Improvement in woodenware racкages.
Year: 1898

page_text: Improvement in woodenware racкages.
We, GEORGE PURNELL FISHER, Junior, President of the Hercules Woodenware
Company, of 144, Astor Street, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A., and JOSEPH REIF
Junior, Machinist, of Hebron, County of Porter, Indiana, U.S.A., 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; -
The invention has relation more particularly to that class of packages or
articles commonly known as "wire woven woodenware" in which the body of
the package is composed of a series of slats that are connected to one or more
main binding wires of relatively large size by wires that are twisted around the
binding wire at points between the slats.
The object. of this invention is to provide improved means for connecting
together the ends of the binding wire or wires and the invention consists in the
features of improvement hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying
drawing and particularly defined in the several claims at the end of the specifi-
cation.
In the accompanying drawings the invention is shown as applied to a barrel
made from woven slat-and-wire fabric because the invention is particularly
applicable in connection with barrels of this character since it enables the barrels
to be shipped in "knocked down" shape and to be readily and securely set up for
use.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a barrel embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is
a plan view of the "mat" or body of the barrel in extended position. Fig. 8 is a
view upon an enlarged scale of that portion of the barrel immediately about one
of the wire fasteners. Fig. 4 is a view in section on line 4-4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5
is a view in cross-section on line 5-5 of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a perspective view
of the fastener for the ends of the wire, the legs of the fastener being shown in
extended position.
A designates the slats whereof the barrel is composed, these slats being con-
nected to the binding wires B by means of tie wires C that extend upon the
sides of the slats opposite the binding wires and are coiled about the binding
wires between the slats. Between the ends of the "mat" that is formed by the
slats A attached to the binding wires B is interposed a key-slat A' that carries the

page_text: fasteners whereby the projecting ends of the binding wires will be connected
together. Two fasteners are shown in the drawings but it will be obvious that
one or more fasteners may be used according to the number of binding wires upon
the barrel or like package. Each fastener consists of a staple-like body having
a crown D and legs d formed integral with the crown and usually from plate
metal. The crown of the fastener is formed with a raised seat to receive the free
ends of the binding wire, this raised seat extending lengthwise of the crown
of the fastener and across the face of the key-slat. Preferably, although not
necessarily, the crown of the fastener D is depressed as at d to divide the seat d
into separate compartments for the separate ends of the wire B. The outer
edges of the crown of the fastener D are bent inward so as to bear against the
face of the key-slat A' and thus hold the crown of the fastener sufficiently raised
above the face of the slat to permit the free ends b of the binding wire to be
inserted beneath the crown of the fastener. The legs of the fastener are
narrower than the crown D and are arranged in off-set relation to each other
as clearly seen in Figs. 3 and 6 of the drawings, these legs being also preferably
bent in opposite directions in order to bring those portions of the edges of the
crown adjacent the legs (as at d) in position to bear upon the face of the slat.
The purpose in arranging the legs d in off-set relation to each other is to enable
each leg to serve as a stop for the free end of the wire that will be inserted in
the opposite open end portion of the fastener. Preferably the crown D of the
fastener is cut away as at 5 adjacent each leg in order to permit the free
ends of the wire to be more readily inserted beneath the crown of the fastener.
The fastener is attached to the key-slat by placing the fastener on the slat and
clinching the legs d against the inner side of the face of the slat.
From the foregoing description it will be seen that the crown of each fastener
comprises a channel or seat each half of the seat being closed by a suitable stop
at one end and open at its opposite end, the stop at each end of the channel
being preferably one leg of the fastener since by this arrangement the leg per-
forms the double function of a stop and of a means for connecting the crown of
the fastener to the key slat. Inasmuch as the channel of the fastener is open from
end to end, the ends 6 of the binding wire extend approximately across the face of
the key slat and the extreme ends of the wire hear upon the crown of the fastener
at such close proximity to the legs & that when the barrel is "trussed up" the
strain upon the binding wires is effectually resisted by the legs d of the fastener.
In setting up the barrel the "mat" is bent into circular form and the free
ends b of the binding wires B are inserted into the open ends of the channels of
the fasteners, the key-slat being first interposed between the ends of the "mat."
The tendency of the "mat" to resume a flat position will cause the free ends b
of the binding wires to bind against the underside of the crowns of the fasteners
and against the edges of the key-slat and thus retain the mat" in circular
condition. By means of a cooper's windlass or similar contrivance, the upper
ends of the slats A and key-slat A' will be drawn together as shown in Fig. 1,
after which the head and hoops will be set in position in the usual manner.
The barrel will then be reversed and the opposite ends of the slats will in like
manner be drawn together and be encircled by the usual hoops.
"
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:
1. In a slat barrel having one or more wire hoops, the combination with one
of the slats, of a fastener provided with a seat extending transversely of the slat
to receive the ends of the wire and stops at the ends of the seat to limit the move-
ment of the wire.
2. In a barrel body formed of slats and having at least one binding wire with
. straight ends, the combination with one of the slats, of a fastener having an open-
ended crown beneath which the ends of the binding wire extend lengthwise and

page_text: are held, and having at the ends of said crown legs integral therewith whereby
the fastener is attached to the slat.
3. In a slat barrel having one or more wire hoops, the combination with one of
the slats. of a fastener extending across the slat and provided with a raised seat
extending lengthwise thereof and adapted to receive the lapping ends of the
hoop wire and provided at the opposite ends of said seat with legs that engage the
slat, said legs serving also as stops for the ends of the wire.
4. A fastener for the ends of a wire comprising a sheet-metal staple, the crown
whereof is provided with a raised portion open in the direction of the length
of the fastener and adapted to receive the ends of a wire and having legs adapted
to clinch against the under side of a slat.
5. A fastener formed from a sheet-metal blank and having a crown raised to
receive the lapping ends of a wire and stops at the ends of said raised part to limit
the endwise movement of the wire ends, said stops being arranged in off-set relation
at the opposite ends of said raised part of the crown.
Dated at Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, United States of America, this First
Witnesses:
JAMES H. PEIRCE,
GEORGE PURNELL FISHER, JR.
JOSEPH REIF, JR.
Attorney at Law,
115, Monroe Street, Chicago.
FRED GERLAC,