Improvements in Cardboard or similar Folding Boxes and Lids.
Year: 1895

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cardboard or similar Folding Boxes and Lids.
I, JOHN EDWARD THORNTON, of Rokeby, Oldfield Road, Altrincham,
Cheshire, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
The object of this invention is to construct boxes and lids, such as are made of
cardboard or similar materials, in such a manner that they will fold flat for storage
or open out rigid for use, and so that the operations of folding or erecting can be
easily and quickly performed, and the erected box be sufficiently rigid and firm for
the purpose intended.
In carrying out my invention I form the body of the box of four sides, either by
making them of a single strip or of several pieces joined to form an endless band.
This is suitably creased at the points that form the corners of the box so that the
sides may fold upon each other flat.
The bottom consists of two triangular pieces. The two short sides of one of
these triangular pieces are glued or otherwise joined in any suitable manner to two
sides of the box and so that they hinge at the joint. The other triangular piece is
joined to the two opposite sides in like manner.
Both of these triangular pieces are creased from the centre of the long side to
the point where the two short sides meet at one corner of the box, so that they
may readily bend or fold.
It will be understood from this description that by causing these two triangular
sections of the bottom to fold inwards, the box may be collapsed until each of them
lay flat against two sides of the box, so that the whole closes up flat. Upon
opening out or erecting the box these two triangular pieces stretch out into their
normal position and so hold the sides distended and rigid.
The two portions are made to overlap each other on their long sides and so form
a complete bottom to the box.
Instead of making them both as described I generally prefer to make one piece
rectangular and large enough to entirely fill or complete the bottom of the box;
when the box is erected this rests on the other or triangular portion. Sometimes
it may be desirable to make them both rectangular, but in that case when collapsing
the box one piece would fold inward and the other outward.
In a modified construction, for special purposes, the bottom may be a complete
rectangle, hinged at one of its edges only to one side of the box, against which it
folds, and resting (when the box is erected) upon corner folding pieces such as
described, which may be either of cardboard, tape, linen, or other material, and
each joining two sides.
If found necessary to provide against accidental collapse of the box, or for
increasing its rigidity when erected, the parts forming the bottom may be fastened
together by a button, stud, or other means; or if one portion of the bottom is made
a rectangle completely filling up the space between the sides, the sides may have
tongues, dinges, or other raised portions formed on the inside past which the
rectangular bottom has to be forced before it can lay in its proper position.
The lid is formed with sides as usual which are all joined together to form an
endless rim. This rim however is creased at an angle of 45 degrees at the corners
in such a way that two sides of the rim will fold inward against the lid and the
two other sides fold outward away from it.

page_text: Instead of being loose the lid may be hinged on one of its sides to the body of
the box, in which case it will lie against one side of the body when the box is
folded.
This construction of lid is applicable to other kinds of boxes, in addition to the
form hereinbefore described.
The lid may be held closed by a stud, button, or other suitable fastening and
may be provided with a string or tape for carrying it by if desired.
Dated this 21st day of December 1895.
•
Improvements in Cardboard or similar Folding Boxes and Lids.
I, JOHN EDWARD THORNTON, of Rokeby, Oldfield Road, Altrincham, in the
County of Chester, 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 :-
This invention relates chiefly to boxes for holding millinery such as hats bonnets
flowers or the like in which the sides are of equal or greater depth than the width
of the bottom though if found applicable it may be applied to other cardboard
boxes.
It designed to provide a box of this shape capable of folding flat for storage
which will when erected have the desired degree of rigidity for the purpose
intended.
ог
Hitherto it has been customary in folding boxes to cause the sides and ends to
fold over upon the bottom which for shallow boxes is the most convenient way but
for deep boxes I find that I can construct a box which will be much more rigid
and easy to manipulate by causing the bottom to fold between the sides and ends.
The invention will be fully described with reference to the accompanying
drawings in which as examples several forms of box are illustrated.
Fig. 1. Perspective view of one form of box.
Fig. 2, Fig. 24, Fig. 2B. Plans of extended blanks of same.
Fig. 3. Plan of same from bottom showing box folded.
Fig. 4. Perspective view of another form of the box, looking towards the
bottom.
Fig. 5. Perspective view of same from top when partly folded.
Fig. 6. Perspective view when folded.
Fig. 7. Plan of extended blanks of same.
Fig. 8. Perspective view of another form of the box.
Fig. 9. Plan of extended blank of same.
Fig. 10. Perspective view of lid.
The body of the box comprises four sides A B C and D either cut from a single
strip of material scored on the lines a-e to form the corners or in two three or
four pieces joined at one or more of the corners by strips of flexible binding
material which will allow the corners to bend and two of the sides to fold flat upon
the other two.
The bottom of the box comprises two or more parts E and F hinged or jointed
to the sides on the lines e-el so as to be capable of folding upon them and also
scored or jointed diagonally on the lines e- so that the parts may each also fold
upon themselves.
In Figs. 1 to 3 the sides A B C and D are made from one piece scored on the
lines ae to form the corners with a flap a' by which the side A is connected to
the side D. The bottom consists of the two triangular pieces E and F which are

