IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BOXES, CASES, AND SIMILAR ARTICLES OF PAPER, CARD-BOARD, OR LIKE MATERIAL
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BOXES, CASES, AND SIMILAR
ARTICLES OF PAPER, CARD-BOARD, OR LIKE MATERIAL" A communication
from abroad by the Cleveland Paper Box Machine Company (Incorporated), of
Cleveland, Ohio. United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th October 1879.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BOXES,
CASES, AND SIMILAR ARTICLES OF PAPER, CARD-BOARD, OR LIKE MATERIAL." [A
communication from abroad by the Cleveland Paper Box Machine Company
(Incorporated), of Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America.]
This Invention relates to boxes, cases, and similar articles or receptacles made of
paper, cardboard, or like material, and designed to contain goods or merchandize of
various kinds.
In practising the said Invention I so cut, shape, and score the cardboard or other
material of which the box is to be made that the parts of the blank so formed may
at any time be readily folded together and secured in such relative positions as to
constitute the complete box, as hereinafter described.
The said Invention comprises various forms of boxes, the blanks for which are
cut in peculiar manners to secure the objects which I design to accomplish; and in
order that the said Invention may be clearly understood I have illustrated in the
accompanying Drawings examples of the manner in which the material is cut and
scored to form various kinds of boxes made according to the said improvements.
Figures 1 to 4 of the Drawings illustrate the manner of cutting or shaping and
scoring the blank to form one kind of box according to the said Invention, the
improvements in this box consisting in the peculiar form of the parts which con-
stitute the locking portions.

page_text: Figure 1 is a plan of a portion of a blank for the said box.
Figure 2 is a side elevation of said box; Figure 3 is a plan of a portion of a
blank for the cover of said box; and Figure 4 is a side elevation of said cover.
A designates the bottom of the box, and B, B, C, C, the four side flaps formed
thereon. The box may be scored at the angle of the bottom and sides in any
ordinary manner, but preferably by a V-shaped scoring upon the inside. Two of
the flaps B, B, have at each end corner-flaps D, D. From the edge of the flap B,
which in the formed-up box is at the top edge to about half way between the
outside corners of the flaps B and C, the outside edge of the corner-flaps describe a
segment of a circle, the centre of which circle is at the coruer a of the bottom A.
An outwardly-projecting-shoulder a, preferably a little hooked, is then formed, as
shewn. The corner flap D just inside the shoulder a is narrower than at any other
point (except the end), and directly opposite the shoulder a and substantially on a
radial line of the circle described by the outer edge of said corner flap, another
shoulder b, the edges outside the shoulders meeting so as to form a dart-shaped end,
as shewn. From the inside shoulder b to near the corner of the bottom A a concave
foru, as shewn, is preferred for the inner edge of the corner flap, but any other
form which will not interfere with the operation of the shoulder b may be employed.
In the corners of the flaps C, C, 1 forin a curved and diagonal slit c, the same being
substantially on a radial line of the circle described by the outside edge of the
flap D, and near the ends of said slit I form two transverse slits d, d, the outer one
of which slits should be substantially on the periphery of the circle before mentioned,
and the inner one a distance from it fully equal to the width of the neck of the
corner flap D. The length of the slit c should be fully equal to the width of the
flap D at the outer corners of its shoulders. The respective flaps being thus provided
at each corner of the box with corner flaps and slits, the four flaps are bent up
preferably with the corner flaps on the outside, and the dart shaped ends passed
through the slits, when the shoulders a, b, hook upon the inside of the box just
outside the transverse slits, and firmly lock the sides of the box together so that
they cannot very easily be detached.
It should be noticed that when the flaps C, C, are bent up at right angles to the
bottom A, and the corner flaps D at the same angle to the flaps B, the act of
turning up the flaps B will cause the dart-shaped ends of the corner-flaps to move
on a true circle, of which the junction of flap and bottom is the centre, so that they
will readily present themselves to and enter the slits formed to receive them without
any undue strain on the paper.
By forming the transverse slits d, d, in the slit c the portion of the material
between said slits may spring inward to accommodate the neck of the corner flap,
while the portion of the material outside of said transverse slits will not be sprung
inward so far (after the shoulders have passed by) but that it will firmly hold the
shoulders a, b, but will allow them to pass in without injury.
In thin material the points of the shoulders might be folded over to be passed
through a shorter slit, and without the transverse slits, but for heavy material such
as I propose to use to bend over the points of the shoulders to pass through a
shorter slit would ruin them, hence the importance of the long slit with its transverse
slits.
The cover for the said box (shewn in Figures 3 and 4) is in many respects like
the box proper shewn in Figures 1 and 2 already described.
E designates its top, F, F, G, G, its four side flaps, but as these are generally
narrower, that is to say, of less depth than the box proper, some changes are
desirable. The corner-flaps L, L, L, L, formed on flaps F, F, have but one book e
and with the exception of the outer edge f are practically the same shape as the
corner flaps shewn in Figure 9.
This outer edge f is curved from the corner g to the neck, from whence it runs
to the top edge in a straight line. In the corners of the flaps G, G, I form curved
slits k running diagonally partially across the corner, and of a width fully equal to

page_text: that of the corner-flap between e and h, the same being the neck of the flap. I also
form a transverse slit m for substantially the same purpose as the transverse slits
d, d, in the slit c of the box proper, before described, the two slits k, m, forming a
T-shaped slit. The flaps formed as described are bent up, and the points g passed
through the T-shaped slit k, m, until the neck substantially fills said slit. The
hook e then hooks upon the inside of the cover, the opposite edge of the neck being
held at the other end of the slit, thereby firmly locking the sides of the cover
together.
