Improvements in Crates.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improvements in Crates.
We, ARTHUR WELLESLEY MAXWELL, of 75, Burntash Road, Lee, in the County
of Kent, Gentleman, and ANTON EDWIN ANDERSON, of 4, Berry Street, Clerkenwell,
in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to crates particularly suitable for cycles though they may
be used for other purposes for which they are suitable, and so constructed that the
crate can be partly or entirely taken to pieces or folded or partly folded and partly
detached so as to lie in a small compass when not required for use. The details
may be varied but the invention will be understood from the following descrip-
tion:-
Starting with the bottom of the crate this consists of a central bar preferably
wood (of which the whole crate may be entirely or partly constructed) the central
bar having pivotted upon it a suitable number-three for example of cross
bars, which, when the crate is folded, lie parallel with the central bar. At each
end the central bar may bé thickened so as to make it the same thickness as the
bar and cross bars at the other portions; some or all of the bars may be provided
with rollers or pulleys to facilitate moving it. At each end the central bar is
provided with a socket or stop into which fit the lower ends of some of the folding
frame bars next to be described.
The folding frame consists of a suitable number of bars pivotted together like
the well-known lazy tongs, the lower ends of the outside bars fitting into the sockets
at the ends of the bottom central bar, and the upper ends of others of the frame bars
fitting into corresponding sockets at the ends of a similar central top bar. The
central top bar is provided with pivotted cross bars similar to those of the bottom
central bar, and the connections between the collapsible side frames and the top
and bottom bars are made by suitable bolts, clips or equivalent.
The vertical ends of the crate are formed of bars hinged to the bottom or top
central bars, and detachable at their other ends, but connected by any suitable
hook, plate, hinge or other equivalent device. One or both of these ends may be
secured to the top central bar by plates, sockets or equivalent, which can be
locked by a bolt, lock or other means so that the crate cannot be opened in an
unauthorised manner. The better to support the vertical ends and also to provide
a receptacle for the wheels of the cycle we pivot to the vertical ends two bars
which descend at an angle and join the bottom central bar by a suitable fastening
which may also connect the two bars together at that end.
Various forms of sockets and spring catches may be used but I will describe two
forms. In one form a plate or frame carries two spring-controlled catches, each
with an angle-shaped head so that by forcing these through the opening in a
striking plate secured to the other member to be joined, the catches will be pressed
together and will open out when the plate has fastened their heads, thus holding
the two members securely together.

page_text: In another form the spring catch consists of a plate with a spring secured to it,
and having at its further end an angled head, while the other member carries a
similarly shaped fixed catch, so that when the fixed catch is forced against the
spring catch, the fixed catch passes into an opening in the plate appertaining to the
spring catch, and the spring catch springing up behind it prevents the withdrawal,
as will be easily understood.
The crate may be provided with a canvas or waterproof cover of suitable descrip-
tion, which may either be entirely separate and adapted to be placed over it after
the cycle is inserted, or the cover may be secured to suitable portions. the folding
frame portion, for example.
Wo have above described the form which we prefer for the crate, but it will be
understood that this can be considerably modified without departing from the
spirit of the invention. As an example of a modification, although we have
described only one top and bottom central bar, we wish it to be understood that
we may employ two or more of each of these bars either centrally or otherwise as
required. Also although most of the parts are described as pivotted or hinged
together, all the joints may if desired be made detachable. Or again, they may all
be made hinged, means being provided for the insertion and removal of the cycle.
The side frames and vertical ends may all be divided at the centre, pivotted or
hinged or otherwise connected together, as a means of opening the crate, if pre-
ferred.
These crates can be used as stands for cycles by removing the tops.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicants.
We, ARTHUR WELLESLEY MAXWELL, of 75, Burntash Road, Lee, in the County
of Kent, Gentleman, and ANTON EDWIN ANDERSON, of 4, Berry Street, Clerkenwell,
in the County of Middlesex, 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 this invention is to provide a folding or collapsible crate which can
be used over and over again, and which is sufficiently rigid for all purposes to which
it will be applied.
of
The crate constructed according to this invention may be employed for a variety
purposes and may be varied in general conformation to suit the object or objects
it is intended to protect.