page_text: scored or creased diagonally along the lines e-f so that each may be doubled in
two or folded over upon itself. The short sides of these triangular bottom
pieces are each flexibly secured to one of the sides of the box by means of a strip
of flexible binding cloth G or other suitable material. When the triangular
pieces E and F are in position in the box the piece F being preferably somewhat
larger overlaps and they fill the whole bottom space the scores or creases e-f
running diagonally. By causing the two bottom pieces E F to fold inwards ou
the lines e-f the box will be collapsed until they lie flat between the sides of the
box the whole closing up flat. It is to be understood that the material may be
severed on any of the lines a-e or e-f and flexible joints of cloth or other material
be made. Also that either of the bottom pieces E or F may be formed in one
piece with one of the sides and jointed to the adjacent one. Or that each side may
have attached to it a piece or flap which when two are brought together anl
connected on line e- form a bottom piece equivalent to E or F. A stud rivet or
other fastener g may be inserted to keep the two together.
Referring to Figs. 4 to 7 I show the form of box I at present prefer to.
construct; the sides A B C D are constructed as herein before described from one
two or more pieces of cardboard and the bottom is constructed of diagonally scored
pieces E and F capable of folding up flat between the sides. I prefer to construct
the sides of two parts rivetted or glued together with flexible joints at each of the
corners on the lines a-e. The part F of the bottom is precisely similar to that
described with reference to Fig. 1, the part E I make rectangular to fill the whole
bottom space and rest upon the part F. It is joined with a flexible strip of binding
cloth G along the lines e-f, which renders it capable of folding between the sides
when the box is collapsed.
The drawings show the two parts of E formed in one piece with the sides and
subsequently jointed along the lines e-f. It is to be understood however that all
the joints along the lines a-e, e--e¹ and e-f may be severed and the parts con-
nected by flexible strips. The part F may be made greater or less than that
shown in the drawings; it serves to hold the part E in position and may be
secured thereto by a stud g or other fastening.
In another modification both parts E and F may be made rectangular with
diagonal creases but in this case when folding the box one piece would fold inward
and the other outward.
Referring to Figs. 8 and 9 a modification is shown in which the bottom is
comprised of a rectangular piece E not creased or scored and a triangular
piece Fcreased or scored diagonally as before described. The part Fis
made in either of the ways before described, joined to the sides A and B
along the lines e-e and eel. The part E is joined or attached to the
side A along one edge only the joint being formed either by scoring or a binding
strip so as to render the bottom part E capable of being folded against the
side A.
Fig. 10 shows perspective view of collapsible lid. This lid is constructed in
accordance with the Specification of my earlier Patent No. 22372 of 1895 and no
claim is made for it herein.
On opening out or erecting the box the folded parts E and F stretch out into
their normal position and hold the sides distended and rigid.
If desired any kind of fastening may be applied to the parts E and F or to the
corners at a-e to increase the rigidity of the box when erected such as buttons
studs clips tapes strings or the like or tongues dinges or the like made in or affixed
to the sides past which the part forming the bottom has to be forced before it can
assume its proper position.
Instead of being loose the lid may be hinged on one of its sides to the body of
the box, in which case it will lie against one side of the body when the box is
folded.
The lid may be held closed by a stud, button or other suitable fastening and the
box may be provided with a string or tape for carrying it by if desired.

page_text: The feature of this box besides the ease of folding and setting up is that the
weight of the contents is supported by all four sides of the box and it is held open
in rectangular form without danger of collapsing.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A cardboard or other folding box constructed with the sides and ends folding
flat upon each other and the bottom folding between; the said bottom being
rectangular filling up the whole bottom of the box and creased diagonally whereby
the box may fold without detaching any parts and when the box is erect supported
by or resting upon bottom pieces (such as F) whereby the weight of the contents
upon the bottom is distributed upon the four sides substantially as described.
2. A card board or other folding box constructed with the bottom comprising
two or more parts scored or creased diagonally to fold between sides substantially
as described and shown.
3. A cardboard or other folding box constructed substantially as described and
shown with reference to Figs. 1 to 3 Figs. 4 to 7 and Figs. 8 and 9.
Dated this 19th day of September 1896.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6, Bank Street, Manchester, Patent Agents.