Improvements in Collapsable Packing-cases, Stock, Store, or Travelling Boxes, and the like.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Oct., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 7th July, 1890-Accepted, 16th Aug., 1890
PROVISIONAL DIECIFICATION.
Improvements in Collapsable Packing-cases, Stock, Store, or
Travelling Boxes, and the like.
i, WILLIAM GALLOWAY, Commercial Traveller, at Barton and Bell's, Number
Fifty-one West Regent Street, Glasgow, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
I construct this case or box so that when not in use, or when being returned empty,
the same can be folded together into a compact package so that such will occupy the
smallest possible space in storage or stowage, also affording greater convenience for
handling and obviating many other risks of damage to which the cases and boxes at
present in use are exposed.
In carrying out this invention I construct a case or box of wood, metal, wicker-
work, or any other suitable material or composition, and of any dimension required,
said case or box being of the shape and form in use by merchants, manufacturers and
others, and consisting of a bottom, two ends, two sides, and a lid. The two ends are
attached or hinged to the bottom, so as, when required, they will fold down inwards.
The two sides are attached to or hinged over both of the said ends, near the bottom,
by a hinge of special construction formed so that the joints of the hinges on the front
side which folds down first-cause the said side to be folded down close to
the ends.
The hinges on that side which forms the back of the case or box have their lower
joints lengthened to take in the required thickness of the material used in construction,
and so permit said side to fall down close to the front side. The body of the box or
case when thus folded down forms according to its depth and length four or five
contiguous layers of the material. The lid, when the box is in use, may be fixed to.
the side which forms the back part of the case or box by a metal hook and eye or any
other suitable arrangement. The lid also fitted with a simple lock and detector
arrangement said lock and detector consisting of a lever affixed to the top front of
the lid, working on a stud and having suitable catches or bolts attached thereto, and
so arranged that they will lock into suitable cells or openings on the front side of the
box, and being effective in securing the lid to the box, both when in use and when
folded down. Said lever is provided with a counter-sunk hole in its opposite end
from the aforementioned stud upon which the lever works, so that when said lever
has been closed or locked and a screw inserted in the said counter-sunk hole a seal is
placed over the said screw and counter-sunk hole, and by this means inaking it
impossible to open or tamper with the case or box. or its contents. The various
parts of this box or case are strengthened, and the hinges supported by hold-fasts,
catches, straps, or stays either separate or in combination as found necessary. Where
this case or box is constructed of wood, or other soft material, no metal parts or
protuberances will be inside to rust or destroy the goods by friction.
Dated this Seventh day of October 1889.
WIT TTAM CALIC
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Collapsable Packing-cases, Stock, Store, or
Travelling Boxes, and the like.
1, WILLIAM GALLOWAY, Commercial Traveller, at Barton and Bell's, 51 West
Regent Street, Glasgow, 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 :-—
In carrying out my invention I construct packing-cases, boxes, trunks, baskets,

page_text: crates, and similar receptacles used for the storage or carriage of merchandise or
other articles, in such a manner that the same can be folded together into a compact
package when not in use, or when being returned empty.
Said packing-cases, and other similar receptacles, may be constructed of wood,
boards, or spars, as also of metal, such as sheet iron or steel, zinc, brass, tin, or any
similar substance, hoop-iron, wire-work, or the like, also basket or wicker-work, or
any composition of a suitable nature. These before-mentioned articles may be con-
structed of any dimensions or shape, to suit the purposes for which they may be
required.
The commonest shape in use consists of a bottom, two ends, two sides, and a lid.
My invention consists of so hingeing those portions forming the bottom, sides, and
ends, of the required article together in such a manner that each part may be folded
in one complete or whole side or end inwards in succession, and thus, when folded, the
various parts forming the case or box will be in successive layers, close to and in
contact with each other.
This arrangement I carry into practice in two ways according to the thickness and
flexibility of the material employed.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood, 1 have hereunto
appended an explanatory sheet of drawings, whereon:-
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a packing case constructed in accordance with my
Invention.
Fig. 2 is a view of the case with the ends folded in, and the sides spread out.
Fig. 3 is a front view of the case.
Fig. 4 shews the case collapsed.
Fig. 5 shews a wire-work case in perspective.
Figs. 6 and 7 shew a hinge in side elevation and plan respectively.
Fig. 8 shews part of a metal case with bent up sides.
Fig. 9 shews part of a metal case with kneed hinges.
Fig. 10 is a plan view of the lid to a reduced scale.
Figs. 11 and 12 are detail views.
When wood is the material used, as shewn, I hinge the two ends a, b either to the
bottom cor to that side which is to fold down first, but by preference to the bottom,
when the shape of the box required will permit, with ordinary edge binges f
Should the length of the required case or box not be sufficient to permit both ends
to fold down alongside, or on the same level with each other, one of the said ends is
made up by a kneed hinge g (see figs. 5 and 9) and the insertion of one thickness of
the material used in construction, but when practicable, such as when metals, wicker-
work, or any similar material is employed, the bottom or side may be turned up or
inwards, as the case may be, so as to permit one of the ends to be hinged thereto, as
shewn at fig. 8, thus allowing said end to fold or lap over the one which has been
constructed to be first folded down.
The front and back sides d, e of the case or box are so hinged at the corners to the
bottom as to fold over the ends a, b.
The construction of the corner hinges i is shewn more particularly at figs. 6 and 7.
It will be seen from these figures that the part h which is attached to the front and
back sides of the case or box, as the case may be, is continued round the edge of the
bottom and abuts against the part j so as to form a stop to the sides when the box is
put up, and also form a grip or stay to prevent the sides from being wrenched or
twisted from the bottom by accident or careless handling when the case or box
is full.
The securing arms k, k¹ of these hinges i may be made as shewn at fig. 7, or one
arm & may be made to. run along the edge of the box as shewn at fig. 1.
The arm of the part.h is bent round the edge of the box, and is pin-jointed at m
to the arm of the part j so as to form the turning-point or pivot of the hinge. The
pivotal arm n is longer on the back hinges than on the front ones, with a box made
as shown at fig. 1 wherein the back side is folded down over the front side, although