Figures 5 and 6 illustrate the manner of cutting and scoring the material to form
a box with the least possible waste of said material in cutting the blank therefor,
and by so cutting and properly marking or cutting the kerfs on the folding lines to
make it convenient to fold the blank into a box shape, and by metallic or
other simple fastenings complete it without the employment of any cementing
substance.
A, Figure 5, represents the blank cut in the form required for this box. The
V-shaped cuts H in the two opposite sides of the blank shew the only places where
there is any portion of the piece of paper originally taken to make the box of that
is cut out and wasted. The lines B, B, are the longitudinal folding lines of the
bottom corners, as well as for the bottom end fold. The lines D, D, converging
from the lines I, I, to the points of V shaped cuts H permit of the infold of that
part of the blank embraced by the Figures 1, 2, 3, thus allowing of bringing up
together the edges 4, 4, which overlap so as to admit of convenient fastening at or
about the points 5. The lines I, I, I, I, permit of the bottom fold and the upright
corner fold of the ends of the box.
Figure 6 is a longitudinal section of the box, shewing the relative positions of
the parts of the blank when folded into a box: shape and fastened.
One object of the said Invention is to provide specific means for fastening such
boxes in a folded shape, the blanks having been notched, creased, and fulded as
provided for by the parts of the blanks designated by the Figures 1, 2, 3, and the
lines bordering thereon, as shewn in Figure 5, and one method of providing for
such fastening is illustrated in Figures 7 and 7*. Figure 7 shows a blank intended
for making a box of different form to that represented by Figure 5, but I employ
in it the same arrangement of infolding parts as is shewn in Figure 5 in combina-
tion with other parts peculiar to the form of blank illustrated by Figure 7, and a
series of slits and tucking flaps for fastening the box in a folded form. The parts A,
1, 2, 3, with notches H in the border between the parts 1, 2, folding upon lines
I. I, B, B, and D, D, D, D, form a closed end of the box when folded, as shewn in
Figure 7*. The parts h, h1, h2, h3, form double sides of the box when the end a is
folded up, so that the ends of parts h, h, are at the line C between parts b, b¹, and
h2, h3, and parts K, K¹, form the top and bottom of the box.
In folding the blank the parts h, h', h³, h³, are turned up at right angles to parts
K, K. Parts K' and h, h¹, are bent over on lines B, B, parts h, h¹, turned inside of
those lettered h², h³, and the parts 1, 2, 3, are infolded, as herein before described.
In each one of the parts h, h¹, of the blank I cut a slit x, x, as shewn, diagonally to
the border of the blank, and at each end of said slit x, x, I cut a short transverse
slit z at right angles to the former.
In each one of the parts h², hs, I cut a circular slit i, i, in such a position that
when the parts h, h', are folded up inside of those lettered h³, h³, the lines x, x, will
intersect nearly with the ends of the circular slits i, i, as shewn in the folded box,
Figure 7. The transverse slits cut at the ends of slits x, x, form with the latter a
narrow flexible flap e in the blank, and the circular slits i, i, also form circular
flexible flaps o in the parts h², h³. I cut a slit from line o¹ down to line C
between the parts b and d, and between the parts d and b', so that the parts b and b¹
may be folded on line C over the end of the box.
When the parts h, h¹, are folded inside of parts h², ³, as above described, the
Haps e' are inserted through the slits x, x, as shewn in Figure 7*, and thus the box
is retained in a folded form. After said parts are so folded and secured the parts b, b³,

page_text: are folded over the open end of the box, as shewn in Figure 7*, and over them
is folded the part d, the end o folding on line o¹ being tucked inside.
The folding lines shewn on the blank may be either scored out or indented,
according to the thickness of the material employed.
Figure 8 illustrates another manner of cutting and scoring the material to form a
box according to the said Invention.
This improvement consists in the peculiar manner of cutting the blanks from
which the boxes are formed so that when bent into shape the corners will be locked
together, and there will be a double thickness at each corner of the box for the
purpose of bracing and strengthening it.
I take a blank of any suitable material and of a size proportioned to the box to
be made, and in the opposite edges of the part a that forms the body of the box I
cut three slits b that reach inward to the line c, on which the ends of the box are
folded. In between the first two slits at each end are cut two shorter slits e
that reach only half-way to the line c, and corresponding with these short slits there
are made at each end two other slits d, which extend from the long slits b directly
at right angles. At the outer corners of the part g that forms the cover of the box
are cut away the square pieces h, and with the exception of these small pieces there
is no other waste in cutting out the blanks.
In forming the box into shape the sides are all turned up, and then the short
slits are made to interlock with each other at each corner, so as to hold the sides in
po on. These corners interlocking in this manner form a double thickness at
each one, thereby strengthening and bracing the box in its weakest places.
This class of box is especially intended for holding fine articles of clothing and
similar articles, such as are made up by merchant tailors and milliners, though it is
also adapted for other uses.
A modification of the manner of cutting and scoring the material is illustrated in
Figures 9, 10, 11, and 12. This improvement consists in the peculiar shape of the
short flaps at the corners of the box, so as to facilitate the putting together of the
box.
Figure 9 represents a plan of the material as cut and scored for making a box;
Figure 10 is a partial section of the same on the line x, x, Figure 9; Figure 11 is
a partial side elevation of the same, shewing the manner of forming or setting up;
and Figure 12 is a side elevation of one of said boxes and its cover as set up in
form ready for use.
I form the bottom of the box and its four sides of one piece of material, preferably
of paper. The general shape of the blank is shewn in Figure 9. a designates the
bottom of the box; b, b, the flaps, which when turned up constitute the short sides
of the box; and c, c, the long sides. Upon each end of the long sides are short
corner flaps d, d, in which are short slits e. The contour of the flaps d is as
follows: The edge f is on a line with the outer or top edge of the long sides c, and
the outer end extends on a line at right angles thereto for about one half the depth
of the sides c, when it runs inward to the slit e, leaving the slit from an eighth to
a quarter of an inch deep, then from the bottom or near the bottom of the slit e to
the near corner of the box-bottom a, stopping just a little outside of the scoring g,
as shewn. The remaining side of the flap corresponds to the end of the long side c,
and is connected thereto, the scoring g forming the division-line. The flaps b, b,
are rectangular, substantially as long as the box is wide and as wide as the box is
deep, and have vertical slits h, h, formed in them, the depth of which slits must be
fully equal to the distance from the bottom of the slit e to the top edge of the
flap d, and the distance from the ends of the flaps b to the slit must be equal to
the distance between the slit e and scoring g, less the thickness of the material.
The blank is also scored at the junction of the bottom and the several sides, and so
far as the particular form of box, last above described, is concerned, the scoring
may be of any style in common use, and upon either the outside or inside, but I
much prefer the particular scoring hereinafter described.
These boxes are designed to be made by dies and machinery, and packed for

page_text: storage and transportation in the flat form, so as to occupy but little space until
they are about to be used.
To set up the box for use, the end flaps b, b, are first bent up at right angles to the
bottom; the short flaps & are then bent at about right angles to the sides c, c, and
the said sides turned up with the flaps d on the outside of the flaps b, as shewn in
Figure 11, and the corner n of the flap dinserted in the slit h, as indicated by broken
lines in Figure 11; then the sides c, c, are brought up at right angles with the
bottom, and the flaps interlock at the slits h, e, as shewn in Figure 12, and the box
is ready for use. The cover is the same as the box, only larger, so as to shut over
the same. By cutting out a portion of the material at the corner, so as to form the
flaps & as shewn, the box is much more conveniently set up for use than it is when
made merely slit at the corners, as shown in Figure 8, and by making the diagonal
cut stop a little outside of the scoring at the corner a small portion of the flap
closes around the corner at the bottom of the box to make it tight, the same as if
no portion of the flap had been removed. It should also be noticed that this box
has no flaps that are of necessity bent over for forming, or that are tucked through
openings and bent back after tucking, in which class of boxes thin paper only can
be used; but this box has the flaps slit only upon one of the edges, and is so
arranged that in forming no substantial bend of the paper or other material is
necessary except at the point of the scorings, and that when the flaps are bent up
at said point the material moves only edgewise in the act of forming, whereby I am
enabled to make the said box of the very stiffest kind of paper known of which
boxes are ever made. I score the said box upon the inside and remove a portion of
the material, leaving the scoring g in V-shaped form, as shewn in Figure 10. When
bent up into form the side takes the position indicated by broken lines in said
Figure, the two sides of the V-shaped scoring meeting each other on a mitre,
leaving the outside corners whole and smooth, so that they will not catch upon
objects and tear up.
Figures 13, 14, and 15 illustrate the manner in which I cut, score, and unite the
material to form a box or dish, which is chiefly designed for carrying butter, lard,
and such articles to consumers. I prefer for this use to make the box with a
rectangular bottom and flaring sides, but other shapes might be employed, as for
instance, one with upright sides, and still embody the main feature of the said
Invention, namely, the peculiar locking parts for securing the sides. This class of
box may be said to be "self locking.”
