Improvements in Boxes for Packing or Holding Rabbits or the like for Transport.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improvements in Boxes for Packing or Holding Rabbits or the like
for Transport.
A communication from Alfred HART of 294 Nicholson Street, Fitzroy, Poulterer,
and GEORGE EDWARD ANDREW of 111 Swanston Street, Melbourne, Broker,
both in the Colony of Victoria, Australia.
I, ARTHUR FREEMORE SPOONER, of 323 High Holborn, in the County of London,
Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to boxes for packing or holding rabbits or the like for
transport, and comprises the improvements hereinafter set forth.
The said box, case, or crate is made up in the form of a double open-work tray
the two parts of which are laid and secured together face to face each part or tray
usually holding, say, a dozen rabbits. A feature of the invention is that instead
of having to support the rabbits in the crate by suspending them by a longitudinal
rail passing through their crossed legs each rabbit is held in position by a cord
or wire loop passing round its loin whilst its hind legs are pressed together, the
position they take when in a sitting posture. By the loop being passed over the
rabbit's hind legs and round its loin, it is suspended thereby in the crate with its
back against the side rail and the under side of its legs against top of crate. The
case or crate is made of wood in the form of two trays each having solid sides and
ends and with its back formed of an upper and lower longitudinal bar or rail and
further strengthened by a diagonal stay, the depth of the case is just sufficient to
allow the rabbit to hang down when its position is similar to that which it assumes
when sitting whilst the length of the case is made to suit the number of rabbits
(usually twelve) laid side by side in it. In order to leave a clear space for air to
pass to the opened rabbits whilst packed in the crate each meeting edge of the two
trays is rebated or cut down say half an inch or so save and except some three or
four inches at the corners and thus when the two parts are placed together they
leave a slot in both the sides and the ends for the free passage of air. The backs of
each tray are open with the exception of the top and bottom, bars and the stays
as before explained. The aforesaid loops may either be of wire or cord and may
be formed in several ways for instance a cord or wire may be taken and be secured
to the inside of top of each tray by small staples and the wire or cord hangs down
from each adjoining pair of staples and so form the loops or the wires or cords may
be threaded through holes made in the wooden top of each tray forming the crate
or the loops may be furnished with eyes at each end through which a longitudinal
wire is threaded to support the whole of them. Again when the loops are of wire
they may be in the form of a spring to hold the rabbit well back in the tray or
further two rods running the whole length of the crate may be used to support the
rabbits in the position stated. To secure the two parts of the crate together when
filled with rabbits four pieces of hoop iron are provided and each end of such hoop
DOT

page_text: irons is bent over to catch the sides whilst they are secured at their position one
near each end by two nails one passing to each of the trays or in place of the hoop
iron wire may be employed or for one side any cheap type of hinges or pliable
material which will allow the trays to open apart may be used. By the use of this
case or crate the rabbits when therein are more readily frozen also a great saving
of area takes place in the freezing chambers and on shipboard as for example
crates made according to this invention and carrying twenty four rabbits are
stacked twenty to the ton, as against the ordinary crate holding the same quantity
of rabbits, and which, when stacked, run twelve to the ton.
In some cases I may so construct the box, crate, or case that it will be undivided,
the rabbits in this instance being similarly supported upon two longtudinal bars.
Dated this 20th day of March 1897.
Improvements in Boxes for Packing or Holding Rabbits or the like
for Transport.
A communication from Alfred HART of 294 Nicholson Street, Fitzroy, Poulterer,
and GEORGE EDWARD ANDREW, of 111 Swanston Road, Melbourne, Broker,
both in the Colony of Victoria, Australia.
I, ARTHUR FREEMORE SPOONER, of 323 High Holborn, in the County of London,
Chartered Patent Agent, 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: —
This invention relates to boxes for packing or holding rabbits or the like for
transport, and comprises the improvements hereinafter set forth.
are closed
The said box, case, or crate is made up in the form of a double open-work tray
the two parts of which are connected and secured together face to face
each part or tray usually holding, say, a dozen rabbits. A feature of the
invention is that instead of having to support the rabbits in the crate by
suspending them in pairs as ordinarily, by a longitudinal rail passing
through their crossed legs, the hind legs of each rabbit
together to the position they assume whilst sitting and it is in this position that
each rabbit is suspended in the crate by a cord or wire loop passing round its loins
or by a support which grips the rabbit at its loins. By the loop being passed over
the rabbit's hind legs and round its loins it is suspended with its back against the
uppermost side rail and with the underside of its legs against the top of the crate.
When the two parts or trays forming the crate are filled with rabbits and laid or
closed together, a clear space is left for circulation of air through the crate between
the rabbits. Such free air circulation can also be obtained with an undivided
crate in which the rabbits are packed according to this invention.
In order that the invention may be well understood it will now be described
aided by a reference to the accompanying drawings in which,
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the crate.
Figure 2 a perspective view of the crate with its two parts or trays opened apart
and shewing some rabbits packed therein.
Figure 3 a cross section of the crate and shewing clearly the position of the
rabbits when packed.
Figure 4 and 5 shew alternative means for holding the rabbits in the crate whilst
lying in the position shewn in Figures 2 and 3, and

