Improvements in Adjustable Partitions for Packing Boxes and Travellers' Cases, and for other like purposes.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Dec., 1893-Accepted, 20th Jan., 1894
Improvements in Adjustable Partitions for Packing Boxes and
Travellers' Cases, and for other like purposes.
I, JAMES VALENTINE COLEMAN, of No. 32 Mills Building, in the City and
County of San Francisco, State of California, United States of America,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of my invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:-
My invention relates to a novel construction of movable partitions adapted for
packing-boxes, trunks, portmanteaus and boxes for sporting goods such as fishing
and hunting tackle and the object of my invention is to provide a means for
separating and compressing the articles into a small compass and keep them in
place, whereby great economy in space is had and the contents of the box easily
reached at all times.
To this end my invention consists in providing such receptacles with inwardly
formed grooves along which lugs connected to the partition-plates move; the latter
being provided with centrally arranged rods or thumb-screws the lower ends of
which engage with a base-plate and hold the partition-plates firmly in place all of
which together with the details of construction and operation will be bereinafter
fully set forth and described.
In the accompanying drawings which form part of this Specification and to
which reference is had by figures and letters:-
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a box embodying my invention with movable
partitious in place and one end removed.
Figure 2 is a vertical transverse section of the same.
Figure 3 is a perspective view of one of the sections.
The partitions AA may be composed of metal or other suitable material and
are provided with split lugs B B riveted to edges at each end of the plate, the
faces of the upper lugs B B being made flush with the top edge of the partition so
that it will move without friction in the grooves assigned for it to be hereinafter
described.
Each partition is provided with fixed central collars D D* in which a vertical
rod E having a thumb-piece Ex at the upper end and a screw-thread working in a
bushing in the collar D* permits the end of the rod to be turned down and engage
with the bottom of the box or case and cause the lugs of the plate or partition to
react against the upper faces of the grooves and firmly hold the plate at any desired
point in the case or box.
Just above the upper groove is connected a continuous bead or moulding C which
serves as a guide for the upper lugs B in moving the partition from point to point
along the grooves as well as to strengthen the sides of the box when upward
pressure is brought to bear upon the partition by the operation of the vertical rod
or thumb-screw.
In practice a strip of metal as at F is fixed to the bottom of the box or case
upon which the end of the vertical rod or .thumb-screw turns which will admit of
greater pressure being exerted without marring the box or case at the points of
contact with the end of the screw.
The height of the partition may be such as to leave space between them and the
cover of the case for rods, landing-lets etc.
As thus constructed it will be seen that each partition is movable along the
grooves and independent of its fellow and that the whole interior of the box or
case can be divided into smaller spaces and the contents of the sub-divisions be

page_text: compressed and made compact by exerting pressure upon the plate of such com-
partment and turning down the binding-rod or thumb-screw.
It will also be seen that the contents of one division can be removed without
disturbing any other compartiment of the series.
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. The combination in a box or case provided with interior ways or grooves, of
a movable partition or partitions provided with lugs or projections adapted for
movement along the grooves, as and for the purpose set forth and specified.
2. The combination in a box or case provided with interior ways or grooves and
movable partitions with lugs or projections, of the thumb-screw or rods operating
in guides connecting with the partitions and adapted to bind the partition by
engaging with the bottom of the box or case, in the manner specified.
3. The combination in a box or case provided with interior ways or grooves and
movable partitions, of a vertical binding-rod connecting with said partitions having
a screw-threaded end operating in a tapped lug or bushing adapted to engage with
the bottom of the box or case and hold the partitions firmly in place, as described.
4. The combination in a box or case provided with adjustable partitions movable
in ways or grooves and means for holding the same in a fixed position, of a bead or
molding arranged above and parallel with the upper groove or way as described
for the purpose specified.
Dated this 20th day of December 1893.
JAMES VALENTINE COLEMAN.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.