US1132000A - Folding shipping-crate. - Google Patents

Description

W. M. DIGHT.

FOLDING SHIPPING CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 28, 1913.

Patented Mar. 16, 1915.

WITNESSES THE NORRIS PETERS Tc-LITHQ, WASHINGTON, D. c

WILLIAM: MILLER EIGHT; 0F GROVE CITY, PENNSYLVANIA.

EOLEINQ $LH P NG:QB1ATE.

anaemia; of Letters-Re e t- Patented Mar. 16, 1 915.

pizl eefie l d 4mm. .13.- ee! ve-rewa- To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM M. DIGHT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Grove City, in the county of Mercer and State of ennsy ania, have inven ed certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Shipping-Crates, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in folding shipping crates designed for use in holding any class of transportable articles.

The object of this invention is the provision of a folding crate of the class described which when extended will be firmly held in such position, and which when folded will form a compact body, requiring but little space for storing or shipping purposes, While the same is in its said folded position.

A further object of this invention is to improve and simplify devices of this nature, rendering them comparatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture, reliable and efficient in use, and readily operated.

With the above and other objects in view, this invention resides in the novel features of construction, formations, combinations and arrangements of parts to be hereinafter more fully described, claimed and illus trated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof, showing the crate in its folded position. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view thereof taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4: is a detail, sectional view illustrating one of the latches, and Fig. 5 is a similar view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 4.

Referring to the accompanying drawings by similar characters of reference, the numeral 10 designates generally my improved shipping crate, which comprises a bottom 11 to the opposite edges of which are secured the vertical longitudinal side members 12 and 13 and the vertical transverse end members 14 and 15 each of which has secured thereto by the hinges 16, 17, 18 and 19, one of the extension side members 20 and 21 and extension end members 22 and 23. These said extension end members 22 and 23 have hinged to their upper edges, top closures 2a and 25. The inner edges of the closures 24 and 25 are overlapped and cut away as at 26 so that their upper faces will lie flush. The lower closure 25 is provided with a vertical staple 27 arranged to pass through a slot 28 in the opposite or upper closure'2t and any suitable fastening evice such as shown at 29 is inserted through the staple to hold the said closure against opening.- i U he inner faces of the extension side members 20 and 21 are grooved as at 30 at their opposite ends, while passing over these grooves are straps 31 which have their ends extended through openings 32 formed in the said members 20 and 21 and bent against the outer sides thereof to hold the straps 31 against displacement. These straps 31 serve the purpose of catches to engage the spring latches 33 carried by the extension end members 22 and 23. These said end members are notched as at 34 adjacent the latches 33 so that by the insertion of a suitable instrument therethrough, the latches 33 can be dis engaged from the catches and the crate folded.

The crate is folded as follows: The latches 33 are first released and the end extension 23 and closure 25 folded inwardly after which the end extension 22 and top closure 24 are then folded upon the extension 23 and top closure 25. The side extension 21 is then folded upon the extension 22 and top closure 24: and side extension 20 is then folded upon the opposite side extension 21. It should be noted in this connection that the side member 12 is higher than the member 13 so that the parts will all lie in horizontal and compact relative position.

The crate is braced by bars 35 which are beveled at their inner ends as at 36 to permit the crate to be folded in the previously described manner. The crate is further braced by the corner plats 37 as clearly shown in the drawings.

A plurality of folding partitions 38 such as those used in egg crates are disposed within the crate 10 and when the latter is folded these partitions can also be folded and placed within the crate, acting as a support for the folded parts. It should be understood in this connection that various minor changes in the specific details of construction can be resorted to within the scope of the appended claim without departing from or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

From the foregoing disclosures taken in connection with the accompanying draw ings it will be manifest that a crate of the nature described is provided which will ful- 11 all of the necessary requirements of such a device.

Having thus fully described this invention, what I claim as new and desire to pro tect by Letters Patent is:

In a crate such as described, a plurality of folding side and end members, grooves provided in the said side members, straps passing over the said grooves, said side members having openings provided therein adjacent the grooves, the ends of the said straps passing through the openings and Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the bent against the opposite sides of the side members, and spring latches carried by the end members and adapted to extend into the grooves for engagement with the straps,

' said end members having notches formed therein adjacent the straps, as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence'o'f two witnesses.

WILLIAM MILLER DIGHT. IVitnesses:

O. W. TUsHER, M. O; ROBINS.

Commissioner 0! Patents,

Washington, D. G.

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