IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PACKING CASES, AND IN THE MODE OF LOCKING THE SAME TO SECURE THEM AGAINST CLANDESTINE OPENING
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Turner, of the City of Dublin (Ireland),
Wine Merchant, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION
OF PACKING CASES, AND IN THE MODE OF LOCKING THE SAME TO SECURE THEM
AGAINST CLANDESTINE OPENING."
Sealed the 22nd May 1868, and dated the 25th November 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Turner at the
Oflice of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 25th
November 1867.
I, GEORGE TURNER, of the City of Dublin (Ireland), Wine Merchant,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF PACKING CASES, AND IN THE MODE OF LOCKING THE SAME TO
SECURE THEM AGAINST CLANDESTINE OPENING," to be as follows:-
My improved packing cases may be made of any desired dimensions
having the bottoms nailed within the sides and ends, and are furnished with
two lids, one inner and one outer one, also fitting within the sides and ends,
the lower or inner lid is held and supported in position by means of angle
pieces which also give additional strength to the case, the upper lid rests on
the sides and ends of the case by the aid of projecting pieces attached to the
lil, spaces being cut for their reception on the ends and sides; through
these openings bands of hoop iron or other metal are passed, two transversely
and one longitudinally, these are nailed round the case and the ends are
gathered and secured or locked on the top of the inner lid by means of a

page_text: malleable cast iron or other description of pin, having a circular flat head and
round shank and a semicircular flat projection at the opposite end of the
same thickness as the diameter of the shank. The semicircular flat pro-
jection of this locking pin is passed upwards through a slotted hole in the
lower lid, the hole is then plugged, leaving sufficient room for the pin to turn
on its shank; a recess is countersunk on the lower side of the lid to receive
the flat circular head, sufficient room being left to admit of the insertion of
an elastic washer between the head and the timber. The ends of the bands
being pierced with slotted holes are passed successively over the semicircular
projecting piece or what may be termed the lock; it being turned to each in
turn, and when the last has passed over, the lock is turned in a contrary
direction to that of the slot, so that all the bands are completely secured or
locked. Having thus protected the under lid the outer or upper one is
placed in position and a circular aperture being made in it above the lock
admits of its dropping in its place; when this is effected the aporture round
the lock is closed by pouring therein melted lead or other substance which
partly fills the upper chamber of the opening, leaving a surface on which to
impress a seal; or it may be made separately of some other metal with the
impression on it ready and leaded into the opening at the time of filling up
the aperture. Nails may be driven through the projections of the upper lid,
the more effectually to secure it to the sides and ends, but the seal will be
sufficient in ordinary cases. Smaller cases may be bound with two straps
only, one longitudinally and one transversely, the four ends being gathered
and locked as already described, and lighter or heavier bands may be used as
the case may require; the variations in the thickness being accommodated by
the elastic washer. Any space occurring between the two lids can be filled
up with sawdust or other material which will act as a cushion. The form
and dimensions of the locking pin may vary, but in all cases the principle of
action is the same.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Turner in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
25th May 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
TURNER, of the City of Dublin, (Ireland), Wine Merchant, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fifth day of November, in the year of our

page_text: Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of
Her reign did for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,.
the said George Turner, Her special licence that I, the said George. Turner,.
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others, as I, the said George
Turner, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel.
Islands, and Isle of Man, au Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION
OF PACKING CASES, AND IN THE MODE OF LOCKING THE SAME TO SECURE THEM
AGAINST CLANDESTINE OPENING," upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said George Turner, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Turner, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, and accompanying Drawings, that is to say:-
My improved packing cases which may be made any size have the bottoms
nailed within the sides and ends and are each furnished with two lids also
fitting inside the sides and ends, the lower lid is supported in its place by
angle pieces as shewn in Figures 1, 2, and 3 which also serve to strengthen
the case; or the ends and sides thereof may be checked or notched out
sufficiently to admit of the lid resting on either or both. The upper lid rests
on the ends and sides of the case by means of projectious worked on it,
openings being cut in the ends and sides for the reception of such projections,
through these openings bands of hoop iron or other metal are passed, one
longitudinally and one transversely, and are nailed round the case; or
in lieu of the upper lid resting on the sides and ends of the case, it may
be made the full size of the top of the box, minus the thickness of one
end or side E, see Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 7, which would rise to the level of the
top and permit its being turned, or the upper lid when placed above the
sides and ends as above described can be made with staves or pins to accom-
plish the same object, this would obviate the necessity of working projections
or openings in either the lid or the sides and ends as already alluded to.
The ends of the iron bands being inserted or let in at each corner or angle

