Boxes, Crates, and Travelling Trunks.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Dec., 1886
Complete Left, 22nd Sept.. 1887
Complete Accepted, 25th Oct.,
1887
Boxes, Crates, and Travelling Trunks.
I, HENRY GREENE, of 218, Upper Thames Street, in the City of London, Iron
Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention to be as follows :-
The object of this invention is to render folding and other packing cases, boxes,
crates and travelling trunks cheaper and also more convenient, secure, and generally
applicable.
Heretofore many kinds of goods, transmitted in crates or skeleton cases made in the
ordinary forms or made to fold up for return empty, have had to be protected against
the wet and dust and dirt by means of wrappings of much paper and other suitable
material around each article or by separate boxes. Now according to my invention
and to save much of the expense and troublo thus incurred I provide crates and
skeleton cases with fixed lining consisting of sheets of canvas, leather, skin, thin
sheet metal, paper, or other suitable sheet material the sheets being by preference held
between the transverse and longitudinal pieces of which the crate or skeleton case is
made, or such sheets may be fastened to the inside of the crate or skeleton case, and
whether the same be made of wood or of other material. I thus produce a package
which while offering almost all the security or protection of a box made with solid
sides and top and bottom yet shall be much cheaper to make much lighter in weight
and which shall be suitable for packing many articles which now have to be packed
separately in close boxes and then put into one common skeleton case or crate.
In order to conveniently affix lids to such and other crates and boxes it is convenient
as described in the specification of my patent No. 2948 of 1883 to construct the parts
in such a manner that the lid after having been placed on to the top of the box needs
only to be pushed a very short distance towards one end of the box in order to be
flush with such end and then to be fixed in position. In the specification of my
patent No. 4862 of 1886 I show and describe lids having the same short sliding action
and ready means for fixing or locking. Now according to this present invention I
further improve such construction by combining and adapting parts described and
shown in the said two patent specifications all as hereinafter described. At one end of

page_text: the box I fix one or more of the eye fittings E described in specification No. 2948
aforesaid or any equivalently acting fittings and provide the lid at this end with oné
or more corresponding stud fittings F described in specification No. 2948 aforesaid or
any equivalently acting fittings. The opposite end of the box is provided with one or
more of the hook fittings described with reference to Figure 25. 26 and 27 of
specification No. 4862 aforesaid or any equivalently acting fittings or parts such for
instance as a piece of hoop iron under which that end of the lid can be slided as
described with reference to Figures 28 to 31 of specification No. 4862 aforesaid, the
lid and that end of the box being tongued as therein described but the tongue or
tongues on the lid being only about the length of the thickness of the end or as
described with reference to Figures 25. 26 and 27 of specification No. 4862 aforesaid.
The means for securing the lid when in position may be the same as described in the
two aforesaid specifications but I prefer the fitting Figures 32, 33 and 34 of specifica-
tion No. 4862; or I may use a double action bolt that by turning its spindle partly
round shoots into each side of the box. The lid lies flush with the sides of the box
and the battens thereon rest on the sides, as for instance shown in Figures 1 and 2 of
specification No. 4862.
In some cases I form the lid in two parts which are covered by a broad batten
united thereto by means of studs which can slide in slots and after the lid has been
placed fairly on the box the two parts of the lid are simultaneously shot in under
hook fittings such as already herein before referred to or under hoop iron housings or
bands as already named but fitted at each end, this simultaneous action boing
produced by a fitting such for instance as the one described with reference to
Figures 32, 33 and 34 aforesaid, or by a double action bolt shooting each way or by
any other suitable means. Or I may fix the unhoused end of the lid by a flap hinged
to the end of the box and passed in under hooks or hoop band housing and over the
lid thus securing the latter.
Or I may form the box with the top edge of one end flush with the top edges of
the two sides while the top end of the opposite end is provided with fitting as described
for the lid to pass under or into, the lid being fixed by means of a bolt or bolts of some
kind shot into the first named end of the box.
Dated this 22nd day of December 1886.

