Improvements in the Construction of Metallic Boxes, Cans, and other Receptacles.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Aug., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 6th May, 1891-Accepted, 13th June, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Metallic Boxes, Cans, and other
Receptacles.
WILLIAM CRAWFORD and JAMES CRAWFORD 49, Arlington Street, Glasgow
Tinsmiths do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
The object of our invention is to construct metallic boxes cans and receptacles so
as to obtain a stronger and more secure seam than that technically known as the
grooved seam. Our mode of operation is to make a line of perforation along one
end of a plate or sheet of metal that is to form the body of the box or receptacle,
and on the opposite end of the plate a series of tags or clips so formed as to exactly
fit or slip into the corresponding perforations on the opposite end. The plate is
then folded behind the line of tags leaving the latter standing at right angles to the
plate which is then formed into the required shape, the tags being inserted in the
perforations and then laid firmly down, thus ensuring the stability of the seam and
rendering it impossible for the box or receptacle to collapse as the ordinary grooved
or tinker joint is so liable to do.
A modification of our principle is to partly groove the seam in the ordinary way,
leaving sufficient space for one or more tags at top and bottom edges so as to secure
the stability of the seam.
These seams we employ in the construction of boxes, cans or other receptacles
of whatever form and to suit the various purposes.
Dated the 5th day of August 1890.
WILLIAM CRAWFORD.
JAMES CRAWFORD.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Metallic Boxes, Cans, and other
Receptacles.
We, WILLIAM CRAWFORD and JAMES CRAWFORD, 49, Arlington Street,
Glasgow, Tinsmiths, 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 that is to say :-
The object of our invention is to construct metallic boxes, cans and other
receptacles so as to obtain a stronger and more secure seam than that hitherto
obtained and technically known as the "grooved seam."
"
In carrying out our invention according to one modification a number of slots or
perforations are formed by any suitable known means, near one edge of a plate or
sheet of metal which is to form the body of the box or receptacle, the opposite edge
of this plate or another plate to be seamed to this plate having a corresponding
number of tags or clips formed on it. Near this latter edge a narrow portion of the
plate is folded completely over and the tags are bended out so as to stand at right
angles to the outer surface of the plate. The plate then shaped by any suitable
known means into the desired shape of box or receptacle, and the tags being
inserted into the slots at the other end of the plate are bended closely down, thus
ensuring the stability of the seam and rendering it impossible for the box or
receptacle to collapse, as the ordinary grooved or tinker joint is so liable to do.
According to a second modification the box or receptacle may be partly formed
with a grooved seam as hitherto but leaving sufficient space for one or more slots

page_text: and tags to be formed at its edges as herein before described so as to secure the
stability of the seam.
Boxes or other receptacles made with our improvements may be made of various
forms and can be used for a large variety of purposes.
And in order that our said invention and the manner of performing the same may
be properly understood we hereunto append a sheet of explanatory drawings to be
hereinafter referred to and showing by way of example a simple form of can as
made with our improvements.
Figures 1, and 2, on the accompanying sheet of drawings are, respectively, a plan
and a longitudinal section of a plate or sheet of metal which is to form the body of
the can and Figure, 3, is a side elevation of the plate as bended into form and having
its edges seamed together.
In carrying out our invention according to the modification shown in the drawings
a number of slots or perforations, S, are formed near one edge of the plate, P, as
shown at the left-hand side of Figure, 1, and a corresponding number of tags or
clips, T, are cut out of the opposite edge of the plate, P, as shown by dotted lines
at the right-hand side of Figures 1, and 2. At this latter edge the plate, P, is
folded and the tags, T, are bended out so as to stand at right angles to the outer
surface of the plate, P. The plate, P, is then shaped by any suitable known means
into the form of a can as shown in Figure, 3, and the perforated edge of the plate
being made to overlap the other edge the tags, T, are passed through the slots, S,
and bended closely down alternately to different sides.
When a seam is formed in the manner herein before described with reference to
the drawings a tight seam can be made without soldering. When solder is used,
the tag edge of the plate need not be folded as described unless an extra strong
seam is required.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that
what we claim is :-
In constructing metallic boxes, cans, or receptacles, forming a seam by making a
number of slots or perforations near one edge of a plate or sheet of metal and a
number of tags or clips to fit the slots on the opposite edge of the same plate or
sheet or on another plate or sheet, and by interlocking and closing the parts.
substantially in the manner hereinbefore described.
Dated this Fifth day of May 1891.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicants' Agent.