IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PACKING CASES, BOXES, CRATES, PORTMANTEAUX, AND TRAVELLING TRUNKS, AND OF HINGES FOR THE SAME.
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edwin Isaac Billing, of 7, College Court, Gloucester,
Publisher, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
PACKING CASES, BOXES, CRATES, PORTMANTEAUX, AND TRAVELLING TRUNKS,
AND OF HINGES FOR THE SAME.'
32
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edwin Isaac Billing at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th May 1880.
EDWIN ISAAC BILLING, of 7, College Court, Gloucester, Publisher. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PACKING CASES, BOXES, CRATES, PORTMANTEAUX, AND
TRAVELLING TRUNKS, AND OF HINGES FOR THE SAME."
My Invention refers to packing cases, boxes, crates, portmanteaux, and travelling
trunks, hereinafter spoken of as cases, which I propose to manufacture in such a
manner that they can be folded up when not required for use, so that the space
they will then occupy is only a trifle in excess of the cubical contents of the
material of which they are made.
I manufacture my improved cases in two ways. According to one plan, the
sides and ends are hinged to the bottom. Two sides or two ends are hinged to the
bottom itself, and the other pair (ends or sides as the case may be) to dwarf sides
or ends secured to the bottom by any couvenient and well-known means, or by
fang-plates forming part of my improved hinge described further on. The lid is
hinged to the back of the case, and is itself in two parts hinged together. This
latter junction is parallel with that of the lid with the back of the case. When the
sides, ends, and lid are folded down upon the bottom, one part of the lid lies flush
alongside the front of the case; and the catch or other fastening by which the lid
is secured in position when the case is full is then in a proper position for fastening
the whole when so folded down, and is intended to be used for that purpose.
According to the other plan I hinge the sides and ends to the bottom. To each
end of either both sides or both ends of the case I fasten a metal angle-plate, in
length about equal to the depth of the case. This angle-plate projects above the
top of the case-body by the thickness of the lid. These angle-plates are secured to
the case-body by rivets, nails, or screws, or are made with fangs like my improved
[Price f71

page_text: hinges already mentioned. The lid of this case is not hinged, and is to be fastened
down by any convenient means.
My improved hinge is made of copper, brass, wrought or malleable iron, or other
suitable metal. Instead of using nails or screws to fix them with, I form them
with fangs or clips which are passed through the material of the box, and clenched
or not clenched. I may use instead of this improved hinge any ordinary and
convenient pattern.
The material I use for my cases is by preference wood, but I may use sheet-
metal or any other suitable material, e.g., leather, &c. When required the cases
can be covered with any material that may be desired, and furnished with any
internal fittings.
Outside straps or bands and any kind of lock or fastening may be used for
securing the lid of the case, according to the purpose for which the case may be
required, whether as a packing-case, a box, a crate, a portmanteau, or a travelling
trunk.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Edwin Isaac Billing in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 13th
November 1880.
EDWIN ISAAC BILLING, of 7, College Court, Gloucester, Publisher. " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PACKING CASES, PORTMANTEAUX, TRAVELLING
TRUNKS, AND OF HINGES FOR THE SAME."
My Invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of packing cases,
boxes, crates, portmanteaux, and travelling trunks, hereinafter spoken of collectively
as cases, and of hinges for the same.
The first part of my Invention consists in jointing the several parts of which a
case is formed, viz., the lid, the bottom, the two sides, and the two ends, in such a
way that when the case is empty the said several parts can be folded the one upon
the other so compactly that when so folded the case shall occupy but little more,
and often no more, space than is equivalent to the cubical contents of the material
of which the said several parts are made. At the same time my folding cases are
furnished with corner or angle plates, or with fasteners (where desirable) so
designed that when a case is set up to be used as a packing case it shall then
possess all the rigidity necessary to such a purpose.
I do not always extend my principle of jointing the several parts of a case to the
extent of hingeing the lid to the body of the case, because for many purposes for
which cases are used it is more convenient to have the lid entirely disconnected.
A second part of my Invention refers to improvements in hinges for use in the.
manufacture, more especially of my improved cases, although part of the said
improvements may be used in the manufacture of ordinary cases, as well as for
other similar purposes where hinges are used.
