IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF TRUNKS, PORTMANTEAUS, AND BOXES
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Michael Myers, of Wigmore Street, Cavendish
Square, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
Scaled the 9th October 1868, and dated the 18th April 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Michael Myers at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
13th April 1868.
I, MICHAEL MYERS, of Wigmore Street, Cavendish Square, in the County
of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF TRUNKS, PORTMANTEAUS, AND BOXES," to
be as follows:-
This Invention consists in certain improvements in trunks, portmanteaus,
and boxes, known as basket trunks. I propose to form the trunk, portmanteau,
or box of wicker or basket work, wood, leather, or other light material, and to
cover the exterior with leather, leather cloth, or other waterproof fabric, the
interior being lined in the ordinary manner. The top or lid of the box is
provided with a collapsible or bellows-formed receptacle, the entrance to which
is through an aperture in the lid of the box or trunk, the aperture being closed
in the usual manner. When it is desired to pack this receptacle, the straps
which pass round the trunk are to be released from buttons, studs, or buckles
fixed in front of the lid proper of the trunk, when the receptacle will be elevated
or opened to its utmost extent by means of light springs of any known

page_text: desirable form, so that the articles may be easily inserted and arranged therein
without the necessity of forcing up the bellows top, thus enabling the contents
to be packed without disarranging them. The upper portion of the main
body of the box receives a tray, which rests on abutments in the interior of
the box, and beneath which tray another sliding tray or drawer is placed, so
that if anything is required to be withdrawn from the lower part of the box
the drawer may be pulled out from one end, so as to avoid disturbing the
contents of the upper part of the box. The drawer may be secured by a lock
and key, and enclosed by an end flap of the material with which the exterior
of the box is covered, and finally by the straps. The lid is intended to fit or
lap over the upper portion of the main body of the trunk and rest upon a lip
or ledge, so as to prevent rain or damp from entering the trunk, portmanteau,
or box.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Michael Myers in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
13th October 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, MICHAEL
MYERS, of Wigmore Street, Cavendish Square, in the County of Middlesex,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-sixth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Michael Myers, Her special licence that I, the said Michael Myers,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Michael Myers, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain.
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF TRUNKS, PORTMANTEAUS, AND BOXES,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Michael Myers, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their,
or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to
be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent

page_text: Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of
the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Michael Myers, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement.
My Invention consists in certain improvements in trunks, portmanteaus,
and boxes, known as basket trunks. I form the trunk, portmanteau, or box
of wicker or basket work, wood, leather, or other light material, and cover the
exterior with leather, leather cloth, or other waterproof fabric, the interior
being lined in the ordinary manner. I make the top or lid of the box with a
collapsible or bellows-formed receptacle, the entrance to which is through an
aperture exposed when the lid is thrown back or opened.
I also make baskets, portmanteaus, or boxes with a plain lid or top, and
make the upper half of the box collapsible. I arrange springs in the interior
of the collapsible receptacle in such manner that they shall open or raise
them to their utmost limit, ready for being packed, after which, when the
box is closed, the collapsible receptacles may be compressed by means of the.
straps.
:
I now proceed to describe the best means I am acquainted with for carrying
my said Invention into practical effect, reference being had to the accompany-
ing Sheet of Drawings, and to the figures and letters of reference marked thercon,
as follows:
Fig. 1 represents a perspective view of a wicker box or portmanteau covered
with leather or other waterproof material.
a is the lid shewn plain, but which may be made with sides as in the other
Figures; b is the upper part of the box, formed of an iron framing and leather
or other material capable of being collapsed or compressed in folds or layers,
as shewn by the lines c, c; d is the lower portion or half of the box, which is
furnished with a drawer e, the usual flaps and straps; buckles and locks are.
not necessary to be shewn in the Drawings.
The main feature of the Invention is the self-acting expanding action of
these collapsible portions of the portmanteaus, of whatever form or dimensions
they may be.
In order to accomplish this result, I place springs, in the interior of the
collapsible divisions or sections, and these springs may be of metal, or of
metal and india-rubber, or of other suitable material, and of any form or
known construction which may be applicable to such purpose.
Fig. 2 represents two methods by which this result may be attained for