page_text: Improvements in Folding and other Packing Cases, Skeleton Cases,
Boxes, Crates, and Travelling Trunks.
1, HENRY GREENE of 218 Upper Thames Street in the City of London Iron
Merchant 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:-
The object of this invention is to render folding and other packing cases, boxes,
crates, and travelling trunks cheaper and also more convenient, strong, secure and
generally applicable.
Heretofore many kinds of goods, transmitted in crates or skeleton cases made in
the ordinary forms or made to fold up for return empty, have had to be protected
against the wet and dust and dirt by means of wrappings of much paper and other
suitable material around each article or by separate boxes. Now according to my
invention and to save much of the expense and trouble thus incurred I provide
crates and skeleton cases with a fixed lining by preference waterproof consisting
of sheets of canvas, leather, skin, thin sheet metal, paper or other suitable sheet
material the sheets being by preference held between the transverse and longitudinal
pieces of which the crate or skeleton case is made.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is a perspective view of a crate thus
constructed, the sheet a of waterproof millboard, nietal, canvas or other sheet
material being interposed and fixed between the outer pieces and the inner pieces c
which run at right angles to each other. The inner pieces are shown in dotted
lines. The same nails or other means of fastening which hold the pieces b and c
together may serve to hold the intermediate sheets a. Or such sheets may in the
case of folding crates be fastened to the inside of the bottom and lid of the crate or
skeleton case, and intermediately between the battens as to the sides and ends. I thus
produce a package which while offering almost all the security or protection of a box
made with solid sides and top and bottom yet shall be much cheaper to make and
much lighter in weight and which shall be suitable for packing many articles which
now have to be packed separately in close boxes and then put into one common
skeleton case or crate.
In order to conveniently affix lids to such and other crates and boxes it is convenient
as described in the Specification of my Patent No. 2948 of 1883 to construct the
parts in such a manner that the lid after having been placed onto the top of the box
needs only to be pushed a very short distance towards one end of the box in order to
be flush with such end and then to be fixed in position. In the specification of my
Patent No. 4862 of 1886 I show and describe lids having the same short sliding
action and ready means for fixing or locking. Now according to this present
invention I further improve such constructions and combine and adapt parts described
and shown in the said two Patent Specifications all as hereinafter described.

page_text: Figure 2 is a perspective view of a box thus constructed and with the lid in the act
of being closed, Figure 3 a perspective view shewing it closed and fastened, and
Figure 4 a vertical sectional view of the box with the lid in the position ready to be
closed.
•
At one end A of the box I fix one or more of the eye fittings E described in
Specification 2948 aforesaid, or any equivalently acting fittings such as the eye
fitting E here shown, and provide the lid B at this end with one or more corre-
sponding stud fittings F described in Specification 2948 aforesaid or any equivalently
acting fittings such as the two fittings F here shown. The opposite end of the box
is provided with one or more of the hook fittings described with reference to
Figures 25, 26 and 27 of Specification 1862 aforesaid or any equivalently acting
fittings or parts such for instance as a piece of hoop iron D under which that end of
the lid B can be slided as described with reference to Figures 28 to 31 of Specifica-
tion 4862 aforesaid, the lid and that end of the box being tongued as therein described
but the tongue or tongues on the lid (as here shown the two tongues B¹) being only
about the length of the thickness of the end or as described with reference to
Figures 25, 26 and 27 of Specification 4862 aforesaid. The other end of the box is
also tongued and the box end formed to suit and bound with hoop iron as I prefer it
such hoop iron passing under the tongues of the lid. The iron bands thus used at the
ends of the box serve to securely connect the ends and sides and protect the
corners of the box and the lid. The means for securing the lid when in position may
be the same as described in the two aforesaid Specifications but I prefer the fitting
figures 32, 33 and 34 of Specification 4862 as here indicated at G. For further
security I may employ one or two lateral lid fastenings of the kind described with
In
reference to Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 of my aforesaid Patent Specification No. 4862
and as here indicated at H, being fixed to the side or sides of the box and having
hinged part provided with a screw which can be screwed into a nut socket let into
the lid. Or I may as shown in the broken plan Figure 5, longitudinal section of
upper part Figure 6 and transverse section of upper part Figure 7 use a double action
bolt I that by turning a spindle K partly round shoots into each side of the box.