page_text: of the case sufficiently protect the ends, sides, bottom, and lid of the box or
case from being drawn out by driving nails through them, the ends of these
bands are then gathered and fastened on the top of the inner lid as shown in
the Drawings, Figs. 3, 5 and 6 by means of the locking pin A, Figs. 4, 5, and
6, which is made of malleable cast iron or other description of metal, and has
a circular flat head, round shank, and semicircular flat projection on one side.
opposite to that of the head. It is by means of this projection, termed the
Jock, that the ends of the iron bands are secured in the following manner :-
The locking pin (which may be made wedge-shaped for the better securing
the molten metal poured around it as herein-after described) is passed
upwards through a slotted hole made in the lower lid, till it reaches the
position shown at A, Fig. 4, the hole is then plugged leaving sufficient room
for the pin to turn on its shank, a recess being countersunk on the lower side
of the under lid for the reception of the flat head of the locking pin as well as
an elastic washer, which is placed between the lid and the timber, see Fig. 4.
The ends of the bands 6, which in Fig. 5 are represented the full size, are
pierced with slotted holes a', and are passed successively over the semicircular
end or lock 6¹ of the locking pin A, the head b¹ being turned towards each baud
in turn, and when the last end has been passed over the lock 6 is turned
in the opposite direction from the slot, thus completely locking all the ends;
owing to the curved form of the lock the bands may be pierced to the exact
length, and when the end arrives at the position in which the lock is free to
turn they are strained to the required extent, and by this means any deflection
that may occur in the bands is removed. The lower lid being thus secured
prevents the lock being interfered with, and the upper or outer one is then
placed in position; in this latter lid a circular or other form of aperture is
provided as shown by the dotted lines c', Fig. 4, which allows the lid to drop
down into its place, a little melted lead, zinc, spelter, or other material being
poured into this aperture fills the space round the lock as well as the hole a
made in the lock 6, see Fig. 4, and partially fills the upper chamber of the
aperture, leaving then a surface on which a seal or stamp G, Fig. 7, may be
impressed; or the seal may be made separately and independently either of
the same metal or some other, and having an impression already on it, and
may be secured in its place simultaneously and with the same material which
secures the lock, which latter is sunk below or on a level with the surface of
the upper lid, and any attempt at forcing this lid will either fracture it or the
seal. Nails may be driven through the upper lid more effectually to secure i
to the sides and ends of the case. Smaller cases may be bound with two
straps only, one transversely and one longitudinally, the four ends being

page_text: gathered and locked as before, and lighter or heavier bands
may
be employed
as the case may require, the variations in the thickness being accommodated
by the elastic washer.
The same letters of reference indicate like parts shown in the several Figures
of the accompanying Drawings, of which Figures 1 and 2 are elevations of the
side and end of one of my improved cases; Fig. 8 is a top plan of the same
showing portions of the outer and inner lids; the outer or upper one being
in part removed to show the method of collecting the ends of the bands 62;
Fig. 4 is a section through the lids and locking pin full size; Fig. 5 represents
a part plan of the same showing the ends of the bands in position when
locked, scale of size; Fig. 6 shows a case with the inside lid, strapping, and
lock, and having the outside lid partially fractured; and Fig. 7 shows a case
complete with seal, A is the locking pin; B, a hole for receiving a padlock;
6, iron bands; D, outside lid partially fractured; E, projecting end of the
case; F, inside lid through which the key A passes and revolves; G, seal
flush with the outside lid. The advantages of this system are complete
security against clandestine opening, every board being embraced by the
bands, the ends of which are securely locked, the lock itself being protected
by the outside lid, and this lid being attached by the process of sealing to
the lock either it or the seal must be broken in order to arrive at the
contents of the case, any other sized bands than those shown may be used, or
any number of them employed, and other forms of locking pins may also be
employed, but the simplicity and cheapness of that shown in the illustration
gives it the preference. Any space occurring between the two lids may be
filled up with sawdust or other material which will act as a cushion.
Having thus described my Invention, and the mode of carrying the same
into effect, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is, the
peculiar construction of packing cases, and the mode of locking and securing
the same against clandestine opening in the manner as herein set forth and
illustrated by the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Turner, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
GEORGE TURNER. (L.S.)