Improvements in or relating to Collapsible Boxes.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 1st June, 1899-Accepted, 8th July, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Collapsible Boxes.
I, DANIEL DRAWBAUGII, of Eberlys Mills, in the County of Cumberland and
State of Pennsylvania, U.S.A., Gentleman, do 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:-
This invention relates to improvements in collapsible or folding boxes such
as are usually made of press board and employed for carrying lunch or small
packages, although it will be understood that the particular material of which
the box is made, or the particular use to which it may be put is immaterial,
and hence I do not wish to be limited in this particular."
This invention consists in certain novel details of construction and combinations
and arrangements of parts all as will be now described and pointed out particu-
larly in the appended claims.
Referring to the accompanying drawings:-
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a box embodying my present improvements
in collapsed position, the view being taken to show the bottom folds.
Figure 2 is a perspective view with the box open, the two views being taken
from about the same point.
Figure 3 is a bottom plan view.
Figure 4 is a longitudinal section showing the end flaps in normal position
in full lines, and in folded and open positions in dotted lines.
Figure 5 is a perspective view illustrating a slight modification.
Like letters of reference in the several figures indicate the same parts.
The body of the box is made of relatively stiff material as before indicated
and it consists of flat sides A, A, forming the front and rear of the box and a
flat top B hinged to the rear side and having a short front flap 6 adapted to fit
down over the front side, this small flap being given an initial set inward so as
to hug the front when the box is distended. These sections thus far described
are preferably flat and relatively stiff, or in other words, are not intended in the
collapsing of the box to be folded except at the hinged joints between the front
flap and top and between the top and rear side. The end sections and bottom
section are the sections in which the folding or collapsing takes place and it
is one of the objects of the invention to provide a box which will stay either in
its collapsed position or in its distended position without requiring the employ-
ment of spreaders and other devices heretofore used to accomplish these results.
With this object in view, the folds in the bottom or between the bottom and
ends are made on curved or arched lines, so to speak, whereby there will be a
strain set up in the material during the time when the box is being distended
or collapsed and less of a strain both when the box is collapsed and when dis-
tended, thus there is a tendency created for the parts to stay in one position
or the other. And in addition, I preferably provide a carrying strap or handle
which drawing over the relatively rigid top will hold the end sections outwardly.
In addition to this also, in the preferred construction, I employ end flaps for the
ends of the boxes, which end flaps will overlie the ends of the top when the box

page_text: is distended and so further maintain its shape and prevent it from being
collapsed unintentionally.
In each of the ends C there is made a central fold inwardly at c and when
this fold is made the end flap D is preferably turned in, in the position indicated
by the dotted lines, whereby it is given an initial set to bend in one direction,
which initial set, however, when the flap is turned out in line with the end
section, will be in a direction opposite to that in which the end section itself
folds, thus these two parts, taken by themselves, if turned down against each
other, may be folded inwardly, but if the end flap is turned out, each will resist
the folding of the other, and so the end will be held distended. The bottom
section is provided with a central fold f for folding upwardly an end fold fl
folding outwardly and from the point where the folds f f meet, diagonal folds f³
extend to each corner, these folds being inwardly, thus the ends of the box fold
into the bottom as shown clearly in the drawing. The fold between the bottom
and end, it will be noted, does not form a straight line from one corner to the
other, but is arched, or the two portions of the fold at G, G, on each side of the
center, form a slightly obtuse angle, and the effect of this formation is to throw
a strain in the material during the transition period from open to closed, and
from closed to open position, and a consequent tendency of the box to remain
in either of the said positions.
From the foregoing, it will be seen at once that when the box is to be folded
or collapsed, the end flaps D turn in, and pressure is applied to the front and
rear sides.
As these sides are forced towards each other the strain in the material
will be gradually overcome until at a certain point it will of itself spring inwardly
and tend to assume its collapsed position. On the other hand, when the box
is to be distended, the two sides are drawn away from each other, or the bottom
pushed down from the inside until the box is distended. Then the ends flaps 1)
are turned out and when the contents have been placed within the box the
cover is brought down with the front flap over the front side, which it will hug
closely, and the end flaps 1 are turned down over the top. They will tend to
automatically hug down closely upon the top and in addition, if desired, the
carrying strap or handle may hold them.
If no end Haps 1) are employed, the holding strap may be relied upon to pre-
vent the upper portions of the ends from moving inwardly although there will
be but a slight tendency in this direction. In the preferred construction, the
holding strap or handle H is bifurcated at the ends as shown at h and each of
the two branches is secured to one of the end panels on each side of the central
fold, and also in this preferred construction, the strap or handle is divided and
the two sections united by a buckle or like device h¹ which will permit it to be
adjusted as desired, but it will be understood that the particular construction of
this handle is immaterial and, if desired, it might be, for instance as shown in
the last figure of the drawings, where a hook I is provided on one of the end
panels over which the end of the strap may be caught and the two loops or
guides may be provided on the top near each end and beneath which the strap
may be slipped to maintain its shape and position over the ends of the box.
This last mentioned figure of the drawing also shows a form of box wider at
the top than at the bottom but which, however, except for its appearance, does
not differ in mechanical construction from that heretofore described.
i
Obviously the several panels of the box may be made from stiff material
united by Hexible hinges or joints or the material may be of such character that
it may be creased to form the hinges or joints and the vertical corners may be
united by paste, glue or any other suitable fastening means.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. A collapsible box comprising the front, rear and top sections, the end

page_text: sections having the central inwardly turning folds and the bottom section having
the inwardly turning folds substantially as described, the folds between the bottom
and end sections being arched to create a tendency to hold the box in either
its distended or collapsed position; substantially as described.
2. A collapsible box such as described, comprising front, rear and top sections,
of relatively stiff material end sections having central inwardly turn-
ing folds and a bottom section having central and diagonal folds, as
described, forming triangular end panels in said bottom section, the folds between
said triangular panels and end panels being arched to throw a tension in the
material during the transition from open to closed and from closed to open
position; substantially as described.
3. In a collapsible box, the combination with the front rear and top sections,
the bottom section and end sections having central folds for permitting the front
and rear sides to approach each other, and end flaps on the end sections, having
central folds corresponding, when the flaps are turned in, to the central folds in
the end sections, whereby said flaps are adapted to be folded with the ends when
turned in but will resist folding when turned out; substantially as described.
4. In a collapsible box the combination with the front, rear and top sections,
the bottom section having inwardly turning folds and the end sections having
central inwardly turning folds, of a strap or handle having its end bifurcated,
the said bifurcated end being attached respectively to the two panels of the end
section on opposite sides of the center fold; substantially as described.
Dated at
this 1st day of June 1800