Improved Detachable Boxes, Chests, or the like, and Method of Making same without the Use of Adhesive Material.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 15th July, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 12th Apr. 1894-Accepted, 14th July, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Detachable Boxes, Chests, or the like, and Method of
Making same without the Use of Adhesive Material.
I, MARCUS ABELES, of 37 Mariahilferstrasse, in the City of Vienna, in the
Empire of Austria, Frame Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
―:
This invention relates to an improved box, chest, trunk, or like receptacle,
constructed without the use of glue or other adhesive material, in such manner,
that same can be detached or taken apart on arrival at destination, and the parts
employed for any suitable purpose, or re-constructed or set up again when
required.
According to this invention, the bottom, two sides and lid or cover of the box are
each provided on their two opposite ends with strips or ledges suitably formed for
connecting the said parts.
After the bottom and the two sides provided with strips or ledges are set up in
their respective positions, and the two ends inserted, it is only necessary to use a
few screws in order to complete the box or chest, the lid being connected in an
equally simple manner.
These strips or ledges can be connected by the ordinary diagonal joints, or, as
will be evident, any other suitable method of connecting or joining the corners can
be employed, according to the required strength or security of the box.
When the chest is set up, it is obvious that there will be as many strips round
the two ends as edges. The sides or walls of the box may each consist of one
piece, or of separate boards, or planks connected by grooves and tongues, dowels,
clamps, overlapping-strips or plates, by mortising, dovetailing, or any other
suitable manner, without the use of glue or other adhesive material, in accordance
with the class of wood employed, and the particular required application of the
parts on arrival at destination.
For instance, small parquetting plates can be united to form the walls of the box,
and, on arrival at destination, such can be taken apart and used for parquetting.
The corner joinings or connections of the strips or ledges by which the box is
set up and secured, are either diagonally jointed, or connected by over-lapping or
shouldered-parts engaging with each other, so that each box can be made with a
minimum number of screws. By this construction, therefore, the parts are easily
set up and equally as easily detached.
In most instances it is necessary to use one screw for each corner, and by placing
a seal over same, the opening of the chest by unauthorized persons can be
controlled.
For trunks or chests intended for transport by sea, it is preferable to protect the
corners by angle irons, or metal corner pieces. Each of such corner-plates may be
secured by two wires crossing each other diagonally and the crossing or intersecting
points sealed.
The strips or ledges are so connected one with another, or with the walls of the
chest, preferably by means of screws or bolts, securing pins or the like, that it is
only possible to detach the parts from within; the heads of the screws or nails are
also only accessible from the inside of the receptacle.

page_text: It will be evident that according to this method small boxes, cases, or other
receptacles can be made, the essential feature being, that on arrival at destination
the parts of the box may be detached and employed for any other purpose.
Dated this 15th day of Inle 1802
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Detachable Boxes, Chests, or the like, and Method of
Making same without the Use of Adhesive Material.
I, MARCUS ABELES, of 37 Mariahilfer Strasse, Vienna, in the Empire of
Austria, Frame 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 :-
This invention relates to an improved box, chest, case or like receptacle, and is
constructed without the use of glue or other adhesive material, in such manner that
same can be taken to pieces on arrival at destination, and the parts (which, with
the present boxes, etc., are practically worthless after being employed once, and are
generally used for firewood by the receiver) employed for any desired purpose; or
the parts can be set together again and the box re-despatched.
Boxes and cases at present in use are not well adapted for transporting long
distances, since, they are too much affected by changes of weather etc.; consequently,
the wood splits or cracks and admits dust and moisture, to the great detriment of
the contents.
It is true that in commercial establishments, good strong boxes and cases can be
used again and again, but, as a rule, the great space required for storing cases
which cannot be taken to pieces, is not at disposal.
It is therefore essential that the cases can be taken to pieces, and set together
again when required; with the ordinary boxes in use, however, this is both
difficult and tedious, since, the parts are generally so broken and split after the box
has been once taken to pieces, that there is scarcely anything gained by
re-constructing same.
In cases where empty cases are not frequently required, sawn timber or boards,
however, might be very useful, but, in most instances, with ordinary boxes, such
available parts are very much split and broken during the taking to pieces, and the
glued parts are always more or less damaged and must be sawn off before the wood
can be used; even in this case, therefore, the wood can scarcely be used for
anything but fire-wood.
My invention, which I shall now describe with reference to the accompanying
drawings, overcomes all the above mentioned defects.
Fig. 1, shows the finished box or case in perspective view.
Fig. 2, is a horizontal section through same.
Fig. 3, is an end view of the box or case.
Fig. 4, is a section through the end wall.
Fig. 5, is a sectional view of the cover or bottom of the case.
Figs. 6, 7, 8 & 9, are sectional detail views.
According to my invention; the bottom, two sides and lid or cover of the box are
each provided at their two opposite ends with upright strips or ledges a suitably
formed for connecting the parts.
After the bottom and the two sides provided with strips or ledges a are set up in
their respective positions and the two ends inserted, it is only necessary to use a
few screws to complete the box or chest ; the lid is then connected in an equally
simple manner.
As shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the strips or ledges a are connected by the

