Improvements in or relating to Sheet Metal Travelling Trunks and other Sheet Metal Articles of an analogous character, such as Bonnet Boxes, Cash Boxes, Coal Vases, and Perambulator, Bassinette, and "Mail Cart" Bodies..
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Oct., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 19th July 1894-Accepted, 25th Aug., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Sheet Metal Travelling Trunks and
other Sheet Metal Articles of an analogous character, such as
Bonnet Boxes, Cash Boxes, Coal Vases, and Perambulator,
Bassinette, and "Mail Cart" Bodies..
We, ROBERT CASTLE HOPKINS and WALTER FRANK ELLIOTT, trading
together in co-partnership as Lowe Brothers, of 107 to 109 Upper Trinity Street,
Deritend in the City of Birmingham, Travelling Trunk Manufacturers, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
This invention has for its object to coat or cover in a permanent manner the
surface of sheet metal travelling trunks and other sheet metal articles of an
analogous character, such as bonnet boxes, cash boxes, coal vases, and perambulator,
bassinette and "mail cart" bodies, with American cloth, canvas, ducking, thin
leather, or the like, whereby the appearance is greatly improved, more especially
if the outer surface of the covering material is of leather or has a similar
appearance as in the case, for instance, of American cloth.
In carrying out the above object, the covering material is cemented to the
surface of the metal by means of glue, or size, or other adhesive substance. We
find the cement used for cementing rubber tires to cycle wheel rims answers the
purpose very well. When an edge of the metal which it is desired to cover is to be
wired or folded back, the covering material is carried over such edge and is
cemented also to a margin of the surface on the other side; and in wiring or folding
the edge of the covered metal it is treated just as if the metal were uncovered.
In the case of a knocked up joint between the edges of two pieces of sheet metal,
such as a joint made between a side and end of a box, or between the end and
bottom of a box, the edge of one of the pieces of metal is first "edged in the
straight" and then the covering material is cemented right up to the flange; the
edge of the other piece of metal is bent to form the overlap and the covering
material is cemented to within a short distance of the overlap, but the remaining
margin of the material is left uncemented in order that it may stretch as the joint
is knocked up. This uncemented margin has the outer edge thereof brought round
over the overlap and tucked into the interior thereof so as to form a complete
lining throughout such interior. The uncovered flange of the one piece of metal
is then inserted into the hollow of the overlapped edge of the other piece, being
consequently imbedded in the lining of coating material within such hollow edge,
and the joint is then knocked up, the margin of uncemented covering material
readily stretching instead of tearing as it would be liable to if cemented right up
to the edge. The covering is thus tightly secured at the joints of the sheet metal.
The joint may, however, be formed at a corner by flanging the edge of one of the
pieces of sheet metal and riveting the flange to the edge of the other piece, in
which case the covering material may be cemented right up to the edge of the
sheet metal which is not intended to be flanged, but in the case of the edge of the
sheet metal which is to be flanged a margin of the covering material is cemented
along the edge to hold it securely therealong, and the material is lapped over the
edge and cemented at the back to prevent any exposure of a ragged edge; a width
of the covering material is, however, left uncemented where the bending of the
metal to form the flange is to take place, so that the material may stretch around
the exterior angle of the metal as the flange is formed.
In the case of joining two pieces of sheet metal in the same plane, the joint is
first made and then the covering material cemented to the sheet metal and over the

page_text: joint, and it is preferred to groove the joint (more especially the joint along
the bottom of a sheet metal trunk) from the side thereof which will be on the
inside of the article, so as to make it flat with the general surface of the sheet
metal on the outside.
It is preferred, in order to strengthen wired edges and prevent the exposure of
any ragged edges of the covering material, to rivet a strip of metal against the
inner surface of the sheet metal and close up against the curled over or wired
portion of the metal.
We have used the term "wired edge" as including an edge which has been bent
or curled over into a hollow or tubular form whether it surrounds a wire or is left
empty.
