Improvements in the Construction of Boxes, Cases, Furniture, and the like.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 17th July, 1894-Accepted, 25th Aug., 18:4
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Boxes, Cases, Furniture,
and the like.
I, GUILLERMO ANTONIO FARINI, of Dartmouth Lodge, Forest Hill, in the
County of Surrey, Gentleman, 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 certain improvements in the construction of boxes, cases,
furniture and the like, without using nails, pegs, screws or mortise work for the
joints thereof. Boxes and cases may be rendered more portable when empty than
heretofore, as they are by means of my invention readily taken to pieces and
re-built without requiring skilled labour.
In order that my invention may be the better understood I have appended the
accompanying sheet of drawings, in which Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 16, and 17
shew various shapes of the metal strips employed, and Figures 10, 11, 12, 13, 14,
and 15 illustrate, so far as jointing is concerned, the different methods of using
them.
In carrying my invention into effect, I cut ordinary saw slits or slots in the wood
of which the box case, article of furniture or the like is to be made, and I insert
therein certain bent or angular strips of metal sheet, so that the two pieces forming
the joint are firmly bound together. In making boxes or cases for transporting
goods, said metal strips may be readily removed without injuring the wood, and the
boxes or cases may be returned closely packed, to be used again by the re-insertion
of the same or other metal strips as aforesaid. The primary feature of my said
invention is the adaptation of saw slits or slots in combination with pieces of bent
metal sheet.
The
Figure 1 illustrates a bent corner joint A of bent metal sheet, two narrow
fillets B B¹ being bent at, or approximately at right angles to the two members of
the bend. Referring to Figure 10 it will be seen that the two sides I of the box are
provided with saw slits, into which engage the projecting fillets aforesaid.
ends of said fillets may be cut away at the top or the bottom, or both, as at C
Figure 1, to clear the lid or the bottom of the box, or both. The corner piece A
is pressed longitudinally into the saw slits, and when it is desired to take the box
to pieces (which will not be necessary in the case of furniture) I employ a pair of
pincers, or hinged grips, which are made to fit and grasp the angle, so that, when
so held, a comparatively slight tap will start the corner piece A.
Said corner
piece may be ornamented according to any design, and its function as a joint may
be thereby concealed. The lid of said box may be fixed in the same manner, as
also the bottom, the final or key joint, being secured by sealing or any other
equivalent method. Or said lid may be attached by the angular strips, G, Figure 10,
or any of the other modifications herein referred to.
Figure 2 shews two kinds of angular strip, one with a bent flange or fillet bbl on
both members a a', a portion c c¹ on each being provided so as to project interiorly
or exteriorly so as to be turned down where indicated by the dotted lines. When
it is required to take a hox so made, to pieces, a tool consisting of a pair of pincers
with a wedge-shaped jaw, would be used to open the closed edges c c. If the sheet
metal of which the bent strips are constructed is of a sufficient degree of ductility,
said strips may be used several times in succession. The other view, under Figure 3
shews a turning edge c opposite a fillet and c¹ opposite b on the member a.
Figure 4 shews a corner joint strip D, with turned up edges or flanges b
whole fitting into co-incident saw slits or slots in both sides of the box to be joined.
the

page_text: A triangular hole d allows a bent wedge e to be forced in after the sides and joint
piece are in position. A portion of the wood in the extreme corner may be cut
away if necessary, to allow of the better adjustment of the wedge e.
And a
slit n' in each member 6 61 furnished with a sunk key strip prevents movement
upon either angle. Two or more of said pieces may be used for each joint. Said
modification is shewn by L, Figure 13, in which the two sides of the box are shewn
by II, and the wedge piece by e. Figure 5 shews a slight modification, in which
the wedge eis dispensed with, the corner piece D having turned up edges or
flanges as in the foregoing example, but with edges c c adapted to be turned
where indicated by the dotted lines either inside or outside the box, thus securing
the joint. The tool hereinbefore referred to, may be used to open said edges when
necessary.
Figure 6 illustrates a modification in which two or more of the strips a are used
together, placed alternately, but coincident in slits formed in the sides of the box.
Two such strips M M are shewn adapted to the sides II of a box, in Figure 14
the whole being secured by a tapered bent key or wedge piece e which may be of
sufficient length to engage with any number of strips.
Another modification is shewn by Figures 7 and 8, in which A is a corner piece
of sheet metal pierced by an angular slot f, having an enlargement at Both
members of said corner piece may be so slotted, and an exactly similar slot is formed
g.
in the wood of the side of the box, coincident therewith. A bent strip D, with a
broad flange b, and a narrow flange is provided, so that may be passed inside
the wide part of the slot g in A, and then slid upwards in the narrow part thereof.