For the better understanding of my Invention I add two Sheets of Drawings
illustrative thereof with reference letters affixed, like parts in said Drawings
bearing throughout the same reference letter.
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a case jointed according to my Invention. The
plan of jointing the body of the case shewn here I make use of when twice the
The
height (internal) of an end is less than the internal length of the bottom.
method of jointing the lid as shewn in the above Figure can be used with any one
of my improved cases. The back c is hinged by its inner edge to a dwarf-back c',
fastened in any convenient way to the bottom f. A dwarf side d' equal in depth
, to the thickness of the back, plus the thickness of an end, plus the thickness of the
lid, is fastened in any convenient way to the bottom f. The dwarf back c¹ is in depth
equal to the thickness of an end. To the top inner edge of the dwarf side d¹ is
hinged the remainder of the side d. The ends e, e, are hinged to the bottom in the same
way as c or d are hinged to c¹ and d¹ respectively. The lid is in two parts, a and b,
hinged together on the inside, and the whole is hinged to the back of the case.
To close up the case, the two ends are first folded down upon the bottom, as
indicated by the arrows; secondly, the back c upon the ends; thirdly, the larger
part b of the lid upon the back c, and lastly, the front d and remainder of the lid a
upon b. Fig. 4 is a transverse section shewing a case folded as just described.
When desirable I may add to the jointed lid a+b one or more bolts (or equivalent
fitting) for stiffening said lid when it is to be used as such. A bolt adapted to this
purpose is shewn in Figs. 2 and 3, which are respectively a plan and transverse
section thereof. The fastening d', shewn in Figs. 1 and 4, is adapted for holding
the lid securely when the case is used as such, or when it is folded up, as in Fig. 4.
With a case of this pattern, or with any of my improved cases, I may use either
my improved hinges or any suitable or well-known pattern hinge, either of metal,
wire, leather, or cloth. The dotted lines g, g, in Fig. 1, and the thick lines g, g, in

page_text: Fig. 4, shew the application of hinges of leather or similar material. It is obvious
that instead of jointing the ends to the bottom, I could, if the dimensions of the
case required it, joint the sides to the bottom, and the ends to two dwarf ends,
proportioned in point of depth as the two dwarf sides c¹, d³, are.
Fig. 5 is a perspective view of another method of constructing my improved
cases. The lid is separate from the body, i.e., not hinged to it. Fig. 6 is a plan
of one half of the folded case, and Fig. 7, a section taken at line A, B, on
Fig. 6. Before proceeding with the description of this pattern case, I will describe
my improved hinges, Figs. 10, 11, 12, 13, 20, and 21. These are made of sheet
metal, preference by stamping (although they may be of wrought or of malleable
iron. In the top or both plates of the hinge I stamp fangs p, p, Fig. 10, which
are driven through the material of the case, and clenched or not (see Figs. 10
and 13), as a lighter or firmer hold upon the case is required of them. When
preferred, I may shape these fangs of a circular section. Sometimes the wire of the
hinge is continued downwards so as to form fangs when the hinge has no lower
plate, as in Figs. 12 and 13. These fangs dispense with the use of screws and nails,
and facilitate the fixing of the hinge. Instead of being made with plain edges, as
drawn, they may be serrated or barbed. Figs. 11 and 21 shew my improved hinges
adapted for use with dwarf sides or ends. The lower plates are proportioned to the
respective depths of the dwarf ends or sides, to which they are fastened by screws or
nails, or by fangs produced in the said lower plate, according to my Invention. In
Fig. 5 the hinges joining the side k to the bottom j is the one shewn in detail in
Figs. 12 and 13 (although the hinge shewn in Fig. 20 is applicable here); while those
joining the side 7 and the ends m, m, to the bottom are shewn in detail in Figs. 10,
11, and 21.
In folding a case made as in Fig. 5, I first fold down the side k upon the bottom j,
secondly, the opposite upon the side k. The dwarf side is as deep as the
side k is thick. Thirdly, the two ends m, m, hinged to dwarf ends m¹, m², in depth
equal to the thicknesses of and j, are folded down upon the side . It is obvious
that Figs. 5, 6, and 7 shew a case whose internal depth is not more than one half
its internal length. Corner plates 2, shewn in position in Figs. 5, 6, and 7, and in
plan in Fig. 8, are fastened to the ends either by screws or nails, or by fangs
stamped out of the body of the plate. They carry pins 13 which fit into holes (*
formed in narrow metal plates fixed flush to the outsides of the sides of the case.