page_text: Figure 6 illustrates further modifications hereinafter described.
The crate is made of wood in the form of two trays A, A each having sides a, a
and ends a', a' and with the back of each formed by upper and lower longitudinal
bars or rails b, and further strengthened by a diagonal or other stay b¹, and
which latter or the upper rail b may be secured in position, when the crate is
undivided, after the rabbits are laid in position. The depth of the crate is just
sufficient to allow the rabbits to hang down, when suspended with its hind legs in
their sitting postion, as hereinbefore described and as particularly shewn in
Figures 2 and 3; whilst the length of the crate is made to suit the number of
rabbits laid side by side in it. In order to provide a clear space for air to pass to
the opened rabbits whilst packed in the crate each meeting edge of the two trays
is rebated or cut down say half an inch or so, save and except some three or four
inches at the corners and, thus, when the two parts or trays are placed together,
they leave slots B in the top and bottom of the crate and slots B in its ends for
the free circulation of air. The loops C by which the rabbits are suspended may
either be of wire or cord and be formed in several ways. For instance a looped
cord or wire may be secured to the top side a of each tray by small staples C¹ as
shewn in Figure 2, or the wires or cords forming the loops may be threaded through
holes C2 made in each tray as also shewn in Figure 2, or the loops may be furnished
with eyes at each end through which a longitudinal wire is threaded to support the
whole of them. Again, as shewn in Figure 5, a stretched wire D running the
whole length of the tray may be used to support the rabbits in the position stated;
or a gapped plate E as shewn in Figure 4 or a wire, made to the shape shewn in
Figure 4, may be employed to support the rabbits. If so preferred the hind legs
of the rabbits may be closed together, to the position described and shewn and be
secured with a cord or wire ring and afterwards placed in the tray or crate.
secure the two trays or parts of crate together, when filled with rabbits, four pieces
or strips of hoop iron F are provided one arranged near each corner each end of
such hoop irons 'being bent over at right angles to catch the sides as shewn in
Figure 1 whilst they are secured at their position by nails as shewn in Figure 1
or otherwise. In place of the hoop iron wire may be employed to bind the two
parts together or for the bottom of the crate any cheap type of hinges, or pliable
material, which will allow the trays to open apart. It will be obvious that the
trays hereinbefore described may be laid one above the other in tiers and then
secured together, although we prefer them laid face to face in pairs as hereinbefore
described.
То
By the use of this crate the rabbits when therein are more readily frozen by
reason of the cold air having free circulation thereto, also a great saving of area
takes place in the freezing chambers and on shipboard as for example crates made
according to this invention and carrying twenty four rabbits are stacked twenty
to the ton measurement, as against the ordinary crate holding the same quantity
of rabbits and which when stacked run about twelve to the ton.
In some cases I may, as shown in Figure 6, construct the box, crate or case in
an undivided form, the two parts being secured together by cross-pieces G in such
manner that free air space is allowed between the two parts. This Figure also
serves to show the rail 61 placed in a parallel position in lieu of a diagonal one as
shown in the previous Figures, and likewise to illustrate the two longitudinal
rails H which serve as an alternative means of supporting the rabbits.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. An export crate for rabbits or the like made in two parts or trays each designed
to hold a row of rabbits packed therein, with their hind legs closed together to their
sitting posture substantially as described and illustrated in the drawings.
2. An export crate for rabbits or the like provided with means such as the
loops C, gapped bar or wire E, the stretched wire D or rail H for suspending the

page_text: rabbits therein when their hind legs are closed together to their sitting position
substantially as described, and illustrated in the drawings.
3. A crate for rabbits and the like made of wood in two parts or trays, having
openwork backs and slots as B, 131 for air circulation, means such as C, E, D, or H
for suspending the rabbits therein and metal strips F for securing the two parts
together when filled for export substantially as described and illustrated in the
drawings.
4. The improved export crate for rabbits or the like made in two parts or trays
constructed substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated in the
drawings.