Improvements in Folding Packing Boxes, Trunks, or Receptacles.
Year: 1889

page_text: COMPLETE
SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Folding Packing Boxes, Trunks, or Receptacles.
I HENRY JOHNSON of 808 Boundary Street Washington in the United States of
America Merchant 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 :-
The object of my present invention is to provido an improved means for strengthening
and protecting the wood of the boxes or receptacles and an improved means for inter-
locking and securing the jointed portions of boxes in position and also means
which admit of the parts of boxes being folded compactly and closely one upon
another.
My invention is applicable to either a commercial packing box, trunk, chest, postal
route box or other packing receptacle as will be herein after described and which can
be unfolded for the discharge of its contents, and can be compactly folded one part
against another for reshipment to the sender, or which can be used for packing therein
a different kind of goods and shipping the same to him.
In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a perspective of my invention and showing
the packing receptacle ready for being filled with goods. Fig. 2 is a side view of
the same with its top thrown open. Fig. 3 is a side view of the same folded up.
Fig. 4 is an end view of the same. Fig. 5 is a vertical section of the folded
packing receptacle, box or trunk in the line of Fig. 3 shown on an enlarged
scale. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail section on the line y y of Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is an
enlarged detail section on the line of Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is an enlarged section on the
line of Fig. 4. Fig. 9 is a perspective of a tool used for locking and unlocking
the box or receptacle and Fig. 10 is a detail section on the line y¹ y¹ of Fig. 1.
A in the drawings represents the bottom of my improved box, trunk, or
receptacle B C D E the sides thereof and F the top. The bottom A is provided
with vertical flange boards a a¹ a³ of equal height and another a somewhat higher
than the others. The bottom and flanges are permanently secured together and the
side flanges a¹ a² are covered with angular sheet metal a' for the purpose of protecting
the upper edges and sides of the same and the end portions of the bottom.
The wooden bottom A is protected by metal strips or wires a at right angles to the
grain of the wood or otherwise. The flanges a a³ are provided with eye strips aⓇ of
sheet metal which protect and strengthen the lower front and rear edges of the box
by being fastened to both sides of the said flanges and to the lower portions of the
bottom A. Above the flange a the eye portions of the strips a", hold a rod b which
serves as a joint pivot between the front board B and flange a eyestrips 6' being
fastened to the lower portion of the front board B and arranged between the eye
strips a and around the rod b. The opposite sides CE are similarly hinged by
means of rods ce and eyestrips c² and e¹ respectively to the flanges a¹ a³ which latter
are provided with eye strips c and e' for holding the said rods in place.
The joint rods b ce are placed at different heights from the bottom A so that the
sides and front can be successively turned down upon the bottom and folded upon
cach other as Figs. 5 and 8 represent in sections. The flange board a³ is provided
with eye strips and a joint pivot rod d to which latter the rear board D is attached
by means of eye strips alternating with the eye strips d' upon the rod d. To
this rear board D, the top is hinged by means of a joint pivot rod f and eye
strips the former on the board D the latter on the top F. The top F consists of
three hinged portions F F F hinged together by means of pivot rods f³ and eye
strips in a manner similar to that above described.
The lateral end portions of the boards B F' F F³ are strengthened and protected

page_text: by means of gutter shaped metal strips b³ and ft. Similar strips f* are provided on
the exposed end portion of the board F³. Between the eye strips of the described
hinge connections, transverse metal strips or wire rods b³ ³ ³ ³ ƒ ƒ are fastened
to the respective boards BCDEF³ across the grain of the wood or otherwise. These
transverse strips or wire rods being made separate from the eye strips enable me to
make a cheaper box.
At I have illustrated a way in which wire rod connections or metal strips
may be made separate from the eye strips and yet have their ends fastened to the
eye strips.
This mode of construction would possess some of the advantages of
cheapness stated over eye strips and binding strips made in one piece and at the same
time secure a binding connection between the eyes trips. The fastening of the wire rods
or metal strips to the eye strips may be effected by either hooking, soldering, rivetting
or other suitable mode.
When the box is to be prepared for use the top F and back D are turned up until
the back D assumes an upright position. Then the front B is turned up, then the
side F and finally the sido C.
The box being now complete in form is then fastened together. This is done by
means of hooks, lugs and pins.
The hooks G are let into the material of the sides which material is strengthened
by means of metal plates g g' to which the pivots 9 are fastened. The head g³ of
hook G extends into a suitable slot g' of the contiguous board which at that point is
provided with strong metal plates so as to afford a good hold to the hook.
The hook is moved through a suitable slot in one of the plates g or g¹ by means
of a tool H having a dovetailed lug h. This lug is inserted into the slot and the
hook G pushed forward or backward therewith in order to lock or unlock. By means
of these hooks the front board B and rear board D and top F are held to the sides D
and C. The sides are provented from bulging outwardly by means of lugs I
fastened to the front and rear boards. When the box is folded the lugs 1 enter suitable
notches provided in the box for their reception.
Pins Jare provided in the top portions of the boards BCE which pins by
entering the top F when closed serve to laterally steady said top portions.
Buttons Kare provided to which wires are fastened in order to lock the top and
oach wire may be prevented from slipping laterally by placing it in korfs k¹ provided
in the top of the box as shown. The box may be further fastened by providing it
with padlocks in the ordinary way.
The box or trunk when folded occupies very little room and a great number of
them can be stowed away in a store, car or in the hold of a vessel without causing
inconvenience by their bulk.
In order to prevent the defacing of the surfaces of the box by written or printed
matter I provide a frame L binged at 7l to the box and fastened by means of a screw 2¹
at the opposite side. This frame is provided with a piece of mica which covers
and protects a lable or piece of paper or card having the direction written or printed
upon it. The screw is permanently connected with the frame I by means of a
collar Fig. 10 which bears upon the lower side of the frame, while the head 1 of
the screw bears upon the upper side of the same.
A metal nut. 1º is inserted into the wood and secured by means of a plate l' and
serves to hold the screw in place while the frame L is screwed fast.
The corners of the box may be provided with corner plates m to prevent wear of
the eyestrips and gutter or U shaped protecting strips. The bottom of the box may
be provided with removable caster rollers which are used when the box is to be
moved about in a building.
In a manufacturing my packing receptacles oither in form of boxes or trunks, I
propose to either use well seasoned solid boards of one thickness or a series of thin
boards with the grain of one running the reverse of another and all fastened solidly
together.

page_text: 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. In the described folding packing receptacle the combination, with the sides and
ends BCDE of the lugs I and notches i substantially as and for the purpose
described.
2. The packing receptacle comprising folding sections A B C D E F, hooks G,
hookholding plates, slotted strengthening plates and lugs I, said hooks being applied
on the sides and ends of the receptacle and accessible at points near its top
substantially as and for the purpose described.
3. The packing receptacle comprising folding sections ABCDE F, hooks G,.
hook holding plates slotted strengthening plates, lugs I and pins J substantially as
described.
4. The packing receptacle comprising folding sections A B C D E F hooks G
hookholding plates, slotted strengthening plates fastening K. and wire & substantially
as described.
5. In the described folding packing receptacle the combination with the front
board B and top portion F³ of hooks G, pin J, and a fastening K k¹ for a wire k
substantially as and for the purposo described.
Dated this 8th day of November 1889.
HERBERT & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C., Agents to Applicant.