A designates the rectangular bottom; B, B, C, C, its respective side or main
flaps, and a, a, a, a, its corner or supplemental flaps. The lines 1, 1, 1, 1, designate
scorings at the junction of the sides and bottom, and 2, 2, 2, 2, scorings at the
junction of the side flaps B, B, and corner flaps a, a, a, a. These scorings may be
formed in any ordinary manner, and preferably upon the inside of the box. The
curved lines 3, 3, 3, 3, Figure 15, indicate the dividing-line of the flaps C, C, and
a, a, a, a, that is their meeting edges, the material being completely severed on
said lines. Each of the corner flaps a, a, a, a, is provided with slits 6 standing at
an angle of about forty five degrees to the length of the box-bottom, and trans-
versely to a line radiating from the corners of the bottom, said slits being preferably
slightly curved. The main flaps C, C, are provided each with two short slits,
which divide the ends of the said flaps into three parts, the two side ones of which
form short lugs or projections c, c, of a proper width to pass through the slits 6 to
lock the sides in position, as shewn in Figures 13 and 14. The dividing-lines
3, 3, 3, 3, which form the edges of the corner flaps and end main flaps C, C, are
Inercly cut through the material without removing any great body of said material,
and they are curved for the purpose of giving greater strength to the box, and also
to make the outer edges of the lugs c, c, slightly hooked, thus forming a better
lock. It is evident that the dividing-lines of main and corner flaps must end at
the several corners of the box-bottom, and in Figure 13 it will be observed that
the other corners of the supplemental or corner flaps meet each other when the box
is set up for use, so that these corners are in the desired position for the shape of

page_text: box or dish shewn. A straight line from the outside to inside corners of these
flaps is shewn at the lower left hand corner in Figure 15, the same being indicated
in broken lines, and if the edges were straight in this shaped dish they must
necessarily be on said broken line. It will readily be seen that if the edges of
the flaps were thus formed the slit b would come much nearer the edge, and
consequently be more liable to tear out; that the lug c would be much wider than
is necessary, and consequently the slit b would have to be considerably elongated,
which would weaken the body of the flaps a, a, a, a, and that the outer edge of said
lug would not be of the desired hooked form. By making the dividing-line or edges
of the flaps which meet when the dish is in the flap in curved forin, as shewn, the
lugs care wide enough for strength without being too wide, and other outer edges
are of the proper shape. The slit bis of the desired length, and is located such a
distance from the edge of the flap as to give the same ample strength.
The box may be shipped in the flat form, as in ordinary self-locking boxes,
or it may be nested for transportation, as in other flaring boxes, after being set up
or formed.
In setting up the box or dish the several flaps are bent on the line of their
scoring, the corner flaps a, a, a, a, passing inside of the end flaps C, C, the outer
corner of the lugs c, c, entering the ends of the slits bon approaching them, and then
passing wholly through said slits, the material at one end of the slit resting in the
short slits of the flaps C, and the material at the opposite end of said slits resting
against the hooked outer edge of the short lugs c, c, as shewn in Figures 13 and 14,
and locking the sides of the box firmly together.
I have herein described the box or dish as made with scorings, but the same-
shaped box might be formed of thin paper by making angular bends at the junction
of the bottom and flaps without previous scoring, or the box or dish might be
formed with rounded bends instead of angular ones, giving it a sort of oval shape
instead of rectangular, but cut out in the same shape, the difference being solely in
the manner of setting up.
Figure 16 is a plan of the material cut and scored to form a box of the class
shewn in Figures 7 and 7*, but in such a manner that the infolding portion at
each side of the part A will be level and on a line with the parts h, h', thus
avoiding the extra thickness of material at this end of the box, which cannot be
avoided when the material is cut as shewn in Figure 7.
To secure this result I cut the material, leaving spaces as shewn at H, H,
Figure 16. The material is also cut right through at the parts represented by the
lines H*, H*, and a tongue g is thus provided. It will be seen that in folding up
the parts of a blank so cut that the edge 1 of the parts h and h¹ meets the corres-
ponding edge 2 of the tongues g, and an inner side is thus formed on both sides of
the box, which inner sides fold within and lie parallel with the outer sides h³, 1³,
the thickness of material being uniform along the entire length of the box, thus
entirely avoiding the inward protuberance which exists when the parts are folded
in as described in respect of Figure 7. The material adjacent to the edges 1 and 2
may be gummed to the inner surface of the outer sides so as to prevent the said
edges from projecting laterally into the interior space of the box, or they may be
otherwise secured when desired.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 14th
April 1880.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
BOXES, CASES, AND SIMILAR ARTICLES OF PAPER, CARDBOARD, OR LIKE MATERIAL."
A communication from abroad by the Cleveland Paper Box Machine Company
(Incorporated), of Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America.
This Invention relates to boxes, cases, and similar articles or receptacles made of
paper, cardboard, or like material and designed to contain goods or merchandize of
various kinds.
In practising the said Invention I so cut, shape, and score the cardboard or other
material of which the box is to be made, that the parts of the blank so formed may
at any time be readily folded together and secured in such relative positions as to
constitute the complete box, as hereinafter described.
The said Invention comprises various forms of boxes the blanks for which are cut
in peculiar manners to secure the objects which I design to accomplish; and in order
that the said Invention may be clearly understood I have illustrated in the accom-
panying Drawings examples of the manner in which the material is cut and scored
to form various kinds of boxes made according to the said improvements.
Figures 1 to 4 illustrate the manner of cutting or shaping and scoring the blank
to form one kind of box according to the said Invention, the improvement in this
box consisting in the peculiar form of the parts which constitute the locking
portions.
Figure 1 is a plan of a portion of a blank for the said box.
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the said box, and
Figure 3 is a plan of a portion of a blank for the cover of the same.
Figure 4 is a side elevation of the said cover.
A represents the bottom of the box, and B, C, the side flaps formed thereon.
The cardboard or other material may be scored at the angle of the bottom and side
flaps in any suitable manner, but preferably by a V-shaped scoring upon the inside.
