Improvements in or relating to Collapsable Crates, Boxes, and other Collapsable Articles.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 27th June, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 25th Mar., 1895-Accepted, 11th May, 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Collapsable Crates, Boxes, and other
Collapsable Articles.
I, OLIVER SMITH of 19 Hawkin Street, Leeds, Yorkshire, Cabinet Maker,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
-
The present invention relates to collapsable crates, boxes and other collapsable
articles and is designed with a view of improving the construction thereof in such a
manner as to increase their durability and enable a larger number of such articles
to be stored in their collapsable condition in a given space.
The sides and ends of collapsable crates, boxes and the like as at present
constructed and when in their collapsed condition do not lie flat upon and parallel
to each other, the result is that there is a constant strain upon the hinges and the
latter have a tendency to become disconnected from their fixings.
The object of this invention is to overcome the disadvantages referred to and
consists in hinging together the sides and ends of the crate or other article in such
a manner that when in the collapsed condition either the ends or sides, but
preferably the former abut edgewise against the hinge so that the ends and sides lie
parallel to and flat upon each other and all strain upon the hinge is thereby
obviated.
A convenient means of obtaining this end consists in locating the hinge
preferably between the end and the side so that the centre or fulcrum upon which
the hinge turns is nearer either to the end or to the side but preferably the former,
in which case the edge of the crate end lies close against the side of the hinge when
the crate is collapsed.
Dated this 27th day of June 1894
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Collapsable Crates, Boxes, and other
Collapsable Articles.
I, OLIVER SMITH of Old Park Lane, High Park, Southport, (late of
Hawkins Street, Leeds,) Cabinet Maker, 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 :-
The present invention relates to collapsable crates, boxes and other collapsable
articles, and is designed with a view of improving the construction thereof in such
a manner as to increase their durability and enable a larger number of such articles
to be stored in their collapsable condition in a given space.
The sides and ends of collapsable crates, boxes and the like as at present con-
structed and when in their collapsed condition, do not lie flat upon and parallel to
each other, the result is that there is a constant strain upon the hinges and the
latter have a tendency to become disconnected from their fixings.
The object of this invention is to overcome the disadvantages referred to and
Price Adl

page_text: consists in hinging together the sides and ends of the crate or other article in such
a manner that when in the collapsed condition either the ends or sides may abut
edgewise against the hinge so that the ends and sides lie parallel to and flat upon
each other and all strain upon the hinge is thereby obviated.
A convenient means of obtaining this end consists in locating the hinge preferably
between the end and the side so that the centre or fulcrum upon which the hinge
turns is nearer either to the end or the side but preferably the former, in which case
the edge of the crate end lies close against the side of the hinge when the crate is
collapsed.
The following further description in reference to the accompanying drawing will
more fully illustrate the invention.
Figure 1 is an end view of a collapsable crate constructed in accordance with
this invention.
Figure 2 is a portion of a vertical cross section of same showing how the bottom
of the crate is hinged and supported.
Figure 3 is a plan of part of the crate with the lid turned over and resting
against the back of the crate.
Figure 4 is a plan of the crate showing the lid laid over against the back, the
bottom turned on its binges and placed in a vertical position and the ends and front
side moved into the collapsed condition.
Figure 5 is a plan of the crate when collapsed and laid down flat, and Figure 6
is a detail hereinafter referred to.
The same letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the figures.
As before mentioned, collapsable crates, boxes and the like as previously con-
structed would not lie flat when collapsed, the result being that damage was done to
the hinges or other joints and parts and additional space was required when the
articles were collapsed, for the reason before stated. To obviate this disadvantage
I provide that the top A of the crate or other article is hinged at A' A³ so as to
allow of being turned over and back as before stated, into the position shown by
the dotted lines in Figure 1, (the top is also shown turned back in Figures 3
and 4).
The bottom C of the crate is hinged to the back at C' C² so that it can be turned
up and be parallel to the back, as shown in Figure 4. When in its lowered or
normal position the bottom C is additionally supported by ledges D² D³ formed on
the front D and back D' respectively.
The ends B B and sides D D' are hinged together at E. F. G. H and by means
of such hinges the crate or other article can be collapsed into the position shown in
Figures 4 and 5. A convenient hinge for the purpose is described in a former
Letters Patent No. 11821 of 1892 granted to Smith and Smith, but a single jointed
hinge such as shown in the accompanying drawing is also equally applicable for the
purpose.
As will be most clearly seen in Figure 1 spaces J J are left, between the ends
and sides, in which the hinges are located, but such spaces may be covered and
hidden from view by covering the crate, box or the like with canvas, leather or
other suitable material, or the said spaces may be filled in with the same material
of which the crate or other article is composed. Another convenient method of
filling up the spaces J J consists of a strap or band K surrounding the pin K
which may be used in common with both the top and bottom hinges G G shown on
the right hand side of Figure 1 the said strap or baud K having its two edges K
drawn together and inserted in a slot or groove formed in the corner piece D* of
the side D, as shown most clearly in Figure 6.
By using hinges such as E. F. G. H. as shown in the drawing accompanying this
Specification or described in Letters Patent No. 11821 of 1892 with the centre or
fulcrum upon which the sides and ends turn a short distance from the ends or edges
thereof, sufficient space is provided for the bottom to lie snugly between the sides
and ends and the whole to close flat one upon the other when in the collapsed
condition as shown most clearly in Figure 4.

page_text: Although I have described and shown my invention as applied to a crate or box,
the same principle may be applied to other collapsable articles, such as stalls,.
tricycle houses and tables, without departing from the spirit of this invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A collapsable crate, box or other article constructed in the manner substantially
as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
2. The improvements in collapsable crates, boxes or other articles by hinging the
sides, ends, top and bottom together in the manner and for the purpose described.
and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 22nd day of March 1895.
OLIVER SMITH.