A Folding Box suitable for use as a Hat-box.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Jan., 1890-Accepted, 22nd Feb., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Folding Box suitable for use as a Hat-box.
I SIMON HIRSCH of Grosser Burstah, No. 29 Hamburg in the Empire of Germany,
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 :-
This invention consists in a box made of leather or cloth which may be folded or
compressed together and which, when unfolded, is principally intended for use as a
hat box.
The object of the arrangement is to enable the box to be folded up into a small
compass when not in use so that it shall not be an inconvenient article of luggage
as has been the case heretofore with hat boxes. For travellers who use a hat box
during the journey principally for the protection of their hats it is of great convenience
to be able to fold up the hat box at the end of the journey and possibly to strap it
up with a travelling rug.
The improved box is illustrated in the accompanying drawings of which
Fig. 1 is an elevation of the hat box when in use, Fig. 2 is a plan with cover
removed but showing the box closed by the locking device on the cover. Fig. 3 is a
plan similar to Fig. 2 where the locking bars holding the lid are withdrawn. Fig. 4
is a sectional elevation on line xx of Fig. 2 without lid. Fig. 5 is a plan of Fig. 4.
Fig. 6 is a plan of Fig. 4 with props folded down. Fig. 7 is a section on line y y
of Fig. 2 with the lid shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a section of the box when folded up
on line z z of Fig. 6 but provided with the lid.
Into the sides of the box which are of double material is inserted the spiral spring n,
which presses below upon the bottom plate a and above against the edge ring b
and tends to keep the box open. This spiral spring can be pressed down by pressure
upon the edge ring b when the material folds up into the intermediate space between
the spiral passage of the spring as shown by Fig. 8.
At the bottom of the box are arranged four props iiii moving on hinges e e e e
the former being of such length that when raised they support the edge ring b and
thus prevent the box from folding up.
The lid D carries on its inner surface four bolts ssss which can be drawn back
by the button k to be turned from the outside, the spring f tending to move said bolts
outwardly in order to catch underneath the projections g on the props i to keep the
latter in an upright position and the lid closed.
When the box is to be folded up the lid is released by turning the button k
withdrawing the bolts from the props i and is then removed. The props i are then
folded down upon the bottom a as shown in Fig. 6 and then one can press down the
box and keep it shut by placing upon it the lid D and by turning the button k thereby
inserting an oval hook like inner projection v into a corresponding hole in the bottom
plate a.
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
1. A folding box, comprising flexible sides the spiral spring n in the sides adapted
to hold the box open the props iiii hinged to the bottom plate a and the lid D
carrying on the inner sides the bolts ss ss adapted to engage with the raised props
substantially as set forth.

page_text: 2. A box having flexible sides and a spring adapted to hold said box open or
extended in combination with a lid having a button for turning a hook v thereon
adapted to engage in a recess in the bottom plate of said box for retaining said box
in a folded or compressed condition substantially as set forth.
Dated this 20th day of January 1890.
HERBERT & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, W.C., Agents to Applicant.