Improvements in the Manufacture of Collapsable and Non-collapsable Boxes to be Made of Cardboard or other suitable Material.
Year: 1899

page_text: Improvements in the Manufacture of Collapsable and Non-collapsable
Boxes to be Made of Cardboard or other suitable Material.
I, WILLIAM HARVEY, of 40, China Lane, Manchester, in the County of
Lancashire, Box Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to construct boxes of the aforesaid description
so as to occupy little space when stowed away ready for use also to strengthen
such boxes so as to allow them to be bound round with (say) cord without losing
their shape and further to fascilitate the putting together of such boxes.
In making collapsable boxes I provide the sides (or ends) with a scored or
embossed line running vertically (i.e. from top to bottom). The bottom of
the box is also scored or embossed across, lineable with the scoring or embossing
on the sides and the bottom outwards (or vise-versa) the box will collapse and
occupy less space than when brought together diagonally as at present.
In cutting out the bottoms for the boxes I allow say an inch (more or less)
all round larger than the intended size of the boxes which is scored and turned
up at right angles with the bottom. These turned-up edges are provided with
slits or holes for the insertion of studs or fasteners-the said-studs or fasteners
being also fixed into corresponding holes or slits in the lower edges of the sides
and ends which form the body of the box or one of the turned-up edges of the
bottom may be hinghed to the body of the box by stitching or otherwise.
The lids of the boxes may also be made in the same manner as the bottoms.
In cutting out the pieces which form the body of the boxes I allow (say) an
inch and a half (more or less) than the intended depth of the box at top and
bottom which is scored and bent over thus stiffening the upper & lower edges
of the box or the piece at the lower edge may be used for strengthening the
bottoms of the boxes. These bent-over pieces are fastened with studs or
fasteners (or stitched) to the body of the box which makes it more rigid. Or
I may use laths of wood (which would be preferable in larger size boxes) either
singly or in the form of a frame which are glued or otherwise fastened onto the
cardboard forming the box, or the said laths or frames may be of cane or wire
and I may hinge the frames (along one edge) to the inside of the boxes to allow
of their being folded.
I may also hinge the said frames together in such a manner that by covering
them with strong paper or other suitable material I form a box.
The boxes may be square, round or other suitable shape and the lids and
bottoms may be hinged permantly or may be detachable.
It is obvious that the boxes would be collapsable if the sides or the ends were
made and fastened in the same manner as described with reference to the
bottoms.
In place of studs or fasteners for making the joints I may make two slits

page_text: thro' the parts that overlap and place a strip of cardboard thro' the slits by
which means the parts are locked together.
Dated this 12th day of September 1899.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Collapsible and Non-collapsible
Boxes to be Made of Cardboard or other suitable Material.
..
I, WILLIAM HARVEY, of 40, China Lane, Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Paper Merchant, 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 object of this invention is an improved construction of boxes made of
cardboard or other similar material so that when packed away ready for use
they occupy but little space with a method of strengthening such boxes so that
when tied with string or the like they will not lose their shape.
The invention will be fully described with reference to the accompanying
drawings:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one form of rectangular box put together.
Fig. 2 is a perspective view shewing two sides and one end of rectangular
box partly closed.
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one form of bottom for rectangular box.
Fig. 4 is a perspective view of strengthening strip for ends of rectangular
box.
Fig. 5 is an elevation of a round box.
Fig. 6 is a modification of Fig. 5.
Fig. is another modification of Fig. 5.
Fig. 8 is an extended blank of one form of rectangular box shewing method
of strengthening.
Referring to Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawings I construct the box from one, two
or more pieces of cardboard as may be found most convenient. I make vertical
score lines a down the middle of the ends A or sides B of the box and also along
the middle of the bottom C in a line with the scores in the ends or sides of the
box, so that when the ends of the box are pressed out and the bottom is pressed
in (Fig. 2) or vice versa it will be folded flat.
The bottom may be constructed of one piece with either the sides or ends of
the box, or it may be constructed as shewn is Fig. 2 with flanges e in which
suitable slits slots or holes dare made corresponding with similar slits, slots or
holes in the sides of the box by means of which it can be attached thereto with
studs string or other suitable fastener. Or it may be constructed as shewn in
Fig. 3 with flanges c both at the sides and ends and suitable slits slots or
holes as described above.
In a modification instead of making a score line down the middle of the
bottom of the box the bottom may be made in one piece with either side or
suitably hinged thereto by calico or otherwise so that instead of folding in the
middle it will fold right into the box. In this case I make a flange on the
bottom of the opposite side of the box to that on which the bottom is hinged
so that when the box is opened and the bottom is closed down it may be fastened
thereto in the manner described above. Or the bottom may be made detachable

