Improvements in or relating to Baskets or similar Receptacles.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Apr., 1894-Accepted, 27th Oct., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Baskets or similar Receptacles.
I, EMILY MORELAND HUDGIN, residing at S.E. corner Main and Hutchins
Avenues, Avondale, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America, Lady, 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:
similar
nature,
This invention relates to baskets, or hand-receptacles.of
designed to be carried by hand for the transportation of packages &c., its object
being to produce a novel receptacle of this nature capable of being folded into
small compass when out of use, in order that it may, itself, be conveniently carried
or packed.
To this end, the invention consists in a folding basket or hand-receptacle having
a skeleton-frame preferably formed of wires, strips, or tubes of metal or any light
and strong material suitable for the purpose, constituting, when folded, and in
connection with its cover, a receptacle or basket for the purpose indicated.
The general principle of construction lies in combining and pivoting to centre-
pieces in successive radial relations, as hereinafter specified, a series of yoke or bow-
shaped braces or ribs, each consisting of an outer bow or yoke with stems hinged
to and prolonging its parallel ends. All the stems are pivoted at their free ends
in close radial relations to opposite centre-pieces, so that the braces may fold
together in parallel relations, and the stems, when brought thus together in parallel
relations at opposite sides, may fold inward in a body at each side,-one body
over the other, by means of their hinged joints.
The covering of the frame may be of cloth, leather or any material capable of
being folded; and may be placed outside or inside of the frame, or made double so
as to cover at both sides.
This invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which :-
Figure 1, is a general side elevation of this improved folding basket or receptacle
complete;
Figure 2, is a perspective view of the skeleton folding frame complete; with the
covering removed;
Figure 3. is a front or side elevation, corresponding with Fig. 1, of the skeleton-
frame with radial braces folded together into parallel relations in the first step of
folding;
Figure 4. is a side view of the partially folded frame, in a plane perpendicular to
that of the last figure, and showing in dotted lines the position of parts when
completely folded together;
and
Figures 5 and 6, are detail end and side views respectively, of the central catch
device for holding the parts in open or unfolded position for use;
Figure 7, is a detail view of a slight modification of structure.
Referring now more particularly to the drawings; A. designates the basket or
receptacle embodying this invention. The skeleton frame, indicated by dotted
lines in Fig. 1, and in full perspective in Fig. 2, consists of a series of yoke or bow-
shaped braces, b, intended by parallel stems a, (designated in series order by
consecutive numbers), which are pivotted to centre-pieces c placed at the median
cross-line of the body of the basket. The centre-pieces consist of two similar
plates c, of the form shown more clearly in Figs. 5 and 6, which receive the stems (<,
between them upon pivots inserted from side to side through the plates.
The braces consist, in each case, of yoke shaped ends 6, having steras a, hinged

page_text: to and extending the free ends of the yoke-portion in parallel relations. The upper
ends of the stems are pivotted at each side of the frame to the centre-pieces c, so
that each brace swings in radial relations with the next, and so that their own hinge-
connections with their yoke ends b, will be in line a, as indicated in Fig. 3, when
the yokes are folded together. The stems of each brace are pivotted to the yoke
portion so as to fold inward each stem toward its corresponding stem in the general
plane of the entire brace. When the braces are brought together in parallel
relations, as shown in Fig. 3, the stems may be folded downward as a body inward,
overlapping each other, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 4,-forming of the
whole skeleton, a small and compact bundle.
Taking the braces in order from left to right, as seen in Fig. 2, the series begins
with the brace a, b, constituting a marginal support for the cover around one-half
the mouth of the receptacle, and ends with the brace a¹0 610 occupying similar
relations as to the other half. The first and last in series, are of heavier or stronger
material than the intervening braces; and the free ends of additional braces
constituting yoke-shaped handles h, are pivotally attached to them as at y, for
conveniently carrying the basket by hand. The stems of the handles are jointed
in the same manner as the other braces, the joints being so placed as to register
.with the others in line, (Fig. 3) and permit the stems of the handles to fold inward
with the braces to which they are attached.
The outer or marginal braces, a¹, 1, 10, 110, of the series are prolonged somewhat
beyond their pivotal attachment with the centre-pieces c, so that when spread out,
as in Figs. 1 and 2, their inner or free ends abut, as shown in the detail Fig. 6.
To hold them in this position, I apply a spring catch d, secured to the outer
plate c, at each side of the frame and standing normally with its head projecting
inwardly as a hood over the abutting ends of the stems, a', and at. These stems
being pivotted to the centre-pieces, c, outwardly of the abutting ends, these ends
swing upwardly in the same plane from the position of the catch d, when the latter
is pressed aside out of their plane or movement. (See Figs. 5 and 6.)
The resiliency of the shank of the catch, however, normally returns the catch
back to its engaging position. The upper surface of the hood being inclined to the
plane of movement of the stems, the latter engage and thrust it aside in moving
downward, and permit it to spring back automatically to engage over the stems
when the basket is folded for use.
The cover,, (shown in Fig. 1) may be attached to each brace, to form links
connecting them to one another, and bringing all to proper relative position when
setting the outer braces a', b', ao, 610; and fold between them in the manner of a bellows
covering, when the device is folded up. The braces, may, however, be connected
by flexible links or cords, (not shown), performing the same function independently
of the cover, so that the frame may fold inside or outside of the cover in-
dependently; or the latter may be made wholly detachable from the frame to be
put on or in the frame as desired; or a duplicate cover over the frame both outside
and inside may be used, either permanently or removably attached thereto.
In Fig. 7, I have shown a slight modification of structure in which centre-
pieces, C, are each made in two.similar parts c', c', pivotted together centrally, and
have their outer ends attached rigidly to the stems a', a¹0. This, however, possesses
no advantage over the construction first described. In such cases, the ends of the
steins draw apart in folding down, and catch-hook e, or similar device is employed
to retain them.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is ;-
1. In a folding basket or hand receptacle in combination with two opposite
centre-pieces a series of yoke-shaped braces independently pivotted thereto and
adapted to fold together in adjacent parallel cross planes substantially as set forth.
2. In a folding basket or hand receptacle a skeleton frame consisting of a

page_text: plurality of yoke-shaped braces each independently pivotted to two opposite
centre-pieces and adapted to fold together in adjacent parallel cross planes each
arm of each brace being hinged to its yoke portion so that when thus brought
together the hinges at opposite sides are in common axis adapting the stems to
fold inward as a body substantially as set forth.
3. The combination in a folding basket or hand receptacle of opposite centre-
pieces a plurality of yoke-shaped braces independently pivotted thereto in adjacent
relations to swing outward and catches at each side adapted to engage the inner
ends of the two outer braces of the series substantially as set forth.
4. In a folding basket or receptacle the combination of the yoke-shaped braces
the centre-pieces consisting of the opposite plates with pins or rivets extending
through and between them as pivots for the braces and the spring catches adapted
to project a hood over the joint formed by the abutting ends of the outer braces of
the series substantially as set forth.
5. In a folding basket or hand receptacle the combination of the described
system of folding braces the centre-pieces to which they are pivotally attached and
the yoke handles pivotted to the outer braces between the centre-pieces and the
yoke ends so as to fold downwards with said braces and when in use aid in keeping
the receptacle in proper position substantially as set forth.
Dated this 24th day of April 1894.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.