A NEW OR IMPROVED CRATE FOR PACKING AND CARRYING BANANAS AND OTHER SIMILAR FRUIT."
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Pullen, of Bayswater, in the County of Middlesex,
Fruiterer, for an Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED CRATE FOR PACKING
AND CARRYING BANANAS AND OTHER SIMILAR FRUIT."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Pullen at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th April 1881.
JOHN PULLEN, of Bayswater, in the County of Middlesex, Fruiterer. "A NEW
OR IMPROVED CRATE FOR PACKING AND CARRYING BANANAS AND OTHER
SIMILAR FRUIT."
My Invention relates to crates for the packing and carrying of bananas and
other similar fruits, which cannot be packed in the usual way, but require to be
supported by their stems or stalks whilst being moved from place to place or
whilst being kept in store for ripening.
In the crates heretofore employed for this purpose the fruit has been supported
therein by means of strings tied to the various parts of the bunch of fruit and to
the laths forming the crate.
According to my Invention I employ a crate, which consists of a frame of wood
or other suitable material, the bottom of which is provided with one or more
pointed metallic pins or with a socket on to or into which the end of the stem or
stalk of the bunch of fruit is placed, so as to be held securely thereby. Two upright
parts of the crate are furnished with vertical grooves or slides, in which the ends
of a cross bar are free to move up or down as required, or the cross bar may be
otherwise guided in or on the said upright parts. This cross bar carries a ring,
which may be of metal or other suitable material, and secured to the said cross bar
at a short distance below the same or in any other suitable position thereon. The
said ring is adapted to surround or clasp the upper end of the stem or stalk of the
bunch of fruit, so as to hold it firmly and securely; and for the more effectually
securing the said stem or stalk in the said ring it may be fixed by a wedge, screw,
or other suitable mechanical appliance. By these means the bunch of fruit is held
vertically by the stem or stalk, and the fruit itself is free to stand out around the
said stem or stalk without coming in contact with other substances whereby it
would be injured.
,
The cross bar may be fitted with clicks or pawls adapted to take into ratchet
teeth fixed to or formed on the upright standards of the crate, so as to be held
thereby at the required height, or it may be secured in place by pins or pegs
passing through holes in the cross bar, or in the guides thereof, or in both, or its
weight may be carried by the stem or stalk of the bunch of fruit as may be
preferred.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Pullen in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 14th October
1881.
e
JOHN PULLEN, of Bayswater, in the County of Middlesex, Fruiterer. "A NEW
OR IMPROVED CRATE FOR PACKING AND CARRYING BANANAS AND OTHER
SIMILAR FRUIT."
My Invention relates to crates for the packing and carrying of bananas and
other similar fruits, which cannot be packed in the usual way, but require to be
supported by their stems or stalks whilst being moved from place to place or whilst
being kept in store for ripening.
In the crates heretofore employed for this purpose the fruit has been supported
therein by means of strings tied to the various parts of the bunch of fruit and to
the laths forming the crate.
Figure 1 of the Drawings hereto annexed shows a front view of a crate
constructed and equipped in accordance with my Invention, and Figure 2 shows a
vertical section of same on line X, X, of Figure 1. This crate consists of a frame
of wood or other suitable material A, the bottom of which is provided with one or
more pointed metallic pins B, on to which the lower end of the stem or stalk of the
bunch of fruit is placed, so as to be held securely thereby; or instead of the metallic
pins B a socket may be employed to receive the said end of the stem or stalk. Two
upright parts C (see Figure 2) of the crate are furnished with vertical grooves or
slides, in which the ends of a cross bar D are free to move up or down as required;
or the said crossbar D may be otherwise guided in or on the said upright parts C.
This cross bar D carries a ring E, E¹, which may be of metal or other suitable
material and preferably made in halves, one half E being secured permanently to
the cross bar by an arm projecting a short distance below the same, or in any other
suitable position thereon, the other half E¹ being adapted to slide to and fro on the
cross bar by the action of the traversing screw F operated by the hand wheel G.
The said ring E, E¹, thus forms a pair of jaws adapted to surround or clasp the
upper end of the stem or stalk of the bunch of fruit, so as to grip and hold it
firmly and securely. If preferred, for the sake of economy, the ring E, E', may be
made in one piece, and in that case the screw F is dispensed with and the stem of
the fruit held therein by means of a wedge or other convenient or suitable device.
By these means the bunch of fruit is held vertically by the stem or stalk, and the
fruit itself is free to stand out around the said stem or stalk without coming in
contact with other substances whereby it would be injured.
The cross bar D may be fitted with clicks or pawls adapted to take into ratchet
teeth fixed to or formed on the upright standards of the crate, so as to be held
thereby at the required height, or it may be secured in place by pins or pegs passing
through holes H in the cross bar and guides, or its weight may be carried by the
stem or stalk of the bunch of fruit as may be preferred.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to or may be carried into effect, I would have it understood that
what I claim as my Invention is,―
The new or improved crate consisting of the frame A combined with the pins B,
or a socket for holding the lower end of the stem or stalk of a bunch of bananas
or other similar fruit, and a ring E, E', carried by an adjustable cross bar D, and
either made in one piece or in halves forming jaws which may be closed together
or separated by means of a screw F for supporting the upper end of such stem

page_text: or stalk, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the Drawings and
for the purposes set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Pullen, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Thirteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
JOHN PULLEN. (L.S.)
Patentee.