IMPROVEMENTS IN BASKETS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Isaac Inman Cole, of Hillsdale, New Jersey, United
States of America, Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
BASKETS."
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Isaac Inman Cole at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th September 1878.
ISAAC INMAN COLE, of Hillsdale, New Jersey, United States of America, Manu-
facturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BASKETS.”
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND DRAWING.
My Invention consists of a revolving handled self-fastening basket. It combines
novelty, simplicity, and utility, with economy in manufacture, and the utmost
convenience for shipping in quantities. It consists simply of two pieces of thin
wood, veneer, or other flexible material, one of which constitutes the entire body
and the other the handle.
The handle is so constructed and affixed to the body that it not only affords a
ready means of carrying the basket, but supplies the place of one or more rivets or
nails or other binding substance, and accomplishes the further service of strengthening
the body in proportion to the weight to be carried.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved basket when put together.
Figure 2 is a flat view of the single piece of thin wood or other material of
which its body is composed.
Figure 3 is a flat view of the piece composing the handle separated from the
body of the basket.

page_text: Figure 2 represents the blank for the body cut or stamped from the material to
be used in the shape in which it is to be used.
It will be observed that it is punched with six elliptical holes A, B, C, D, E,
and F, having their greater axis at different angles to the outer lines of the
blank.
To facilitate folding it may be cut or creased in the direction of the dotted line
G, G, at the inner end of the notches I, I, between the wings or flaps.
Experienco having demonstrated that baskets made of veneer or other thin
flexible material, having a grain, are inclined to break or split at the two angles,
which are formed by folding and which run lengthwise with the grain, I reinforce
or strengthen the blank at these points by securely pasting or affixing thin strips of
muslin or other thin flexible material (represented by H, H", Figure 2) to the
surface of the blank at and above and below the point where the angle is made in
folding.
To give the body of the blank a basket shape, the wings or flaps of the blank
(Figure 2), either with or without the strengthener H", ", are folded in such
manner as to bring the elliptical holes A, B, C, exactly over one another on the one
side, and the holes D, E, and F on the other side into the same position.
The handle (represented by Figure 3) is a narrow strip of the same material as
the blank or body of the basket, and has at both ends a spatulate shape. Upon
being brought into such a position that its outer lines are parallel with lines formed
by the top of the body, the ends are easily forced through the longer axis of the
holes A, B, and C, and D, E, and F, and when brought at right angles with the top
of the basket the curves H, H, H, H, of the handle operating through the narrower
axis of the holes A, B, C, D, E, F, serve the purpose of a rivet or nail in holding the
sides of the body together, and the further purpose of binding them closer and
closer as the weight carried is increased.
This basket is more particularly designed to meet the needs of fruit vendors and
retailers of light goods, in affording the means of carrying conveniently either fruit,
vegetables, or numerous light packages in one hand. Its distinguishing features
are its simplicity, the fact that though complete it consists of but two pieces, that
it requires neither rivet, nail, pin, nor any binding substance other than the material
of the basket, that it has the advantage over all other baskets of the utmost
possible economy in portability in quantities. It does not require nesting for
transportation, but can be shipped in large quantities like paper in sheets, and can
be put together by anybody at the place of use without any mechanical appliances,
skill, tools, or machinery.
Having thus described my Invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by
Letters Patent,―
1. A blank of thin wood, vencer, or other flexible material, cut or stamped with
two notches I, I, on each side thereof, and provided with holes A, B, C, D, E, F,
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
2. A blank of thin wood, veneer, or other flexible material, cut or stamped with
two notches I, I, on each side thereof, and provided with holes A, B, C, D, E, and F,
and re-cuforced with strengtheners H", H", substantially as and for the purposes
Bet forth.
3. A basket handle blank with spatulate ends, substantially as described.
4. The combination of a basket blank of thin wood, veneer, or other flexible
material, cut or stamped with two notches I, I, on cach sido thereof, and provided
with holes A, B, C, D, E, F, and a handle, constructed and united substantially as set
forth.
5. The combination of a basket blank of thin wood, veneer, or other flexiblo
material, cut or stamped with two notches I, I, on each side thereof, provided with

page_text: holes A, B, C, D, E, and F, and reinforced with strengtheners H", H", with a
handle, constructed and united substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Isaac Inman Cole, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this the Seventeenth day of August, One thousand eight hundred
and seventy-eight.
Witness,
WILLIAM D. SNOW,
Solicitor,
102, Broadway,
New York.
ISAAC I. COLE. (La)