Improvements in Collapsible Boxes.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 25th July, 1899-Accepted, 26th Aug., 1899
Improvements in Collapsible Boxes.
I, ADOLPHUS SILBIGER, Merchant, of IX Flüchtgasse 7, Vienna, in the Empire
of Austria, 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 boxes which, when empty may be collapsed for the
purpose of facilitating transport and economizing space.
The essential feature of this invention consists in the special application of
means for connecting the side walls of the box in such manner that the inner
surfaces of the box are perfectly smooth and devoid of projections liable to injure
the contents and cause difficulties in packing. Furthermore the improved means
enable the sides to be collapsed or folded flat upon each other in pairs without
disengaging the connections between them.
In order to make rigid the parts which have been set up for use and to ensure
a secure interlocking connection of the parts of the box, special appliances are
provided for connecting and fixing the cover and the bottom with the sides of
the box.
In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a
typical example of such boxes as set up for use and having a lid or cover and
bottom both adapted to be sunk or received within the side walls of the box.
Figure 2 shews an edge view of the side walls of the box in the collapsed posi-
tion. Figure 3 represents on a larger scale a vertical section of a device for
fixing the cover and bottom to the sides, both the cover and bottom being sunk
or received within the side walls of the box for the purpose of interlocking with
or strutting the walls.
Figure 4 shews a modification for lids or bottoms which are applied upon the
edges of the sides. Figure 5 represents a perspective view of another modifica-
tion in which the lid and bottom are sunk or received between the sides of the
box. Figure 6 is a perspective view of a second modification of the collapsible
or folding box, of which the cover and bottom are hinged to the sides. Figure 7
shews the box when collapsed or folded.
As shown in the Figures 1, 2 and 6, 7 the four side walls a b c d of the box
are connected by hinges f f at two diagonally opposite vertical corners, the
hinge plates being countersunk in the inner faces of the sides, and by hinges g g
at the other two diagonally opposite vertical corners affixed to the outer faces of
the sides. By means of hinges thus arranged the side walls may be so folded
or collapsed that the two walls a b connected together by the outer hinges,
or c d respectively may be folded in the same plane and that the two pairs of
side walls may be laid flatwise closely the one upon the other, as shown in
Figures 2 and 7.
The lid or cover h and the bottom of the example shewn in Figure 1 are
loose, whereas in that represented in Figure 6 each is hinged to one of the side
walls by hinges e, the hinges preferably turning in opposite directions so that
when the box is collapsed the lid or cover and bottom can be folded upon the
already folded side walls as shown in Figure 7.
The cover and bottom may either be countersunk or received between the
side walls as in Figures 1 and 2, or, as shewn in Figure 4 they may abut upon

page_text: the edges of the side walls. In the former case the side walls are provided with
rebates j forming shoulders upon which the cover or bottom rests when received
between the sides of the box.
The attachment of the cover and bottom to the side walls of the box is so
effected that no projection is formed on the inner surfaces of the box. According
to Figures 1 and 3, the side walls a care provided with flanged metal plates k
countersunk in the inner surface, the flange being flush with the upper edge of
the wall and having a hole, whilst the plate is provided with a screw socketted
lug m countersunk in the side wall.
The cover and the bottom respectively are each provided with strengthening
battens or braces n to which angle-iron strips o are attached, the latter having
holes in their projecting ends which abut upon the edges of the side walls and
correspond with the holes of the plates when the cover or the bottom is
placed in position between the sides of the box. Screw bolts p are passed through
the holes of the strip o, through the holes 7, the holes in the side walls and
screwed into the lugs m in order to ensure the firm connection between the
cover or bottom and the side walls.
When the cover or bottom abuts on the edges of the side walls, the connection
may be similarly effected by screw bolts 2 screwed into the tapped lugs m¹ of
the metal plates & countersunk on the inside of the walls, the screws passing
through the angle-iron strip o and through the cover or bottom respectively as
shown in Figure 4.
The battens or braces n of the cover and bottom may also be kept in position
by means of rods, bars or long screwed bolts q in order to render the closing
more effectual as represented in Figure 5. The rods, bars or bolts are placed in
this case on the outer side of the walls and pass longitudinally through upright
battens attached to the side walls, whilst the screw head 7' and nut q for fixing
these rods, bars or bolts are countersunk in the battens n of the cover or bottom
respectively.
71
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. Folding boxes, characterized by the connection of the side walls by means
of hinges, of which those at two diagonally opposite vertical edges are counter-
sunk at the faces, whilst those at the two other vertical edges are attached to the
outer surfaces of the walls, so that two adjacent and connected sides of the box
may be folded flat upon the two others which likewise are folded flat, the cover
and bottom being either countersunk or received between the upright side walls
or being hinged upon these walls, substantially as specified.
2. In a box constructed according to the first claim for fixing the cover or
the bottom respectively to the side walls, the application of angled plates having
screw socketted lugs and countersunk in the inner faces of the side walls to
receive screw bolts which pass through angle-iron strips attached to the battens
of the cover or bottom and which also in some cases pass through the said cover
or bottom respectively, substantially as specified.
3. In a box constructed according to the First Claim the application of external
tie rods, which may pass through the battens or braces of the side walls and are
secured to the battens of the cover or bottom respectively, by means of counter-
sunk screws and nuts, in order to connect the cover and bottom with the side
walls of the box, substantially as specified.
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
Chartered Patent Agents, 53, Chancery Lane, London.