Improved Crates for Packing Rabbits and the like.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Dec., 1898-Accepted, 7th Oct., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Crates for Packing Rabbits and the like.
I, WILLIAM ANDREW THOMPSON, 53, Esk Street, in the City of Invercargill,
in the Colony of New Zealand, Manager, 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 object of this invention is to provide an improved crate for packing pro-
duce, especially small animals, birds or the like preferably when frozen or in
the cold chambers; the said crates being readily opened being sufficiently open
for inspection, being capable of being easily re-closed, & being capable of allow-
ing a free passage of the air between every layer of the produce, and at the
same time keeping the layers apart from being in a mass, and also crates that
form convenient receptacles for exposing the contents for sale.
In the case of rabbits and the like, they would preferably be packed lengthwise,
hindlegs inwards and heads outwards as regards length, and bellies outwards as
regards depth or width, for the better freezing of the inward portions. These
crates being in shallow portions have double laths or slats with distance
pieces between them for the passage of the air, and to keep the contents from
bulking.
Referring to the accompanying drawing: :-
Figure 1, is a view of a crate according to my invention as ready to be filled,
but closed.
Fig. 1 is a section taken through 1-1, Fig. 1.
Fig. 2, is a view of a crate, half only being shown, but filled and with the
division laths in position.
1
Fig. 3, is a view of the lid drawn to a smaller scale, and Fig. 4, is a view of
the laths, or slats shewn partly broken away, but illustrating how the laths are
formed for allowing air to circulate freely.
A, are these laths formed in any manner for the purpose of allowing a current
of air to pass between them such as the formation shown, they are preferably
to be nailed to one half of the crate as shown in Fig. 2.
In packing where two layers are used the bottom layer is packed, the
laths A, A, are secured, the top layer is packed, and the cover, see Fig. 3, is
secured. In opening, either this cover may be removed, or the crate may be
split at C, where there is a saw cut at D, part way through ends for allowing
easy dividing into more than one.
It is obvious that more than two layers may be adopted, with laths between
each layer.
B, are the sides of the crate and may be furnished with strips of any material
such as hoop iron to further secure the cases together till required separate.
See Fig. 1.
E, are the strips forming the lid and F, are strips for securing the strips E,
in position and also the lid to its place on the crate. If desired hinges could be
substituted for the part saw cut at D, C, the hinges being opposite to the hoop

page_text: iron or other thin strips shown at B, B, and these strips could be made into
hasps or the like for the same purpose.
Any suitable sizes or materials may be used.
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. In a crate for produce, preferably frozen rabbits, the combination of a
crate capable of being divided or opened for inspection (such as B, C, D, E, F,)
with laths (such as A, constructed for allowing a current of air to circulate
freely between any layers, substantially as shown and described and as illus-
trated in the accompanying drawing.
2. In a crate for holding rabbits and the like for freezing purposes, the com-
bination of such crate with laths A, for holding rabbits, birds, or the like pre-
ferably packed as described and so packed for allowing a free current of air to
circulate, and for arranging the contents for the better and easier freezing,
substantially as described and explained herein.
3. The slight described modification of a crate (such as B, C, D, E, F,)
hinged and hasped or either of them or partly sawn and hasped or having strips
(such as at B,) as described and as explained herein.
Dated this 31st day of October 1898
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.