Improvements in Metal Straps and Strap-irons for Boxes, and Method and Means for Fabricating and Reeling the same.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 25th N v. 1890-Accepted, 17th Jan., 18°1
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Metal Straps and Strap-irons for Boxes, and
Method and Means for Fabricating and Reeling the same.
I, HERBERT JOHN ALLISON, of 52, Chancery Lane, London, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, which has
been communicated to me from abroad by Spencer Cone Cary, of Baldwin's, County
of Queens. State of New York. United States of America, Manufacturer, 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 metal straps or bands for encircling the ends of boxes and
packing-cases, and to the method and means for making such straps and also to
devices for reeling the same to adapt them for transportation to the place of use
where they may be unreeled as required and in such lengths as may be desired;
and also to strap-irons for reinforcing the corners of boxes or packing-cases and for
attaching two or more boxes or cases together.
Figure 1 is a plan in perspective of metal sheets jointed together endwise and
illustrating the method in which I form metal box-straps of indefinite lengths from
metal sheets; and said figure also shows in side elevation and partly in section the
reel-device which I have devised upon which the completed strap may be coiled and
thus adapted for transportatio . and from which reel is may be withdrawn and
severed in desired lengths, at the place of use, as hereinafter set forth.
Figure 2 is a rear end elevation of said reel-device;
Figure 3 is a plan in perspective showing a portion of a metal strip as it is severed
or cut from the metal sheet in the process of making the box-strap according to my
invention;
Figure 4 illustrates a cross-section of my improved box-strap and the rolls which I
employ as the means for rolling upon themselves the side edges of my hox-strap
according to my invention;
Figure illustrates a strap-iron for reinforcing the corner of a box;
Figure 6 illustrates a strap-iron for attaching two adjacent boxes together;
Figure 7 shows a modified form of said strap-iron ;
Figure 8 illustrates a further modification of the same;
Figure 9 is a section on the line c, 2, of Figure 6; and
Figure 10 shows two adjacent boxes in cross-section and illustrates the application
thereto of the strap-irons.
In carrying out my invention I take metal sheets which are of a desirable gauge of
thickness, and which are of uniform width, and of a width adapting them to constitute
strips or bands suitable for box-straps when slitted or cut by parallel kerfs, and J.
unite these metal sheets endwise, successively, at their corresponding edges by means
of individual eyelets, rivets, or equivalent fasteners, which are arranged or located in
series, at the several successive joints or unions of the sheets, and with the fasteners
of each series preferably equi-distant from each other, and so that the corresponding
individual fasteners in each said series are in line with each other, respectively,
throughout the several unions of the sheets.
In Figure 1, A, A1, A2, are the metal sheets of uniform width and a are the
individual fasteners which are arranged as hereinbefore set forth and unite the
metal sheets end wise, the edges of the sheets being overlapped, successively,
as shown.
When the metal sheets are thus united, successively, 10 constitute a continuous
sheet of indefinite length, I slit the said continuous sheet into strips or bands of

page_text: uniform width and of such width as adapts them for use as box-straps. In slittin
the said united sheets, as described, I make the cuts parallel to each other an
preferably equi-distant from each other, and I thus divide the sheets into continuou
bands or strips, which are equal in number to the number of individual fasteners a i
each series thereof at the successive joints of the sheets, and which bands or strip
each include and have the respective corresponding fasteners of each series thereof
by making the cuts in the sheets in lines midway between the adjacent fasteners in
the series thereof at each union of the sheets.
In Figure 1 the lines of the slits or cuts in the sheets are shown at a and the thu
constituted several metal bands or strips are shown at B, B1, B2, etc.
In completing my invention I coil the continuous bands or strips B, B1, B2, etc.
separately upon themselves into individual helices, C, as illustrated in Figure 1.
The reel-device which I employ to coil individual box-straps of indefinite length
separately upon themselves consists of the following parts as illustrated in Figures 1
and 2-
D is a base or standard and d d are two uprights rising perpendicularly from said
base and parallel to each other and adapted to receive and permit play thereof between
them of the hereinafter described spool of coiled strap.
