Improvements in Boxes and Lids Made of Cardboard and similar Moterials.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Oct., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 16th July, 1896-Accepted, 22nd Aug.,
1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Boxes and Lids Made of Cardboard and similar
Moterials.
I, JOHN EDWARD THORNTON, of Rokeby, Oldfield Road, Altrincham,
Cheshne, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide means for enabling cadboard or
similar boxes and lids of the same size to pack or nest within each other to save
space in storage or transit.
This saving of space has hitherto been effected (when desired) either by making
the boxes and lids of various sizes so that a number would nest, or by making them
to fold flat or otherwise collapse into small compass. The making of a number of
sizes for the same purpose is often more expensive than one size, and not so con-
venient in use, whilst folding boxes are often unsatisfactory and also require opening
out or erecting before use.
My invention over comes these objections and the boxes and lids are always
opened out ready for immediate use.
The feature of the invention lies in making the boxes and lids wider at the top
or mouth than at the bottom, so that they will readily nest within one-another,
but are all the size, that is to say, they are dish-shaped or conical.
For some purposes it is sufficient to male up the boxes and lids in this way
permanently, but in most cases they are required with the sides at right angles
to the top or bottom I therefore make the sides adjustable when desired, so
that the mouths of the boxes and lids may be readily opened to allow them to
nest. o as readily closed up into the normal position when required for ust.
Rectangular boxes and lids are preferably made adjustable at the corners, the
corners being made to open and close, although in some cases the adjustable Joints
may be made about the centre of the sides.
With round or oval boxes and lids it may be sufficient, in most cases, to have
one expanding joint only.
The means for closing and securing the adjustable joints may be varied to suit
the kind of box required For instance, tapes or cords may be passed through
holes near the joints, whereby they may be diawn together and held closed
The
tapes or cords may be then secured by rings or clips, or by the tension due to
then being passed through holes, or in any other suitable manner.
I prefer however, to use au adjustable cornet. O the sides may be held by a
clip of solt metal which may be easily bent over; or by a clip which is already
bent over; or by a stud or button; or in any other suitable manner.
For rectangular boxes and hds I find it very convenient to secure them at the
corners with corner plates that allow of adjustment of the sides. This corner
plate consists of a metal plate bent at right angles to join two sides of a box or
lid, and it is made double, so that each side of the box oi lid is gripped between
two plates as it were,
The plate may be in one piece doubled over, o.in one piece with tongues pressed
out to form the two plates, or in two pieces joined together at the required distance
apart, or in any other suitable manuel.
The distance apart of the two plates is just sufficient to allow the board to be
lightly gripped between,

page_text: I prefer to form small raised pieces or dinges (by punching or otherwise) on one
of the plates, thereby reducing the space-between them at that point, and corie-
sponding holes in the board.
The raised pieces and the holes are so placed that when the corners of the box
or lid are closed into their normal position the raisel parts sping into the holes,
and thereby tend to hold the coiners closed and prevent thoir being readily opened
unless considerable force is applied.
For lids on shallow boxes the cone piece need not be made deep, but for
deeper boxes I prefer to make the outer plate the full depth of the box, and the
inner or turned over portion, very shallow."
4
Although in many cases the corner plate holds sufficiently tight that it will not
drop off readily, I piefer in some kinds of boxes, and especially in deep ones, to
permanently secure the plate to the box.
This may be done in several ways, but I prefer to leave a narrow tongue on the
plate which is beut inward, passed through a hole in the bottom or lid of the box,
and then clinched similar to a wire paper fastener or staple.
Dated the 23rd day of October 1905
J. E THORNTON.
Improvements in Boxes and Lids Made of Cardboard and similar
Materials.
I, JOHN EDWARD THORNTON, of Rokeby, Oldfield Road, Altrincham, in the
County of Chester, Manufacturer, 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 :-
b
This invention is designed to provide card board boxes and hids which will nest
or pack inside oue another of the same size without being made with tapering or
inclined sides in order to save space in storage and transit
This saving of space has hitherto been effected (when desired) either by making
the boxes and lids of various sizes so that a numbei would nest, or by making them
to fold flat or other wise collapse to small.compass. The making of a number of
sizes for the sanie purpose is often more expensive than one size, and not so
convenient in use, whilst folding boxes are often unsatisfactory and also require
opening out of erecting before use.
My invention overconies these objections and the boxes and lids are always
opened out ready for immediate use.
It consists essentially, in, constructing the boxes with expanding sides which can
be adjusted or withdrawn at the top without collapsing or folding the box to give
a greater area at the top than at the. bottom so that another box of the same size
can be nested on packed there and which when requned can be readily set or
fixed in normal position with the sides at right angles to the top and bottom by
means of cords, clips or other suitable fasteners.
.
It will be fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings
Fig. 1. Perspective view of rectangular box.
Fig. 2. Perspective view of oval box.
Fig. 3. Perspective view of rectangular shallow box lid with cone chips.
Fig. 4. Perspective view of box coiner showing external clip.
Fig. 5. Perspective view of box corner showing internal chip.
Figs. 6, 7, and 8.. Perspective views of corner clips for shallow boxes on box lids.
Figs. 9 and 10. Perspective views of corner chips for deeper boxes.
.
The boxes are made with loose or open joints A placed either at the sides o
cornets which lender the mouths or tops of the boxes or lids adjustable or capable

page_text: of being expanded or readily opened to allow the bottom or another box or na oL
the same size to nest or be packed inside and as readily to close up into normal
position when requned for use.
The joints A may be secured by cords or strings B passed through holes to draw
the adjacent parts of the sides D together or they may be secured by clips C of
metal or other suitable material in which the sides D can slide backwards and
forwards.
At present I prefer to employ the cords when the joints are made in the sides D
and the edges are made to overlap and to employ metal clips C when the joints
are made at the corners but the clips or cords may be employed in either
situation. Instead of cords or clips other suitable connections or fastenings may
he employed.
In Fig. 1a rectangular box is shown with the joints A in the sides D the edge
of one overlapping that of the other. In each side boles d are made through
which a tape or coid B is passed whereby the sides are diawn upright when closed.
All four sides of the box are made to expand but for some boxes it will be sufficient
to make two expanding sides only. The sides D are firmly attached to the bottom E
but are capable of springing sufficiently to allow the top of the box to be opened
wide enough to receive the bottom of the next box to be nested therein. When the
sides of the boxes are diawn together by the tapes or cords B these are secured by
tying hooking or other means over and around the box to maintain the sides
upright. One or two cords (instead of four) may be used being passed all round
top of box and threaded through the holes.
In Fig 2 an oval box is shown with overlapping joints A in two sides. In other
iesperts the box is constructed as described with reference to Fig. 1. The joints
are secured by the tapes or cords B but might if desued be secured by a metal clip
stud on other device.
In Fig. 3 a shallow rectangular box or lid is shown with adjustable or expanding
corners provided with clip C of metal so made as to fit into the corners and
embrace the edges of the sides D which can be drawn in and out there. The
corner clip C may be of any suitable design bent at right angles to join the
two sides.
In Fig. 4 one corner of deep box is shown with external clip C with turned over
edges which embrace the sides D loosely so that they may slide therein A tang oll
at the bottom of the clip secures it to the bottom of the box.
In Fig. 5 one corner of deep box is shown with internal clip with turned over
edges at the top which embrace the sides D loosely so that they may shide therein.
In Figs 6 7 and 8 are shown three forms of metal clips C for securing the
adjustable or expanding corners of boxes or lids. Fig. 6 1s nude out of one
piece of metal the inner piece being turned over from the top Fig. 7 13 made
of two pieces secured together at the centre by solder rivets wire stitches or the
like and Fig 8 18 made with tongues stamped out to form the inner piece c. The
clips may be made in any other suitable manner.
し
The distance apart of ner and outer parts of the chip is just sufficient to allow
the board to be tightly gripped between them and to be moved backwards and
forwards therein as required.
1 prefer to form small raised pieces or dinges c¹ (by punching or otherwise) on
one or both of the plates thereby reducing the space between them at that point
and corresponding holes in the board.
The raised pieces c¹ and the holes are so placed that when the corners of the box
oi lid are closed into their normal position the raised parts spring into the holes,
and thereby tend to hold the corners closed and provent their being readily opened
unless considerable force is applied.
In Figs. 9 and 10 are shown two forins of chips for deep boxes made with a deep
part at one side to close the opening in the corner from top to bottom and with
turned over parts a very shallow to embrace the sides of the box.
Although in many cases the corner plate holds sufficiently tight that it will not

page_text: .
drop off readily I prefer in some kinds of boxes and especially in deep ones to
permanently secure the plate to the box..
This may be done in several ways but I prefer to leave a narrow tongue c¹¹ on
the plate which is bent inwards passed through a hole in the bottom or lid of the
box and then clinched similar to a wire paper fasteuer or staple.
Having now particularly descubed and ascertamed the nature of the said inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim 15.
1. A cardboard box constructed with expanding sides capable of opening out at
the top to receive the bottom of another box of the same size nested or packed
there and of being closed back into normal size and shape for use with sides
perpendicular to the top and bottoin substantially as described.
2 A rectangular, circular or oval box with expanding sides constructed
substantially as described and shown with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the
drawings.
3. An expanding cardboard box or hid with open corners seculed or fastened by
metallic or other clips substantially as described and shown with reference to either
of the Figs. 3 to 10 of the drawings.
Dated this 10th der of Tule 1906.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6, Bank Street, Manchester, Patent Agenta.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6, Bank Street, Manchester, Patent Agenta.