These narrow plates are shewn in plan in Fig. 9. The corner or angle plates
serve to hold the body of the case firmly in position. The lid is shewn in Fig. 7
as lying under the folded case.
Fig. 14 is a perspective view of another pattern case made according to my
Invention. The two ends q, q, are hinged immediately to the bottom », and the
two sides 8, S, to dwarf sides s¹, S¹, in depth equal to the thickness of an end,
and the joint thickness of an end and side respectively. The lid, Fig. 15, has
mortises t cut in its edge to receive tenons t¹ formed on the top edge of the body
of the case. Fig. 16 is an end view of Fig. 17 folded, with its lid lying
underneath it.
Fig. 17 is a perspective view of another case made according to my Invention.
Fig. 18 is an end view of the same with the lid lying underneath. One end u is
hinged immediately to the bottom, the opposite end v hinged to a dwarf end v¹, in
depth equal to the thickness of the last mentioned part, folds thereupon. The side w
hinged upon a dwarf side w¹, in depth equal to the joint thickness of u, v, and v',
next folds down, and lastly the opposite side a hinged to a dwarf side x¹, folds down
over all.
With this case I shew an improved outside hinged angle fastened with either
screws, nails, and or fangs produced in the plate by stamping, as already described.
It can be furnished with pins 3, Fig. 8, and used with or without plate shewn in
Fig. 9. Fig. 19 shews these improved outside hinged angles with a hook or catch y
intended to pass through the side of the case, to be engaged and held there by a bolt
or other equivalent device. The return corner z I sometimes use to assist in holding

page_text: the lid down when I use these return corners. I cut recesses in the upper side of
the lid to receive them.
The lids for cases shewn in Figs. 5 and 17 (as well as Fig. 19), may be quite
plain, morticed, or rebated, or furnished with a flange on their under side, to make
a firmer fit with the body of the case. All my lids may be fastened down by any
well known way, in addition to any device shewn in the Figures.
The angle plates, Figs. 8, 17, and 19, may be made to extend a greater or shorter
distance down the side, according to the amount of strain they have to withstand,
but always project above the top of the body of the case a distance equal to the
thickness of the lid.
For the sake of compactness I fix all my hinges flush with the surface of the
side, &c., to which they are fastened.
For imparting perfect rigidity to my improved cases I may use inside bolts or
catches, or their equivalent of any convenient pattern. For instance, Fig. 14 shews
the use of a spring catch of well know pattern fixed to the ends. How the staples
2,2,2,2, are disposed when the case is folded is clearly shewn in Fig. 16. It
is important however that only such inside bolts, &c., be used as do not reveal
their presence when the case is set up or in use as such by shewing on the
outside.
The material for making my improved cases is by preference wood, but I may
use sheet metal, leather, or any other similar and suitable material or combination
of materials. The cases can, when required, be covered with any desired material,
and furnished with any internal fittings. Outside straps or bands, and any kind of
lock or fastening may be used for securing my improved cases, according to the
purpose for which they may be required, whether as packing case, box, crate,
portmanteau, or travelling trunk. In making a portmanteau, for instance, it is
obvious that the sides and ends forming the hollow lid would be treated as the
sides and ends of the cases illustrated in the accompanying Figures. In making a
crate I should make skeleton frames, and treat those frames as sides and ends, &c.,
of my improved cases. So also with packing cases made of wicker work, and.
better known as hampers. I should first provide my sides, &c., of the desired
strength and size, and treat them as if they were sides and ends, &c., of the improved
cases illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
Having now fully described my Invention, and how the same is to be carried
into effect, what I consider new, and therefore secured to me by the in part herein-
before recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The improved methods of jointing the several parts of a case, as and for
the purpose herein before described and illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 14, 15, 16,
17, and 18.
Second. The improved self-fixing hinges and angles, as and for the purpose
hereinbefore described and illustrated in and by Figures 5, 8, 9, 17, and 19.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edwin Isaac Billing, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twelfth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
EDWIN I. BILLING. (L.S.)