IMPROVEMENTS IN FOLDING PACKING CASES, BOXES, CRATES, PORTMANTEAUX AND TRAVELLING TRUNKS AND IN FITTINGS PROVISIONAL SP SAME PARTLY ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER DING APPLIANCES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Greene of Upper Thames Street in the City of
London for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FOLDING PACKING CASES,
BOXES, CRATES, PORTMANTEAUX AND TRAVELLING TRUNKS AND IN FITTINGS
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Greene at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th June 1883.
HENRY GREENE of Upper Thames Street in the City of London
*IMPROVE-
MENTS IN FOLDING PACKING CASES, BOXES, CRATES, PORTMANTEAUX AND
TRAVELLING TRUNKS AND IN FITTINGS FOR SAME PARTLY ALSO APPLICABLE TO
OTHER FOLDING APPLIANCES
دو
These improvements refer mainly to improved packing eases which can be
folded up when empty, and to fittings for connecting the various parts of same.
The case box or crate is generally made with two opposite sides or ends so
hinged to the bottom as to be able to fold down while the other two sides consist
each of a lower part fixed to the bottom and of an upper part hinged to such lower
part; these two sides fold down on the first named folded down ends. The lid is
so connected to the box by outer or inner fittings that it can be fixed or entirely
removed by sliding slightly endways. I connect the aforesaid folding ends and
the upper parts of the sides of the box to the bottom and to the lower parts of the
sides respectively by means of sheet or other metal hinges each part of which may
advantageously be stamped out of sheet iron and formed with pointed fangs that
are driven into the wood and for further security may then be bent over or
clinched, thus doing away with the use of screws or nails. The four sides of the
box are firmly connected with each other and firmly stayed by means of combined
angle pieces and staples each consisting of an angle piece one side or leg of which
is plain and holds the end of the box against falling outwardly, while the other
side or leg of the angle piece is formed with pointed fangs which are driven into
the inside of the adjoining side of the box; it is also formed with a notch into
which a hasp or catch can be pushed, this hasp is pivotted to a plate formed with

page_text: pointed fangs by means of which the plate is fastened to the end of the box. The
hasp is kept from shaking loose by means of a stop or arm which is pivotted to a
fanged plate.
For the purpose of fixing the lid to the box I fix to the underside of the lid one
or more catch plates formed with pointed fangs for fixing them by; these catch
plates are so placed as to take under corresponding projecting pieces fixed by fangs
to the inside of the sides of the box when the lid is made to slide into position on
the top of the box. Or I connect the lid to the box by means of catches fixed by
preference to the underside of the lid by fangs and dropping into corresponding
staples fixed by fangs screws or otherwise to the outside of the box. On sliding
the lid into position the catches take under the staples and thus hold the lid. Or
the lid may be provided with one or more studs which as the lid is slided into
position take into corresponding eyes or holes provided on the box; these fittings
may be fastened by fangs or otherwise. Or I may provide the lid with loose joint
hinges.
To secure the lid and prevent it from being slided off I use in connection with
any of the aforesaid means an angle plate or other fastening fixed by fangs at one
end and by a screw which enters the said plate. Or I may use inside or outside
lock in conjunction with the screw plate or otherwise
In connection with the aforesaid sliding lid I find it advantageous in some cases
to carry up one end or side of the box to the height of the top of the lid and fix
the aforesaid stud plate thereto.
The aforesaid fittings are also partly applicable to folding furniture such as
school furniture, wardrobes and shelves.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Henry Greene in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
13th December 1883.
"IMPROVE-
PORTMANTEAUX
AND
HENRY GREENE of Upper Thames Street in the City of London
MENTS IN FOLDING PACKING CASES, BOXES, CRATES,
TRAVELLING TRUNKS AND IN FITTINGS FOR SAME PARTLY ALSO APPLICABLE TO
OTHER FOLDING APPLIANCES
"
These improvements refer mainly to improved packing cases which can be folded
up when empty and to fittings for connecting the various parts of same.
On the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of a box
constructed according to this invention when in the opened position for use but
without the lid. Figure 2 is a vertical cross section of the box with the lid slightly
raised, Figure 3 is a perspective view of the box when folded up for storing and
return empty. Figure 2 A shows a portion of side of box with fastening. Figure 4
is a perspective view of the hinge for connecting one of the sides, and Figure 5 a
perspective view of the hinge for connecting the ends to the bottom. Figure 6 is a
part section showing another mode of fixing the lid Figure 7 is a perspective view
of the fitting for connecting the sliding lid to the box.
