Improvements in Folding Cases, Crates and Baskets, and the like.
Year: 1897

page_text: This Print is in accordance with the Original Specification as it stands after
Amendment (under Section 11 of the Patents, &c. Act, 1883) as required by
the decision of the Comptroller General of the 26th day of May 1898.
Date of Application, 28th May, 1897-Accepted, 21st Aug.,
1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (AMENDED).
Improvements in Folding Cases, Crates and Baskets, and the like.
We, ALEXANDER KING, of Aston Cottage, Aston, Nantwich, Cheshire, and CHARLES
FLETCHER RICHARDSON, of 18, St. Swithin's Lane, London, Accountant, 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 packages for containing goods which have folding sides
and ends attached to a rigid bottom or base over which they fall when folded.
The cover may be either firmly attached by special hinges or may be loose. In
the preferable case of attached covers, the mode of connecting them, to the body
of the package, is such as to allow them when folded to turn back on the top
folded side so that the under side of the cover comes outside. This method of
folding is the result of the double jointed hinge as shewn at c c¹ (Fig. 1) herein-
after described. The loose covers slide under lugs projecting from the back rail
as at (Fig. 4) and are fastened in front by a hasp and staple, or in any other
suitable way. This method is especially suited to crates and light boxes.
One of our improvements applies chiefly to folding baskets, and consists in
making a return corner piece or vertical rail e dat right angles to the side and
attached thereto.
The folding ends only one of which f is visible when unfolded and in the
upright position butt against these vertical rails, and can if preferred be fastened
temporarily thereto, either by clamps at the top or by pins inserted in holes or
slots in the tongues pl of the angular brackets hereinafter described.
The cover may be fastened down by means of two hasps and staples bb,
and a horizontal bolt q engaging therewith. This bolt can be tied, wired, or
padlocked, when in position.
We will now describe the invention with reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 shews a perspective view of a folding wicker basket, with special
hinges c c¹.
Fig. 2 shews an enlarged end view of the same when folded.
Fig. 3 shews a perspective view of a collapsible box, having tongued angle
plates at the ends and an angular lug i, 2, for holding loose cover.
Fig. 3 shews an enlarged view of the same folded.
Fig. 4 shews a view in perspective of a collapsible crate with tongued angle
plates and angular lugs for holding loose cover.
Fig. 4 shews a perspective view of lid for collapsible crate with hasp, and
recesses for lugs to fit into.

page_text: Fig. 5. shews a front and end view of the special hinge for baskets and
the like.
Fig. 6 shews a view of the angle plates with tongues which engage with
the ends of the collapsible boxes and crates.
Fig. 7 shews a front view of a bolt and hasp fastening for the front of a
basket or other package, which consists of a base or back plate s to which are
attached the staples rr, the latter of which engage with the hasps bb (Fig. 1).
The hasp m is then brought to the centre of its travel and engages with a suitable
staple in the front of the basket and a padlock can be attached to hold it in
position, or it can be wired or wedged if preferred.
Fig. 8 shews a staple or turnable thumb piece to engage with hasp m.
Fig. 9 shews the curved hinge plates g.
Fig. 10 shews the angular lug i, i¹.
Referring to Figs. 1 and 2. a is the cover. bb are hasps for fastening cover.
cc are special hinges with double joints at d is the folding back side. e is
the folding front. f is the folding end. d¹e are angular end pieces attached
respectively to d and e against which end piece f opens. f¹ is the bottom rail from
the top of which the end f folds downwards and inwards. is the bottom, rail
from which the back side d folds downwards. g 9 g are curved metal plates
forming hinges or joints for the side d. kk are stay pieces to strengthen bottom.
Referring to Figs. 3, 3, 4, 4^, i ¹ is the angular lug for holding down loose cover,
which consists of a projecting piece of metal turned at right angles to end of
strap. This piece or lug may be either solid or slotted to receive a peg or other
fastening. are recesses in cover to fit same. m is a hasp. Referring to
Figs. 5, 6, and 7. c is the strap of the special double joint hinge. c¹ is a square
ring in the middle of hinge. p is the tongue on the angle plate p, this tongue
may be slotted or perforated to receive a key. is a bolt working in staples on
plate s. Referring to Figs. 8, 9, and 10. t is a turnable thumb-piece or half-
staple over which passes a hasp such as m or b. is the curved hinge plate.
projecting lug on angle plate i.
the
The mode of folding the packages is as follows. The end pieces are usually
marked 1 and 2 on the inside, and when the package is emptied they fold in that
order, the No. 2 piece having a base rail rather higher than No. 1 to allow space
for the second end to fold over the first. When the package is twice the length
of its depth the two ends can lie in the same plane when folded. The front side
usually folds next as No. 3, and when the cover is permanently connected to the
package by hinges it must do so. In the case of packages with loose covers this
is not so necessary, but either side having the highest base rail can fold on top.
The third or front side being folded down on No. 2, the back side folds over as
fourth, and the cover folds back over the back or fourth. This makes a very
compact package as shewn in Figs. 2 and 3*.
The later folding pieces are hinged to a higher base-rail, and these base rails
of which there are four, are securely fastened to the bottom of the package.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, it is to be understood
that we are aware that it has been previously proposed to construct folding boxes,
crates, baskets and the like with the covers so connected to the body as to allow
them to fold back upon the top folded side so that the underside of the lid comes
outermost and that as shewn in Fig. 2 the lid does not project beyond the rest
of the folded package and that we make no general claim to this construction,
nor do we claim the hereinbefore described loose covers or the fittings for use there-
with, nor do we make any separate claim to the use of the brackets or fastenings
included in the combination claimed in Claim 3 of this specification, but we
declare that what we claim is :-
1. In folding boxes, crates, baskets, or the like, the combination therewith of

page_text: vertical stop pieces set angle-fashion on the sides of the package for the ends to
butt against; as herein described and set forth.
2. In folding boxes, crates, baskets or the like, the use of special hinges with
double joints; as herein described and set forth.
3. In folding boxes, crates, baskets, or the like, the combination of the vertical
stop pieces, special hinges, brackets, and fastenings; as herein described and
set forth.
Dated thi 99th dav fe 1007
S. S. BROMHEAD,
97, Newgate Street, London, E.C., Agent for Applicants.