In order however to make this invention clearly understood, the construction
suited to enclose a bicycle will now be described in detail with reference to the s
accompanying drawings, from which description any construction for other purposes
will readily be understood without further description or drawings.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the complete crate as constructed for a
bicycle.
Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the junction between two side members and
one bottom member of the crate.
Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of the parts shown in Figure 2.
Figures 4 and 5 show a plan and elevation respectively of the foundation or
bottom bar and its attached parts when folded.

page_text: Figures 6 and 7 a plan and elevation respectively of the top bar and its appurten-
ances when folded.
Figure 8 is a side view, and
Figure 9 an end view of the folded side walls of the crate.
Like letters refer to like parts throughout the drawings.
With reference first to Figure 1:-
A is a base or foundation board to which are attached cross pieces A', A³, A³,
by pivots at a¹, a², a³, so that they may be swivelled about these pivots and lie
preferably parallel to and under the board A, the distance between the cross pieces
and the length of the cross pieces being preferably such as will permit of this. At
each end of the base-board A is an upright member B hinged at 6 to the base A,
and to each of the members B are hinged two struts B¹ whose free ends are united
by a metallic piece 12 of the shape clearly seen in Figures 4 and 5. When the
crate is put together as shown in Figure 1 each of these catches Bª engages with
a groove and hole lettered A4, A5 respectively in the base-board A, thus preventing
the collapse of the two uprights B upon the base.
At each end of the base A is a socket A which receives the lower extremities
of the two end members of the side framing as will be hereinafter explained.
At each end of each of the transverse members A1, A2, A3, is a socket of special
construction, shown more clearly in Figures 2 and 3 and to which further reference
will be made hereinafter.
The top board C is not unlike the base-board A, having transverse, pivotted
members C1, C2, C3, corresponding in number and position with the transverse pieces
of the base, and having at each end a hinged arm D or D¹.
The hinges by which these arms are attached are on the upper face of the
top board C as is clearly shown in Figures 6 and 7.
In the arm D is a recess d and in the arm 11 two recesses d' into which the upper
extremities of the end members at the respective ends of the side framing enter.
The side framing is composed of bars E preferably of wood, pivotally secured
together at their middle points after the manner of lazy-tongs or lattice-work at e.
The two terminal bars are supported at their lower ends by the base A,
into the socket A of which their lower ends, united by a hinge el (Figures 1 and 8)
enter. The bars E² are similarly hinged at e and supported by the other socket A.
The other terminal bars E3 and E are supported by the cross pieces A¹ A³
respectively, their upper ends entering the recesses d d respectively. The bars E³
are hinged together at e³ and the bars E4 at 4, the hinges being pivotally secured
to the bars as are also the hinges e¹, e to the bars E¹ E².
The hinge has longer leaves than the hinge e³, said leaves being also bent
so as to allow the bars E to fold close against and partly embrace the adjacent bars
to the outer faces of which they are attached.
Beyond the above described exceptions the ends of all the bars forming the side
framings are provided with T-shaped feet F adapted to enter and be retained by
sockets in the transverse pieces on the base and top boards.
The construction of these sockets is as follows:-
The end of each transverse bar which is to receive a foot F is hollowed out as
at a, see Figs. 2 and 3, and the hollow is covered by a metallic plate fl having
an open slot sufficiently wide to allow the entry of the neck of the foot F only. The
head of the foot F is therefore held against vertical motion by the plate f¹. A
spring is provided which has a slot f in it, and the end of the head of the foot F
depresses the spring f³ as it enters the hollow at until the head is above the slot f
into which it enters allowing the spring f³ to rise and so retain the foot F against
lateral movement.
To erect the crate the base-board A is placed say on the ground, the uprights B
are raised into position, and supported by the bars B¹ which are swung down and
the ends B inserted in the groove and hole A4, A5. The side framing is then
expanded from its shape shown in Fig. 8 and placed in position on the base-board,
the sockets A receiving the lower ends of the terminal bars as hereinbefore ex-

page_text: plained and the lower ends of the remaining bars being snapped into the sockets on
the transverse pieces A1, A2, A³ which have previously been swivelled into their
position shown in Fig. 1 from that shown in Figs. 4 and 5.
The top bar is placed in position in a similar manner after the bicycle has been
placed in the crate, the transverse pieces C1 C2 and C³ being provided with sockets
having spring catches similar to those on the bars A1, A2, A3, with which the upper
ends of the bars of the side framing engage.