Between the uprights, on the base or standard, is a shoe or hearing-surface E
which is in-lined to the plane of the under-face of said base, and the face of which is
preferably a curve, as shown. At dare slots which are similarly formed, one in each
upright. so that they register with each other therein, and the longitudinal diameter:
of these slots are in the direction perpendicular to the face of the shoe E, or to the
chord of the are described thereby when the shoe-face is curved, as set forth.
F is the spool upon which the metal strap is coiled, as at C. The spool is journaled
loosely upon a shaft, having loose bearings in the corresponding slots ', in the
uprights d. The shaft is preferably threaded at 2, and provided with a nut on
said threaded end, to permit the shaft to be unseated when it is desired to remove or
replace the spool F.
The uprights & are preferably of a length or height to adapt them to reach to and
somewhat beyond the circumference of a full spool of strap, as shown, and the outer
ends of the uprights are desirably united by a cross-bar d².
It is furthermore preferable that the uprights be constituted of a lower portion d
rigid on the base and an upper portion d adapted to play longitudinally in or upon
the rigid portion d, the upper or outer ends of the portions being united by the
cross-bar . This is desirably accomplished by forming the parts d³ and the cross-
bar of a piece of metal rod which is bent upon itself, the parts 3 having at their
ends the lateral lugs and being seated in apertures or grooves in the portions d
of the uprights, which portions d are slotted longitudinally to permit the play therein
of the lugs d', respectively. The base may be slotted at d at the lower ends of the
longitudinal slots, so that the parts d³ and the cross-bar may be withdrawn or
seated through the base.
The inner sides of the uprights d where they meet the shoe E are desirably
inclined inwardly toward the shoe face, as shown at d³.
It is evident that when the spool of strap is in position on its shaft between the
uprights, the direction of the slots d' in which the said shaft has bearing, will permit
and enable the coil to rest, by gravity, upon the face of the shoe E, as illustrated
in the drawings: this result being effected whether the reel device is placed
horizontally with its base resting on a floor, or placed vertically with its base hung
against a wall, post or other such support. It is also evident that spools having upon
them straps of different widths may be placed successively in the same reql-stand!,
and when seated will be prevented from binding at their edges against the inner
sides of the uprights, but, by means of the inclined portions d on the uprights,
will be seated centrally on the shoe E between the uprights.
It is also evident that, as the strap is uncoiled from the spool, the play of the
spool-shaft in the slots d¹ will enable the circumference of the remainder of the coil

page_text: to continue, by gravity, to rest and bear upon the shoe, thus preventing the coil
from winding by the tension of the metal strap when the reel is idlo; and.
furthermore, that when the reel is idle, the cross-bar d may serve to detain the free
end of the strap coil, as shown.
It will be noted that, when the uprights are formed with the upper portions d³
having play in or on the fixed lower portions d, as the coil is unwound the movable
parts 723 may
be forced, or be permitted to drop, by gravity, longitudinally, as set
forth, and the cross-bar d be thus maintained in contact with the circumference of
the coil, as the coil diminishes in diameter, and thus act to detain the free end of the
coil until it is wholly consumed.
In cutting bands or strips B, B', &c., from an edge of a metal sheet, the action of
the slitting knife in passing through the sheet bends or deflects the metal along the
line of the ent so as to cause the edges made on the bands by the cut to project.
somewhat beyond the under face of the band and to be drawn or pressed by the
knife-edge to a sharpness which is objectionable in a box-strap, owing to the fact
hat such sharp side edges are liable to wound or injure the hands of the users of the
straps.
In further carrying out my invention, therefore, I curl or roll the side edges of
the strap B over and upon themselves, respectively, and press them closely into
contact with the body of the strap. This may be effected by passing the strap,
composed of the endwise jointed bands, or the bands, individually, before they are
jointed together endwise to constitute the strap, between a pair, or pairs, of
circumferentially grooved rollers G with the sharp edges formed on the strap by the
slitting-knife, as set forth, seated in said circumferential grooves, said rollers being
adapted to press upon said sharp edges as the strap travels between them, so that the
sharp edges will be curled over upon themselves, respectively, and pressed closely to
the strap-body. This feature of my improved metal strap is clearly illustrated in
Figure 4, the curled edges of the strap being shown therein at g¹ pressed closely to
the strap-body along said edges.
