Improvements in Folding Crates.
Year: 1890

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Folding Crates.
I, WILLIAM BRUCE of Wellsville, in the County of Allegany and State of New
York, United States of America, Gentleman, 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 my invention relates to certain new and useful Improvements in Folding
Crates; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description
of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to
make and use the same reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form
a part of this specification, and in which-
Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved folding crate as the same appears
when folded or collapsed.
Figure 2 is a similar view of the crate as it appears when put together or closed
Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional_view.
Figure 4 is a cross-section on the line xx, Fig. 2.
Figure 5 is a horizontal section on the line y y, Fig. 3; and
Figures 6 and 7 are detail views, respectively, of the slat and connecting horizontal
piece.
Like letters of reference denote like parts throughout the several views.
This invention has relation to collapsible boxes, crates, or coops for shipping fruits
and vegetables, eggs live fowls, and merchandise generally, of that class in which the
several parts are hinged to one another, so as to permit of their being folded together
in a compact form, and thereby occupying a minimum of space when the box is not in
use; and my improvement relates more particularly to the peculiar construction of
the box, whereby great rigidity and strength are attained to the several parts con
stituting the same, consisting of the detailed construction and combination of narts as
herein described and claimed.
In the accompanying two sheets of drawings, the letters A A denote the two. end
pieces, which are hinged at a a by inwardly-opening hinges at opposite ends of the
bottom piece. The top and bottom strips a¹ a¹ of these end pieces are provided with
inner bevelled faces a² a terminating in shoulders as a³, while their opposite ends are
cut away upon their inner sides to form right-angular notches a* a*.
The letters B B represent slats or strips or a solid panel secured between the top
and bottom strips, the end slats or solid panel being cut away or notched longitudinally,
as at b, said notches registering with the notches of the ends of the front and back
pieces. These vertical slats or strips or solid panel B are also provided on opposite
ends with inclined outer faces 6' 6' said inclines terminating in shoulders b² ². It will
be seen from the drawings that the shoulders upon the lower ends of the strips or slats
or solid panel will rest upon the upper horizontal portion of the bottom connecting-strip,
[D7

page_text: while the extreme lower end will rest upon the shoulder a³.
The inclines upon
the
upper ends of the slats or solid panel will in like manner register with the inclines
upon the upper connecting-strip, while the shoulder 62 upon the upper end of the vertical
strips or solid panel will bear against the lower edge of said connecting-strip, and the
upper extreme end will be seated in the shoulder as of the connecting-strip. In this
manner a most secure and rigid connecting of the parts together is effected, the
registering bevils, furthermore, affording convenient surfaces for the driving of nails,
rivets, or similar devices.
The bottom piece represented by the letter C. is provided in front with an outwardly-
projecting cleat or guard D, and is hinged on its opposite or rear side by outwardly-
opening hinges d d to the lower edge of the back piece E. The arrangement of the
slats or solid panel and connecting-pieces is similar in all respects to that of the end
pieces, with the exception that the upper face of the rear connecting-piece is cut away
at c or extended from the shoulder portion to receive the lower end of the back piece E.
The latter also is formed with a series of slats or solid panel having inclined tenoned
ends, the inclines registering with corresponding inclines upon the horizontal
_connecting-pieces. The inner face of the lower connecting-piece, however, is cut away,
as shown at e, thereby permitting the ends of the vertical slats or solid panel of this
_ part of the crate to rest or be supported by the rear extended portion of the bottom
piece, while the extreme lower end of the back piece will he flush with the under side
of the bottom. This back piece is hinged to the top piece F of the crate by inwardly-
opening hinges ff said top piece being preferably constructed solid in the case of
slotted crates and provided upon its under side, near opposite ends thereof, with guide-
strips G G and also near the front end with screw-eyes H H adapted to receive
hooks II secured in the longitudinal notches in the front vertical strips or solid panel
of the end pieces. The edges of this top piece are not bevelled and shouldered,
as is the case with the other portions of the crate, but simply rest upon the top edges
of said portions, and is connected to the front piece J by means of outwardly-opening
hinges K K, whereby said front piece may be folded back upon the top or cover when
the crate is opened. The horizontal connecting-strips and the vertical slats or solid
panel forming this front piece are constructed exactly in accordance with the con-
struction ascribed to the end pieces, and the lower end of this front piece, when the
box is folded will rest upon and be supported by the cleat or guard D, as clearly shown
in Figure 2 of the drawings. When in this closed or built-up position, ready for use,
the end pieces are held in place by the guide-strips G G upon the under side of the
top piece, and also by the hooks and engaging-eyes.
i
4
After the box or crate has been filled with the articles which it is to contain it is
closed by folding the front side down into its vertical or upright position, after which
all the parts are firmly locked or bound together by bolts L-one on each side-
which pass through the perforations bored in the slats forming the back piece, end
pieces, and front piece, so as to draw and firmly bind these several parts together by
-means of nuts M. The front cleat or guard is provided with end perforations d' d¹,
so that when the box is folded these bolts may also be utilized, as shown in Figure 1
of the drawings-that is, may be inserted through the holes bored in the end pieces
and through the perforations in the cleat or guard. This provides for the safe keeping
of the bolts and nuts, besides keeping the ends from flapping when the crate, collapsed,
is bound by a cord for reshipping or stowing away.
One great advantage possessed by my crate is its great rigidity and stiffness, this
being attained by constructing the ends of the end pieces, back piece, and front
piece with registering notches, whereby a close and compact fit of the several portions
of the crate is attained. The particular advantage, however, claimed by me is the
construction of the slats or solid panel and connecting-pieces of the crate, the ends of
the slats or top and bottom of solid panel of the end pieces, front piece, and bottom
piece being supported by the shouldered and inclined surfaces of the connecting
horizontal pieces while the upper ends of the slats or solid panel of the back piece

