Improvements in Collapsible or other Metal Boxes, Cases, or Chests for Containing Tea or the like.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Nov., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 9th Apr., 1894-Accepted, 11th Aug., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Collapsible or other Metal Boxes, Cases, or Chests
for Containing Tea or the like.
I, ERNEST HARRY ARCHER, of No. 37, St. Mary Axe, in the City of London,
Tea Dealer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in collapsible or other metal boxes, cases,
or chests for containing tea or the like, and has for its object to provide ready and
secure means of closing and stiffening the ends thereof and which at the same time
facilitates the ready opening of the box, case or chest, in order to give access to
the contents or to enable it to be collapsed for transport.
In carrying my invention into effect, I form the body of the box, case or chest
of a rectangular tube and at its ends I split this tube at the angles thereof for a
short distance.
The ends of two opposite sides I turn down inwardly to form flanges nearly at
right angles to the body of the box but with a slight upward inclination from the
body, and the corresponding parts of the other two opposite sides I leave in an
erect position or I partially bend down one of such parts and leave the other
erect.
The lid or end of the box or case I form of a rectangular sheet of metal, so
proportioned in one direction that it will lie between the two erect or partially erect
Hanges and in the other direction I form this disc longer, and, along these edges,
I. turn it over so as to form a short flange rounded to tightly fit the box or case at
the bend of the right angle flanges.
This lid or end I place in position, and I then turn down thereon by the aid of
a press or otherwise the vertical flanges of the body, thereby making a neat and
tight joint and securely holding the end or lid in position, the slightly inclined
under flanges pressing with a spring pressure against the underside of the lid or
end, and materially assisting to render the joint air or dust tight.
In some cases, instead of bending down only two or three of the flanges as above
stated, I bend all the flanges down, and I then form the lid of such a width that it
will slide into position beneath the flanges of two opposite sides, and of such a
length that the ends or edges thereof will project slightly beyond the angles of the
other flanges, which are beneath the lid or end, and over which angles I turn down
the said ends or edges.
In some cases, when turning down all the flanges of the body of the box as
lastly hereinbefore described, I form upon the upper surface of the lid or end, ears
or clips which engage the upper side of two of the flanges, whilst the body of the
lid or end engages the underside.
When it is desired to open or remove the lid or end of a box constructed in the
manner herein before described, it is merely necessary to turn up one of the
covering flanges, and to slightly raise the other, when the lid or end may be easily
withdrawn.
Or, when the four flanges are bent down before placing the lid or end in position
as above described, it is only necessary, in order to remove the lid or end, to
straighten out one of the turned down edges of the lid or end, when it can be
slidden off.
In boxes or cases of large dimensions, it is sometimes desirable to stiffen the
same by the insertion at the ends of wooden frames over which the flanges are
turned in the manner hereinbefore described, whilst, as an additional security, the
lid or end may be nailed or screwed to the wooden frame, if desired.

page_text: In order to stiffen the lids or ends as much as possible, I sometimes turn or
seam over their edges so as to form a double thickness.
Dated this 17th day of November 1893.
VAUGHAN & SON,"
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Collapsible or other Metal Boxes, Cases or Chests
for Containing Tea or the like.
I, ERNEST HARRY ARCHER, of No. 37, St. Mary Axe, in the City of London,
Tea Dealer, 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 said invention relates to improvements in collapsible or other metal boxes,
cases or chests for containing tea or the like, and has for its object to provide
ready and secure means of closing and stiffening the ends thereof which, at the
same time, facilitate the ready opening of the box, case or chest, in order to give
access to the contents or to enable it to be collapsed for transport.
In carrying my invention into effect, I form the body of the box, case or chest
of a rectangular tube and at its ends I split this tube at the angles thereof for a
short distance.
The ends of two opposite sides I turn down inwardly to form flanges nearly at
right angles to the body of the box but with a slight upward inclination from the
body, and the corresponding parts of the other two opposite sides I leave in an
erect position or I partially bend down one of such parts and leave the other
erect.
The lid or end of the box or case I form of a rectangular sheet of metal, so
proportioned in one direction that it will lie between the two erect or partially
erect flanges, and, in the other direction, I form this lid longer, and, along these
end edges, I turn it over so as to form a short flange rounded to fit the box or case
at the bend of the right angle flanges.
This lid or end I place in position, and I then turn down thereon, by the aid of
a press or otherwise, the vertical flanges of the body, thereby making a neat and
tight joint and securely holding the end or lid in position, the slightly incliued
under flanges pressing with a spring pressure against the underside of the lid or
end, and materially assisting to render the joint air or dust tight.
In some cases, instead of bending down only two or three of the flanges as
above stated, I bend all the flanges down, and I then form the lid of such a width
that it will slide into position beneath the flanges of two opposite sides, and of
such a length that the ends or edges thereof will project slightly beyond the angles
of the other flanges, which are beneath the lid or end, and over which angles I
turn down the said ends or edges.
In some cases, when turning down all the flanges of the body of the box, as
lastly hereinbefore described, I form, upon the upper surface of the lid or end,
ears or clips which engage the upper side of two of the flanges, whilst the body of
the lid or end engages the underside.
When it is desired to open or remove the lid or end of a box constructed in the
manner hereinbefore described, it is merely necessary to turn up one of the covering
flanges, when the lid or end may be easily withdrawn.
Or, when the four flanges are bent down before placing the lid or end in position
as above described, it is only necessary, in order to remove the lid or end, to
straighten out one of the turned down edges of the lid or end, when it can be
slidden off, or, to raise one of the ears or clips and the corresponding flange of the
box, when the lid or end may be withdrawn.

page_text: In boxes or cases of large dimensions, it is sometimes desirable to stiffen the
same by the insertion at the ends of wooden frames over which the flanges are
turned in the manner hereinbefore described, whilst, as an additional security, the
lid or end may be nailed or screwed to the wooden frame, if desired.
In order to stiffen the lids or ends as much as possible, I sometimes turn or
seam over their edges, so as to form a double thickness.
And, in order that the said invention may be more clearly understood and
readily carried into effect, I will proceed, aided by the accompanying drawings,
more fully to describe the same.
Figure 1. is a vertical section of por LOD
process of construction according to the said invention.
.
Figure 2. is a plan thereof.
Figure 3. is a similar view to Figure 1., but taken at right angles thereto.
Figure 4. is a part elevation of the complete box showing the lid in position.
Figure 5. is a plan thereof.
Figure 6. is a vertical section taken on the line 1.-1. of Figure 5.
Figure 7. is a similar view taken at right angles thereto.
Figure 8. is a plan of the lid separately.
Figure 9. is a transverse section taken on the line 2.-2. of Figure 8.
Figure 10. is a similar view taken on the line 3.-3. of Figure 8., and,
Figure 11. is a side elevation of the complete box, showing a method of opening
the same.
Figure 12. is a vertical section taken on the line 4.-4. of Figure 13. repre-
senting a slight modification.
Figure 13. is a plan thereof.
Figure 14. is a similar view to Figure 12., but taken at right angles thereto.
Figure 15. is a plan of the lid separately, and,
Figure 16. is a similar view to Figure 1., but illustrating the method of
removing the lid to open the box.
.
Figure 17. represents a vertical section of a box or case of large dimensions
constructed according to the present invention and showing the lid in position.
Figure 18. is a similar view to Figure 17., but taken at right angles thereto.
Figure 19. is an elevation thereof.
Figure 20. is a similar view to Figure 19., but with the lid removed.
Figure 21. is a plan thereof.
Figure 22. is a similar view to Figure 20., but taken at right angles thereto, and,
Eigure 23. is a horizontal section taken, on the line 5.-5. of Figure 22.
Referring to Figures 1. to 11. a. represents the body of the box, case or chest,
which is formed of a tube rectangular in shape, and, at its ends, this tube is split
or notched at the angles thereof for a short distance down as represented at
Figure 3.
The ends of two opposite sides of the box a. are turned down inwardly so as to
form flanges a' approximately at right angles to the body a. of the box, but with
a slight upward inclination as shown more particularly at Figure 3., and the
corresponding parts a² of the other two opposite sides are left in an erect position,
as represented more particularly at Figures 1. and 3.
Or, one of such parts or flanges a' is partially bent down as represented by
the dotted lines in Figure 1., leaving the other erect.
The lid or end b. of the box or case a., which is shown more particularly at
Figures 8., 9., and 10., is formed of a rectangular sheet of metal so proportioned,
in one direction, that it will lie between two erect or partially erect flanges a²,
and, in the other direction, the lid b. is formed longer, and, along its end edges,
it is turned over so as to form short flanges * rounded to fit the box or case a.

page_text: at the bend of the flanges a¹, when turned down at right angles, as hereinafter
described.
This lid or end b. is placed in position upon the flanges a' of the box and the
vertical flanges a² of the body a. are then, by the aid of a press or otherwise,
turned down upon the lid b. thereby making a neat and tight joint, as shown at
Figures 4., 5., and 6., and securely holding the end or lid b. in position, the
slightly inclined end flanges a' of the body a. pressing with a spring pressure
against the underside of the lid or end b. and materially assisting to render the
joint air or dust tight.