I find it preferable to form the peripheral grooves in the rollers with one wall of
the groove perpendicular to the axis of the roller, as shown, and with the opposite
wall of said groove inclined to said first wall, as shown, and meeting it at the bottom
of the groove, in an acute angle, as shown. I find that a groove in this form
produces the best results on the strap edges
In the box-strap thus formed the side edges may be made rounded an smooth,
the sharp edges formed by the cut of the slitting-knife being bent or turned inward,
as set forth, upon the strap, so that the completed strap may be handled and used
without danger of injury to the hands of the users. Furthermore, my described
metal box-strap may be coiled into a helix, flatwise, upon a suitable spool or holder,
and in this condition be transported, and be unwound from its spool in desired lengths
at the places of use.
The further feature of my invention relating to strap-irons for the corners of boxes
and for uniting two or more boxes together, is shown in Figures 5 to 10, and is as
follows:-
At
H is the strap-iron, composed of a metal band of a desirable length and width.
or near each end of the strap tongues are formed, by cutting the same from the body of
the band and bending them at an angle thereto from one face thereof, as shown.
The tongues which are adjacent to the extremities of the strap may advantageously
be made somewhat longer than those formed nearest to the middle of the strap-iron,
and it is preferable to cut the tongues from the band-body, at the opposite ends of
the strap with their longitudinal axes at right angles to each other, so that, when they
are bent at an angle to a face of the strap, their planes will be at right angles to each
other at the opposite ends of the strap, as shown plainly in Figure 5.
Each tongue is given a longitudinal corrugation, which has a taper corre-
sponding to that of the taper of the tongues, as shown; and these corrugations
begin within the body of the tongue and somewhat back from or above the base of
the tongue, so as to leave a portion of the body of the tongue at its base where it

page_text: ares with the band-body, plane-faced and without corrugation. The corrugations
desirably extend to and terminate at the point of each tongue, as shown.
The ends of the strap H are preferably cut or formed with a semi-circular or
curved outline, as shown at 2, Figure 5, and a corrugation ³ is formed in the strap
at and along its side edges and at and along its end edges, as shown. About midway
the ends of the strap a plane or flat uncorrugated portion ' is formed. The rounded
end edges avoid the presence of sharp angular corners on the strap-ends and the
corrugation 3 stiffens the strap at its edges and tends to cause the strap edges to fit
snugly to the box-surface and to prevent said edges from curling outward when the
strap is seated on the box while the middle plane portion permits the strap to be
freely bent upon itself around the box corner.
The strap His, in use, bent to substantially a right angle about midway of its
length, as illustrated at H', Figure 10, with the tongues on the inner face of the
angle-plate thus formed. The tongues may now be driven into the side of top of a
bar, upon the corner or angle of which the bent strap is placed, as illustrated in
Figure 1, thus serving to bind or reinforce the box-corners. While the corrugation h¹
in each tongue serves to stiffen the tongue so that it may be driven into the wooden
wall of the box effectively, the plane-faced neck at the base of each tongue enables the
tongue to bend or yield flatwise at its juncture with the band so as to enter the
box-wall more or less diagonally, thus drawing the band snugly to the box-corner,
and so as to more or less follow the grain of the wood in being driven into the wall.
When the planes of the tongues at the opposite ends of the strap are at right angles
to each other, the tongues will, by entering the box-walls in different directions,
relatively to the grain of the wood, at the opposite ends of the strap, be more
effectively seated in the box-walls.
In further carrying out this feature of my invention, I combine with the strap H,
having integral with it the described tongues h, by said tongues being cut from and
bent to project from the strap-body, as set forth, a plate K extending from the strap-
hody and adapted to be secured to a surface or object to which it is fitted. This
plate K may extend laterally from one edge of the strap, as shown in Figure 8, and
be provided with an aperture k at or near its outer end or side, whereby, when the
strap is seated upon and attached to a box-wall, or other object, by its integral
tongues h, either flatwise, or bent angularly upon itself, the plate K may be attached
by a nail, or similar device, passed through the aperture k, to an adjacent object, as,
fer example, a contiguous box or package; or the plate Kay, and preferably should,
extend laterally across or between the side edges of the strap, and project angularly,
and desirably at a right angle, to that face of the strap from which the tongues h
project, as shown in Figures 6 and 7. The plate K is adapted to be attached
to a box-wall, or other object, and for this purpose is preferably provided with
tongues & cut from the plate and bent to project from a face of the plate.