Two of the flaps B are provided at each end with corner flaps D, D. These corner
flaps are cut as follows, that is to say:-From the upper corner to about half-way
between the outside corners of the flaps B and C, the outside edge of each corner
flap describes a segment of a circle, the centre of which circle is at the corner a³ of
the bottom A. An outwardly projecting shoulder a, preferably slightly hooked, is
then formed as shewn. The corner-flap D just inside the shoulder is narrower than
at any other point (except the end) and directly opposite the shoulder a, and on a
radial line of the circle described by the outer edge of said corner-flap is another
shoulder b, the edges outside the shoulders meeting so as to form a dart-shaped end
as shewn. From the inner shoulder b to near the corner of the bottom A. a concave
form, as shewn, is preferred for the inner edge of the corner-flap, but any other form
which will not interfere with the operation of the shoulder b may be employed.
In the corners of the flaps C, C, I form a curved and diagonal slit c on a radial line
of the circle described by the outside edge of the flap D, and near the ends of said
slit I form two transverse slits d, d, the outer one of which should be on the
periphery of the circle before mentioned, and the inner one a distance from it fully
equal to the width of the neck of the corner flap D, the length of the slit c should
be fully equal to the width of the flap D at the outer corners of its shoulders. The
respective flaps being thus provided at each corner of the box with corner flaps and
lits in uniting the parts to form the complete box the four flaps are bent up pre-
erably with the corner-flaps on the outside, and the dart-shaped ends passed through
he slits when the shoulders a, b, hook upon the inside of the box just beyond the

page_text: transverse slits, and firmly lock the sides of the box together so that they cannot
very easily be detached.
It will be observed that when the flaps C, C, are bent up at right angles to the
bottom A. and the corner-flaps D at the same angle to the flaps B, the act of turning
up the latter will cause the dart-shaped ends of the corner-flaps to move on a true
circle of which the junction of the flap and the bottom is the centre, so that they
will readily present themselves to and enter the slits formed to receive them without
any undue strain on the paper or other material.
By forming the transverse slits c, d, in the slit c the portion of the material
between said slits may spring inward to accommodate the neck of the corner-fap,
while the portion of the material outside of said transverse slits will not be sprung
inward so far (after the shoulders have passed by), but that it will firmly hold the
shoulders a, b, and will allow them to pass in without injury.
When using thin material the points of the shoulders might be folded over to be
passed through a shorter slit, and without the transverse slits; but for heavy
material, such as I propose to use, to bend over the points of the shoulders to pass
through a shorter slit would ruin them; hence the importance of the long slit with
its transverse slits.
The cover for the said box (shewn in Figures 3 and 4) is, in many respects, like
the box proper shewn in Figures 1 and 2 and already described.
E designates the top of the said cover, and F, G, its side flaps; but as these
are generally narrower, that is to say, of less depth than the box proper some
changes are desirable. The corner flaps L, L, formed on the flaps F have therefore
but one hook e. The outer edge fis curved from the end or corner g to the neck h,
whence it runs to the top edge in a straight line. In the corners of the flaps G, G,
I form curved slits & running diagonally partially across the corner and of a width
fully equal to that of the corner flap between the points e and h. I also form a
transverse slit m for the same purpose as the transverse slits d, d, in the slit c of
the box proper before described, the two slits k, m, forming a T-shaped slit. When
the parts are to be united to form the lid or cover the flaps formed as described are
bent up and the points g passed through the T-shaped slit k, m, until the neck h
fills said slit. The hook e then hooks upon the inside of the cover, the opposite
edge of the tongue or neck being held at the other end of the slit, thereby firmly
locking the sides of the cover together.
In Figures 2 and 4 the parts of the corner flaps, which are passed into the inside
of the box, are represented in dotted lines.
Figures 5 and 6 represent another method of forming boxes according to my
Invention, Figure 5 being a plan of the blank for the said box, and Figure 6 a
longitudinal section of the box, shewing the relative positions of the parts of the
blanks when folded into a box shape and fastened.
According to this part of my Invention I can manufacture a box with the least
possible waste of material in cutting the blank therefor, and by so cutting and
properly marking or cutting the kerfs on the folding lines am enabled to make it
convenient to fold the blank into a box shape, and by metallic or other simple
fastenings complete it without the employment of any cementing substance.
A, Figure 5, represents the blank cut in the form required for this box. The
V-shaped cuts H in the two opposite sides of the blank shew the only places where
there is any portion of the piece of paper or other material originally taken to make
the box cut out and wasted. The lines B, B, represent the longitudinal folding-
lines for the bottom corners as well as for the bottom end fold. The lines D, D,
converging from the lines I, I, to the points of the V-shaped cuts H permit of the
infold of that part of the blank represented at 1, 2, 3, thus allowing the bringing up
together of the edges 4, 4, which overlap so as to admit suitable fastening devices
at or about the points 5. The lines I, I, permit of the bottom fold and the upright
corner fold of the ends of the box.
paper
The operations required in making this box are, first, to provide a piece of
or other material of the size and proportions requisite for the proposed box;

page_text: secondly, to make the V-shaped cuts H; thirdly, to cut or kerf the folding lines;
fourthly, to lift up and press inwardly against the blank at the base of the V-shaped
cuts folding that portion down upon the bottom. This movement draws up the
sides of the box and brings the two halves of each end up together slightly over-
lapping each other where they may be fastened by an ordinary metallic paper-
fastener, or by other convenient means.
