IMPROVEMENTS IN PACKAGES OR CASES FOR CONTAINING VARIOUS ARTICLES OF MERCHANDIZE, AND IN THE MATERIAL OF WHICH SUCH PACKAGES ARE MADE
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Gedge, of No. 11, Wellington Street,
Strand, London, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PACKAGES OR CASES FOR CONTAINING VARIOUS ARTICLES
OF MERCHANDIZE, AND IN THE MATERIAL OF WHICH SUCH PACKAGES ARE
MADE." A communication from abroad by Ralph Smith Jennings, of Baltimore,
in the United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Gedge at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th February 1881.
THE
WILLIAM EDWARD GEDGE, of No: 11, Wellington Street, Strand, London,
in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PACKAGES OR
CASES FOR CONTAINING VARIOUS ARTICLES OF MERCHANDIZE, AND IN
MATERIAL OF WHICH SUCH PACKAGES ARE MADE.' A communication from abroad
by Ralph Smith Jennings, of Baltimore, in the United States of America.
This Invention relates to packages or cases for containing various articles of
merchandize, and to the material of which such packages are made.
While adapted for containing any and all articles of merchandize, the package
about to be described is more especially designed for containing pulverulent matter,
such as flour or fertilizers, being peculiarly fitted for the shipment of what are
known as acid phosphates or super-phosphates, which, by reason of their corrosive
action on bagging or textile fabrics, may not be kept in stock in bags.
The package constituting a part of this present Invention is tough, strong, elastic,
fire and waterproof, and may be constructed at a price much less than that of
packages of the same size made of burlaps, bagging, or plank.
In practice the body of the package is constructed of wood veneering laid in
layers, having the grain of each layer crossing that of the contiguous layers.
This veneering is preferably cut parallel or nearly so to the circumference of the
log, which latter, being first soaked, is mounted in suitable clutches and made to
revolve, while a knife which is gradually fed towards the log severs from its

page_text: periphery a strip or sheet of veneer. This material is particularly tough and
strong, as the line of cut is nearly parallel to the natural rings or
*
year marks" of
the tree. Two or more sheets, by preference three, are cemented together by means
of any suitable waterproof cement, and if desired the wood is treated with a
solution of tungstate of soda or equivalent salt to render it fireproof. In lieu of
one of the veneer sheets a layer of textile fabric may be cemented to the layer or
layers of wood,
The composite sheet so formed constitutes the body of the package, and is cut up
into blanks of the proper size and shape to form the body or walls. The package
may be round, oval, or polygonal in cross section, and the side seam is formed by
stitching the edges of the walls together.
The heads may be attached in various ways.
The head or heads may be made of the composite veneer, or of plank, or of
metal.
If of veneer they are attached to the body by means of a strip of burlaps or
equivalent textile fabric, of which a strip is sewed or stitched near the edge of the
head, and another near the edge of the body, and the two are overseamed at the
rim or edge of the package, forming a yielding rim or chine, upon which the package
may be trundled or wheeled as a barrel. The head is made somewhat smaller than
the interior diameter of the package, leaving an annular open space all around,
allowing the rim to yield, and preventing injury from blows and impacts.
The textile fabric strips are by preference doubled, and have an interior coating
of any suitable waterproof cement. In order to prevent access of the contents of
the package, should they be of a corrosive nature, to the seams or strips, the heads
are lined with a single sheet of wood veneer, covering the aforesaid annular open
space, and the longitudinal seam of the body or cover with a strip of veneer on
the inside.
Instead of constructing the head or heads of veneer they may be made of
ordinary planking, and be secured in place by nails driven into them through the
walls, or the heads may be made of metal. In this case they are struck up or
stamped from sheet metal, ordinary tin plate being preferred, with a flange which
is perforated, admitting of its being stitched to the walls. In these cases a layer
of cement is placed over the joint to render the package waterproof, and in case a
metallic head is used the ends of the package are made tapering, which latter
feature effects an economy of metal, and admits of the body of the package being
made square while the heads are round, economizing space in packing, and admitting
of the package being rolled on its chine.
The trade-mark, description of the contents of package, date of patent, or
other matter may be stamped on the head in the operation of striking up and
perforating the flange.
The grain of the inner and outer layers of the veneer constituting the walls is
horizontal, so that the line of stitching by which the burlaps or heads are secured
is liable to split the wood, to prevent which a strip of veneer having a vertical
grain is stitched or cemented to the outer edge of the walls, and in case the said
strip is stitched to the body its lower edge is made curved or scalloped, so that the
stitches, which are parallel to the same, cross the grain of the package, and the
splitting is prevented.
In the case of square or rectangular packages the head is made of vencer with a
flange, through which it is stitched to the walls, and the corners are reinforced with
patches of burlaps or textile fabric.
The material is equally adapted for use as a bale band or hoop for enclosing
cotton bales or bales of manufactured woolen goods, such as cloth or muslin.
For this purpose the ends of the band are secured by passing them through a
flattened ring, having its inner sides serrated or roughened, and driving a wedge
between the parts of the band.
The bale band is preferably provided with a cover of burlaps or textile fabric
. cemented to it, and wholly or partially enclosing it.

page_text: To toughen the material and render it pliable and elastic it is treated as follows:-
The wood is first subjected to the action of superheated steam, which dries the*
wood and expels the sap, and it is then treated with cotton seed oil, glycerine,
paraffine in solution, or equivalent body, which secures the desired end:
This treatment is especially necessary in the case of the bale band.
The material is adapted to various uses which it is not necessary to enumerate,
as they at once suggest themselves.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Edward Gedge in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
12th August 1881.
WILLIAM EDWARD GEDGE, of No. 11, Wellington Street, Strand, London,
in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PACKAGES OR
CASES. FOR CONTAINING VARIOUS ARTICLES OF MERCHANDIZE, AND IN THE
MATERIAL OF WHICH SUCH PACKAGES ARE MADE." A. communication from abroad
by Ralph Smith Jennings, of Baltimore, in the United States of America.
This Invention relates to packages or cases for containing various articles of
merchandize and to the material of which such packages are made.
While adapted for containing any and all articles of merchandize the package.
which I will first describe is more especially designed for containing pulverulent
matter, such as flour or fertilizers, being peculiarly fitted for the shipment of what
are known as acid phosphates or super phosphates, which, by reason of their corrosive
action on bagging or textile fabrics, may not be kept in stock in bags.
The package constituting a part of this present Invention is tough, strong, elastic,
fire and waterproof, and may be constructed at a price much less than that of
packages of the same size made of burlaps; bagging, or plank.
In practice the body of the package is constructed of wood veneering laid in
layers a, a, a,, having the grain of each layer crossing that of the contiguous
layers.
This veneering is preferably cut parallel or nearly so to the circumference of the
log, which latter being first soaked is mounted in suitable clutches and made to
revolve, while a knife, which is gradually fed towards the log, severs from its.
periphery a strip or sheet of vencer. This material is particularly tough and strong,,
as the line of cut is nearly parallel to the natural rings or "year marks" of the
tree. Two or more sheets, by preference three, are cemented together by means of
any suitable waterproof cement, and if desired the wood is treated with a solution.
of tungstate of soda or equivalent salt to render it fire proof. In lieu of one of
the veneer sheets a layer of textile fabric may be cemented to the layer or layers.
of wood..
1
The composite sheet so formed constitutes the body of the package and is cut up.
into blanks of the proper size and shape to form the body or walls. The package

page_text: may be round, oval, or polygonal, in cross section, and the side seam is formed by
stitching the edges of the walls together.
The heads may be attached in various ways, as shown in the Drawings, in which
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the package; Figures 2 and 3, sectional views on
an enlarged scale showing two forms of attachment of the heads, and Figure 4a
plan view of a head for a rectangular or polygonal package. The head or heads
may be made of the composite veneer or of plank or of metal.
If of veneer they are attached to the body by means of a strip of burlaps.or
equivalent textile fabric b, b', of which a strip is sewed or stitched near the edge of
the head and another near the edge of the body, and the two are overseamed at
the rim or edge of the package, as shown, forming a yielding rim or chine upon
which the package may be trundled or rolled as a barrel. The head is made.
somewhat smaller than the interior diameter of the package, being an annular
open space c all around, allowing the rim to yield and preventing injury from blows
and impacts.
The textile fabric strips b, 61, are by preference doubled, and have an interior
coating of any suitable waterproof cement. In order to prevent access of the
contents of the package, should they be of a corrosive nature, to the seams or
strips, the heads are lined with a single sheet d of wood veneer covering the space c,
and the longitudinal seam of the body is covered with a strip of veneer on the
inside.
Instead of constructing the head or heads of vencer they may be made of
ordinary planking and be secured in place by nails driven into them through the
walls, or the heads may be made of metal, as shown in Figure 3; in this case they
are struck up or stamped from sheet metal, ordinary tinplate being preferred, with
a flange e which is perforated, admitting of its being stitched to the walls as
shown. In these cases a layer of cement.f.is placed over the joint to render the
package waterproof, and in case a metallic head is used the ends of the package
are made tapering, which latter feature effects an economy of metal and admits
of the body of the package being made square while the heads are round,
economizing space in packing and admitting of the package being rolled on its
chine.
The trade mark, description of the contents of package, date of patent, or other
matter may be stamped on the head in the operation of striking up and perforating
the flange.
The grain of the inner and outer layers of the veneer constituting the walls is
horizontal, so that the line of stitching by. which the burlaps or heads are secured is
liable to split the wood, to prevent which there is stitched or cemented to the outer
edge of the walls a strip of veneer g having a verticle grain, and in case the said
strip is stitched to the body its lower edge is made curved or scalloped, so that the
stitches, which are parallel to the same, cross the grain of the package and the
splitting is prevented.
In the case of square or rectangular packages, as in Figure 4, the head is made of
veneer with a flange, through which it is stitched to the walls, and the corners are
reinforced with patches of burlaps or textile fabric h.
This Invention has also for its object to provide a substitute for the wrought iron
band and tie used on cotton bales, dry-goods bales, and for analogous purposes,
which shall be lighter, cheaper, and stronger than the iron band and more readily
applied and removed.
To this end the band of wood veneering is constructed in the direction of the
length of the band, and combined therewith is a tie adapted to jam the ends of the
band and effectively secure the same.
In the Drawings Figure 5 is a plan view of a part of the band, portions of same
being broken away to show more fully its construction; Figure 6 is a sectional
view on line x, x, Fig. 5; Figure 7 is a sectional view of the band and tie; and
Figure 8 is a perspective view of the loop.
is this improved band, composed by preference of three layers of wood veneer

page_text: k, l, m, cemented together, and having a covering j of burlaps or similar textile
fabric or strong paper cemented to the band. When using a single band, in order
to render the wood tough and pliable, and not liable to split at the corners where.
it is bent over the bale, it is subjected to the action of superheated steam, whereby
the sap is driven out and the wood thoroughly dried, and it is then treated with
cotton seed oil, glycerine, paraffine, or equivalent material mixed with a suitable
diluent. The effect of this is to destroy the brittleness of the wood, and render it
impervious to water. The wood is by preference sweet gum, which grows in
abundance throughout the Southern States of the United States of America, and
is tough and strong.
I am aware that bands or hoops consisting of a single strip of wood are old, and
that tungstate of soda has long been known to possess fire proofing properties, and
such I do not claim.
The tie is a simple cast or wrought iron clasp n whose inner sides are serrated
or roughened, as shown at o. In joining the ends of the band the same are thrust
through the clasp n, and a wedge p is driven between the parts of the band, being
by preference secured by means of a tack -q. The wedge jams the parts of the
band tightly in the tie, where they are griped by the serrations. The strain of
the parts causes the tie to tend to tilt, as will be readily understood, increasing the
gripe, and effectually preventing the ends from slipping.
Such is the approved mode of constructing and applying the tie and band.
Alternatives may be stated for both as follows:-
The band may be composed of any number of layers of veneer, and the textile
fabric may be interposed between some or all of them, or may if desired be
omitted altogether.
