Improvements relating to Cans or Cases.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 12th May, 1896-Accepted, 4th July, 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Cans or Cases.
I, THEODORE WILLIAM HICKSON of Point Nepean Road, Brighton, in the Colony
of Victoria, Mechanic, 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 :-
My invention relates to a combination of parts adapted to be used as a
strengthening and protective frame around cans and cases without materially
projecting therefrom.
My appliance may readily be turned into a combined handle and support by
drawing up one of its parts, the sides of which have slots or the like for the
purpose of allowing such action. My appliance may also, when not in use on a
tin or case, be collapsed, so as to occupy a very small space.
With many tins, handles are desirable, but have not been provided because the
riveting of a handle to the tin would weaken the latter and render it ill adapted for
containing any heavy weight, or because no inexpensive appliance had been invented
which could be easily put on and taken off, be compactly folded into a small space,
which would not project materially from the tin so as to waste space, and could be
converted into a handle-support at will.
In the case of kerosene and other tins, the tins themselves, when emptied and
with the tops removed, are, owing to their convenient shape and ample capacity, of
material value as buckets or containing vessels, but the drawback precluding their
general use is the absence of a handle which would allow them to be conveniently
carried about.
Empty tins of many kinds are at present practically worthless for re-use as open
containing vessels, they being easily distorted out of shape; and owing to the
enormous number of such tins manufactured the economic waste is considerable.
By the aid of my handle-support such tins may be used (and will prove durable) as
buckets or containing vessels, or when emptied may be safely returned for refilling
with any desired material.
Referring now to the accompanying drawings-
Figure 1 shows my appliance with the handle extended as used on a
kerosene tin.
Figure 2 shows the appliance on a can as in Figure 1, but with the handle
collapsed upon its side.
Figure 3 shows my appliance on a cylindrical can, the handle extended and canted
partly to one side to show one of its motions.
Figure 4 shows the appliance with the handle collapsed upon the top of a can so as
to leave no part projecting materially from any part of the can. When doubled on
one side, the bandle can be made to lie close against the same, whatever the length
of the handle, by the use of the slots hereinafter described.
Figure 5 shows a vertical cross section through the top of the handle.
Figure 6 shows a modified handle top in vertical cross section, and
Figure 7 is a perspective view of such top.
Figures 8 and 9 show front and side elevations respectively of one form of my
appliance as seen when the parts are collapsed together to occupy a small space.
Figure 10 is a perspective view of another form of the appliance when collapsed.
Figure 11 shows a disc attached to the piece J for the purpose to be described.
This handle-support is made of specially shaped pieces of metal or other suitable
n

page_text: material, A, B, C, D, all of which meet and are connected together at two opposite
points, E, E, said points being at or about the extremity of each of the pieces. The
piece A is a support extending partly horizontally and partly vertically, so as to pass
under and up the side of a kerosene or other tin or case as M or N. The pieces B
and are similar to each other, and are arranged to extend each half way around
the tin or case, so as jointly to form a rectangle circle, or other complete band
transversely around the tin or case. The part D forms a moveable handle when
required, and, owing to the slots H, of which there is one at each side, when not
so required may be conveniently slipped out of the way, as shown in Fig. 2. A
piece of metal, J, is centered on the pin or bolt E and extends upwardly to above
the top of the can. The end of this plate Jis turned over to clasp the can and
so prevent the frame slipping or working off said can (Figs. 2 and 3). In some
cases a strip, J, may be provided on each side of the frame. The end of J, on
being turned and straightened a number of times, on being put on and taken
off, is liable to break off. To overcome this objection, I may provide a disc K,
which is centred upon J so that it may be turned and a different portion bent
over on each occasion. The dotted lines on Fig. 11 indicate the turned-over
portion of a disc.
The top of D I make convex in the inner side, F, as in Figs. 1 and 5, although
it may be made plain, as in Figs. 6 and 7, and, if desired, suitably strengthened by
a fillet of wood, as G. The convexity in D adds materially to its rigidity as a
handle, enabling it to retain its shape under heavy strain. The rivets or pins
at E, E are passed sufficiently loosely through the parts A, B, C, D, and J, that the
whole frame may when desired be folded up into a small space, as in Figs. 8, 9,
and 10, and that the part D may be canted over to either side, as an ordinary
bucket handle is, or to be moved to and fro in the direction of the slot.
Owing to the size or heavy contents of some tins or cases, they have to be made
extra strong to support the strains they undergo in being moved about, or to allow
handles to be riveted to them. As my support acts as a strengthening band, it
allows the tin, although large or containing heavy weight, to be made of weaker
material than would ordinarily be necessary.
Catches or like devices for keeping or locking the part D either in extended, closed,
or other position, may be employed as required.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is-
1. A can frame holder, consisting of the combination of a band passing around
the can in a direction parallel to the plane of the base, and fitting snugly thereon,
and carrying pivot pins on opposite sides thereof, the bands being in halves, which
are hinged together to said pins, a single supporting strip, A, passing from one pivot
to the other down opposite sides of the can and centrally under the base thereof,
and a handle having slotted ends, in which fit said pins and passing over the
top of the can, the said band, strip and handle being loosely connected together
by the pins.
2. The combination with a can frame holder as claimed in Claim 1 of a strip, J,
with or without a disc, K, centred thereon, the end of strip or its disc being
adapted to be turned over to clasp the can, substantially as and for the purposes set
forth.
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents.