Improvements in or relating to Collapsible Packing Cases, Trunks, Baskets, and the like.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Sept., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 2nd June, 1897-Accepted, 3rd July, 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Collapsible Packing Cases, Trunks,
Baskets, and the like.
We, JUSTIN MOUNET of Melun (Seine et Marne). France, Basket Maker and
AUGUSTE BERTRAND of 11 Avenue de l'Opera, Paris, France, Saddler and Trunk
Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
It has long been usual in packing various articles and in particular in packing
bicycles for transport, to employ crates or packing.cases of wicker or cane basket
work. Although such packing cases present the advantage of extreme lightness
they have nevertheless the great defect of being very cumbersome and occupying
a great deal of room when not in use.
The object of our invention is to obviate this drawback and this we effect by
constructing the packing case, trunk, basket or the like as hereinafter described
in sections capable of being folded together in such manner as to occupy a very
small space when not in use.
We will proceed to describe our invention as applied to a packing case for a
bicycle.
The improved case is constructed of wicker work and is composed of a main
body portion of rectangular form having at each extremity a wing or extension
portion. The ends of the wicker sections of which the main portion and exten-
sions of the case are made up are secured to jointing sticks or rods preferably of
chestnut wood with the object hereinafter described.
the
The wings or extension portions are connected to the body of the case by hinges,
preferably as follows:-The two parts to be hinged are provided the one with a
rod or pin and the other with a hollow rod made in sections, the sections being re-
tained in position by an iron pin passing through them. Certain of these rod sec-
tions are surrounded by the wicker work of the opposing part, that is to say
part which is to be hinged, to the part to which they belong and they are movable,
being capable of pivoting around their internal red; the hinges uniting between
them the respective jointing rods before mentioned. This mode of connection is
preferably adopted for all the folding sections of the collapsible packing case.
the case of a bicycle crate we prefer that the width of the extension portions should
be less than that of the main portion. We construct the end walls of the exten-
sion portions of the case each of two folding sections which are hinged to their
respective portions in the manner above described.
In
The main portion of the case is provided with two ledges or flanges at bottom
to support the bottom of the main portion of the case and to the respective ends of
the bottom or floor of the main portion we hinge the floors of the extension por-
tions. When the packing case is open or set up the three floors are kept fixed in
position in the following manner: Two guide blocks are secured to the floor of
the body of the case and between these guide blocks slide two other blocks each
provided with a ring for convenience of manipulation. These slide blocks are slid
out to the respective ends of the body of the case so as to come over the hinges of
the floors of extension portions, in which position they may be secured by two
long transverse pins inserted from the exterior of the case. By this means the ex-
tension portions and their bottoms are held rigid. We prefer for additional
security to employ two other transverse pins to assist in maintaining the bottoms

page_text: of the extension portions rigid. The bottom of the main portion of the case is
held rigid by means of two transverse bars secured beneath it and resting upon the
flanges before referred to and capable of pivotting upon a longitudinal bar.
By screwing four strong rollers preferably to the guide blocks above described
the case can be moved from place to place with greater facility.
The packing case is provided with a cover composed of hinged sections in the
same manner as the packing case and capable of covering both the main portion
and the extensions of same.
The bicycle is securely held in place in the packing case by a piece of wood
resting upon two girders the frame of the bicycle engaging in two or other number
of notches cut in the piece of wood to receive it.
The packing case way be closed in any suitable manner, as for example by
means of straps and buckles.
This is
When the bicycle packing case is not in use it may be collapsed.
effected as follows:-The bottoms of the main portion and of the extensions are
folded one upon the other, and when the main portion has been collapsed are
placed inside same together with the notched piece for retaining the bicycle in
position. The cover is folded together and placed inside the folded main portion,
the extension portions having previously been collapsed and folded inside the
main portion. It will be readily understood that before the case can be collapsed
it will be necessary to release the slide blocks above described. The whole
apparatus finally occupies but a small rectangular space.
When it is desired to construct a folding basket or case to contain washing,
firewood &c., the wings or extension portions above described may be dispensed
with and the ends are then preferably made in three folding sections.
We may also manufacture according to our invention wicker trunks and any
other receptacle of wicker &c., work for packing articles into.
Further our collapsible case, instead of folding together may be constructed of
sliding sections, mortised and tongued sections or otherwise made capable of
being set up and collapsed. The jointing rods instead of being of wood may be of
iron or other suitable metal.
Dated this 3rd day of September 1896
J. C. MEWBURN & ELLIS,
55 and 56 Chancery Lane, London,
Chartered Patent Agents.
Improvements in or relating to Collapsible Packing Cases, Trunks,
Baskets, and the like.
We, JUSTIN MOUNET of Melun (Seine et Marne), France, Basket Maker, and
AUGUSTE BERTRAND of 11 Avenue de l'Opera, Paris, France, Saddler and Trunk
Maker, 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:-
It has long been usual in packing various articles and in particular in packing
bicycles for transport, to employ crates or packing cases of wicker or cane basket
work. Although such packing cases present the advantage of extreme lightness
they have nevertheless the great defect of being very cumbersome and occupying a
: great deal of room when not in use.
The object of our invention is to obviate this drawback and this we effect by
constructing the packing case, trunk, basket or the like as hereinafter described

page_text: in sections capable of being folded together in such manner as to occupy a very
small space when not in use.
We will proceed to describe our invention as applied to a packing case for a
bicycle.
Figure 1 represents a longitudinal section of the packing case and shows a
bicycle in position. Figure 2 is a section of the case on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.
Figure 3 shows the case folded to its smallest compass; Figures 4 to 7 show on a
larger scale the details of the joints.
The improved case is constructed of wicker work and is composed of a main
body portion A of rectangular form having at each extremity a wing or extension
portion B and C. The ends of the wicker sections of which the main portion and
extensions of the case are made up are secured to jointing sticks or rods, prefer-
ably of chestnut wood, with the object hereinafter described. a b c d e f g h are
the jointing sticks of the main portion A; abed those for the extension B
and those for the extension C.
The wings or extension portions are connected to the body of the case by hinges.
Figure 4 illustrates the form of hinge which is preferably employed. It consists
of a rattan or stick R covered with metal cylindrical sections M movable around.
the rattan R and to which the wicker work of the main portion A and of the ex-
tension B or C are alternately connected. Figures 5 and 6 show in elevation and
plan the kind of joint that we preferably employ to connect together the two parts
of each of the extensions B and C; it consists of metallic pieces of S form
through the loops of which the sticks b c and of the frames of the extensions
pass.
The main portion A of the case is provided with two ledges or flanges at
bottom to support the bottom of the said main portion and to the respective ends
of the bottom j we hinge the bottoms of the extension portions B, C. Figure 7
shows the joint. It consists of metallic cylindrical sections M connected to
the bottom pieces or by ties L wound around the sections M. The bottom
pieces and fold upon the bottom piece which is itself jointed at to the
lower part of the main body portion A. When the packing case is open or set up
the three bottom pieces are kept fixed in position in the following manner:
-Two screws k kare secured to the ledges of the body of the case and the
bottom has wooden plates with holes to receive the screws; winged nuts m m
are screwed on the screws kk to hold the whole together.
By screwing four rollers or runners to the ledges the case can be moved from
place to place with greater facility.
The packing case is provided with a cover composed of sections oo o hinged
together in the same manner as the body of the packing case and capable of cover-
ing both the main portion and the extensions of same.
The bicycle is securely held in place in the packing case by a piece of wood
resting upon two girders p' the frame of the bicycle engaging in two or other
number of notches cut in the piece of wood ? to receive it.
The packing case may be closed in any suitable manner, as for example by
means of straps and buckles.
When the bicycle packing case is not in use it may be collapsed or folded up as
seen in Figure 3. This is effected as follows:-The bottoms of the main
portion and of the extensions are folded one upon the othed, and when the main
portion has been collapsed are placed inside same together with the notched piece
for retaining the bicycle in position; the nuts m of the screws having of
course been unscrewed. The cover o o¹ o is folded together and placed inside the
folded main portion A, the extension portions B and C having previously been
collapsed and folded inside the main portion. The whole apparatus finally
occupies but a small rectangular space.
We may also manufacture according to our invention wicker or basket trunks
and any other receptacle of wicker &c. work for packing articles into.
Further our collapsible case, instead of folding together may be constructed

page_text: of sliding sections, mortised and tongued sections or otherwise made capable of
being set up and collapsed. The jointing rods instead of being of wood may be of
iron or other suitable metal.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:-
1. The construction of collapsible or folding wicker or basket-work packing
cases, trunks and the like substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. The improved packing case for bicycles constructed substantially as here-
inbefore described and shown in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 2nd day of June 1897.
J. C. MEWBURN & ELLIS,
55 and 56 Chancery Lane, London,
Chartered Patent Agents.