Year: 1897

page_text: I, WARREN GREENE DAVIS, Optician, of Retreat in the County of Vernon, and.
State of Wisconsin, one of the United States of America, 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 relates to certain improvements in crates or cases used for the
transportation of eggs and the like, and particularly to the means of fastening the
lid or cover thereto.
To this end my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and
arrangement of parts, whereby I can dispense with the nails commonly used to fasten
the cover or lid to the crate, and in their stead novel devices are employed which
effectually secure the lid to the crate, and certain other advantages are gained in a
simple, durable and inexpensive manner, as will be hereinafter fully described and
specifically defined in the appended claims.
In the accompanying drawings:
Figure 1 represents, in perspective, a view of a crate or case embodying my
invention, the lid or cover being shown closed.
Figure 2 is a similar view showing the lid or cover open, and
Figure 3 is a detail sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.
Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.
A represents the crate or case which is shown as provided with guideways or
grooves a at each end thereof, the said grooves a being arranged to extend upwardly
from about the centre line of the crate to within a short distance of the top.
These guideways or grooves are preferably made in the wood forming the ends of
the crate or case and are deepest at their extreme upper ends, and incline downwardly
and outwardly to near the lower end of the crate at which point is an opening b
through the end of the crate, forming in this way a shoulder c at the lower end of
each groove.
The cover B is provided at each end with an end piece b1 which overlaps the end of
the crate or case A, and to these end pieces are firmly fastened spring arms D, the
lower free ends of which are provided with studs d to enter the grooves b.
To provide against possible chance of the removal of the studs & from engagement
with their respective guideways or grooves and to form a rest or support for the lid
when it is raised to give access to the inside of the crate, I provide cleats E arranged
transversely across and near the upper end of each groove, upon which the spring
arms D' will rest as clearly shown in Figure 2, and the studs d'accomplish the double
purpose of preventing their removal from the grooves and consequent displacement
of the cover, by contact with the upper end of the grooves a and of locking the
cover securely upon the case by reason of their engagement with the shoulders at
the lower end. To raise the lid or cover it is only necessary to grasp the springs D
at their lower ends, at the same time drawing them outwardly, which movement
withdraws the studs d from contact with the shoulders c¹ when a steady upward lift
will raise the lid so as to bring the studs of the spring arms D, well up in the

page_text: grooves a when the lid may be turned to assume the position clearly shown in the
Figure 2.
It will thus be seen that my invention provides a crate or case which does away
with the necessity of nailing the lid or cover thereto, which has heretofore so
mutilated both cover and case as to rendef them unfit for use after a short time, a
very objectionable feature to the ordinary crates: at the same time my invention,
while removing these objections, provides a fastening which will securely hold the lid
in place upon the crate, which can be readily and easily released when necessity
requires and which is of simple, inexpensive and durable construction.
My invention may be modified in some of its minor points of detail and I reserve
the right to make such as may fairly fall within spirit and scope.
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,-
1. A crate or case for the purpose described provided with guideways or grooves
and a cover or lid provided with arms adapted to engage in the said guideways' and
fasten the cover to the crate or case, substantially as described.
2. A crate or case for the purpose described provided with guideways or grooves at
its ends, the lower ends of said grooves or guideways being formed into shoulders,
and a cover or lid having spring arms fastened thereto, and adapted to engage the
shoulders referred to, for the purpose described.
3. A crate or case for the purposes described provided with guideways or grooves at
each end, the upper portion thereof being made deeper than the lower portion,
shoulders formed in the said lower portion, of said guideways or grooves, a cover or
lid having spring arms fastened thereto with studs at their lower ends and cleats
arranged transversely across the ends of the crate or case, substantially as described
Dated this 24th day of May 1897.
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.