Improvements in Baskets, Boxes, or other like Receptacles.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Mar., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 6th Dec., 1893-Accepted, 6th Jan.,
1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Baskets, Boxes, or other like Receptacles.
J, WILLIAM DICKSON of Holland House, 20 Barrington Road, Brixton in the
County of London, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
The object of my invention is to construct, baskets, boxes or other like receptacles
in such manner that when empty they can be readily made to collapse or go into a
small compass and again be as readily changed or returned to their normal size and
capacity.
According to my invention I hinge or joint the four or other number of vertical
sides of the basket, box or other receptacle to each other so that when not
internally supported they can be made to lie flat or nearly so upon each other say
two upon two, and I hinge the bottom of the basket or other receptacle to one of
the sides so that it can when required be made to lie flat against either the inside
or outside of the said side. When this bottom is in its normal position it acts as a
sort of stay and keeps all the sides in their normal position, and when in this
position the bottom can be secured by a spring catch or otherwise. When on the
other hand the bottom is caused to lie flat against the side to which it is hinged,
The lid
the sides having no internal support can be collapsed or made to lie flat.
or top of the box may similarly be hinged to one of the sides so as to be capable
of lying flat against the outside or inside of the said side, or it may be a
loose lid.
For parcel-post office purposes for which my improved receptacles are primarily
intended I preferably employ a loose lid to lie upon the parcels placed in the
receptacle, and I provide the receptacle with a bag like covering of canvas or
like material which, when the receptacle is to be closed is tied at the mouth and
sealed.
The receptacles can be made of bamboo, wicker, metal, wood, woven wire or other
suitable material as may be thought best for the particular purpose for which they
are intended.
FM1 1002
J. C. MEWBURN,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Baskets, Boxes, or other like Receptacles.
I, WILLIAM DICKSON of Holland House, 20 Barrington Road, Brixton in the
County of London, Gentleman, 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 my invention is to construct baskets, boxes or other like receptacles
in such manner that when empty they can be readily made to collapse or go into a
small compass and again be as readily changed or returned to their normal size and
capacity.
According to my invention I hinge or joint the vertical sides of the basket, box

page_text: or other receptacle to each other so that when not internally supported they can be
made to lie flat or nearly so upon each other, say two upon two, and I hinge
the bottom of the basket or other receptacle to one of the sides, so that it can
when required be made to lie flat against the inside of the said side. When
this bottom is in its normal position it acts as a sort of stay and keeps all the
sides in their normal position, and when in this position the bottom can be
secured by a spring catch or otherwise. When on the other hand the bottom
is caused to lic flat against the side to which it is hinged, the sides having no
internal support can be collapsed or made to lic flat. The lid or top of the
box may similarly be hinged to one of the sides so as to be capable of lying
flat against the outside or inside of the said side, or it may be a loose lid.
For parcel-post-office purposes, for which my improved receptacles are primarily
intended, I preferably employ a loose lid to lie upon the parcels placed in the
receptacle, and I provide the receptacle with a bag-like covering of canvas or like
material which, when the receptacle is to be closed, is tied at the mouth and
sealed.
The receptacles can be made of bamboo, wicker, metal, wood, woven wire or
other suitable material as may be thought best for the particular purpose for which
they are intended.
Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings represent a square basket
constructed according to my invention and suitable for parcel-post-office
purposes.
Figure 1 is a vertical section and Figure 2 a horizontal section of the basket
when in its normal form, that is to say opened out for use.
Figure 3 is a side view and Figure 4 a horizontal section of the basket when the
sides are made to lie flat against each other or approximately so.
abcd are respectively the four sides of the basket made of cane, wicker or other
suitable material; each side is connected to the two adjoining sides by wire or
other hinges so that when not held apart they can be made to lie flat or
approximately so against each other as seen in Figures 3 and 4. f is the bottom
of the basket; it is hinged to the side a. When the basket is in its normal form
the bottom frests upon internal flanges or supports gg fixed to the sides a b c d
and it acts as a sort of stay and keeps all the sides in their normal position; it is
secured in this position by fastenings which may be of the kind shown or of
any other suitable kind. When on the other hand the bottom fis caused to lie flat
against the side a the four sides have no internal support and can be collapsed into
the form seen in Figures 3 and 4. i is a leather handle by means of which the
bottom can be lifted. is a loose lid to the basket made to lie upon the top of
the parcels or goods in the basket and held down by the side straps 11 which pass
through loops on the top of the lid and are provided with a buckle. m is a canvas
bag-like covering attached to the top of the basket; when the basket has to be
closed this covering is tied at the mouth and sealed. nn are handles for lifting the
basket.
Figures 5, 6 and 7, represent a square wooden box constructed according to my
invention, Figure 5 being a vertical section showing the box in its normal shape and
closed; Figure 6 a plan of the same with the lid open and folded back, and Figure 7
a plan or top view of the box when the sides are made to lie flat or nearly so
against each other.
In these figures letters of reference the same as those in Figures 1 to 4 indicate
corresponding parts.
In this case the lid k is not loose but is hinged to the top of the side a
and when closed it rests upon internal flanges or supports p p fixed to the
upper part of the sides a b c d. These flanges p p as well as the lower flanges or
supports gg for the box bottom (and likewise the flanges g g in the basket shown
in Figures 1 to 4) must be tapered off to opposite corners to allow the sides to fold
against each other. The lid k of the box when closed is secured by any suitable
fastening 9.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The construction of baskets, boxes or other like receptacles in which the
sides are hinged to each other and the bottom is hinged to one of the sides so that
it can be made to lie flat against the inside of the said side, the said bottom when
the basket or receptacle is in its normal shape acting as a sort of stay to the sides
whilst when the bottom is made to lie flat against the side to which it is hinged the
sides of the basket or receptacle can be made to lie flat or nearly so against each
other, substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. The construction of baskets as represented in Figures 1 to 4 and hereinbefore
described.
3. The construction of boxes as represented in Figures 5, 6 and 7 and hereinbefore
described.
Dated this 6th day of December 1893.
J. C. MEWBURN,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agent.