Improvements in Securing Together the Parts of Cardboard and other similar Boxes.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Aug., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 30th Apr., 1896-Accepted, 13th June, 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Securing Together the Parts of Cardboard and
other similar Boxes.
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 provide a simple and cheap form of fastener
for cardboard, strawboard, and similar boxes, which can be readily attached,
and is capable of being used for boxes of either the collapsable or the ready
fixed kind.
This fastener is applicable to boxes which have a turned over flap at the end,
or for those made without such flap.
The fastener consists essentially of a clip formed of a strip of metal or other
suitable material bent over into the form of a channel thus which is preferably
made of a length equal to the side or end of the box that it has to fasten.
In boxes where there is a flap attached to or forming part of the upturned end
piece which is inwardly bent over the inturned end pieces that form extensions
of the sides for the purpose of holding the parts in position to form the end of the
box, the fastener is used to hold this flap down, and complete the fastening-one
or more being used for each end of the box.
As a rule the clip holds sufficiently tightly but in order to prevent it becoming
easily detached I make it self fastening which may be done in different ways. By
one method I form projecting spikes on the inside of the clip, which may be done
by punching out pieces of the metal so that the free ends of the spikes shall point
upwards towards the top of the clip. By another method I form small circular
or conical raised portions on the inside of the clip which may be done by punching
from the outside.
The space inside between the two legs of the clip is equal to the combined
thickness of the boards forming the ends of the box. Holes are punched through
the cardboard ends of the box, so that when the clip is pushed on, the projections
on its inside (whether the spikes or circular raised portions) spring into the boles
in the board and so cause the clip to hold so firmly that considerable force is
necessary to remove it.
The spikes or raised portions may be on both legs or only on one leg of
the clip.
In some cases the holes in the board may be dispensed with, as the sharp ends
of the spikes or the circular raised portions have a tendency to enter the board
and prevent the clip being withdrawn.
When the clip is constructed in the way hereinbefore described it can be
attached at the time of manufacture for ready made-up boxes, or by the
consumer for collapsable boxes.
When desired the projections for fastening may be dispensed with, simply using
the plain clip, and if further security against easy removal is desired the legs of
the clip may be squeezed together, so as to grip the cardboard tightly by hand
or mechanically applied pressure, and if indentations are made in the clip by
greater pressure in parts which force it into the board at those points (such as

page_text: by pressing between tools having raised projections) the clip will be most firmly
fastened.
In some cases the clip may be made a little wider at the mouth by turning the
bottom ends of the legs slightly outwards.
are.
In some kinds of boxes I form two or more tongues on one leg of the clip,
which project downwards to make that leg longer at the points where the tongues
These tongues enter holes in the inturned end pieces that form extensions of
the side pieces, and hold the said pieces together to prevent them shifting towards
or away from each other, and these inturned end pieces and upturned end piece
are all clamped firmly together between the two legs of the clip, so that the parts
are held securely in every direction.
Although I have described the clip as applied to the ends of the box (which is
generally understood to mean the narrow way of the box), they may be applied to
the sides (or broad way), the principle being the same.
Dated this 1st day of August 1895.
Improvements in Securing Together the Parts of Cardboard and
other similar Boxes.
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 to the securing together of the ends of cardboard and
similar boxes and is designed to provide a simple cheap and effective form of
fastening which can readily be attached and detached and therefore capable
of being used in combination with cardboard cut to any suitable shape as to
form a collapsible box.
The invention may be applied to boxes which are constructed with the
extremities of the sides cut to fold inside (or outside) the ends or with a turn over
flap on the end which folds over the side pieces.
It consists essentially in securing together the adjacent parts at the ends or sides
of boxes by means of loose removable U shaped metal fasteners or clips preferably
formed with slight internal projections which fit into perforations or indentations
in the cardboard to prevent their slipping out of position.
It will be fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1. Perspective view of box shewing two forms of the fastening clips.