A sheet metal travelling trunk or other sheet metal article of a character such
as above indicated, may be lined with covering material of the character described,
if desired, in addition to being covered therewith outside; or it may be lined only
with such material.
Dated this 17th day of October 1893
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton, Agent for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Sheet Metal Travelling Trunks and
other Sheet Metal Articles of an analogous character, such as
Bonnet Boxes, Cash Boxes, Coal Vases, and Perambulator,
Bassinette, and "Mail Cart" Bodies.
We, ROBERT CASTLE HOPKINS and WALTER FRANK ELLIOTT, trading
together in co-partnership as Lowe Brothers, of 107 to 109 Upper Trinity
Street, Deritend in the City of Birmingham, Travelling Trunk Manufacturers,
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 has for its main object to coat or cover in a permanent manner
the exterior surfaces of sheet metal travelling trunks and other sheet metal articles
of an analogous character, such as bonnet boxes, cash boxes, coal vases, and
perambulator, bassinette and "mail cart" bodies, with American cloth, canvas,
ducking, thin leather, or the like, whereby the appearance is greatly improved,
more especially if the outer surface of the covering material is of leather or has a
similar appearance as in the case, for instance, of American cloth. The invention
has the further object, however, of coating or covering the inner surfaces of sheet
metal articles of the kind above described, in cases in which such may be desired,
and whether the outer surface is coated or covered in such manner or not.
We
In carrying out the above object, the covering material is cemented to the
surface of the metal by means of glue, or size, or other adhesive substance.
find the cement used for cementing rubber tires to cycle wheel rims answers the
purpose very well, and that is the material we use in practice. The edges of the
covering material are held at the angle joints of the articles between the folds or
laps of the sheet metal, and are thus concealed and the material prevented from
being stripped away from the sheet metal; and the edges of the covering material
may be correspondingly held and concealed at unjointed edges of the sheet metal
which are simply folded or wired.
In order that the invention may be readily understood, we will proceed to
describe it by reference to the accompanying drawings, of which the several views
will be explained as the description proceeds. In all the views the metal is
indicated by thick full lines, the cemented portions of the covering material by
broken lines, and the uncemented portions of such material by dotted lines.

page_text: Figure Ishews in section a piece of sheet metal A, coated on one side in the
manner of this invention for use in forming a sheet metal article, of which the
edge a is to be wired or folded back. This figure, as the other figures hereinafter
described, is not drawn to a true scale, but in a diagrammatic and conventional
form, so that the different parts may be clearly indicated. The covering material
is cemented against the face of the sheet A at which it is desired it shall be
exposed, but a margin b from the edge a (say from half to three quarters of an inch
in width) of such material is left uncemented, if the edge is to be folded or wired
on the opposite side to which the sheet is covered; and a width c (of say five-eighths
of an inch) of such material is carried over the edge a and cemented to the opposite
face of the sheet. In wiring or folding the edge a of the covered metal it is
treated just as if the metal were uncovered. The margin b of the covering material
is left uncemented to allow the material to stretch as the metal is wired or folded,
and thus prevent it splitting open as it would otherwise be liable to do. The
portion c of covering material may be of such width that the edge thereof will be
concealed when the edge a of the sheet has been wired or folded. If the edge a is
to be folded or wired on the same side as the sheet is covered, the covering material
is cemented right up to the edge on such side, and is carried down on the opposite
side of the sheet further than in the case just described and a margin thereof from
the edge a is left uncemented above the lower portion thereof which is cemented to
the sheet metal. If the sheet is desired to be covered, in the manner described, at
both faces, the covering material will be cemented over the entire surface of the
sheet on each side, except for a margin such as bon the outer side immediately
adjacent to the edge a, and except of course for any provision, such as herein
described, required to suit any other edge, than the edge a, which is to be wired or
folded or be joined to another edge of sheet metal.