page_text: ordinary diagonal or mitre joints; it will however be evident, that any other
suitable method of connecting or joining the corners may be employed, according to
the desired strength or security of the box.
When the chest is set up, it will be evident that there are as many ledges round
the two ends as edges of the box. The sides or walls of the box may each consist
of one piece, or, as shown in the drawings, of separate boards or planks connected
by grooves and tongues, dowels, clamps, scarf joints, mortising, dovetailing or in
any other suitable manner (without using glue or other adhesive material),
according to the class of wood employed, and the purpose for which the parts will
be applied on arrival at destination.
For instance, small parquetting boards or blocks may be united so as to form the
walls of the box or case, and, on arrival at destination, may be taken from
together and used for parquetting.
The corner joinings or connections of the strips or ledges by which the box is set
up and secured, are either diagonal or mitre joints, as shown in Fig. 3, or scarfed,
as shown in Figs. 7 & 8. A box, therefore, can be made with a minimum number
of screws; moreover, the parts are easily set up, and equally as easily taken to
pieces again.
In most instances it is only necessary to use one screw for each corner, and by
placing a seal or plug over same, the opening of the chest by unauthorized persons
can be controlled.
For trunks or chests intended for shipment, it is preferable to protect the
corners by angle irons or metal corner pieces, as shown, for instance, in Fig. 9.
Each of such corner plates may be secured and sealed in a suitable manner so as to
prevent the box being opened.
The strips or ledges are preferably connected with each other, or with the walls
of the chest, by means of screws or bolts, split-pins or the like, in such manner that
the parts can only be detached from within; the heads of the screws or nails too,
should only be accessible from inside the box or case.
It will be evident that according to this method, small boxes, cases or other
receptacles may be made, and the individual parts employed for any other purpose
on arrival at destination.
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. Improved detachable boxes, chests, cases or the like, made without the use of
glue or other adhesive material, characterized by the bottom, sides and cover or
lid being provided with an upright ledge on each opposite end for securing the
parts, the bottom and sides being first set up and then the ends inserted and fixed
by screws, bolts or the like, the lid being afterwards secured in similar manner,
substantially as described and shown in the drawings.
2. The method of making boxes, cases, chests or the like, of the kind described
in the foregoing claim, characterized by forming the walls or sides of several
planks or boards fastened together without the use of glue in such manner, that on
taking the case to pieces either the individual parts or the complete sides can be
employed for any purpose desired, substantially as described and shown in the
drawings.
3. In boxes or cases of the kind described in Claims 1 & 2, sealing the
attachments for the corner pieces, in suitable manner, as and for the purpose
described.
4. The method of connecting the ledges and walls or sides of the boxes etc., in
such manner that the parts can only be released or detached from within the box,
after the lid has been removed and the seals broken, substantially as described.
5. As a new article of manufacture, the boxes, chests, cases or the like as
described in the foregoing claims, constructed in such manner that they can be

page_text: taken to pieces and set together again without employing glue or other adhesive
material and without in any way splitting or damaging the individual parts, so
that they can be employed for other purposes, substantially as described and
-shown.
Dated this 19th dow of Annil 1001
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.