Improvements in Collapsible Boxes.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 17th May, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 18th Feb., 1895-Accepted, 23rd Mar., 1895
Improvements in Collapsible Boxes.
I, MARY HARVEY BLAKE, of 3 Clifton Road, Eccles, in the County of
Lancaster, Widow, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be as
follows:-
My invention has reference to cardboard boxes for transporting millenery and
light articles generally and consists in so "scoring," creasing or crimping the card-
board box "blank," as hereinafter described, that the box before or after using
may collapse for economising room in storing.
"
In accordance with my invention I take a card-board box "blank
or sheet. of
cardboard of rectangular formation and I "score," crease or crimp the same in
the usual manner for forming the sides and ends of the box, continuing such
"scoring" creasing or crimping, however, to the outside edges of the blank and
causing the scores, creases or crimps to intersect each other instead of stopping at
the point of intersection as heretofore and cutting the corner portions away. To
this way the corner portions remain part of the box and to enable the sides and
ends of the box to be turned up vertically such corner portions are "scored,"
creased or crimped diagonally which allows them to fold inwards. On opening out
the box these corner portions fold out to the flat.
To stiffen the box when made up I provide each of the sides or ends of the box
with a locking flap which when folded inwards covers and locks the corner portions.
These flaps may be formed out of the original "blank or they may be specially
applied.
"
To fix the end flaps after covering the folded corners I provide a pair of spring
locking tonges for each flap by preference, formed out of the substance of the
sides or ends of the box, which are pressed inwards as the flap passes, but redound
as soon as such flap has passed and lock it in position.
To give to the box a natural folding property one half of the corner portions is
stitched, eyeletted, pasted or otherwise fastened to the sides or ends of the box.
In lieu of retaining the entire corner portions aforesaid one half may be cut
away and the diagonal edge of the other half secured to the sides or ends of the
box, the sides or ends of the box as the case may be being turned inwards in
the flat.
My invention further comprises the use of a cord attached to each of the flaps
before mentioned, each cord passing from the flap to which it is attached through
the substance of one of the box ends or sides so that when such cords are pulled
tight and their extremities hooked together over the lid the flaps are firmly
fastened and the rigidity of the box is completely assured, and at the same time
the lid is fastened on. The box may be carried by this cord. The lid with its
sides and ends is formed in substantially the same manner as the box hereinbefore
described.
Dated 17th Mov 1901

page_text: 1, MARY HARVEY BLAKE of 3 Clifton Road, Eccles, in the County of
Lancaster, Widow, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention has reference to card-board boxes for transporting millinery,
flowers, wreaths, boots, clothes and other light articles, and consists in so "scoring,"
creasing or crimping the cardboard box blank, as hereinafter described, that the
box before, or after using may collapse for economising room in storing.
In accordance with my invention I take a card-board, box "blank," or sheet of
card-board of rectangular formation, and I "score," crease or crimp the same in
the usual manner for forming the sides and ends of the box, continuing such
"scores," creases or crimps however to the outside edges of the blank, and causing
them to intersect each other instead of stopping short as heretofore at the point
of intersection, and cutting away the corner portions. To enable the sides and
ends of the box to be turned up vertically, such corner portions are "scored,"
creased or crimped diagonally which allows them to fold inwards.
To stiffen the box when made and to lock the sides and ends in their vertical
positions, provide each of the sides or ends of the box with a locking flap which
when folded inwards covers and locks the corner portions.
These flaps may be formed out of the original blank or they may be specially
applied.
To fix the end flaps after covering the folded corners I provide a pair of spring
locking tongs for each flap, by preference formed out of the substance of the
sides or ends of the box which are pressed inwards as the flap passes them, but
rebound as soon as such flap has passed and lock it in position.
And in order that my said invention shall be the more readily understood and
carried into practical effect I have hereunto annexed a sheet of drawings
illustrating one form of my improved box in the various stages of its formation,
and in the reverse order, shewing how it is collapsible, and I will now proceed to
describe the same with the assistance of the various figures and letters of reference
marked thereon.
Fig. 1 illustrates on a reduced scale the "blank" out of which I produce my
improved collapsible box, with the locking flaps aforesaid shewn as part of the
blank.
Fig. 2 shews one stage of making the box, Fig. 3 another stage and Fig. 4 the
complete box.
Referring now to Fig. 1 the dotted lines (A), (A) represent scorings which are
on the underside and extend to the outside edges of the blank for forming the
sides (B), ends (C) and locking flaps (D) of the intended box. The full lines (E)
represent the diagonal scorings of the corner pieces (F) which are on the upper
face of the blank for enabling such corner pieces to fold inwards.
The box blank having been scored as aforesaid the first step of making it into
the desired box is illustrated in Fig. 2 the sides (B) being folded vertically or at
right angles with the part (C) which forms the bottom of the box. This done,
the ends are turned up as illustrated in Fig. 3 the corner pieces (F) folding
inwards and allowing the edges of the ends to come square and in touching contact
with the edges of the sides. With both sides and ends turned up the flaps (D) are
turned down over the said ends, and over the corner pieces and on passing the
tongs (H), formed in the sides (B), such flaps firmly lock the ends and sides in
position and keep the box in its extended form. The said tongs or spring

page_text: catches (H) are, by preference, stamped out of the substance of the box, but may
be made separate and attachable, and may be made of thin sheet metal.
To further ensure of the box retaining its forin and rigidity when in use I
provide a cord (I) passing through holes (J) in the flaps (D), and through corre-
sponding holes in the ends of the box, and with each end of such cord provided
with a knot or button, so that in using this cord for carrying the box, and under
the weight of the box, the said cord pulls the flaps (D) more tightly against the
box ends and against the corner pieces (F).
In lieu of a single cord extending from side to side of the box, two cords may
be used connected together by a hook at or near the centre of the box, and the
ends of such cords entering the box ends at two points. By threading them
through the corner portions (F) the flaps (D) may be dispensed with.
To collapse the box the aforesaid modus operandi of making up the box is
reversed, the spring tongs requiring to be pressed outwards from the box
interior for the flaps (D) to pass; Fig. 1 representing the box in its collapsed
position.
To give the box a natural folding property I may fold the sides inwards and
fasten one part of the corner portions (that furthest from the sides) to the ends of
the box so that when the sides are pulled up to the vertical the ends rise to the
vertical simultaneously, and thus facilitate the making up of the box.
In lieu of retaining the entire corner portions as aforesaid, one half may be cut
away and the diagonal edge of the other half secured to the ends of the box, the
sides, as in the previous modification, being folded inwards for collapsing the box.
The lid (see part plan view Fig. 5) is made in a similar manner to the box, the
flaps (H) if desired being dispensed with as the fixing of the lid on the box secures
the corner pieces (F).
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1st. The hereinbefore described card-board or similar box "blank," scored,
creased or crimped in the manner hereinbefore set forth and illustrated in Fig. 1 of
the accompanying drawing for the production of a collapsible box.
2nd. A collapsible card-board or similar box made and constructed substantially
as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.
3rd. In a collapsible cardboard box the folding corner pieces (F), locking
flaps (D), spring catches (H) and cord (1) or its equivalent substantially as and
for the purposes hereinbefore set forth and illustrated on the accompanying
drawing.
Dated this 16th day of February 1895.
JOHN G. WILSON & Co.,
Agents.