In using a single layer of veneer of wood the same may be covered with burlaps
or textile fabric throughout its length, or it may be covered only at those portions
which come opposite the corners of the bale, at which points a whipping of wire
or cord may be used instead of the burlaps. The layers of veneer may be stitched
either with cord or wire, preferably the latter, and in this case one layer of the
veneer should have its grain crossing the band. The ends may be otherwise
connected, as by stitching or whipping with wire; or a different form of clamping-
tie may be used. As stated, however, the described form is deemed the best.
Another object of this Invention is to furnish a material to take the place of
burlaps or bagging as a cover or packing for various articles. More especially is
the fabric constituting the subject of this part of the Invention designed as a cover
for cotton bales, for which purpose heretofore a very heavy and comparatively
costly bagging has been used. Aside from its cost, this material is objectionable
by reason of its perviousness to dirt, such as bilge water on ship board, or mud in
land transportation, and is readily inflammable.
The material which forms the subject of this present Invention is not open
to those objections, as it is practically incombustible, and not effected by nor
pervious to water, and it is cheaper, stronger, and better in every respect than
the bagging
Figure 9 is a plan view of a fabric made in accordance with this part of the
present Invention, portion of the same being broken away to more clearly show
its construction; Figure 10 is a sectional view of the same on an enlarged scale;
and Figure 11 is a sectional view showing the material as applied for cover for
cotton bales.
In practice two or more (by preference but two) thicknesses of wood veneer ?, ?,
are attached together, having the grain in each sheet arranged substantially at
right angles to that of the other. These are secured together by any suitablo
cement, and upon one or both sides (preferably on but one) a sheet of light
burlaps & is cemented, which is previously treated with tungstate of soda (Na, WO,)
or equivalent salt, whereby it is rendered uninflammable, the wood, or at least the
exterior sheet, is similarly treated. The burlaps employed for the purpose is light
and cheap stuff, such as is found in quanties in the hands of paper stock dealers,

page_text: and is sold at a very low figure. It is of course by no means essential that the
burlaps shall be applied in large sheets, as the desired end is attained when the
veneer is substantially completely covered by the textile fabric. Care should be
taken however that the lines joining the several sheets of burlaps are not parallel
with the grain of the wood, so that the crack in the wood cannot register with a
seam in the burlaps.
The sheets of burlaps may be sewed together before applying them to the
veneer, or the seams may be covered by hoops nailed to the veneer from either
side.
In applying the fabric as a cotton bale cover a tube is first formed by sewing
together the edges of a sheet of the material large enough to envelop the bale,
a-flap being by preference left attached at either end to cover the ends of the bale.
The cover being drawn over the bale, the seams at the ends are sewed, and are
finally paid over with a suitable waterproof cement, the fabric itself being also
coated with a waterproofing material or varnish.
The material may be applied to many uses which it is not necessary here to
-mention, but which at once suggest themselves provided that a cheap, tough, and
strong fabric is a desideratum therefor.
Wires may be secured between the burlaps and the veneer, or between the sheets
of the veneer in the case of a bale band or cover, so that they hold the cotton
or other material in case of fire; and prevent the rapid combustion of the bale
which would otherwise take place when the cover or band is burned in two.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of the Invention, communicated
to me as aforesaid, and in what manner the same is or may be performed, what I
claim secured to me by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is,-
Firstly. A composite veneering package, constructed in the manner described
and illustrated Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying Sheet of Drawing.
Secondly. A composite veneer bale-band with a textile cover treated with
tungstate of soda, whereby it is rendered fire proof, as described.
Thirdly. In combination with the composite veneer band i the wedge p and the
clasp n having interior serrated faces adapted, as described, to tilt upon and secure
the band, all as set forth.
Fourthly. A bale-band consisting of two or more sheets of vencer cemented
together, and having a textile cover j cemented around the band, as set forth.
Fifthly. A bale-cover made of composite material consisting of two sheets of
veneer cemented together with the grain crossed, and having a textile fabric cover
cemented to its exterior, the whole being applied to the bale, in the manner and
for the purpose set forth.
Sixthly. In a composite veneering package, bale-band, or cover securing wires
between the burlaps and the veneer, or between the sheets of the veneer, for the
'purposes set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Gedge, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eleventh day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
W. E. GEDGE. (L.S.)