Improvements in Cases for Protecting Bottles or other Articles in Transit through the Post or otherwise.
Year: 1889

page_text: Dite of Application, 9th Mar., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 8th Jan., 1890-Accepted, 8th Feb., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cases for Protecting Bottles or other Articles in
Transit through the Post or otherwise.
I, WILLIAM RIGHTER COMINGS Mechanical Engineer, of 49 & 51 Fann Street,
Aldersgate Street London E.C. do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to
be as follows :-
According to my invention, cases for packing & protecting bottles & other fragile
articles, whilst in transit through the parcels post, or otherwise, protecting them from
injury, are made advantageously from cylindrical, or other shaped tubes, made from
cardboard or other suitable material, lined with an inner tube or cushion of paper,
cardboard, or other elastic material. Discs, diaphragms, or covers of paper, or any
suitable material, corresponding in section with the interior of the outer case, can be
introduced into each end to close the same.
The ends of the outer case have slots, or saw-cuts in them for the reception of a cord,
which, when the ends are tied together, secures the bottle or other article, safely
within the case.
The inner lining or cushion may in some cases be fixed to the outer tube; but
I prefer to have it loose, as this makes it easier to remove the contents, by pushing
on one of the end discs or covers. With this construction, if it is desired to use the
case for a bottle, or other article that is shorter than the case was intended for, it is
only necessary to remove the inner lining & cut it down to the exact length of the
article.
In some cases, I prefer to use, instead of the lining or cushion of paper, a coating
of pitch, cork & glue, or other elastic substance, or composition-for rendering the
recepticle waterproof. Or the lining cushion may be coated with pitch, cork, or other
composition.
In carying out this modification, the ends as well as the interior of the case or
tube, may be coated with pitch or similar material; then by a gentle heat, the coating
near the ends of the case is caused to melt & unite with the coating applied to the
ends, thus hermitically sealing the package. In another modification, instead of
having a lining or cushion to just fit the outer case, I make it somewhat smaller & fill
the space between the inner & outer case with cork, sawdust or other elastic materials,
or compositions, which are made waterproof or not, as required. When covers are
used for the ends, they may be applied either to the outside or inside case. When
applied to the outside I make a grove in the top of the cover sufficiently deep to hold
securely in place the cord or 'tape, that passes round the case. In this construction
the inner case may sometimes be omitted, when the package is to be used for holding
light materials. ·
When diaphragms are used for the ends, in some cases, I prefer to make said
diaphragms with raised or sunk centres that will just fit on or into, the end of the
lining or cushion tube; while the outer diameter of the diaphragm is made of the
proper diameter to just fit the inside of the outer case. This construction keeps
the inner cushion, tube or casing always in the centre of the outer case, & if sufficient
space is allowed between the two casings, the inner tube will be securely protected
from shocks or blows which might seriously indent & injure the outer casing. To
obtain a still further protection I sometimes fill the space between the two casings with
cork, dust, or other suitable material.
London March 7th 1889

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cases for Protecting Bottles or other Articles in
Transit through the Post or otherwise.
I, WILLIAM RIGHTER COMINGS Mechanical Engineer formerly of 49 and 51 Fann
Street but now of Brewhouse Yard 172 and 174 John Street in the City of London
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 my Invention is to provide a case or receptacle for protecting bottles
and other articles whilst in transit through the post or otherwise.
According to my Invention I form the body of the case from a length of cylindrical
tubing of strawboard, cardboard or other suitable material and this I preferably line
with an inner tube or cushion of paper, corrugated or otherwise or some elastic
material which will serve to reduce the risk of breakage of the contents.
The ends of the tube are closed by discs diaphragms or covers of some similar
material and are provided with slots for the reception of a cord which when its ends
are tied together secures the bottle or other article safely within the case.
To clearly explain the nature of my Invention reference is made to the accompanying
drawings in which :-
Figure 1 is a view in section of one form of my improved case.
Figure 2 is an end view of same with the disc removed.
Figures 3, 5 and 7 are views in section of other forms of my improved case.
Figures 4, 6 and 8 are end views respectively of same and
Figures. 9, 10 and 11 are views of further modifications.
Referring now to Figure 1 the outer tube or case A has an inner lining of
corrugated packing paper B and loose discs CC at either end which abut against
the latter. The lining B may be fixed if desired, but is preferably loose in the outer
tube so that by pushing in one of the discs the contents and lining may be thrust
forward and the former more readily removed.
The ends of the outer case A may each be provided with a slot D which will serve
..to retain the cord employed for keeping the end discs in place and which as shown
may be secured by tying around the case. In place of the slot at either end however
I prefer to make a hole D' at a short distance from one end and to employ a slot at
the other. The slot or slots are preferably made of some depth so that the case may
take different sized articles, as in the case of a small article the inner lining need only
be cut off to the desired length and the disc pushed down to same.
In some cases I may use instead of the lining of paper a coating of pitch, cork and
glue or other elastic substance B as shewn in Figure 3 which will also be placed on
the end discs CC, so that after the contents of the case are in place, a gentle heat
applied to the ends of the tube and the discs before the latter are pushed in will serve
to close the case effectively against the entrance or escape of liquids.
According to another modification I may employ as the lining an inner tube B as
shown in Figure 5 and apply stamped up covers CC to the ends of same so that a
space will be left between the two tubes which may be left empty or filled with cork,
sawdust or other elastic material. If such a filling is employed the discs may of course
be substituted for the covers, or the latter may be placed over the ends of the outer tube
in which case the grooves EE in same are desirable for the purpose of holding the
cord in place. With the covers as shown the groove may be present or not as desired.
In Figure 9 I show a convenient form of box suitable for holding such articles as are
not readily liable to breakage. This form consists simply of the outer tube A and the
covers CC having the grooves E E therein. It may be provided with a lining or not
as desired.
In place of a flat disc i may dish or shape them so as to form a flanged cover
as shown in Figure 7 the box in which is shown with alternate arrangements at

page_text: In stamping up these I prefer to slightly corrugate the outer flanges to add strength
to same.
With these flanged covers as shewn the inner lining tube B will be retained in its
central position but may have the filling of cork, sawdust or the like between it and
the outer tube if desired.
These cases having the flanged discs or covers are particularly adapted for holding
powders or small articles in a loose condition while the cases having the flat discs are
more suitable for holding bottles.
It will be evident that any or all of the lining tubes B and discs or covers C may
be coated with pitch or the like so as to make a watertight package as described.
In Figures 10 and 11 I show a modified form of box the former consisting of a
grooved cover C fitting over a short tube A. secured in a second cover or bottom C
which is also grooved. In Figure 11 the grooved cover C simply fits over the second
grooved cover or bottom C which is smaller in diameter.
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. An improved case for postal and other purposes consisting of a tube having
slots for the reception of a cord, an inner lining of corrugated or other packing paper
and removeable discs or covers substantially as described.
2. An improved case for postal and other purposes consisting of a tube having slots
for the reception of a cord, an inner tube with or without a filling of elastic material
between it and the outer, and covers or discs which will keep said inner tube central
substantially as described.
3. An improved case for postal and other purposes consisting of a tube with or
without a lining and removeable covers having grooves formed therein for the
reception of a cord substantially as described.
4. The improved cases for postal and other purposes substantially as described and
claimed having an interior coating of pitch or the like for the purpose set forth.
5. The improved cases for postal or other purposes having two covers or a cover
and bottom both grooved for the reception of a cord substantially as described and
shown in Figures 10 and 11.
Dated this 8th day of January 1890.
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicant.