Improvements in the Construction of Metal Chests or Boxes.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 24th May, 1890-Accepted, 5th July, 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Metal Chests or Boxes.
1 ARTHUR ANDREWS late of 3 Elysium Row Calcutta in the Indian Empire but
at present of Redstone Eastbourne in the County of Sussex 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:-
My Invention has for its object to construct metal chests or boxes such for
example as those described in the Specification of Letters Patent granted to me
No. 13063 dated 13th October 1886 in such a manner that the parts of which they
are composed can be readily separated or taken apart so as to permit of their being
packed for transit or stowed away when not in use in a comparatively small space
and of being readily put together when required for packing storing or transporting
tea or other materials or articles. Chests or boxes constructed according to my
invention are stronger and less. liable to damage in transport than are metal boxes as
heretofore constructed.
I will describe my Invention with reference to the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 of which is a perspective view of a tea chest constructed according to my
invention the lid or cover being shewn partly open. Figure 2 is a vertical section
of the same shewing internal wooden frames to which the plates forming the sides
and bottom of the chest are fixed. The remaining figures are details and modifica-
tions hereinafter described but I do not restrict myself to the precise details of
construction illustrated as variations may be made therein without departing from the
nature of my Invention.
According to my Invention I form the bottom A lid B and each side C of the
chest of separate pieces or plates of metal, except in the case of a chest being
required to be made of tin or other metal and of a size which would not render it
convenient to form a side of a single sheet, then of course several sheets may be
joined together but when constructed of sheet iron or steel each side may be made of
a single sheet and may be coated either inside outside or both with any suitable metal
or material such for example as lead or terne. The plates are cut to the required
size, the plates which form the sides of the chest being say about two inches wider
than the width of the chest when finished. At about say one inch and a quarter from
each of the two vertical edges of each side plate the said plate is bent inwards as
shewn at a in Figure 3 and at about say half an inch from these edges, the said plate
is bent outwards onto or parallel to the part a as shewn at b in the said Figure 3
which represents a horizontal section (drawn to a larger scale) of one of the corners
or angle of the chest. The top and bottom edges of these side plates Care bent at
right angles as shewn respectively at c c. The bottom A of the chest is fastened to
the bent over portions of the side plates by screws or other suitable fastenings whilst
the top bent over edges c form with the frame D a slot or guide for the lid or cover B
to slide in. The sides O are connected together at their vertical edges or angles of the
chest by angle pieces E one of which is shewn in inside view (drawn to a large
scale) in Figure 4.
These angle pieces E are preferably made of thicker or stronger metal than the
side plates so as to strengthen the chest and reduce liability to injury in transport.
These angle pieces have turned in edges d which when placed in position engage
the turned over edges 6 of the said plates C so as to securely connect the said side
olates together.

page_text: In forming a chest of separate plates as described two wooden frames D D' as
shewn in Figure 2 or light metal frames as shewn in Figure 5 are provided one of
which frames (D) forms a support for the upper end of the chest whilst the other
frame (D2) forms a support for the lower end of the chest. The side plates Care
connected to these frames by screws e passing through the vertical sides of the plates
into the frames other screws being passed through the turned over edges c³ and the
bottom plate A into the frame D thereby securely holding the bottom in position.
Screws are a convenient means of fastening but of course any other suitable securing
devices may be used. The upper turned in edges c of the side plates C and the lid B
are connected together when the lid B is closed by screws or other fastenings passing
through tho said turned in edges and the lid into the frame D between which frame
and the turned over edges c a space is left in which the lid or cover B is free to slide
when the screws or fastenings which hold it in position are removed.
The sides C having been fixed to the frames D D the angle pieces E are slid from
the bottom of the chest onto the turned over vertical edges of the said side plates
the said angle pieces covering the meeting edges of the side plates and securely
connecting them together. These angle pieces are held in position by screws or other
fastenings passed through their ends k into the frame D. If desired these angle
pieces E may be applied at all the edges or angles of the chest when the inside fraime
of wood or metal may be dispensed with but it will! in most cases be sufficient to apply
them to the vertical edges only as shewn and described which with the frame gives
great rigidity to the box or chest. Instead of arranging the angle pieces on the
exterior as shewn and described with reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3 they may be
arranged in the interior of the chest in which case the vertical edges of the side
plates are bent in the reverse direction to that described and shewn in Figure 3
and the edges of the angle pieces are turned outwards instead of inwards as shown in
Figure 6.
The lid or cover B when slidden into its closed position is secured in position by
screws or other fastenings passed through the turned over edges c of the side plates
and through the lid B into the frame D or instead of a sliding lid or cover a cap or
cover fitted over the top of the chest may be employed as shewn in Figure 5 the
said cap being fixed in position by screws or other fastenings passed through the rim
of the cap and through the side plates C into the frame D.
Chests constructed according to my Invention are specially applicable for packing
and transporting tea or the like as the chests when not required for use may be readily
taken to pieces by removing the screws or fastenings which hold the parts together
and the parts may then be packed together so as to occupy a minimum amount of space
which is a great advantage over chests constructed in the ordinary manner as tho
freight is thereby greatly reduced and empties can be returned at a very small cost
and further the construction is such that the boxes or chests can be fitted together at
the place where they are to be used without the necessity for any special
machinery.
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 I
claim is :-
•
1st. Metal chests or boxes made in parts capable of being readily connected together
and taken apart substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by the accom-
panying drawings.
2nd. Metal chests or boxes having their edges or angles connected to and
strengthened by angle pieces capable of being slidden into and out of place
substantially as herein before described and illustrated whether the angle pieces be
applied inside or outside the chest or box.
3rd. Connecting the adjacent edges of the separable sides of metal boxes together

page_text: by means of angle pieces substantially as herein before described with reference to
Figure 3 and Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.
4th. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting a metal chest
or box substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 24th day of May 1800
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
Agents.