page_text: such a box as that shewn in Fig. 1. b, b, is the iron or wooden frame of the
upper part of the portmanteau, and f,f,f, and f", are vertical rods supporting
and attached to the same; these rods are inserted into the four tubes g, 9, 9', g',
forming the four supports of the frame of the lower portion of the box. Now
two of the rods f, f, aro enclosed or surrounded by open spiral springs h, h, and
the other two rods f¹, f, press or bear upon similar springs contained within
the other tubes 9', g'. In practice, of course, the springs in each portmanteau
would all correspond; the Drawing shews two examples in one. It will
therefore be obvious that when the upper portion of the box is filled or partly
filled, or altogether empty, that the collapsible portion may be tightened
down against the action of the springs, and strapped down to the lower portion.
Any other springs may be applied to the above description of box, such as
those I am about to describe for other examples.
Fig. 3 represents a basket box or portmanteau, having the parts b and d
fixed and immoveable, and the lid made as a collapsible receptacle for clothes ;
the lid i corresponds indeed in its action with the upper part 6 of Fig. 1,
but it cannot be actuated by the same springs. I employ by preference the
double spring k, the four extremities of which work in slots or grooved guides
in metal or wooden bars within the framework of the lid ; 1 shews the aperture
for tho insertion of clothes; and here I would remark upon another improve-
ment in the construction of these boxes or portmanteaus, which consists in the
formation of a lip or ledge m of wickerwork or other material around the
upper part of the basket box or portmanteau, to receive the sides or wings
of the lid n, which shut down upon it, and form an excellent joint. One great
advantage of which is that it is impossible to insert the hand between the lid
and the top of the box, which can easily be done in wicker dress boxes of the
present construction.
Fig. 4 shows a modification of the spring k, whereby it is roversed as in
a carriage spring. Fig. 5 shews another modification of spring similar in
form to that employed in Fig. 3, but it is much longer, and intended to be
applied at the front and back of the lid of the box instead of at the sides.
Fig. 6 shews & reversal of this spring.
. Fig. 7 shews a wicker basket with a lip or ledge m, also of wickerwork,
to receive the sides of the lid when shut, in order that such sides may bear
upon the ledge and form a very secure joint, quite different from that made
by the present flat or arched lid shutting down flush on the top of the
box; o, o, show the edges or wings of the lid, which are to be made of the
same depth and form as that between the ledge of the box and the top,
whether such top be curvilinear or straight. The box is represented as covered

page_text: with leather or waterproof canvas, but I make them uncovered and merely
wickerwork whenever desirable.
My particular point in this Invention is specially intended for baskets
covered with waterproof material known as dress baskets, as in these particular
class of goods the lip or ledge has not been hitherto used, although the lip or
ledge may have been made in other baskets, it has never been used in covered
baskets, or what may be termed waterproof dress baskets, such as linen
bampers. The lip is covered with leather, cloth, or other suitable material
for the purpose of making the lid, when closed, adhero as close as possible to it,
so as to make it as near air or water-tight as possible.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention and the manner
in which the same is to be performed, I would remark in conclusion that
I do not limit myself to the precise details and configuration of parts herein
described and shewn, as the same may obviously be varied or modified in
many ways without departing from the principles on which my Invention
is based; for example, spiral or compound springs of every description and
of whatever material may be employed; but what I claim, and desire to
be secured to me by the herein in part recited Letters Patent, are,-
First, the collapsible top of the portmanteau basket or box, as shewn in
Figures 1 and 2.
Secondly, the collapsible receptacle lid, as shewn in Fig. 3, with the appli-
cation of the springs shewn in Figures 4, 5, and 6, or any other springs
substantially the same to all intents and purposes.
And, finally, the application of wicket baskets of the ridge or ledge m,
shewn in Figures 3 and 7, for the purposes herein described and set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Michael Myers, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
Witness,
ALEX. PRINCE,
Offico for Patents,
4, Trafalgar Square,
Charing Cross.
MICHAEL MYERS. (L.S.)