Fireworks container

Jan. 4, 1966

3,227,084

W. F. STOKES ETAL

FIREWORKS CONTAINER

Filed Feb. 5, 1964

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United States Patent Office

3,227,084

Patented Jan. 4, 1966

3,227,084

FIREWORKS CONTAINER William F. Stokes and Dorothy F. Stokes, both of Rowesville, S.C.

Filed Feb. 3, 1964, Ser. No. 342,036

Claims. (CI. 102—33)

This invention relates to a container for use in the packaging and exploding of firecrackers and other fireworks, hereinafter referred to as fireworks, and more particularly to a carton for packaging fireworks wherein the fireworks are situated, arranged, fastened, separated, protected, and fused in such a manner that the carton and its contents form an apparatus which, when the main fuse is ignited, automatically and successively ignites each firework individually, and allows some of them to explode one at the time inside the carton causing the other fireworks to be ejected from the carton one at the time with their fuses ignited.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a carton for packaging fireworks which has such shape and structural characteristics as to make it readily adaptable to packaging, wrapping, labeling, crating, stacking, shipping, displaying, handling, and utilizing.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a carton which will allow the fireworks contained in the carton to be exploded one by one automatically without the user having to remove them from the carton.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a carton which will serve as a launcher wherein the explosion of one firework causes another firework to be ejected from the carton with its fuse ignited.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a carton which will serve as a launcher thereby allowing the fireworks which are ejected from the carton to be more powerful than could be permitted were they to be exploded inside the carton.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a carton which protects the fireworks from the explosion of adjacent fireworks thus greatly reducing ruptures, pulled out fuses, and the blowing away of unlighted fireworks.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a carton from which the top can be removed in order to permit the. fireworks to be ejected from the carton and in which the fireworks may be fastened in such a manner as not to be thrown from the carton, or moved about inside the carton except in a planned sequence.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a carton in which fireworks can be packaged with ease and can be removed with ease individually by hand from the carton if so desired.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a carton which can be produced in large quantities and at comparatively low costs and can be utilized wherever needed.

Still additional objects, benefits, and advantages of this invention will become evident from a study of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a carton made in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a top view of the carton shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a cross section view taken along line 3—3 of FIGURE 2 showing the interior of the device.

FIGURE 4 is a cross section view taken along line 4—4 of FIGURE 2 showing the interior of the device.

Referring now specifically to the drawing, a carton made in accordance with the present invention has a base or bottom 5 made of cardboard or other suitable material. On this base 5 upwardly-opening compartments 6 are formed with suitable partitions such as the divider panels

7. Each of the compartments 6 is shaped to snugly house a large firework 8 adjacent and preferably just within the upwardly-opening mouth 21 of its respective compartment as well as a smaller firework 9 which is disposed inwardly of the compartment or on the remote side of the larger firework 8 from mouth 21, resting on and being adhesively secured to the closed side of the compartment as by means of the adhesive material 11. Preferably the larger firework 8 within each compartment is secured against accidental removal or displacement, as for instance by means of a spot of adhesive 10 connecting it to its underlying smaller firework 9 within the same compartment. Due to their respective functions, the firework 8 will sometimes hereinafter be referred to as the projectile firework, while the firework 9 will sometimes hereinafter be referred to as the launching firework. The dividers or partitions 7 are of a suitable material such as cardboard adapted to form absorptive barriers 12 between the respective compartments 6 to prevent damage to the fireworks 8 and 9 in a given compartment through explosion of one or more of the fireworks in an adjoining compartment. The ends of the carton 13 may conveniently be formed of cardboard or other suitable material. The fireworks are placed in the carton so that their fuses 14 and 15 extend into the main fuse compartment 16. Partitions 17 protect the main fuse 18 and ignition fuses 14 and 15 from damage by fireworks which are exploded inside the carton. In the preferred arrangement, the various compartments 6 are arranged in parallel rows which, as best shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, are relatively spaced apart on opposite sides of the main fuse compartment 16 which is common to both rows. Such a compartment is defined between the spaced partitions 17—17 which preferably serve also to define the adjacent ends of the respective rows of compartments. Partitions 17 are made of cardboard or other suitable material and are equipped with slits 19 through which the ignition fuses 14 and 15 enter the main fuse compartment. These slits are equally spaced along the partitions 17. Fuses 14 and 15 of fireworks 8 and 9 are connected to the common main fuse 18 through slits 19 and the ignition fuses 14 are longer than ignition fuses 15. The connection points for the fuses 14 and 15 to the main fuse 18 are equally spaced along the main fuse. The ignition fuses 14 and 15 for the fireworks 8 and 9 in each compartment are both connected to the main fuse 18 at a common connection point so that the fuses for the fireworks in each compartment will thus be simultaneously ignited by the main fuse. Also there are provided several such connection points relatively spaced in a lengthwise direction along the main fuse 18 so that the respective ignition fuses 14 and 15 connected to the main fuse 18 at each of these connection points will be successively ignited as the main fuse 18 burns in a lengthwise direction. The main fuse 18 is of the slow burning type and is of sufficient length to extend approximately one inch from the carton at one end which thus is adapted to be conveniently ignited. The top of the carton 20 is made of paper or other suitable material and is constructed for easy removal from the carton without damage to the other parts of the carton.

The operation of this device will now be readily understood. The carton is so constructed as to allow the fireworks to be placed in it after they have been assembled and their ignition fuses connected to the main fuse. The carton is regular in shape of sturdy construction thus readily adaptable to packaging, wrapping, labeling, crating, stacking, shipping, displaying, handling, and utilizing. To operate this device the top 20 is removed and the carton placed on a flat surface. The main fuse 18 is then ignited and burns slowly to and through each of the relativelyspaced connection points of the ignition fuses 14 and 15. Each of the one or more pairs of the ignition fuses at each

3,227,084 such connection point will be thus simultaneously ignited and substantially freed from connection to the main fuse as well as each other by such ignition. Following such ignition, the respective ignition fuses 14 and 15 will burn toward their corresponding fireworks 8 and 9 while the 5 main fuse will continue to burn toward the next connection point. Since each fuse 15 of a launching or lower firework 9 is shorter than the ignition fuse 14 of its associated and overlying projectile firework 8 in the same compartment therewith, the fire will reach the explosive in firework 9 before it reaches the explosive in firework 8 thus causing firework 9 to explode before firework 8. Due to the shape and construction of the compartment in which fireworks 8 and 9 are housed and to the moderate amount of explosive in launching firework 9, the projectile 15 firework 8 is blown from the carton with its fuse ignited but with a sufficient length of its ignition fuse remaining that explosion of the projectile firework will be delayed until subsequent to its launching, the relative lengths of the fuses 14 and 15 preferably being so selected that 20 explosion of the projectile firework 9 in each instance will occur during and at a suitable point in its trajectory, the connection between firework 8 and firework 9 being destroyed by the explosion of firework 9. Concussion forces on adjacent fireworks from the explosion of each 25 firework 9 is greatly reduced by the dividers 7, and the absorption chambers 12. Damage to the remaining fuses and fireworks in the opposite side of the carton is greatly reduced by the partitions 17. The fireworks in adjacent compartments are held in place during the explosion by 30 adhesives 10 and 11. As the fire continues along the main fuse, the above operation is repeated until all of the fireworks are exploded.

While this invention has been described with particular reference to the construction shown in the drawing and 35 while various changes may be made in the detailed construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus completely and fully described the inven- 40 tion, what is now claimed as new and desired to be protected by