page_text: it may be made shorter, or of the same length, but with more or less radius to admit
of the one side being folded down over the other.
These hinges may be either cast, forged, cressed, or stamped from iron, steel or
brass rods, sheets or wires or any other suitable metal or material; and may either
form a part of the metal straps which are used when necessary to strengthen or bind
the case or box, or separately and as independent hinges, for the purpose specified,
when such straps or supports are not required.
When the case, box, or crate is not required to be of great strength, and the shape,
and material used in construction will permit the same, these side hinges i may be
constructed in a similar form to the kneed hinge g already referred to as applying
to one of the ends.
The kneed hinge g is shewn applied at fig. 9. It is kneed from the side d to which
it is affixed, round the bottom, and hinged thereto (as shewn) at such a distance as
will give the necessary radius to allow the side d to fold down. When the hinge g is
used the bottom of the case will be shaped or cut out as at o so that the knee of the
hinge will have room to turn up. The ends may be also cut out for the same purpose
(as shewn).
when
The lid of the box or case is hooked on to the back by hooks P and eyes q
the same is open for use. When the box or case is to be locked, the lid is shut down
and secured to the front side by two oblong headed screws r (fig. 12), said screws
being attached to the front side, or straps on the front side, of the box or case.
The metal straps which cross the lid of the box have an oblong slots or hole in
their outer ends, as shewn at fig. 10, to correspond with the heads of said screws r.
The lid is first closed so that the heads of the screws, having entered said slots, they
can be turned with a screw-driver across the slots, and thus locked, said screws
allowing a certain freedom in closing should the box be too full.
A metal plate t (fig. 10) is fixed in the centre of the lid, at the front, for the
reception of the locking screw, which, when screwed into position, is sealed over
with sealing wax, so that it will be impossible for any person to open the box surrep-
titiously without tampering with the seal. The locking screw u inay be an ordinary
counter-sunk headed screw of the required length, according to the size of the box,
which is screwed through the lid into a plate v, prepared for its reception, on the
front side of the box. This screw is also used for locking the lid to the box when it is
collapsed, the lid being secured to the body of the box when folded down, as shewn at
fig. 4, by two hooks w in the bottom hinges of the back part of the box.
Additional strength and security can be imparted to the sides by the use of plates,
having oblong slots, similar to those used on the lid, having oblong-headed screws
fixed to the bottom to secure the parts requiring binding together.
When the box or case is constructed of wood, or similar material, a portion of the
screws used to attach the metal straps and hinges to the wood, or other work, may be
put in from the inside of the box, and screwed into the metal straps so as to give
additional strength and security.
The ends are supported when up for use by snugs or catches x, shewn more
particularly at fig. 11, which are attached to the metal straps on the front and back
sides. The snugs have a grooved or bent part al which catches the metal straps or
supports y or notches used on the ends.
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. Packing-cases, or boxes; trunks, baskets, crates, or similar receptacles, con-
structed of wood, metal, wicker-work, or any composition, and having hinges as
described, so that the said packing-case or such other article may be collapsed or
folded together in complete sides or ends, the one close to the other, in solid or
contiguous layers.
2. In collapsable packing-cases, stock, store, or travelling boxes, and the like, the

page_text: application and use of a locking and detector screw, which is first secured in place,
and then sealed; together with oblong-headed screws for securing the lid, and
strengthening the box, or other similar article, substantially as set forth.
WILLIAM GALLOWAY.
H. D. Fitzpatrick,
70, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.