Figure 8 is enlarged plan and Figure 9 transverse section of this bolt. The spindle K
fits with a square part in a disc K', which has two studs K² each fitting and working
in a cross notch in each bolt I. The latter have also each a half round recess for the
stud K² for the other bolt to clear itself. The lid B in all the figures described lies
flush with the sides of the box, and one end of it flush with the top of one end of the
box and the battens B2 on the lid rest or ride on the sides as shown here and as for
instance shown in Figures 1 and 2 of Specification 4862. The double action bolt
just described may also be used for fixing in the closed position the sliding lids
described in my aforesaid Specification 4862.
a
In some cases as shown in the lid underside plan Figure 10 and vertical longitudinal
perspective section of box Figure 11. I form the lid B in two parts which are
covered by a broad batten B2 united thereto by means of studs L which can slide
in slots and after the lid has been placed fairly on the box the two parts of the
lid are simultaneously shot in under hook fittings such as already herein before
referred to or under hoop iron housings or bands as already named but fitted at
each end this simultaneous action being produced by a fitting such for instance as
the one described with reference to figures 32, 33 and 34 aforesaid and here
indicated by G, or by a double action bolt I similar to the bolt I figures 5 and 6
shooting each way, or by any other suitable means. I have thus for instance in
figure 12 shown the underside of a lid B made in two parts which are forced apart
for closing the box or drawn together into the opening position as here shown by
means of a spindle K whereon is mounted a lever I the outer end of which has a
peg working in a slot fitting on the other part of the lid.
Or as shewn in the perspective vertical longitudinal section figure 13 I form the
box with the top edge of one end A flush with the top edges of the two sides (as in
the case of box figures 5, 6 and 7) while the top end of the opposite end is provided
with fittings as described such as hoop iron housings D for the lid B to pass under or

page_text: into, the lid B being then fixed by means of a bolt or bolts of some kind say for
instance the bolt G already referred to and illustrated by figures 32 to 34 of my
specification 4862, such bolt being shot into the end A of the box.
In all the examples here illustrated the lid fastenings or bolts are so arranged (as
also described in my specification 4862) as to be capable of being sealed after the
box is closed, a recess being provided as shewn for instance at G figure 3 and K
figure 6 for preventing fraudulent opening of the box. It will be observed that (as
in my aforesaid specification) the fittings are all attached to the lid or to the box and
cannot be lost or Inislaid.
By these means and by the use of the iron bands at the ends of the boxes I ensure
in packing cases or crates the desired qualities of strength, durability, security and
convenience in use.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :-
First: The application to crates and skeleton cases of a lining of sheet metal or
other suitable sheet material substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Second: The improved packing case, box or crate having a lid one end of which
for the purpose of closing is adapted to slide in under one or more fittings or housings
provided at that end of the box, the other end of the lid being then held down by one
or more peg and eye fittings and kept from longitudinal displacement by means of
one or more bolts abutting against or shot into the corresponding end of the box
substantially as described with reference to figures 2, 3 and 4.
--
Third The improved packing case, box or crate having a lid one end of which
for the purpose of closing is adapted to slide in under one or more fittings or housings
provided at that end of the box, the other end of the lid which is flush with the top
of the end of the box being then held down and also kept from longitudinal displace-
ment by means of a double action bolt shot into each side of the box, or by means of
one or more bolts shot into the end of the box substantially as described with reference
to figures 5 to 9 and 13.
Fourth-The improved packing case, crate or box having a lid made in two parts
which for the purpose of closing are adapted to be slided apart and slided in under
one or more fittings or housings provided at each end of the box and to be held in
such closed position by means of one or more suitable fittings on the lid substantially
as described with reference to figures 10 to 12.
Dated this 22nd day of September 1887.