The strap H and plate K may be formed integral in one piece by slitting the strap
longitudinally from one end to a point more or less near the opposite end, and then
bending the two parts of the slitted portion reversely at right angles to the unslitted
end, as shown in Figure 7, whereby the halves of the slitted portion will constitute
the strap-body and may have the tongues cut therefrom, as described, and the
uuslitted portion will constitute the plate K having its tongues ¹, as shown; or the
plate K may be constituted by cutting the same on three sides from the body of
the strap Hand bending it at right angles to the strap at its remaining edge, as
illustrated in Figure 6.
9
The strap and plate shown in Figures 6 and 7 are specially adapted for use in
binding together boxes which are arranged one upon another in tiers, as illustrated in
Figure 10 the plate K is placed between the opposed faces or walls of two boxes
and held in position by means of the tongues A', or nails, as the case may be, driven
into a box-wall, as shown, and the opposite ends of the strap are secured to the walls,
respectively, of the two adjacent boxes. By means of the strap and its plate applied
as described to the several adjacent corners of two boxes, throughout a tier or tiers of
boxes, all the boxes in a pile thereof may be secured together so as to constitute a

page_text: ingle package capable of being handled singly. The plates will operate to prevent
atoral movement of the boxes, one upon another throughout the series, and the strap-
odies will serve to bind the adjacent boxes together throughout said series.
The tongues which are formed in the strap-body may be formed only at the strap-
ends and may be dispensed with at the central portion of the strap where the angular
pend is made therein to fit the strap to a box-corner; or where the plate K joins the
trap: or in place of said tongues in such central portion of the strap-body.
apertures may be formed in the strap for the passage of fastening nails at such
portion of the strap-body.
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 method of making coiled metal box-straps which consists in, first, uniting
endwise at their corresponding edges an indefinite number of metal sheets of uniform
width, by similar series of individual fasteners, with the corresponding individual
fasteners in each said serios, at the several unions of the sheets, in line with each
other, respectively, throughout the extent of the united sheets; then, slitting the thus
united metal sheets into bands or strips, equal in number to the number of fasteners
in each series thereof, and with each thus constituted band or strip including and
having the respective correspondingfasteners of each said series thereof; and, finally,
coiling the thus constituted metal bands or strips separately upon themselves,
respectively, into individual helices, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
2. In a reel-device for metal box-straps, the combination with a base D of a shoe E,
the bearing-face of which is inclined to the plane of the under face of said base, and
the uprights d parallel to each other on said base on either side of said shoe, and
provided with corresponding slots d', the longitudinal diameters of which are in the
direction perpendicular to the bearing-face of said shoe, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
3. In a reel-device for metal box-straps, the combination with a base D of a shoe E,
the bearing-face of which is inclined to the plane of the under-face of said base, and
the uprights & parallel to each other on said base on either side of said shoe, and
having the portions of their inner faces inclined inwardly toward the shoe-face,
and provided with corresponding slots d', the longitudinal diameters of which are in
the direction perpendicular to the bearing-face of said shoe, substantially as and for
the purpose set forth.
4. In a reel-device for metal box-straps, the combination with a base D, of a shoe E,
the bearing-face of which is inclined to the plane of the under-face of said base, the
uprights & parallel to each other on said base on either side of said shoe and adapted.
in height to extend to the circumference of a spool of box-strap scated between them
on said shoe, and provided with corresponding slots d', the longitudinal diameters of
which are in the direction perpendicular to the bearing-face of said shoe, and the
cross-bar rigidly uniting the outer ends of said uprights, substantially as and for
the purpose set forth.
