. JoHNsoN.

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