"
Figure 2 shews in section means adopted, according to this invention, in forming
a knocked-up joint between the edges of two pieces of sheet metal, (such as a joint
made between a side and end of a box, or between an end and the bottom of a box),
in. the case of an article which is covered in the manner of this invention on the
outside only. The edge of one of the pieces of metal, namely of the sheet B, is
first "edged in the straight as shewn, and then the covering material d is
cemented along the outer surface and right up to the edge e of the flange. The
edge of the other sheet C is bent as shewn to form the overlap f, and the covering
material is cemented to the outer face of the sheet to within a short distance of
where the metal commences to be bent to form the overlap, namely to about the
point g, which is about half an inch from the bend; but the remaining margin of
the material, that is to say the part shown by dotted lines, is left uncemented
This uncemented
in order that it may stretch as the joint is "knocked up."
margin of the material is brought round over the edge of the overlap and is
tucked into the interior thereof, as indicated by dotted lines, so as to form a
complete lining hh throughout such interior. The flange of the sheet B is
inserted into the hollow of the overlapped edge of the piece C, being consequently
embedded as shewn between the two sides of the lining hh of coiting material
in the ordinary manner,
within the hollow, and the joint is then "knocked up
"
22
thus bringing the parts into the position indicated by Figure 3, the margin of
uncemented covering material readily stretching, as the joint is being knocked
up, instead of tearing as it would be liable to do if cemented right up to the
edge of the sheet. The covering is thus tightly secured at the joint between
the folds of the two pieces of sheet metal.
Figure 4 shews in section means adopted, according to this invention, in forming
a "knocked up" joint in the case of an article which is covered in the manner of
this invention on the interior only. In this case the method is the same as that
described with reference to Figure 2, except that the covering material of the
sheet B is cemented along the inner face of the sheet and against the outside
of the flange thereof, and the covering material of the sheet C is cemented
against the inner face of the sheet right up to the edge before it is bent to

page_text: form the overlap. The overlap is then formed in the usual manner; and the
flange of the sheet B is pushed down between the two coated sides of the overlap,
and the joint is then "knocked up" in the usual manner.
Figure 5 shews in section means adopted, according to this invention, in forming
a "knocked up "joint in the case of an article which is covered according to this
invention both on the exterior and interior. In this case the sheet B has the
covering material cemented to both its faces and to both the faces of its flange
right up to the edge of the flange. The inner face of the sheet C has the
covering material cemented to it right up to its edge before it is bent to form.
the overlap, and after the sheet has been bent to form the overlap it is treated
as described with reference to Figure 2, that is to say, coating material is
cemented to its outer face down to about the point g, and the margin of such
coating material beyond such point is passed around the overlap and tucked into
the hollow of the bent portion formning the overlap, so as to form a lining hh.
The lining is thus immediately inside the coating material ii which is cemented
to the walls and bottom of the hollow of the overlap. The covered flange of the
sheet B is then embedded within the lining hh, and the joint is afterwards knocked
up in the usual manner. It will thus be seen that the method of forming the
joint, in the case of the two pieces of sheet metal both of which are coated at their
inner and outer faces, is precisely the same as in forming the joint described with
reference to Figure 2, except that in addition thereto the sheet B is coated on its
interior face and at the outer face of its flange, and the sheet C is coated at its
inner face and within the hollow of the overlap..
If preferred, however, the joint at a corner of the sheet metal article may be
formed in the manner shewn in section by Figure 6, which illustrates such a joint
when the article is covered according to this invention on the exterior surface only.
In this case, one of the pieces of sheet metal, say the piece C, is first flanged as
shewn and then coated on the exterior by cementing the material d thereto right
up to the edge of the flange. The coating material is lapped over such edge and
cemented against the inside of the flange so as not to expose a ragged edge when
the joint is made. The coating material is cemented to the outer face of the
sheet B, which is left quite straight to its edge to be joined. The end of this
sheet is placed inside the flange of the sheet C, so that its covering material comes
against the margin of covering material inside the flange, and the parts are riveted
together by means of rivets j passing through the end of the sheet B and through
the flange of the sheet C. The ends of the covering material are thus securely
held between the laps of the sheets.
Figure 7 illustrates in section a joint, similar to that shewn by Figure 6, in the
case of an article coated in the manner of this invention on the interior only. In
this case, the sheet C has the coating material d cemented to its inner face right
up to the edge thereof before it is flanged, or such material may be cemented
thereto after the sheet has been flanged. The sheet B has the covering material
cemented to its inner face, and is lapped over the edge to be joined and cemented
along a margin of the sheet at the outside, so as not to expose a ragged edge in
the interior of the article; and thus when the parts are placed together for
joining up, the outer margin of covering material of the sheet B is against the
covering material at the inner face of the flange of the sheet C. The parts are
joined together by riveting as in the modification shewn by Figure 6.
If a flanged joint is to be made in the case of an article covered according to
this invention both outside and inside, the coating material is simply cemented to
the entire surface of each sheet outside and inside, and the parts are joined together
in the manner described with reference to Figures 6 and 7. The edges of the
covering material are, however, concealed within the joint.
In the case of joining two pieces of sheet metal in the same plane, the joint is
first made in the usual manner and then the covering material cemented to the
sheet metal and over the joint; and it is preferred to groove the joint (more
especially the joint along the bottom of a sheet metal trunk) from the side thereof

page_text: which will be on the inside of the article, when the exterior of the article is to be
covered in the manner of this invention, so as to make the joint flat with the
general surface of the sheet metal on the outside. If the article is to be coated in
the manner of this invention on the inside only, the joint may be grooved in the
ordinary manner, that is to say, so as to leave it flat with the general surface of
the sheet metal on the inside. If the surface is to be covered both outside and
inside in the manner of this invention, the joint may be grooved to make it flat
either with the general surface of the exterior of the metal or with the general
surface of the interior, or it may be set in grooving so as to project partially at
one face and partially at the other.
"
We have used the term "wired edge as including an edge which has been bent
or curled over into a hollow or tubular form, whether it surrounds a wire or is
left empty.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is―
1. Sheet metal travelling trunks and other sheet metal articles of an analogous
character, having their outer or inner, or both their outer and inner, surfaces
coated or covered in a permanent manner with American cloth, canvas, ducking, thin
leather, or the like cemented thereto, such covering material being secured at the
joints of the angles or corners against shewing ragged edges or being stripped away
from the metal, substantially as described.
2. A wired or folded edge of a sheet metal travelling trunk or other sheet metal
article of an analogous character-which is coated or covered at its outer or inner
or both its outer and inner surfaces in a permanent manner with American cloth,
canvas, ducking, thin leather, or the like cemented thereto-having a width of the
covering material uncemented between two portions thereof which are cemented,
whereby the material has become stretched with the bending of the metal in
wiring or folding the edge and cracking or tearing of the material is avoided,
substantially as described.
3. Sheet metal travelling trunks or other sheet metal articles of an analogous
character which are coated or covered, at their outer or inner or at their outer
and inner surfaces, in a permanent manner with American cloth, canvas, ducking,
thin leather, or the like cemented thereto-having joints made at corners or angles
thereof in which the coating or covering material is secured between the folds or
laps of the sheet metal, substantially as described.
4. Knocked-up joints of sheet metal travelling trunks and other sheet metal
articles of an analogous character-which have their outer or inner or both their
outer and inner surfaces coated or covered in a permanent manner with American
cloth, canvas, ducking, thin leather or the like cemented thereto-having the
covering material secured in the folds of the joints, and portions thereof uncemented
whereby it has become stretched as the joints have been knocked up and cracking
or tearing of the material thus avoided, substantially as described.
5. The several joints, substantially as described and shewn by the drawings
herewith, according to which American cloth, canvas, ducking, thin leather, or the
like used to coat or cover in a permanent manner, by being cemented thereto, the
outer or inner or the outer and inner surfaces of sheet metal travelling trunks and
other sheet metal articles of an analogous character, is securely held along its
edges and thus prevented from stripping away from the sheet metal, and whereby
ragged edges of such material are concealed.
Dated this 17th day of July 1894.
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton, Agent for the Applicants.