page_text: are similarly supported and wedged, the lower ends, however, when the box is closed,
resting upon the extended piece of the bottom. It is obvious that by this construction
a most compact, strong and durable arrangement results, capable of withstanding the
most severe strain, and by which, also, means are afforded for more .conveniently
and securely connecting the several parts together. Besides the function named for
the cleat D. viz., that of supporting the lower end of the front piece when the box
is put together and securing the ends of the crate when collapsed by means of the
bolts and nuts-it also has the additional function of acting as a guard or protector
when the box is collapsed. When in this latter position, the ends are folded down
upon the bottom, the bottom and end pieces therefore occupying the uppermost
position, and thus more readily damaged. The guard or cleat, however, extending
upward, will prevent to a great extent any damage which may result from a side
blow or any lateral force or pressure.
Having now 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
1 claim is:
1. As an improved article of manufacture, the herein-described folding shipping
box or crate, consisting of the bottom piece, the cleat or guard secured thereto,
forming an abutment for the lower edge of the front piece and a guard for the end
pieces when the box is collapsed, the end pieces hinged to said bottom piece by
inwardly-opening hinges, the back piece connected to said bottom by outwardly-
opening hinges, the top piece connected to said back piece by inwardly-opening
hinges, the front piece connected to said top piece by outwardly-opening hinges,
the hooks secured to the end pieces and engaging screw eyes in the top piece, and
the side bolts for locking the front, back and end parts together when the box is put
together or closed, substantially as set forth.
2. As an improved article of manufacture, the herein-described folding shipping
box or crate, consisting of the bottom piece, the cleat or guard secured thereto and
provided near opposite ends with bolt-holes, the end pieces hinged to said bottom
piece by inwardly-opening hinges, and the slats or solid panel thereof being pro-
vided with bolt-holes or recesses, the back piece connected to said bottom by out-
wardly-opening hinges and having the end slats or opposite ends of the panel thereof
provided, with bolt-holes, the top piece connected to said back piece by inwardly-
opening hinges, the front piece connected to said top piece by outwardly-opening
hinges and having the end slats or opposite ends of the panel thereof provided with
bolt-holes the hooks secured to the end pieces and engaging screw eyes in the top
piece, and the nutted side bolts, substantially as set forth.
3. As an improved article of manufacture, the herein-described folding shipping
box or crate, having its sides formed of vertical slats or solid panels and horizontal
connecting-pieces, said vertical slats having bevelled ends terminating in shoulders,
and the horizontal connecting pieces having registering inclines and shoulders,
substantially as set forth.
4. In a folding shipping box or crate, the combination of the end pieces having
angular notches upon their inner corners, said end pieces consisting of vertical
slats or solid panels having opposite bevelled ends terminating in shoulders and
borizontal connecting-pieces having registering inclines and shoulders, the bottom
piece having its slats or solid panel and connecting pieces constructed similarly to
the end pieces, the rear connecting piece thereof, however, being further provided
with a lateral extension, the back piece having angular notches upon its corners and
consisting of the upper connecting-piece provided with bevelled and shouldered
inner face slats or solid panel having opposite bevelled ends terminating in shoulders,
and lower connecting-piece having bevelled inner face terminating in a reduced
extended portion, the lower ends of the vertical slats or solid panel of said back
piece adapted to rest upon the rearward extension of the bottom piece, the top piece

page_text: and the front piece having angular notches upon its inner corners the slats or solid
panel and connecting-pieces; thereof constructed similarly to the end pieces, sub-
stantially as set forth: