An Improved Collapsable Box.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 16th July, 1898-Accepted, 5th Nov., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Collapsable Box.
We, ROBERT FRY, of 24, Coadcae Street, Cardiff, Foreman Box-maker, and
FRANK EDRIC JOSEPH MURRELL, of St. Osyth, Barry, near Cardiff, Clerk, 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 follow-
ing statement: —
This invention relates to collapsable boxes such as, are used by milliners,
tailors and others for transport and delivery of wearing apparel and other goods.
Such boxes are made of card-board, mill-board, straw-board and like materials
and are so constructed that when not in use as boxes they can be folded so
as to be more or less flat and thus made capable of being piled in much less space
than non-collapsable boxes.
The improved collapsable box in which this invention consists is so constructed
and arranged that the aid of one string only is employed in bringing the box
from the collapsed to the erect state for receiving goods. In the improved box
which constitutes this invention the bottom is unconnected from three of the
sides. It is either made in one piece with the fourth side, or is separately made
and attached thereto. A bend or fold enables the said bottom to move as if hinged
to the said fourth side. At the lower end of the side directly opposite and hinged,
by a fold or bend, to the said opposite side, is a flap. The two other sides have
similar flaps similarly situated and hinged, by folds or bends, to their respective
sides. A string is connected at one end to one side of the box at the lower end
of the said side, and is conducted below the flap thereof. On clearing the said
flap the string is carried up through a hole provided in the bottom of the box
and after having been led along the inner face of the bottom for a sufficient dis-
tance, is passed out near the opposite side of the box through a second hole in
the bottom. From this hole the string is led under the flap of the said opposite
side and is then again taken into the box at the lower end of the said opposite
side. Thence it is carried to a hole situated towards the top of the said side
and once more led outside. The string is then looped and has a sliding clip or
other device for keeping the string over the box cover when closed. A hook, or
its equivalent, is fixed to one side of the box, and to this device is connected the
loop of the string when the box is closed.
When the box is in the flat or collapsed state the bottom is turned on its fold
or hinge and lies between two sides. The other two sides lie with their inner
faces on one another. Two of the flaps are spread out, but the flap which apper-
tains to the side opposite that to which the bottom is attached is folded to lie
against the inner face of the side to which it appertains.
When it is required to bring the box from the collapsed state to the state in
which it is fitted to be used as a box, one of the sides is seized in one hand and
the box opened out. The string, previously loose, is then pulled by the other
hand and the box bottom assumes its proper position, on arriving at which its
free end rests on the flap of the side opposite the fold or hinge of the bottom.
017

page_text: of
•
The
view
represents a
which it lies flat.
cover, which may
The box is then ready for its contents, and, after the cover, which may be of the
ordinary kind, has been put on, the string is conducted over it and looped to
the look above referred to as fixed to one of the sides. The string is then
strained and serves as a handle whereby to carry the box.
Referring to the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1
in
our improved box as the collapsed state in
Fig. 2 is a similar view of the opposite side.
be of any ordinary kind, is not shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 3 is a vertical
section of the box as in, the condition for use as a box and, having the cover on.
The section of the box, which in the example illustrated is approximately square,
is taken at a point nearly but not quite midway. Fig. 4 is a vertical section
taken at a right angle to the line of section of Fig. 3. The panel a, which
constitutes the bottom of the box, when in the uncollapsed state, is either made
in one piece with the side bor is separately made and connected thereto. By a
fold or bend as at Figs. 2 and 4-the bottom a is capable of moving as if
hinged to the side b. At the lower end of the side e which, when the box is
erect, is directly opposite to the side b, is a flap d hinged by a fold or bend to
the side c. The two other sides e and f have similar flaps and respectively
hinged each by a fold or bend to the side to which it appertains. The sides e, f, c
are one continuous piece of material bent to form corners. The side bis
separately made and is secured to the said continuous piece by pins or rivets r,
seen at Fig. 2. When the box is in the flat or collapsed state, as shown, at
Figs. 1 and 2, all the parts are spread out except the flap d which lies folded
against the inner face of the side as indicated in dotted lines at Fig. 1. The
string by which the box is pulled into shape as a box lies loose when the box
is flattened. The string is looped at the free end and is provided with a "toggle",
or like device, for keeping the string strained when the box is erect and closed.
The string is tied by a knot 2 or is otherwise secured at one end at the foot of
Thence
the side e, as seen at Figs. 2 and 3, and is conducted below the flap g.
it is carried through a hole in the bottom panel a and, after having been led
along the inner face thereof to a sufficient distance, is passed out through
another hole in the panel a and is carried over the outer face of the flap h. It
is then passed through the side f to the inner face thereof and back through
the said side f again, as seen at Figs. 1 and 3.
When it is required to bring the box from the collapsed state, as shown by the
position seen at Fig. 1 of the drawings, the side c is seized towards the top in
one hand and pulled towards the operator who thus opens out the box. The
string is then pulled by the other hand of the operator. The bottom panel a
tilts on the fold and its free end is received on the flap d which has become
spread out. The flaps g and are drawn up by the string i, and the box is
When the cover
then ready to receive goods and for the cover to be put on.
has been put on the loop of the string is passed over the hook k fixed to the
side e.
The string is then strained and is afterwards kept strained by the ad-
justable "toggle", or like device. When secured, the string serves also as
a handle whereby to carry the box.
By releasing the string and disengaging it from the hook k, the box is readily
made free to be flattened out or collapsed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
A collapsable box, of card-board, mill-board, straw-board, or like or analogous
substance, consisting of four sides b, c, e and f, the former having hinged thereto,
by a fold, crease or bend, a panel such as a, and the latter having similarly con-
nected flaps d, g and h; a string such as (with suitable adjusting strain retain-
ing device such as ¹, or the like) being fastened at one end to one of the sides
and carried through and about the structure and arranged to be secured as as to

page_text: hold the box erect after it has been brought to that position, and which, on
release, permits the box to collapse to the flat condition; substantially as herein-
above described with reference to the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings.
Dated this 15th day of July 1898.
NICHOLAS WATTS,
Chartered Patent Agent, Bristol.