IMPROVEMENTS IN BOXES APPLICABLE FOR POSTAL AND OTHER PURPOSES وو PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Peter Bethell of Liverpool in the county of.
Lancaster for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BOXES APPLICABLE FOR
POSTAL AND OTHER PURPOSES
وو
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Peter Bethell at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd October 1883.
THOMAS PETER BETHELL of Liverpool in the County of Lancaster
MENTS IN BOXES APPLICABLE FOR POSTAL AND OTHER PURPOSES "
" IMPROVE-
The object of this invention is to provide a box for the transmission or storage of
goods that when not in use may be folded flat, and thus occupy but little space, but
when in use will be sufficiently strong for the purposes for which it is designed, and
without liability to collapse.
'
The box is chiefly designed for use in transmitting goods by parcel post, and will
be made of some light material, preferaby card-board or paste-board.
The bottom, top, and sides of the box are each formed in one piece, jointed
together at the edges which form the angles of the box by a stout flexible material,
preferably of woven texture. The part that forms the end is made rather wider
than the intended width of the box, and the part thereof which extends beyond the
side of the box is doubled in, and enters on the inner part of the side a cavity
formed thereon, which keeps it in position. This cavity I prefer to form by
attaching a piece of the material inside the back and front of the box, by nailing
or pinning it thereto with a thickness of the material at one edge between the two
surfaces. Flaps are hinged to the edge of the lid which come down over the ends
and front of the box and keep these in position when the box is made up for use.
An extension to the end flaps of the lid fold round the front and prevent these
flaps from being opened. The whole is secured in position by a flap or tab which
is passed through a slit in the angle of the lid, and on this tab the stamps and
address of the sender may be placed.
While it is primarily intended that this invention should be used for sending
goods through the post, boxes made in this way it may be used for transmitting
goods by other mediums or for other purpose such as storing goods in drapers' and
other shops, or for other purposes where it is found desirable to keep a number of
boxes on stock for use on future occasions. When not in use, the sides fold in and
lie on the bottom, and the top is folded over them the whole occupying a thickness
equal to about four times that of the material used.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Thomas Peter Bethell in the Patent Office on the 1st April 1884.
THOMAS PETER BETHELL of Liverpool in the County of Lancaster " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN BOXES APPLICABLE FOR POSTAL AND OTHER PURPOSES
"
The object of this invention is to provide a box for the transmission or storage of
goods which when not in use may be folded flat, and occupy little space, but which
when in use will be sufficiently strong for the purposes for which it is designed
without liability to collapse.
The box is chiefly intended for containing goods sent by parcels post and is made
of light material preferably card board or paste board.
The bottom, top, and sides of the box are each formed in one piece jointed
together at the edges, which form the angles of the box by a stout flexible material
preferably of woven texture. The parts which form the ends are each made
rather wider than the intended width of the box and the parts thereof which would
extend beyond the side of the box are doubled in and enter on the inner part of
the side cavities formed thereon which keep them in position. These cavities I
prefer to form by attaching pieces of the material of which the box is made inside
the back and front of the box by nailing or pinning them thereto with preferably
a thickness of the material at one edge between the two surfaces. Flaps are hinged
to the edge of the lid which come down over the ends and front of the box and
keep these in position when the box is made up for use. An extension to the end
flaps of the lid fold round under the front flap and are so kept in position. The
lid of the box is kept shut by a flap or tab which is passed through a slit in the
angle of the lid and on this tab the stamps and address of the sender may be
placed.
It will be obvious that although the box has been described as made preferably
of cardboard or paste board, thin wood or other suitable substance may be used
and that the parts may be hinged together not only by stout flexible material
preferably of woven texture but also by parchment, paper, india rubber or the like
and that such hinge pieces may be connected to the various parts by glueing,
cementing, stitching rivetting or equivalent means.. Further when the box is
made of cardboard pasto board or flexible or semi flexible material the whole or
. some of the parts may be made in one piece, nicked, perforated channelled or
otherwise treated where the various parts would be hinged so as to be capable
of being bent at such parts; the hinging being effected by the material out of
which the parts are made.
Again it will be evident that the cavities to receive the end pieces may be each
made with separate attached pieces or one such piece may make two cavities. The
means of holding the ends of the body of the box in position may be applied to the
lid or vice versa and the various attachments may either be on the ends or front of
the body or lid.
While it is primarily intended that boxes under this invention should be used
for transmission through the post such boxes may be used for sending goods by
other mediums or for other purpose such as for storing articles in drapers and
other shops, or where it is found desirable to keep a number of boxes in stock for
use on future occasions. When not in use the sides fold in and lie on the bottom
and the top is or may be folded over them, the whole occupying a thickness equal
to about four times that of the material used.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

page_text: Fig 1 is a perspective view of a box constructed under my invention ready for
use, figs 1* 1 and 1° views showing how the parts fit together, and fig 2 a view of
the box opened out flat ready for stowing away or if desired the sides may be
folded over the bottom and the top over or under the bottom. a bottom b top,
c back, d front e ends: all these parts are each formed in one piece and are jointed
at the edges forming the angles by flexible woven material glued, gummed or
cemented thereto. The parts which form the ends are each made with
extensions f which are doubled in and enter the cavities formed between the
sides c. d. and the pieces g. gl, as will be seen more particularly by reference to
fig 1 & 1 The pieces g are attached to the back and front by wire rivets h or
they may be otherwise attached, i are flaps hinged as before setforth to the sides
of the lid b and have extensions ; which fold in between the double flap k k hinged
to the front edge of the said lid 6 see more particularly figs 1 and 1b 1º. A tabl
secured to the front c of the box is passed through a slit m in the angle of the lid
and is secured in position by stamps or is made adhesive on one side or is otherwise
secured so as to keep the said lid closed.
Fig 3 is a sheet of cardboard or paste board jointed or binged to make a box
under my invention, here the material is all in one piece nicked or cut to fold across
the lines in the required way. The parts f of the ends are made larger in
proportion than in figs 1 and 2 and a piece g is secured directly to the back and
another to the front instead of two pieces to each.
Fig 4 is a view shewing a modified arrangement of parts of a box constructed
in accordance with my invention. The back c and front d are formed with
extensions c, d which fold and are secured in position by the double flap ends e in
manner similar to that hereinbefore setforth in respect of the end flaps of the lid
in figs 1 and 2. o are tabs attached to the double end flaps and are used instead of
pieces g for holding the said flaps in position.
Fig 5 is a view of a modification of parts in which the back c and front d of the
box and the end flap k of the lid are each provided with extensions c¹ d', and k¹
and are secured in position by double flaps e and i in this case the pieces g are
secured to the bottom of the box in order to retain the end parts e in position.
It will be obvious that many modifications and arrangements of parts may be
made and hinged together to fold and form boxes without departing from the
leading features of my invention.
Having now described and illustrated the said invention in such manner that
others will be enabled to carry my improvements into effect I claim :-
First. Boxes formed of parts jointed and folded together substantially as herein
setforth.
Second. In folding boxes the combination of side or end parts with extensions
and attachment pieces substantially in the manner and for the purpose setforth.
Third. In folding boxes the combination of parts and extensions with double
flaps substantially in the manner and for the purpose setforth.
Fourth. The combination of the lid b flaps i extensions ; and flap h h¹
substantially in the manner and for the purpose specified.
Fifth The combination with folding boxes of a tab substantially in the manner
and for the purposes setforth.
In Witness Whereof I the said Thomas Peter Bethell have hereunto set my
hand and seal this thirty first day of March, in the year of Our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and eighty four.