It is desirable to stiffen the lid b. by turning over the edges lengthwise thereof
as indicated at b².
In some cases, instead of bending down only two or three of the flanges a' a²
of the body a., as above stated, as a preliminary to placing the lid b. in position,
all the flanges a' a' are bent down, whilst the lid is formed of such a width that
it will slide into position beneath the flanges a' of two opposite sides, and of such
a length that the ends or edges of the lid b. will project slightly beyond the angles
of the flanges a¹ which are beneath the lid or end, as represented by the dotted
lines in Figure 7., and the projecting ends 6 of the lid b. are then turned down
over the angles formed by the flanges a¹ as hereinbefore described and as represented
by the full lines in Figure 7.
When it is desired to open or remove the lid or end b. of a box constructed in
the manner herein before described, it is merely necessary to turn up one of the
covering flanges a' of the body a., as represented at Figure 11., when the lid may
be easily withdrawn.
Or, the lid b. may be slidden out of position and withdrawn by simply straightening
out one of its turned down ends, as will be readily understood, and as represented
at Figure 16.
Referring to Figures 12. to 16., which represent a slight, modification, all the
flanges a¹ a of the body a. of the box are first turned down in the manner lastly
herein before described, but, in this case, ears or clips are stamped up from the
lid b. or they might be soldered thereto, and these ears or clips engage the upper
sides of two of the flanges a', whilst the body of the lid or end b. engages the
underside of such flanges, and thus the lid is more perfectly guided into position.
When it is desired to remove the lid or end of a box constructed according to
this modification, it is only necessary to straighten one of the turned down edges
of the lid or end, when it can be slidden off. Or, to raise one of the ears or
clips and the corresponding flange a of the box, when the lid or end may be
withdrawn.
In the example given at Figures 17. to 23., the invention is shown applied to a
box or case of large dimensions.
In boxes or cases of this character, it is sometimes desirable to stiffen the ends
thereof, and, for this purpose, rectangular frames a³ of wood are inserted at the
ends and are held in position by nails a' or they might be screws driven through
the sides of the box a. near the top as represented more particularly at Figure 23.,
and over which frames as the flanges a¹ a² of the body a. are turned down either
partially before the introduction of the lid b. or wholly before such introduction,
as represented more particularly at Figure 21., and as described with respect to
the previous arrangements, whilst, as an additional security, the lid or end b. may
be fastened to the wooden frames a' by means of nails or screws 3, as represented
more particularly at Figure 19.
In order to collapse a box, of the character lastly hereinbefore described, for the
purpose of transport or storage, it is necessary first, to open out the flanges a' a³,
then, to remove the wooden end frames as when the tubular body a. may be
readily collapsed by pressure applied at one of the angles, as will be readily
understood.
Or, if the body a. is joined by an S seam as is common practice it is merely
necessary to open this seam in order to flatten it out with the same object. -

page_text: Or, the body may be cut from top to bottom by any suitable instrument, such
as tinmen's snips.
By the means herein before described, a collapsible or other box, case or chest is
obtained which, when closed, is dust tight and almost air tight, the box is so rigid
as to resist considerable strain, whilst the simplicity of its construction is such that
it may be manufactured and filled and closed without other appliances than a
bending machine or press and a hammer and drill, and these boxes or cases are
thus adapted to be built up at trifling cost on the spot where the material to be
packed therein is produced.
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. In a metal box or case, the combination of a rectangular tubular body at its
ends split or notched at the angles, flanges formed by turning down such ends,
those flanges upon two opposite sides being arranged in one plane and those at
right angles thereto in another plane, and a lid or end held in place beneath one
set of flanges and supported by the other set and locked against displacement by
flanges at its ends, substantially as herein shown and described.
2. In a metal box or case, the combination of a rectangular tubular body at its
ends split or notched at the angles, flanges formed by turning down its ends, those
flanges upon two opposite sides being arranged in one plane and those at right
angles thereto in another plane the under ones having a slight upward inclination
and a lid or end held in place beneath one set of flanges and supported by the
other set and locked against displacement by flanges at its ends, substantially as
herein shown and described.
3. In a metal box or case, the combination of a rectangular tubular body at its
ends split or notched at the angles, flanges formed by turning down such ends,
those flanges upon two opposite sides being arranged in one plane and those at
right angles thereto in another plane, a lid or end held in place beneath one set
of flanges and supported by the other set, ears or clips upon the outer surface of
the lid engaging the upper set of flanges and flanges upon the ends of the lid for
locking it against displacement, substantially as herein shown and described.
Dated this 7th dox of Anil 1804
VAUGHAN & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.