Improvements in Means for Securing Together the Parts of Collapsable and other Cardboard Boxes,
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Apr., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 27th Jan., 1896-Accepted, 7th Mar., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means for Securing Together the Parts of
Collapsable and other Cardboard Boxes,
I, JOHN EDWARD THORNTON, of Rokeby, Oldfield Road, Altrincham,
Cheshire, Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide a simple and cheap fastener for
securing the various parts of cardboard boxes together.
It is applicable to folding or collapsible boxes, which are usually sent out by
the manufacturer flat, and are folded up when required for use by the consumer;
or for boxes which are sent out by the manufacturer ready folded up for use.
It consists essentially of using a stud or button and a buttonhole. Any convenient
shape of stud and hole may be used, but I prefer to make the stud with a round
or ball-shaped head and a narrow neck; and the button hole in the cardboard
I prefer to make in the form of a slit terminating in a round hole, the diameter of
the hole being less than the diameter of the ball head of the stud.
It will be understood that the head of the stud can be forced through the button
hole by pressure, owing to the shape of the hole and spring of the cardboard.
It therefore holds securely, and does not become readily unfastened, owing to the
partial closing of the button hole preventing the return of the stud head except
by the application of force.
The stud may be of any convenient form so long as the head is larger than the
neck, and rounded so that it will pass through the hole easily when pressed.
It may be round, and either solid or hollow, or it may be made of metal bent
to a suitable shape.
Dated this 26th day of April 1895.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means for Securing Together the Parts of
Collapsable and other Cardboard Boxes.
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 :-
This invention is designed to provide a simple and ready method of fastening
or securing together the parts of folding or collapsable or other cardboard boxes.
It consists essentially in securing the flaps or parts of the boxes by means of a
solid or rigid stud passed through flexible slots or holes cut in the cardboard.
The invention will be fully described with reference to the accompanying
drawings.―
Fig. 1. Extended plan of one form of box to which the invention is applied.
Fig. 2. Sectional elevation of same.

page_text: Fig. 3. Extended plan of another form of box.
Fig. 4. Side elevation.
Fig. 5. Enlarged detail showing form of stud I prefer to employ.
Fig. 6. Detail of another form of stud.
Fig. 7. Detail of a solid stnd..
The box A is cut and folded in the usual way such as shown in the drawings.
In the flaps or adjacent parts of the box which are secured together I cut holes a a¹
and through these I pass a stud B which when the box is raised into position for
use holds it firmly together.
In the form of the box shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the studs B may be permanently
inserted in or affixed to the slot holes a in the flaps C and corresponding slots or
holes a' are cut in the flapelles D to receive the studs. When the box is erected
for use the flapelles D are folded over the flaps. C and the studs B enter the
slots a and hold the parts in position.
In the form of box shown in Figs. 3 and 4 the stud B is preferably affixed to
the side flaps C which are folded over the end flaps C and holes or slots a¹ are
cut in the end flaps C. It is evident however that whatever the exact shape or
form of box the stud may be affixed to one part and pass through the other or
be passed through holes in both parts that lie together passing either from the
outside to the inside or from the inside to the outside as found most convenient.
The holes a a¹ are preferably made in the form of a slit with a round hole in
the centre or at one end the diameter of the hole being less than that of the head
of the stud which is forced through the hole by pressure owing to the spring or
flexibility in the cardboard. It therefore holds securely and does not readily
become unfastened.
The stud may be of any convenient shape or form of a rigid nature. I prefer
to make it with a round or ball shaped head and a narrow neck with a flat base
which can be affixed to one side of the cardboard by projecting pins or the like a
convenient form is that shown in Fig. 5, or the stud may be solid as in Fig. 7.
If desired the stud may pass through only one thickness of the cardboard being
attached to the face of the other part as shown in Fig. 6.
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:
The securing together of the adjacent parts of collapsable or other cardboard
boxes by means of a rigid stud passed through a flexible or spring slot or hole cut
in one or both parts of the box substantially as described and shown.
Dated this 25th day of January 1896.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6, Bank Street, Manchester, Patent Agents..