The broad flange 6 completely covers the slot and the width between and is
equal to the thickness of the side of the box. A wedge piece E of bent sheet metal
is pressed in, and prevents the strip D from slipping back from its position in the
narrow part of the slot f. The adaptation of this modification is shewn by
Figure 11, where I I are the sides of the box, J the slotted corner piece, and D the
inserted strip. The wedge piece E is, of course inserted from inside.
Figure 9 shews another modification in which the strip a with its bent flange b
is adapted to be fitted into an angular saw slit or slot in the side of the box, lid, or
bottom thereof, and the projecting member h is bent as shown, and provided with
a sharp point which may be driven into the other side, or other part of the box
or the like, firmly attaching it to that part to which a is fitted. In Figure 16 is
shewn a modification of the corner piece shewn by Figure 7, and hereinbefore
described. In this case, a plain slot corresponding to a saw slit in the wood of the
box is fitted with an angular strip a a', the flange a¹ being outside, and the part a
with a small slot n passing through said wood, so that it may be firmly secured by
a key strip e. In order to dispense with outside battens in the construction of large
cases, I may insert bent strips, as in Figure 17 into suitable saw slits or slots angled
as shewn, or I may use flat strips for the same purpose, fastened by any of the
devices herein before described.
The angular strips shewn by the modifications Figures 2 and 3 may be utilised in
various ways for connecting the different parts of boxes and the like, and as an
example, the manner of fixing the lids by these means are shewn by Figures 10
and 12 where the lid F is pressed in the direction of the arrow, the saw slit k
engaging with the angular member of k Figure 12. Figure 15 shews a lid so
attached by angle pieces, a locking piece m. being added, so that it may be
secured by sealing or the like. I wish it to be understood that I may modify the
conformation, angles, method of bending or keying, the metal strips, and the
arrangement of the saw slits or slots, to suit the conditions of various cases of
adaptation without departing from the essential features of my said invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is :
First. In the construction of boxes, cases, furniture and the like, the combination

page_text: of a saw slit or slot, or slits or slots with strips of sheet metal suitably formed or
bent to engage therewith, substantially as herein set forth.
Second. The improved construction of boxes, so that these may readily be taken
apart for transport and re-fitted substantially as herein described with reference to
the drawings.
Third. In the construction of boxes, cases, furniture and the like, the
employment of an angled corner piece, in combination with suitable saw slits or
slots, substantially as herein described, with especial reference to Figures 1 and 10
of the appended drawings.
Fourth. In the construction of boxes, cases, furniture and the like, the employment
of angled strips in combination with suitable saw slits or slots, substantially as
herein described with especial reference to Figures 2, 3, 10 and 15 of the accom-
panying sheet of drawings.
Fifth. In the construction of boxes, cases, furniture and the like, the employment
of an angled strip of sheet metal, in combination with a suitable saw slit, or slot or
slits or slots, and a tapered key, substantially as herein described with reference to
Figures 4 and 13 of the appended drawings.
Sixth. In the construction of boxes, cases, furniture and the like, the employment
of an angled strip of sheet metal with turn down edges, in combination with a
suitable saw slit or slot, or slits or slots substantially as herein described with
especial reference to Figure 5 of the appended drawings.
Seventh. In the construction of boxes, cases, furniture and the like, the
employment of a strip of sheet metal, with a hole formed therein, in combination
with a metal key, and a saw slit or slot, or slits or slots corresponding thereto,
substantially as herein described with especial reference to Figures 6 and 14 of the
appended sheet of drawings.
Eighth. In the construction of boxes, cases, furniture and the like, the employment
of a sheet metal corner piece, suitably slotted, in combination with a bent strip D
and key piece E substantially as herein described with especial reference to
Figures 7 and 11 of the appended drawings.
Ninth. In the construction of boxes, cases, furniture and the like, the employment
of a bent strip of sheet metal, having a point i in combination with a suitable saw
slit or slot, substantially as herein described with especial reference to Figure 9 of
the appended drawings.
Tenth. In the construction of boxes, cases, furniture and the like, the employment
of a corner piece having a slot at opposite angles formed in each member, in
combination with a bent strip and key, substantially as herein described with
especial reference to Figure 16 of the appended drawings.
Eleventh. In the construction of boxes, cases, furniture and the like, the
employment of bent strips of metal, in combination with saw slits or slots for
strengthening the structure, substantially as herein described, with especial
reference to Figure 17 of the appended drawings.
Twelfth. In the construction of boxes, and cases, the methods of, and means for
causing each joint when made to lock the preceding joint, so that the last may be
secured by sealing or the like, substantially as herein described with reference to
Figures 2, 3, and 15 of the appended drawings.
Dated this 13th day of July 1894.
FREDK. WALKER,
73, St. Stephen's Road, Upton Park, E., Agent for the Applicant.