page_text: without flange, flanges being formed all round the sides and the bottom attached
thereto as described above. The lid may be formed in a similar manner to the
bottom.
To strengthen the box when open I provide slips E Fig. 4 bent over at the
top and bottom to slide into the ends of the box and turn over the top, thereby
making it more rigid, the bottom flange similarly extending into the box and
having the same effect.
The slips E may be scored down the middle to lie on the bottom when the
box is being folded and fold up with it. In a modification the bottom may be
made in one piece with the two end slips and slipped into position in the box
when opened out.
Figs. 5 and 6 show the invention applied to round boxes, the dotted lines in
both cases showing the box as it is when folded up.
The sides B of the box may be made in one piece scored to fold or they may
be made in two separate pieces. The bottom may be made without score line
and hinged to one side as shown in Fig. 5 by a tab F or it may be scored down
the middle and hinged to both sides by similar tabs F as shown in Fig. 6.
When the box is open the bottom may be attached to the sides by means of short
upwards projecting flanges made at suitable intervals in the manner described
for rectangular boxes, or it may be attached by means of string ties H or in
any other suitable manner.
Fig. 7 shows a modification in which the bottom is made separate with a
loose rim k. The bottom may be made with a flange to pass behind the rim k
or it may be a flat disc. The rim and bottom are secured by means of studs
string wire or in any other suitable manner or they may be made similarly to
the bottom of the rectangular box shown in Fig. 3 and attached in the same
manner, or the bottom may be made detachable without flange, short flanges
being made on the sides of the box and the bottom attached thereto in the
manner previously described.
The various parts of the box may be secured by making two slits through
two adjacent boards, leaving a narrow strip between them. This I then push
out till it extends beyond the outer board and insert a tongue L or lip of card,
wood or other stiff material as shown in Fig. 1. This makes a strong joint
whilst being at the same time easily undone.
To strengthen the box more particularly in the larger sizes so that it may not.
lose its shape when tied or much handled I attach to the sides and bottom of
the box strips or laths M of wood wire card or other stiff material (see Fig. 8)
glued or otherwise attached to the box. These strips may be attached singly
or in the form of a cross or in the form of a panel or, in the case of collapsible
boxes, they may be made to turn on a swivel N so that when the box is opened
they may be turned across the score line and so lock the box open. In this case
the lath is arranged to lie along the side of the score line in the ends and bottom
of the box.
In another form I may first make a frame of such laths or strips either hinged
together or separate and complete the box by pasting or otherwise attaching
strong paper card or other like material thereto.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. A round or square cardboard or similar box having its opposite ends or
sides scored vertically and centrally and having the bottom either detachable,
hinged at one side or scored centrally in a line with such end or side scores
substantially as and for the purpose described and shown.
2. In a round or square cardboard box slips of cardboard or other similar
material turned over at top and bottom to strengthen the scored ends or sides
of the box substantially as and for the purpose described and shown.

page_text: 3. A round or square cardboard or similar box constructed and arranged sub-
stantially as described and shown with reference to any of the figs. of the
drawings.
Dated this 18th day of May. 1900.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6, Bank Street, Manchester, Patent Agents.