IMPROVEMENTS IN FOLDING BASKETS AND HAMPERS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Francis Henry White of Liverpool in the County of
Lancaster Whitesmith for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN FOLDING
BASKETS AND HAMPERS
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PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Francis Henry White at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th September 1883.
FRANCIS HENRY WHITE of Liverpool in the County of Lancaster, Whitesmith,
IMPROVEMENTS IN FOLDING BASKETS AND HAMPERS
The invention relates to baskets hampers and containers or receptacles mainly
of wicker or equivalent woven work so constructed that the sides and top
may be folded one on the other when the said basket or hamper is empty or not
in use for holding goods or articles.
The main object is to provide a basket or hamper which shall be strong, durable,
easily folded so as to occupy sinall space, readily opened and secured with the parts
in position to form a container or receptacle and shall when opened be rigid, firm
and not liable to twist or readily alter in shape.
First. I construct the bottom sides and top of a basket or hamper each of a
rigid metal frame. The spices enclosed by the frames are filled with wickerwork
or equivalent inaterial. The whole or any of the frames may be hinged or jointed
before or after the wicker or other filling.
Second I construct the bottoms of folding baskets or hampers with a raised
edge all round of equal or nearly equal height and hinge the sides to the said
bottom inside the said eige and below the top thereof so that when folded the
sides and top shall lie within a tray of uniform depth formed by the bottom and
raised edges. When the sides are raised the said edge prevents the sides from
falling outwards and gives stiffness to the article.
Third. I retain the sides of baskets or hampers constructed under the above
first and second parts in position when open by means of catches or retaining
pieces of any suitable construction but by preference by means of a frame hinged
to one of the sides.
Fourth. A basket or hamper under my invention has the four sides separate and
has each side hinged or jointed independently to the bottom the top being hinged
or jointed to one of the sides. Handles fasteners or other usual attachments to
baskets and hampers are provided.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Francis Henry White in the Patent Office on the 27th March
1884.
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FRANCIS HENRY WHITE of Liverpool in the County of Lancaster, White Smith
'IMPROVEMENTS IN FOLDING BASKETS AND HAMPERS
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The invention relates to baskets hampers and containers or receptacles mainly of
wicker or equivalent woven work so constructed that the sides and top may be
folded one on the other when the said basket or hamper is empty or not in use for
holding goods or articles.
The main object is to provide a basket or hamper which shall be strong, durable,
easily folded so as to occupy small space, readily opened and secured with the parts
in position to form a container or receptacle, and shall when open be rigid, firm and
not liable to twist or readily alter in shape.
First. I construct the bottom sides and top of a basket or hamper each of a rigid
metal frame. The spaces enclosed by the frames are filled with wickerwork or
equivalent material. The whole or any of the frames may be hinged or jointed
before or after the wicker or other filling.
Second. I construct the bottoms of folding baskets or hampers with a raised
edge all round of equal or nearly equal height and hinge the sides to the said
bottom inside the said edgo and below the top thereof so that when folded the
sides and top shall be within a tray of uniform depth formed by the bottom and
raised edges. When the sides are raised the said edge prevents the sides fromn
falling outwards and gives stiffness to the article.
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Third. I retain the sides of baskets or haimpers constructed under the above
first and second parts, in position when open by means of catches or retaining
pieces of any suitable construction but by preference by means of a frame hinged
to one of the sides.
Fourth. A basket or hamper under my invention has the four sides separate
and has each side hinged or jointed independently to the bottom the top being
binged or jointed to one of the sides. Handles fasteners or other usual attachments
to baskets and hampers are provided.
Fig 1 is a perspective view of a frame for, and figs 2 and 3 are perspective`
views respectively open or extended and closed of a complete basket or hamper
under my invention.
Under the first part. a is the metal frame for the bottom or tray, b b¹ metal end.
frames, c c metal side frames, d metal frame for top all suitably hinged together.
The spaces enclosed by the frames are filled with wickerwork as shown in ɓgs 2
and 3.
Under the second part the bottom frame a is made with a raised edge a² of
equal height all round to which the frames bbc el are hinged beneath the
top edge thereof at e so as to fold into the said tray as shown in tig 3.
Under the third part the sides b b and c c¹ are held open by the frame f hinged
to the side c¹ and held under catches g on the sides c and bb'.
Under the fourth part.cach of the sides is jointed independently to the bottom a,
and the top d is hinged to the side c²; handles h are provided for carrying and
fasteners i for securing the parts in position.

page_text: Having now described and illustrated the said invention in such manner that
others will be enabled to carry my improvements into effect I claim :-
First. Constructing the bottom sides and top of a basket or hamper of metal
frames and wickerwork hinged substantially as setforth.
Second. Constructing bottoms of folding baskets or hampers with a raised edge
and hinging the sides thereto substantially as setforth.
Third Securing the sides of folding baskets or hampers, constructed under the
first and second parts, in position by means of catches or retaining pieces
substantially as setforth.
Fourth. Baskets or bampers constructed substantially as setforth under the
fourth part.
In Witness Whereof I the said Francis Henry White have hereunto set my
hand and seal this twenty sixth day of March in the year of Our Lord, one
thousand, eight hundred and eighty four.