5. In a reel-device for metal box-straps, the combination with a base D having a
shoe E whose bearing-face is inclined to the under-face of said base, of two uprights
on said base, on either side of said shoe, and composed of the lower portions d rigid
on the base, and the upper portions united at their upper ends by the cross-bar d
and having play longitudinally in their respective lower rigid portions, substantially.
as and for the purpose set forth.
6. A metal box-strap composed of bands of strips of metal of suitable width cut
with their thinned or beveled edges, from an edge of a metal sheet and jointed
together end wise to constitute a metal strap of indefinite length, with the thinned or
neveled side edges of the band or strap curled inward upon themselves, respectively,
and pressed closely to the band or strap body at, upon and along said side-edges
thereof, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
7. A metal band for box-straps, cut, with thinned or beveled edges, from an edge of

page_text: sheet of metal and having said thinned or beveled side-edges curled inward upo
themselves, respectively, and pressed closely to the band-body at, upon, and along sai
side-edges thereof, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
8. The method of making metal box-straps, which consists in cutting metal band
or strips of the desired width from a sheet of metal, jointing said bands or strip
together endwise to constitute a metal strap of indefinite length, and either before o
after said bands or strips are thus jointed endwise, rolling or curling the side edge
thereof over and upon themselves, respectively, and pressing them to the body of the
band, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
9., In a machine for making metal box-straps, a pair, or pairs, of rollers having
circumferential peripheral grooves, one wall of which is at right angles to the roller
axis, and the other wall of which is inclined to said rectangular wall and meets the
same at an acute angle at the bottom of the groove, said rollers being adapted to
receive between them, edgewise, a metal band or strap, with the edges thereof seated
in the opposedly located grooves in each pair of said rollers, and to press upon said
strap edges as the band or strap travels between said rollers, substantially as and for
the purpose set forth.
10. A strap-iron for boxes composed of a metal band provided with tongues co
from the body of the band and bent angularly to a face thereof, and corrugations in
said tongues extending longitudinally thereof from a point within or above the base
end of said tongues to and terminating at or near the extremity of said tongues.
whereby a plane-faced neck is provided on the tongue where it joins the band-body,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
11. A strap-iron for boxes, composed of a metal band provided with tongues cut
from the body of the band between its side-edges and bent angularly to a face of the
band at each end thereof, with the planes of the tongues at one end of the band at
right angles to the planes of the tongues at the other end of the bands, substantially as
and for the purpose set forth.
12. A strap-iron for boxes, composed of a metal band provided with tongues cut
from the body of the band and bent angularly to a face of the band, and a metal
plate integral with and projecting from said band, whereby, while the band-body may
he attached to one or more boxes or objects, the plate may be secured to or upon one
of the same, or, a separate box or object, substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
13. A strap-iron for boxes, composed of a metal band provided with tongues cut
from and turned angularly to a face of the body of the hand, and a plate integral
with the band and extending therefrom between the side edges thereof with
its plane at an angle to that of the band, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
14. A strap-iron for boxes, composed of a metal band and a plate integral with,
extending laterally across and projecting from a face of the band, said band, on the
face thereof from which said plate projects, and said plate, being provided with
tongnes cut, respectively, from the body of said band and plate, and bent at an angle
thereto, respectively, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
15. A strap for boxes, composed of a metal band having a corrugation at and
along its edges at the sides and ends thereof, and tongues, integral with the band, and
cut, one or more, from the band-body, at or near the ends thereof, and bent at an
angle to the face thereof which is opposite to that which is corrugated, substantially as
and for the purpose set forth.
16. A strap for boxes, composed of a metal band having a plane or flat portion
about midway its ends and extending entirely across the band between its side edges;
a corrugation upon each end of the band extending, from said plane portion, at and
along its side and end-edges, and tongues, integral with the band, and cut, one or
more, from the band body, at or near the ends thereof, and bent at an angle to the
face thereof which is opposite to that which is corrugated, substantially as and for
the purpose set forth.
17. A strap for boxes, composed of a metal band having its end-edges semicircular

page_text: or curved in outline, a corrugation at and along its side and end-edges, and tongues,
integral with the band, and cut, one or more, from the band-body, at or near the ends
thereof, and bent at an angle to the face thereof which is opposite to that which is
corrugated, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Dated this 25th day of November 1890.