The top may be secured in position by padlocking or otherwise securing the
bars 1, D1 to the uprights B, a padlock d for this purpose is shown in Figure 1.
Straps G and rollers H may also be provided, the former to retain the bicycle in
position, the latter to facilitate removal from place to place.
A chain K may be attached to two of the members E so as to be stretched
between them when the crate is erected; this prevents the side framing from open-
ing too much during the operation of erecting.
In order that the crate may accommodate bicycles of various lengths, a movable
upright B³ may be added having a pin at its lower end which may be inserted into
one or other of a series of holes a in the base A:, holes are in this case made
in the struts B₁ with which holes in the bar 13³ correspond, and through which a
split pin or the like may be passed to retain the bar B³ in position.
Although the above description and the accompanying drawings have reference
only to a crate intended to receive a bicycle, the general contour of the crate may
obviously be varied in any desired manner to suit various objects to be enclosed
without departing from the spirit of this invention, and it is to be clearly under-
stood that the construction of crates according to this invention is not limited
to those intended for bicycles only, but may be applied to crates intended for a
variety of purposes.
In a crate constructed according to this invention the top and bottom
imembers, or either may be formed of a rigid non-collapsible, or non-folding bar,
to which the collapsible lattice frames may be attached in any desired manner.
The invention is therefore not limited to the construction of crate illustrated in
the accompanying drawings, although that construction is preferred. If desired
the top and bottom members or either may be thickened at each end so as to make
them, at those portions, of a total thickness equal to that of a cross bar together
with that of the other portions of the members. Other forms of socket
and spring catch than that described may be employed as desired. For example
a plate or frame may be used having two spring controlled catches each with an
augle-shaped retractile head such that on being forced through an opening in
a striking plate secured to the other member to be joined, the catches will be
pressed together until they reach the other side of the plate, where they will open
out and be fastened thus holding the two members securely together.
The crate may be provided with a canvas or waterproof cover of suitable descrip-
tion, which may either be entirely separate and adapted to be placed over it after
the cycle is inserted, or the cover may be secured to suitable portions the folding
frame portion, for example.
We have above described the form which we prefer for the crate, but it will
be understood that this can be considerably modified without departing from the
spirit of the invention. As an example of a modification, although we have
described only one top and bottom central, bar, we wish it to be understood that
we may employ two or more of each of these bars either centrally or otherwise
as required. Also although most of the parts are described as pivotted or hinged
together, all the joints may if desired be made detachable. Or again, they may all
be made hinged, means being provided for the insertion and removal of the cycle.
The side frames and vertical ends may all be divided at the centre, pivotted or
hinged or otherwise connected together, as a means of opening the crate, if,
preferred. These crates can be used as stands for cycles by removing the tops,
the effect of removing the top of a crate being, to facilitate the placing of the

page_text: cycle in and its removal from the crate, which, thus opened, is in effect a stand
for cycles.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is ;--
1. A crate having one or more rigid members such as A C and one or more
hinged or jointed lattice frames detachably connected with one or both of those
members for the purpose described.
2. The combination in a crate of the kind described of two collapsible lattice
frames hinged together at their ends.
3. In a crate of the kind described the combination with rigid upper and lower
members A and C and lattice frames such as E of hinged pieces such as D or B
substantially as described and illustrated.
4. In a crate of the kind described the combination with a member such as B
of two struts such as B₁ with or without a catch such as B2 for the purpose
described.
5. The combination with a crate of the kind described of an adjustable bar such
as 133 substantially as and for, the purpose described.
6. In a crate of the kind described the combination with the bars of the lattice
frame such as E of a flexible tie such as K substantially as and for the purpose
described or illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
7. In a crate of the kind described catches or interlocking devices for connecting
different parts such as the members E and A¹ substantially as and for the purpose
described or illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.
8. In a crate of the kind described an extensible frame substantially as described
and illustrated in Figures 8 and 9 of the accompanying drawings.
9. In a crate of the kind described the frame member substantially as described
and illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 or Figures 6 and 7 of the accompanying
drawings.
10. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete collap-
sible crate substantially as and for the purpose herein before described and illus-
trated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 12th day of April 1898.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicants.