Improvements in Folding Boxes and Crates.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improvements in Folding Boxes and Crates.
I, WILLIAM DAVY, of 97 Wood Street, in the City of London, Glove Manufacturer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to construct the body of a box or crate in such
manner that the sides can by suitable hinges be folded upon the upper surface of the
bottom and the two ends, also hinged to the bottom, be folded downwards, and under,
to lie upon the under surface of the bottom, the said end having metal corner strips
with right angled flanges which project at a distance from the edges of the ends, so
that pockets are formed into which the end edges of the side pieces can be lodged
when the several parts are folded upwardly to form the body of the box or crate for
the reception of goods, the lid having ends, beads or flange strips to lock the parts
together ready for transport when bound by a cord.
Boxes or crates constructed as above set forth, can when the sides and ends are
folded upon the bottom be so reduced in bulk and the parts lie so flat in contact that
a box or crate when opened out and having the dimensions of say 30 inches long,
18 inches wide and 12 inches deep can by folding be reduced from 12 inches to
14 inches deep including the thickness of the lid which packs over it.
The right angled flanges of my corner strips are bent slightly inwards so that when
the two sides are folded upwardly their end edges are pinched and held sufficiently
tight to retain them and the ends of the box in a vertical position during the packing
or insertion of the goods.
The hinging of the two sides of the box or crate is from the inside, and the hinging
of the two ends from the outside.
I have not referred to fastenings other than by cords but any kind of fastener can
be adopted if so desired.
It will be understood that the metal corner strips give great strength to resist
rough usage and add to the solidity of the article as a box or crate.
To hold the ends of the box in position while being packed, a stretcher, or bar, or
the like may be employed.
Dated this 22nd day of February 1897
Improvements in Folding Boxes and Crates.
5 I WILLIAM DAVY of 97 Wood Street in the City of London, Glove Manufacturer
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
The object of this invention is to construct the body of a box or crate in such

page_text: manner that the sides can by suitable hinges be folded upon the upper surface of the
bottom and the two ends, also hinged to the bottom, be folded downwards and under,
to lie upon the under surface of the bottom, the said ends having metal corner strips
with right angled flanges which project at a distance from the edges of the ends so
that pockets are formed into which the end edges of the side pieces can be lodged
when the several parts are folded upwardly to form the body of the box or crate for
the reception of goods, the lid having ends, beads or flange strips to lock the parts.
together ready for transport when bound by a cord.
Boxes or crates constructed as above set forth can when the sides and ends are
folded upon the bottom be so reduced in bulk and the parts lie so flat in contact that
a box or crate when opened out and having the dimensions of say 36 inches long,
24 inches wide and 24 inches deep, can by folding be reduced from 24 inches to
2 inches deep including the thickness of the lid which packs over it.
The right angled flanges of my corner strips are bent slightly inwards so that when
the two sides are folded upwardly their end edges are pinched and held sufficiently
tight to retain them and the ends of the box in a vertical position during the packing
or insertion of the goods.
The binging of the two sides of the box or crate is from the inside and the hinging
of the two ends from the outside.
I have not referred to fastenings other than by cords but any kind of fastener can
be adopted if so desired.
It will be understood that the metal corner strips give great strength to resist
rough usage and add to the solidity of the article as a box or crate.
To hold the ends of the box in position while being packed, a stretcher or bar or
the like may be employed.
+
The annexed drawings clearly show my invention.
Figure 1. isometrical perspective elevation of a box in a closed condition ready for
transport and supposed to be filled with goods.
Figure 2, a similar perspective elevation with the lid removed and the two ends
folded downwards.
. Figure 3, represents the several parts of the box folded in close contact realy,
(when corded) to be stored or to be transported as a return empty. This figure shows
the reduction in bulk to which such box is capable.
A, the bottom to the inner face edges B, B, the two longer sides C, C, are hinged
to fold inwardly.
D. D, the two ends or shorter sides hinged to the outer or under surface of the
ends E. E, of the bottom A to fold downwardly and under, F. F. F. F. are angle
strips of metal secured to the side edges, G. G. G. G. of the ends D. D, the
spaces H. H. H. H, forming pockets for enclosing the end edges I. I. I. I. of the two
longer sides C. C. The exposed lips J. J. J. J, of the angled metal strips F. F. F. F
are inwardly inclined so that when the ends D. D, are folded upwardly said inclined
lips nip the ends of the sides C, C. to hold the ends D. D, and also the sides C. C
upright to constitute the body of the box, a lid K with end ribs L, L, only, being
sufficient to retain the several parts temporarily together.
Any means of fixing the parts can be adopted such as cords bound round the box
for transport and during the filling of the box if the lid K be canted over at the back
for the ribs L, L, to bear against the two ends D, D, while the box is being packed
said ends D. D will be prevented from folding outwardly but a guage bar can be used
for that purpose if necessary.
I do not propose to employ clips or books or other kinds of fasteners with my
improved folding box but such can be fitted if so desired.
The box is intended chiefly for light and delicate articles of merchandise such as
gloves, silks, hosiery and the like, it being general for manufacturers and warehouse-
men in sending such goods to customers to have the boxes returned as empties and
which from their bulk in the ordinary way are subject to heavy charges for return
freightage besides requiring immense storage room to hold them in stock for future
use, whereas with my improved box the bulk of the box for the return is so reduced

page_text: that freightage should be reduced in proportion. Again, in the storing of such boxes
only a tithe of room will be required and from the closeness of the several parts of
each box they are rendered more handy and offer greater facilities for being stacked
on edge or on one another.
For crates, i.e., hoxes of skeleton frames such as are used for the conveyance of
bottles, gas glasses, crockery and the like this invention is also specially applicable.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what 1
claim is :-
1. The particular arrangement and connection of the parts constituting a folding.
box or crate as shown on the annexed drawings and as described.
2. In the construction of a folding box or crate as hereinbefore set forth, hinging
the sides C to the bottom A that they fold upon it and the ends D to fold under the
bottom A. providing said ends with angled strips F for location of ends I of the
sides C as and for the purposes described.
A day or watch 1.
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166 Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said William Davy.