The case, box or crate is generally and as here shown made with two opposite
sides or ends A A¹ so hinged to the bottom B as to be able to fold down while the
other two sides consist each of a lower part C and C respectively fixed to the
bottom B but made of unequal height as shown in Figure 2 and of an upper
part O and C respectively hinged to such lower parts C and C2; these two
sides Cs and fold down on the first named folded down ends A and A¹ The
lid D is so connected to the box by outer or as here shown inner fittings E and F
that it can be fixed or entirely removed by sliding slightly end ways. I connect
the aforesaid folding ends A A¹ and the upper parts C and C³ of the sides of the
box to the bottom B and to the lower parts O and C³ of the sides respectively
by means of sheet iron or other metal hinges G Figure 5 and H Figure 4 each
part of which may advantageously be stamped out of sheet iron or other metal
and formed with pointed fangs that are driven into the wood and for further
security may then be bent over or clenched, thus doing away with the use of
screws or nails. The hinge G Figure 5 consists of a stamped out part with bent and
clenched fangs and having a hinge pin g which is driven into the bottom B and
clenched. The hinge H Figure 4 consists of two stamped out parts hinged together
and provided with fangs which are driven into the side pieces C and C and
clenched. The four sides A, A, C and C of the box are firmly connected with
each other and firmly stayed by means of combined angle pieces and staples each
consisting of an angle piece I one side or leg of which is plain and holds the end A
and A¹ of the box against falling outwardly while the other side or leg of the
angle piece is fixed by a screw to the inside of the adjoining side C₁ and C³ (or
may be formed with pointed fangs like the hinges G and H which are driven into
the inside of the adjoining side of the box) it is also formed with a notch i into
which a hasp or catch K can be pushed; this hasp is pivoted to the end A and A¹
of the box (or to a plate formed with pointed fangs by means of which the plate is
fastened to the end of the box) The hasp K is kept from shaking loose by means of
a stop or arm k projecting upwards against the lid and the hasp is then by the lid
kept from unhasping; Figure 24 shows a part of the side of the box with the angle
piece L

page_text: For the purpose of fixing the lid to the box I may fix to the underside of the
lid one or more catch plates formed with pointed fangs such as shown in connec-
tion with the hinges G and H for fixing them by, these catch plates being so
placed as to take under corresponding projecting pieces fixed by fangs to the inside
of the sides of the box when the lid is made to slide into position on the top of the
box. Or I may connect the lid to the box by means of catches fixed by preference
to the underside of the lid by fangs and dropping into corresponding staples fixed
by fangs screws or otherwise to the outside of the box. On sliding the lid into
position the catches will taken under the staples and thus hold the lid Or the lid
may as here shown in figs 1 and 2 and as already stated be provided with one or
more studs E which as the lid is slided into position take into corresponding eyes
or holes F provided on the box; these fittings may be fastened by fangs as shown
in fig 7 or otherwise. Or I, may provide the lid with loose joint hinges.
To secure the lid and prevent it from being slided off I use in connection with
any of the aforesaid means an angle plate or other fastening fixed by fangs at one
end and by a screw which enters the said plates. Or I may use inside or outside
lock in conjunction with the screw plate or otherwise.
In connection with the aforesaid sliding lid I find it advantageous in some cases
and as shown in Figure 6 to carry up one end A or side of the box to the height
of the top of the lid D and fix the aforesaid stud plate E thereto, the stud then
entering a hole or eye formed in (or fitted to) the said raised end or side of the
box A. A staple with padlock may then be provided at the opposite end.
The aforesaid fittings are also partly applicable to folding furniture such as
school furniture wardrobes and shelves.
And having thus described and ascertained the nature of my invention and how
the same may be carried into effect I declare that I am aware that it has heretofore
been proposed to make folding boxes and crates in which two opposite ends are
each formed of an upper and a lower part, which parts are united by hinges; also
that hinges similar to those shown in Figures 4 and 5 of my drawings have been
proposed to be used for folding boxes; also that the sides of such boxes have
been connected with each other by means of hasps and staples at the corners, the
said hasps requiring a flanged part which comes in contact with a special fitting on
the underside of the lid when closed or otherwise requiring a special pivotted stop
or catch for holding the hasp in position, but I claim :-
First: The hasps K for the staples I for folding boxes the hasp having an arm
or stop k against the lid which thus keeps it in position, and having a tail part kl
for easily manipulating it substantially as described with reference to Figures 1, 2
and 2ª.
Second: The fittings for connecting the lid to the box substantially as described
with reference to Figures 1, 2, 6 and 7.
Third: The combination of parts forming the improved folding boxes and crates
all fitted and constructed substantially as described and shown.
In witness whereof I the said Henry Greene have hereunto set my hand and
seal this Thirteenth day of December in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty three.
ADDRIZ