Another object of the said Invention is to provide specific means for fastening
such boxes in a folded shape, the blanks having been notched, creased, and folded,
as designated by the Figures 1, 2, 3, and the lines bordering thereon, in Figure 5,
and one method of providing for such fastening is illustrated in Figures 7
and 7*. Figure 7 shews a blank intended for making a box of a different form to
that represented by Figure 5, but in which I employ the same arrangement of
infolding parts as therein shewn in combination with other parts peculiar to the
form of blank illustrated by Figure 7, and a series of slits and tucking-flaps for
fastening the box in a folded form. Figure 7* is a perspective view of the said box
partially folded up.
The parts A, 1, 2, 3, with the notches H in the border between the parts 1, 2,
folding upon the lines I, I, B, B, and D, D, D, D, form the closed end of the box
when folded, as shewn in Figure 7. The parts h, h¹, h², h³, form double sides of the
box when the end a is folded up, so that the ends of the parts h, h³, are on the
line C between the parts b, b', and h², h³, and the parts K, K', form the top and
bottom of the box.
In folding the blank the parts h, h¹, h², h³, are turned up at right angles to the
parts K, K. The parts K' and h, h¹, are bent over on the lines B, B, the parts h, h¹,
turned inside of the parts ... h³, and the parts 1, 2, 3, are folded in as herein before
described.
In each of the parts h, h, of the blank I cut a slit x, x, diagonally to the border
or outer edge of the blank, as shewn, and at each end of said slits x, x, I cut a
short transverse slit z at right angles to the same.
In each of the parts h², h³, I cut a circular slit i, i, in such a position that when
the parts h, h, are folded up inside of the parts h³, ³, the lines x, x, will intersect
nearly with the ends of the circular slits i, i, as shewn in the folded box, Figure 7*.
The transverse slits z cut at the ends of the slits a, a, form with the latter a narrow
flexible flap e in the blank, and the circular slits i, i, also form circular flexible flaps
e¹ in the parts h³, h³. I also cut a slit from the line o' down to the line C between
the parts b and d and between the parts & and b¹, so that the parts b and b' may be
folded on the line C over the end of the box.
When the parts h, h, are folded inside of the parts ², h³, as above described, the
flaps el are inserted through the slits, x, as shewn in Figure 7*, and thus the box
is retained in a folded form. After the said parts are so folded and secured, the
parts b, b, are folded over the open end of the box, as shewn in Figure 7*, and over
them is folded the part d, the end o folding on the line o' being tucked inside.
The folding lines shewn on the blank may be either scored out or indented,
according to the thickness of the material employed.
Figure 8 illustrates in plan another manner of cutting and scoring the material
to form a box according to the said Invention.
This improvement consists in the peculiar manner of cutting the blanks from
which the boxes are formed, so that when bent into shape the corners will be locked
together, and there will be a double thickness at each corner of the box for the
purpose of bracing and strengthening it.
For this purpose I take a blank of any suitable material and of a size propor-
tioned to the box to be made, and in the opposite edges of the part a that forms the
body of the box I cut three slits 6 that reach inward to the line c, on which the
ends of the box are folded. Between the first two slits at each end are cut two
other shorter slits e that reach only half way to the line c, and corresponding with
these short slits there are made at each end two other slits d, which extend from
the long slits 6 directly at right angles. At the outer corners of the part g, which

page_text: forms the cover of the box, are cut away the square pieces h, and with the exception
of these small pieces there is no other waste in cutting out the blanks.
In forming the box into shape the sides are all turned up, and the short slits are
then caused to interlock with each other at each corner so as to hold the sides in
position. These corners interlocking in this manner form a double thickness at
each corner, thereby strengthening and bracing the box in its weakest places.
This class of box is especially intended for holding fine articles of clothing and
similar articles, such as are made up by merchant tailors and milliners, though it is
also adapted for other uses.
A modification of the manner of cutting and scoring the material is illustrated in
Figures 9, 10, 11, and 12. This improvement consists in the peculiar shape of the
short flaps at the corners of the box to facilitate the putting together of the same.
Figure 9 is a plan of the material as cut and scored for making a box; Figure
10 is a partial section of the same on the line x, x, Figure 9; Figure 11 is a partial
side elevation of the same, shewing the manner of forming or setting up; and
Figure 12 is a side elevation of one of said boxes and its cover as set up in form
ready for use.
1 form the bottom of the box and its four sides of one piece of material, preferably
paper. The general shape of the blank is shewn in Figure 9. a designates the
bottom of the box; b, b, the flaps which when turned up constitute the short sides
of the box; and c, c, the long sides. Upon each end of the long sides are short
corner flaps d, d, in which are short slits c. The contour of the flaps d is as
follows: The edge f is on a line with the outer or top edge of the long sides c, and
the outer end extends on a liue at right angles thereto for about one-half the depth
of the sides c, when it runs inward to the slit e, leaving the slit from an eighth to
a quarter of an inch deep; then from the bottom or near the bottom of the slit e to
the near corner of the box-bottom a, stopping slightly outside of the scoring g, as
shewn. The remaining side of the flap corresponds to the end of the long side c,
and is connected thereto, the scoring a forming the division line. The flaps 6, b,
are rectangular as long as the box is wide, and as wide as the box is deep, and have:
vertical slits h, h, formed in then, the depth of which slits must be fully equal to
the distance from the bottom of the slit e to the top edge of the flap d, and the
distance from the ends of the flaps b to the slit h must be equal to the distance
between the slit e and scoring g, less the thickness of the material. The blank is
also scored at the junction of the bottom and the several sides, and so far as the
particular form of box above described is concerned, the scorings may be of any style
in common use, and upon either the outside or inside, but I much prefer the parti-
cular scoring hereinafter described.
These boxes are designed to be made by dies and machinery, and packed for
storage and transportation in the flat form, so as to occupy but little space until they
are about to be used.
To set up the box for use the end flaps b, b, are first bent up at right angles to
the bottom; the short flaps d are then bent at about right angles to the sides c, c,
and the said sides turned up with the flaps d on the outside of the flaps b, as shewn
in Figure 11; the corner n of the flap d is then inserted in the slit h, as indicated 4
by dotted lines in Figure 11, and then the sides c, c, are brought up at right angles
with the bottom, and the flaps interlock at the slits h, e, as shewn in Figure 12, the
box being then ready for use. The cover is the same as the box, only larger, so as
to shut over the same. By cutting out a portion of the material at the corner so as
to form the flaps d, as shown, the box is much more conveniently set up for use
than it is when merely slit at the corners, as shewn in Figure 8; and by making
the diagonal cut stop slightly outside of the scoring at the corner a small portion of
the flap closes around the corner at the bottom of the box to make it tight, the same
as if no portion of the flap had been removed. It should also be noticed that this
box has no flaps that are of necessity bent over for forming or that are tucked 5
through openings and bent back after tucking, in which class of boxes thin paper
only can be used, but this box has the flaps slit only upon one of the edges, and

page_text: is so arranged that in forming, no substantial bend of the paper or other material is
necessary except at the point of the scorings, and that when the flaps are bent up
at the said point the material moves only edgewise in the act of forming, whereby
I am enabled to make the said box of the very stiffest kind of paper known of
which boxes are ever made.
I score the said box upon the inside and remove a portion of the material, leaving
the scoring g in V-shaped form, as shewn in Figure 10. When bent up into form
the side takes the position indicated by dotted lines in said Figure, the two sides of
the V-shaped scoring meeting each other on a mitre, leaving the outside corners
whole and smooth, so that they will not catch upon objects and tear up.
Figures 13, 14, and 15 illustrate the manner in which I cut, score, and unite the
material to form a box or dish which is chiefly designed for carrying butter, lard,
and similar articles to consumers.
In these Figures Figure 13 is a top view of the said box, and Figure 14 is an end
view of the same; Figure 15 is a plan shewing the said box unfolded.
I prefer for this use to make a box with a rectangular bottom and flaring sides,
but other shapes might be employed, as, for instance, one with upright sides, and still
embody the main feature of this part of the said Invention, namely, the peculiar
locking parts for securing the sides. This class of box may be said to be "self-locking."
A designates the rectangular bottom; B, B, C, C, its rospective side or main flaps;
and a, a, a, a, its corner or supplemental flaps. The lines 1, 1, 1, 1, designate scorings
at the junction of the sides and bottom, and 2, 2, 2, 2, scorings at the junction of the
side flaps B, B, and corner flaps a, a, a, a. These scorings may be formed in any
ordinary manner, and preferably upon the inside of the box. The curved lines
3, 3, 3, 3, Figure 15, indicate the dividing line of the flaps C, C, and a, a, a, a, that
is to say, their meeting edges, the material being completely severed on said lines.
Each of the corner flaps a, a, a, a, is provided with slits b, standing at an angle of
about forty-five degrees to the length of the box-bottom, and transversely to a line
radiating from the corners of the bottom, said slits being preferably slightly curved.
The main flaps C, C, are provided each with two short slits, which divide the ends
of said flaps into three parts, the two side ones of which form short lugs or projec-
tions c, c, of a proper width to pass through the slits b to lock the sides in position,
as shewn in Figures 13 and 14. The dividing lines 3, 3, 3, 3, which form the edges
of the corner flaps a, a, are merely cut through the material without removing any
great body of said material, and they are curved for the purpose of giving greater
strength to the box, and also to make the outer edges of the lugs c, c, slightly hooked,
thus forming a better lock. It is evident that the dividing-lines of the main and corner
flaps must end at the several corners of the box-bottom, and in Figure 13 it will be
observed that the other corners of the supplemental or corner flaps meet each other
when the box is set up for use, so that these corners are in the desired position for
the shape of box or dish shown. A straight line from the outside to inside corners
of these flaps is shewn at the lower left-hand corner in Figure 15, the same being
indicated in dotted lines, and if the edges were straight in this shaped dish they
must necessarily be on said dotted line. It will readily be seen that if the edges
of the flaps were thus formed, the slit b would come much nearer the edge, and
consequently be more liable to tear out; that the lug c would be much wider,
and wider than is necessary, and consequently the slit b would have to be con-
siderably elongated, which would weaken the body of the flaps a, a, a, a; and that
the outer edge of said lug would not be of the desired hooked form. By making
the dividing-line or edges of the flaps which meet (when the dish is flat) in
curved form, as shewn, the lugs care wide enough for strength without being too
wide, and their outer edges are of the proper shape. The slit b is of the desired
length, and is located such a distance from the edge of the flap as to give the same
ample strength.
The box may be packed or shipped in the flat form as in ordinary self-locking
boxes, or it may be nested for transportation as in other flaring boxes after being
set up or formed.

page_text: In setting up the box or dish the several flaps are bent on the line of their
scorings, the corner flaps a, a, a, a, passing inside of the end flaps C, C, the outer
corner of the lugs c, c, entering the ends of the slits bon approaching them and
then passing wholly through said slits, the material at one end of the slit resting
in the short slits of the flaps C and the material at the opposite end of said slits
resting against the hooked outer edge of the short lugs c, c, as shown in Figures 13
and 14, and interlocking the sides of the box firmly together.
I have herein described the box or dish as made with scorings, but the same
shaped box might be formed of thin paper by making angular bends at the junction
of the bottom and flaps without previous scoring, or the box or dish might be
formed with rounded bends instead of angular ones, giving it a sort of oval shape
instead of rectangular but cut out in the same shape, the difference being solely in
the manner of setting up.
Figure 16 is a plan of the material cut and scored to form a box, of the class
shewn in Figures 7 and 7*, in such a manner that the infolding portion at cach
side of the part A will be level and on a line with the parts h, h', thus avoiding the
extra thickness of material at this end of the box which cannot be avoided when
the material is cut, as shewn in Figure 7.
To secure this result I cut the material, leaving spaces as shewn at H, H,
Figure 16. The material is also cut right through at the parts represented by the
lines H*, H*, and a tongue is thus provided. It will be understood that in
folding up the parts of a blank so cut the edge 1 of the parts and h¹ will meet
the corresponding edges 2 of the tongues g, and an inner side is thus formed on both
sides of the box, which inner sides fold within and lie parallel with the outer
sides h², h³, the thickness of material being uniform along the entire length of the
box, thus entirely avoiding the inward protuberance which exists when the parts
are folded in, as described with respect to Figure 7. The material adjacent to the
edges and 2 may be gummed to the inner surface of the outer sides so as to
prevent the said edges from projecting laterally into the interior space of the box,
or they may be otherwise secured when desired.
In some cases 1 prefer to fasten the improved boxes herein described by means
of metal eyelets or ordinary metal paper fasteners of that class which are made
with two prongs or pieces designed to enter the paper and be folded back, or any
other suitable metal device may be used. In making the blanks for the boxes to
be so fastened I provide suitable apertures in the sides of the blank in such
positions as may be required, according to the size or kind of box. These apertures
will be round in boxes, in which an eyelet is designed to be employed and straight
when the fastening is to be an ordinary pronged paper fastener, and are so cut in
the parts which are to be united that they will come together or coincide when the
blank is folded in the position to form the box.
This method of fastening will be found very advantageous in many kinds of
paper or cardboard boxes other than those made according to the present
Invention.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondents, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,
First. In the box, shewn in Figures 1 to 4 of the Drawings, the peculiar shape
of the corner flaps D, whose outer edge forms part of a circle of which the bottom
corners are the centres, and which flaps have shoulders on a radial line of the said
circle on a narrow neck, substantially as above described and for the purpose
specified.
Second. In the box shewn in Figures 1 to 4 of the Drawings, the combination
of the corner flaps formed on the flaps B with the side flaps C, having the diagonal
slits c extending toward the corner of the bottom, substantially as above described
and for the purpose specified.
Third. In the box illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 of the Drawings, the flaps C,

page_text: having the diagonal slit c and the transverse slits & near the ends of the said slits,
substantially as herein described and for the purpose set forth.
Fourth. A paper box formed from the blank represented in Figure 5 of the
Drawings, the said blank being provided with folding lines or kerfs B, D, and I,
and the V-shaped openings H on opposite sides thereof, substantially as above set
forth and for the purpose specified.
Fifth. A blank for a paper box consisting of the parts h, K¹, h¹, and o, d, b, b¹, h²,
K, ³, arranged as shewn in Figure 7 of the Drawings, and on each side of the
parts A, 1, 2, 3, within the lines B, I, D, and having cut in the parts h³ and h³
thereof the circular slits i, and in the parts h, h', the slits a with the transverse
slits z cut at the ends thereof, substantially as above set forth and for the purpose
specified.
Sixth. A blank for folding boxes, having the slits b reaching to the line upon
which the box is folded, the short slits e running parallel with the slits b and slits d
running at right angles to the slits band e, whereby when the box is bent into
shape the corners may be locked together, substantially as above described, and as
shewn in Figure 8 of the Drawings, for the purpose specified.
Seventh. In the box shewn in Figures 9 to 12 of the Drawings the peculiar
shape of the flaps d, substantially as above set forth and for the purpose specified.
Eighth. In a self-locking box having main and supplemental flaps, as shewn in
Figures 13 to 15 of the Drawings, the flaps C and a having curved edges on the
lines 3 in conjunction with the devices which render the box a self-locking one,
substantially as above set forth and for the purpose specified.
Ninth. A self-locking box, consisting of the main flaps B and C, the latter
divided into three parts at the end by short slits, two of which parts form lugs c
and the supplemental flaps a, having curved inner edges and slits b, substantially
as shewn in Figures 13 to 15 of the Drawings and for the purpose specified.
Tenth. A blank for a paper box, having spaces at H and its material cut through
at H*, thereby forming flaps g, substantially as above described with reference to
Figure 16 of the Drawings, and for the purpose specified.
Eleventh. Fastening together the sides of cardboard, paper, or similar boxes by
means of metal eyelets, pronged paper fasteners or metal fasteners, substantially as
above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.