US618442A - shearer - Google Patents

Description

Patented Jan. 3|, 1899.

.L A. SHEARER. FOLDING TUB OR SIMILAR VESSEL.

(Ap lication filed A r. 13; was.)

(No Model.)

INVENTOI? ATTORNEYS "WITNESSES 1H: nouns mins 00. wmaurno. WASNINGYON. n. c

JOHN A. SI-IEARER, OF LANGLEY, CANADA.

FOLDING TUB OR SIMILAR VESSEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 618,442, dated January 31, 1899.

Application filed April 13, 1898. Serial No. 677,412. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN A. SHEARER, of Langley, in the Province of British Oolum bia, Dominion of Canada, have invented a new and Improved Folding Tub or Similar Vessel, (for which application for Letters Patent in Canada was filed on the 24th day of February, 1898,) of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to an improvement in the construction of tubs, pails, and similar vessels; and it consists in constructing them of flexible fabric placed on a metal frame of such a nature that the vessel may be collapsed or folded.

The invention also consists of the novel features of construction, which will be hereinafter described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a tub extended or in condition for use. Fig. 2 is a perspective View showing the tub collapsed or folded. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional elevation of the tub, and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a pail constructed on the same principle.

My invention is intended for use in countries where transportation of such articles as tubs, pails, or the like is extremely difficult and space and weight are material elements in the transportation.

A tub or pail constructed according to In device has the body or walls A thereof formed of canvas, rubber, or some form of flexible fabric which is sufiicientl y waterproof for the purpose to which it is to be put. This body 40 is placed upon a frame which preferably is made of metal and which may be extended when the tub or pail is desired for use and so constructed that the frame may be 001- lapsed to occupy small space when desired.

Around the upper margin of the tub, pail, or other vessel is a ring 0, of wire or whatever material is found suitable for the purpose. This ring is inclosed withinawelt or hem a, formed in the upper edge of the can- 5'0 vas A, forming the sides of the tub. At the bottom of the tub is another ring E, similar to the ring C and inclosed in a welt b. The

ring E is of larger diameter than the lower end of the tub, and consequently projects outside of the same, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The bottom B is formed by a piece of canvas which is stitched to the body A.

At suitable intervals in the circumference of the tub or other vessel vertical ribs D are pivoted upon the upper ring 0. These ribs have eyes 61 formed at their upper ends adapted to embrace the ring 0. At this point the canvas is protected by a clip F, formed of thin sheet metal and bent overthe ring 0, so as to hold the canvas close thereto. F may have a slot therein adapted to receive the eye 01, or the eye 61 may entirely embrace the clip. In either case a hole is to be formed through the clip and the canvas, so that the eye at may enter therein and permit the rib D to swing upward into the position shown in Fig. 2. There should be not less than three of these ribs and as many more as desired. As shown in the drawings, four of these ribs are employed. At their lower ends these ribs are provided with an outward bend d, adapted to engage the upper surface of the ring E. The ends of the ribs are then bent back and upward, forming a hook 01 by which they may be engaged to spring them into place or to pull them out of place. These ribs serve to support the upper ring 0, and thus to hold the tub in its extended position.

In some cases it would be desirable to protect the canvas surrounding the lower ring E from wear on its under side. For this purpose a ring g of thin sheet metal is made of practically the same diameter as the ring E and has its outer edge crimped over the ring E, and thus serves as a protection to the canvas. To this ring may be secured a series of lugs or feet Gr, whichare preferably made of rubber or similar material and provided with grooves G, adapted to receive the lower ends of the ribs D. This prevents any side motion of the lower ends of the ribs, and thus makes the tub firmer. The tub may be provided with handles H, such as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, formed of wire rods bent into suitable form and having eyes in their ends adapted. to embrace the ring 0.

In Fig. 4 the same principle is shown as applied to a pail. In this case the handles H The clip are omitted and a bail 11' is substituted therefor. This bail is secured to the tub by means of links 7L, connecting the ends of the bail with the upper ring 0. The construction is otherwise the same as that described for the tub.

This method of construction will producea tub, basket, pail, or similar vessel which is very light and which may be collapsed so as to occupy very small space. For some purposes and in some sections of the country this will be very desirable. The article may be made thoroughly waterproof and so that it will wear well and its cost will not be great. It may also be made of finer material and used as a receptacle for any article desired.

Ilaving thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A folding tub, pailor similar vessel, comprising two stiffening-rings surrounding the upper and lower ends thereof, a fabric forming the walls of the vessel and secured to said rings, the lower ring being of larger diameter than the body of the vessel and the fabric having a hem or welt extending outward from the body at its lower end and receiving the lower ring, and ribs pivoted upon the upper ring and having theirlower ends bent to form shoulders or hooks adapted to engage the upper side of the lower ring, to hold the two rings shoulders or hooks adapted to engage the upper side of the lower ring, to hold the two rings separated, and lugs secured to the lower ring and having a recess therein adaptedto restrain the lower ends of the ribs against side motion.

J OHN A. SHEARER. XV itnesses ALEXANDER HENDERSON, C. S. KEITH.

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