US1006991A

US1006991A - Folding coop.

Info

Publication number: US1006991A
Application number: US51679109A
Authority: US
Inventors: Michael Walter
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1909-09-08
Filing date: 1909-09-08
Publication date: 1911-10-24
Anticipated expiration: 1928-10-24

Description

M. WALTER.

FOLDING COOP. APPLICATION FILED sIsPT. s, 1909.

Patented Oct. 24, 191 1.

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M. WALTER.

FOLDING GOOP. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 8. 1909.

Patented 0015.24, 1911.

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M. WALTER.

FOLDING COOP. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. a, 1909.

1,006,991 Patented Oct. 24, 1911.

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MICHAEL WALTER, 0F TYLERSBURG", PENNSYLVANIA.

FOLDING COOP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 24C, 1911.

Application led September 8, 1909. Serial No. 516,791.

may be folded or collapsed into compact shape for return shipment, thus eecting an important saving in shipping charges as well as in storage room.

vOne object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible coopwhich may readily be completely unfolded to enable it to be thoroughly cleansed when necessary.

A further object of the invention is to provide a folding or collapsible coop which may be completely inverted so as to present the clean surfaces of the wall members inward when desired.

Still further objects of the invention are to simplify and improve the general construction and operation of this class of devices.

With these and other objects in view which will readily appear asthe nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the improved construction and novel arrangement and combination of parts which will be hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings has been illustrated a simple and preferred'form of the invention; it being however, understood that no limitation is necessarily madre to the precise structural details therein exhibited, but that changes, alterations and modifications within the scope of the invention may be resorted to when desired.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a coop constructed in accordance with the invention set up ready for use. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the coop or crate folded for storage or transportation. Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view of the device as seen in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the device as seen in Fig. 3.- Fig. 6 is a detail plan view showing a portion of the bottom member or floor member of the structure. Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view showing a coop of somewhat modiiied construction, folded and in inverted position. Fig. 8 is a transverse sec- 60 tionalview showing said coop extended or unfolded. Fig. 9 is a plan view showing the bottom of said coop detached.

Corresponding parts in the several figures vare denoted by like characters of reference.

The improved crate or coop comprises in its construction a bottom piece or ioor member A, walls or side members B, end members C-C and a top which is composed of two wings or members D-D The floor or bottom member A may be constructed of planking of any suitable dimensions, but` the side walls, the end members and the top members are preferably composed of frames illed with slats set at suitable distances apart to afford free ventilation and at the same time to safely confine the fowls that are to be shipped in the coop. The slats may be disposed vertically, in the side walls and end members, and transversely of the crate, as shown in the top members, or said slats may be disposed lengthwise of the structure, when preferred. It will also be understood that wires or wire netting may be utilized in the construction of the side walls as well as of the end and top members, such construction being well known and understood in the art.

The bottom or Hoor member A is provided adjacent to its side and end edges with vertically disposed staples 10 consisting of elone gated loops that are oifset from the side and end edges of the floor member and which project beyond the faces ofl said floor member. The edges of the floor member may be provided with'notches, as clearly shown at 11 for the accommodation of the loops or staples which latter will thus be in a measure protected. The side walls B and the end walls C are hingedly connected with the floor member by means of eyes 12 slidably engaging the loops or staples, and the side members B are provided adjacent to their free edges with similar loops or staples 13 that project beyond the opposite faces of said side members and with which the top members D are hingedly connected by means of eyes 14: slidably engaging the loops or staples 13.

The two faces of the iioor member A are provided with supporting members which are preferably in the nature of wheels or casters 15 whereby the said Hoor member, no matter which side is uppermost, will be supported a sufiicient distance above the ground to prevent the ends of the loops or staples 10 from touching the ground. The wheels or casters 15 will thus not only support the iioor of the coop from direct contact with the ground and enable the coop to be readily shifted from one position to another, but they will also serve to prevent injury to the loops or staples 10 by contact with the ground. This is regarded as an important and advantageous feature in view of the fact that the coop, when filled with fowls, lwill be so heavy that the loops or staples 10 unless protected, would be in danger of collapsing.

The end members C of the' coop are made of suoli dimensions that when the coop is set up for use, the end edges of said end members will abut upon the inner faces of the side walls of the coop which will thus be securely braced. The top members D are made of such dimensions that when the coop ris set up, and said side members are folded in the direction of each other, their free edges will abut upon each other as will be clearly seen in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. Each side face of each end member C is provided with a suitable handle 16 whereby the coop may be manipulated when it is set up for use;V said handles being preferably constructed in such a manner that when not in actual use it will fold against the faces of the end members. j

The side walls or-side members B of the coop are each provided with a sliding door 17 through which access may be had to the interior of the coop; said doors being preferably arranged adjacent to opposite ends of the coop in order that, when a partition is used, the two ends of the coop may be equally accessible.

The Hoor or bottom member A of the coop is provided with a longitudinal slot or aperture 18 provided adjacent to its ends with bearings 19 wherein the pintles 20 at the ends of a cylindrical trough 21 are mounted for rotation; said cylindrical trough being provided with a slot 22 and with a partition 23 forming compartments for the reception of feed and water respectively. The cylindrical trough 21 has a cylindrical cover 24: which is provided with a slot or aperture 25; the cylinder 24, when rotated upon its axis, will obviously obstruct the slot or aperture 22 in the cylindrical trough. The trough 21 is provided adjacent to one end with a ratchet wheel 26 engaged by a spring pawl 27 which is pivotally connected with one end of a lever 28 which is fulcrumed in a conveniently accessible position; it will be seen that by manipulating the lever 28 the trough 21 may be gradually rotated within the closure 24 until the slot 22 is obstructed.

The cylindrical closure 211 is provided adjacent to one end with a bevel gear 29 mesh-V ing with a pinion 30 upon a shaft 31 having a conveniently accessible crank 32 whereby it may be rotated, thus rotating the cylindrical closure upon its axis to obstruct the slot 22 or to bring the latter into registry with the slot 25 of the closure, as may be required.

It willbe readily seen from the foregoing description taken in connection with the drawings hereto annexed, that the floor or bottom member A may be placed upon the ground either side uppermost, and that in either position of the floor member, the side and end members may befolded upward to constitute the side and end walls of the crate or coop after which the top members may be folded down torest upon the upper edges of the end members. Vhen thus arranged, the top members may be secured by means of rods 33 extending transversely therethrough and having terminal hooks Stwhich may be turned upward to abut upon the outer edges of the top members. It is also preferred to provide the edges of the end members with prongs or spurs as will be best seen at 35 in Fig. 1 of the drawings to engage recesses or sockets 36 formed in the proximate members for the purpose of securing the device against accidental collapsing. It will thus appear that the improved coop or crate is not merely collapsible but that it is reversible as well, the two surfaces of the component parts being capable of being alternately exposed outwardly. It will also appear that when the coop or crate is inverted the feed tray or trough may be likewise inverted so as to present the slot or feed aperture in an rupward direction, and thatsuch reversal may be effected without waste of any of the contents by moving the cylindrical cover to a closed position prior to inverting or rotating the feed trough upon its axis. Many other uses and advantages will readily suggest themselves to those familiar with the use of this class -of devices.

When it is desired to fold or collapse the coop for storage or shipping purposes, the end walls or end members C`-C are folded upon the floor member, after first raising the top members D4D; the latter are folded down upon the outer surfaces of the side members, and the latter are then folded down upon the end members, being thereby elevated to a position where the feed trough will not obstruct. The supporting members consisting of the wheels or casters will be placed in such a position as to t between the slats of the side and top members which latter may also be provided with notches or slots for the accommodation of the wheels or casters.

In Figs. 7, 8 and 9 there has been illustrated a somewhat modied construction of the improved coop whereby the same may be manufactured at less expense, and will be serviceable for short shipments. Under this modified form the bottom of the coop, here designated K is composed of a rectangular frame 61 with which the side and end members of the walls, here designated If-L and lVI-M are connected substantially in the manner herein described by means of staples 62 which however, extend in an upward direction only from the bottom frame 6l. The latter carries a reversible platform 63 which is mounted pivotally upon the pinions or pivots 64 at the inner end, said platform being normally held in alinement with the frame by means of spring actuated pins 65 extending through the sides of the frame and adapted to engage notches or recesses in the side edges of the platform. One side of the latter is provided with wheels or casters 66 which, when the coop is extended for use, serve to support the entire weight of the coop and contents; when the coop is 'folded for shipment, the bottom is first reversed by rotating it upon its axis, thus bringing the supporting wheels or casters within the coop structure where they will be protected by the wall members when the latter are folded. This form of coop being particularly intended for short shipments thus not required to be equipped with a feed and water trough, and none has been shown in the figures of the drawings relating to this form of the invention.

Having thus described the invention,what is claimed isl. In a folding coop, a iioor member, elongated loops secured adjacent to and offset from the edges of the floor member and projecting beyond the two faces of the latter, side and end members having eyes hingedly and slidably engaging said loops, and top members hingedly connected with the side members adjacent to the free edges of the latter.

2. In a collapsible coop, a floor member having elongated loops secured adjacent to and offset from the edges and projecting beyond the two faces of said floor member, side and end wall members having eyes hingedly and slidably engaging said loops, and supporting members secured upon the two faces of the floor member and consisting of wheels or casters whereby said floor member may be supported, either side uppermost, at a height above the ground exceeding the length of the projecting portions of the loops.

3. A collapsible and reversible coop comprising a reversible floor member, supporting members upon the two faces of said iioor member, loops offset from the edges of the floor member andprojecting beyond the two faces of the latter, side and end wall members having eyes slidably engaging the loops, elongated loops upon the edges of the side wall members which are remote from the side edges of the bottom member, and top members hingedly and slidably coniected with the loops of the side wall memers.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MICHAEL VALTER.

Witnesses:

J. K. ALT, C. B. KING.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. C.