US1115706A - Collapsible crate. - Google Patents

Description

A. MANUEL.

GOLLAPSIBLE CRATE. APPLICATION FILED JULY s, 1913.

1 ,1 1 5,706. Patented Nov. 3, 1914.

wi tmeoow %@%9% mgwm THE NURRIS PEIERS CO.. PHOTO-LITHCL, WASHINGTON.

ALFRED MANUEL, OF ROSEVILLE, ILLINOIS.

COLLAPSIBLE CRATE.

Specification of Letters IPatent.

Application filed July 8, 1913.

Serial No. 777,899.

1 b all whom it may concern Be i known that I, ALFRED MANUEL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Roseville, in the county of Warren and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful improvements in Collapsible Grates, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in crates and has particular application to collapsible or knock-down crates.

in carrying out the present invention, it is my purpose to provide a knock-down crate wherein by means of a number of members spaced apart and capable of simultaneous swinging movement to overlap one another, a substantially flat package will be provided when the crate is knocked down. Furthermore, I am to provide a knock-down or collapsible crate which will embody in its construction among other features a pair of bars spaced apart in parallelism, members pivotally connected to the bars at opposite points and spaced apart and arranged be tween such bars, and a second pair of bars disposed at opposite sides of such members and disposed in a plane intersecting that of the first members and having pivotal connections with the members whereby the latter may be swung into the plane of said first set of bars so that the crate may be knocked down or collapsed and packed in a relatively small space, a latching device being employed to hold the component parts of the crate in crate-forming or knocked-down positions. It is also my purpose to provide a knock-down crate of the class described which will embrace the desired features of simplicity, efliciency and durability and which may be manufactured and marketed at a minimum expense and readily and conveniently manipulated.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter set forth in and falling within the scope of the claims.

In the accompanying drawing; Figure 1 is a perspective view of a knock-down crate constructed in accordance with the present invention, the same being shown in crate formation. Fig. 2 is a View in edge elevation of the crate in knocked-down position. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional View through the crate in knocked-down position.

In the present instance, my improved knock-down crate comprises a pair of bars medium of pivot pins 3 1, l spaced apart in parallel relation, and a cries of ring- like members 2, 2 appropriately spaced apart between the bars 1, l and eaclrpivotally connected to the bars at diametrically opposite points through the passed through the bars and rings.

The numerals 4, 4 designate the bars of a second pair, such bars being disposed at op-' posite sides of the ring-like members and arranged in a plane intersecting that of the first pair of bars. Each bar 4 of the second set or pair is, in the present instance, equipped with a series of eye bolts 5 spaced apart along the length thereof and designed to receive the ring- like members 2, 2, as clearly illustrated in the drawing.

One of the bars of the first pair, adjacent to one end thereof, is equipped with a latch composed, in this case, of a strip of spring metal (3 having one end fastened to the respective bar through the medium of a rivet 7 or other appropriate fastening device and the opposite end equipped with a substantially U-shaped strip 8 having the free ends of the opposite limbs thereof disposed in the path of the respective end ring-like member 2 so that when the component parts of the crate are in the position shown in Fig. l, accidental collapsing will be avoided. The numeral 9 designates a bag of some suitable material or other covering arranged within the ring- like members 2, 2 and having the opposite ends thereof fastened to the end ring-like members, as at 10, such bag being designed to receive the articles to be shipped or transported in the crate.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, the construction and mode of operation of my improved collapsible crate will be readily apparent. Assuming the parts to be in the position shown in Fig. 1 and it is desired to knock down or collapse the crate, the free end of the spring strip 6 of the latch is pulled away from the respective bar 1 so that the free extremities of the opposite limbs of the U-shaped strip 8 are removed from the path of the end ring-like member 2. Pressure is now applied to the bars 4, 4 and the latter moved in relatively opposite directions thereby swinging the ring- like members 2,2 about their pivotal connections with the bars 1, l with the effect to swing such members into the plane of the bars 1, 1. Thus, it will be seen that when the crate is Patented Nov. 3, 191 4.

knocked down or collapsed, a substantially fiat package is provided enabling a comparatively great number of crates to be shipped or transported when knocked down.

lVhile I have herein shown and described the members 2, 2 as ring-like in form it will be understood that these members may be square or other shape. Furthermore I wish it to be understood that any other suitable form of latch may be employed while the pivotal connections between the various bars and the members may be varied or changed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

A knock-down crate comprising a pair of bars spaced apart in parallelism, members pivoted between said bars at opposite points and spaced apart, means whereby said menibers may be swung into the plane of said bars, a spring metal strip having one end secured to one of said bars, and a substantially U'shaped strip fastened to the other' end of said first strip and having the free extremities of the opposite limbs thereof disposed in the path of movement of: one of said members and adapted to engage the latter and lock the same against movement to folded position.

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

ALFRED MANUEL.

WVitnesses ARTHUR TAYLOR, FRANK STEWART.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

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