Fig. 2. Sectional elevation of end of box and fastening clip D.
Fig. 3. Sectional elevation of end of box and fastening clip E.
Fig. 4. Perspective view of box and another modification of fastening clip.
Fig. 5. Sectional elevation of end of box and fastening clip F.
Fig. 5. Modification of another form of slot for clip F.
Fig. 6. Perspective view of box and another modification of fastening clip.
Fig. 7. Sectional elevation of end of box and fastening clip G.
Fig. 8. Detail fastening clip D detached.
Fig. 9. Detail fastening clip D' detached.
Fig. 10. Detail fastening clip E detached.
Fig. 11. Detail fastening clip F detached.
Fig. 12. Detail fastening clip G detached.
The boxes are made with sides A upturned ends B folding end pieces C either
with or without an end-flap b.
Referring to Figs. 1, 2, and 8 the end of the box is made with the end piece B

page_text: and pieces C folding inside. Over the upper edges of these adjacent parts I place
a loose fastening clip D of U or channel shape in cross section extending across
the end of the box. In the end pieces B and C I punch holes or form inden-
tations c and in the fastening clip I form internal projections d which slip over the
cardboard and spring into the holes c.
Instead of the projections d the clips may be formed with projecting spikes d¹
on the inside of the clip D' punched out of the metal as shown in Fig. 9. The
spikes d may either pass into perforations cut in the cardboard or the points may
merely catch in the surface of the cardboard.
The raised portions or projections d and the spikes d' may be on both sides or on
only one side of the fastening clip.
Referring to Figs. 1, 3, 10, the end of the box is made with the end pieces B
and C and an end flap 6 which folds over the two inner pieces C. Over the end
flap I place one two or more U shaped loose fastening clips E preferably two at
each end of the box. Instead of the two fastening clips E one fastening clip such
as D or D¹ may be applied over the flap b to hold it down. Or if found desirable
the fastening clips E may be made with projections such as d on the fastening
clip D or spikes d' on the fastening clip D
Referring to Figs. 4, 5, and 11 the end of the box is made with the end pieces B
and C and a fastening clip F is sprung over the upper edges of the parts and C
extending across the end of the box. At the inner side the fastening clip F is
provided with legs or extension pieces and in the folding pieces C that form
extensions of the side pieces A are formed slots or holes c¹. The extension
pieces of the fastening clip F enter the slots c¹ in the folding pieces C to
prevent them moving inwards or outwards. The outside of the fastening clip F
is preferably provided with projections or spikes such as d or d¹ described with
reference to the fastening clips D and D'.
Referring to Figs. 6, 7, and 12 the end of the box is formed with the end
pieces B and C and a fastening clip G is sprung over the upper edges to hold
them together. The outer side of the fastening clip is formed with legs 9 which
are turned inwards to form a hook or double clip and in the end B I cut slots b¹.
The slot 6 is preferably somewhat shorter than the hook g. The hook 9 passes
through the slot b' the tip of the hook extending above the top of the slot and
slides up and down therein to admit of the box being folded or collapsed without
removing the fastening clip from the end B of the box. The inner side of the
clip is made with projections d. Instead of the plain hook the legs 9 may be
formed with T or other heads to cause them to retain their place in the slots b¹.
The sides of any of these fastening clips may be turned outwards at their bottom
edges so as to make them a little wider at the bottom to enable them to be the
more easily slipped over the edges of the cardboard.
Although I have described the clip as applied to the ends of the box (which is
generally understood to mean the narrow way of the box), they may be applied to
the sides (or broad way), the principle being the same.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I now declare that what
I claim is.-
The securing together of the adjacent parts of collapsible or other cardboard
boxes by means of a loose U shaped fastening clip with or without internal pro-
jections or spikes such as d d substantially as described and shown with reference
to Figs. 1, 2, 8 and 9; Figs. 1, 3, and 10; Figs. 4, 5, and 11; Figs. 6, 7,
and 12.