US1180771A - Collapsible shipping-crate. - Google Patents

Description

E. F. HAESKE.

COLLAPSIBLE SHIPPING CRATE. v

APPLICATION FILED MAY I0, 1915- Patented Apr. 25, 1916.

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lHllIlu T'Ti ump-" wibneoow v THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co, WASHINGTON, D. C.

Tani ram 'r'rar prion EIVIIL F. HAESKE, 0F SUPERIOR, WISCONSIN.

OOLLAPSIBLE SHIPPING-CRATE.

Application filed May 10, 1915.

[ '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EMIL F. Hansnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Superior, in the county of Douglas and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Collapsible Shipping-Crates; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as Wlll enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to collapsible shipping crates and more particularly to crates for shipping poultry and the like.

One ob ect of this invention is the provision of a collapsible shipping crate which may be eificiently maintained in set up position, when required for shipping poultry and the like, or which may be readily collapsed for occupying minimum space for shipping or storing away when empty.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of a collapsible shipping crate, constructed wholly of metal, preferably iron or steel, thus providing a strong durable device.

These and other objects will more fully a pear as the nature of the invention is more cl early understood from the following specification, the subject matter of the claim, and the views illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the device, showing the same in collapsed formation. Fig. 2 is a similar view of Fig. 1, but showing the device in set up formation. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4: is a detail perspective view of one of the end frames and one end of the supporting frame used for pivotally assembling the parts together.

The crate is preferably formed of metal such as sheet iron, or sheet steel, though any other suitable metal will suifice, and the frames constituting the top and side members are preferably formed L-shaped in cross section as illustrated in the drawings,

but the same may also be U-shaped in cross section or other desirable conformations.

Referring to the drawings, wherein similar reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views, 1 represents the bottom of the crate constructed of any desirable sheet metal, and having its side edges rolled to provide the tubes 2, the bottom 1 also has its corners cut away Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 25, 191%.

Serial No. 27,229.

and the remaining portions across the ends are bent upwardly to provide the upstanding flanged ends 3. Secured within the tubes 2 of the bottom 1 are the side bars a of the supporting frame, the side bars 4- projecting slightly beyond the ends of the tubes 2 and are'bent upwardly and connected together in a manner to provide the yokes 5, see Fig. 4:, which supporting frame is preferably formed of a cdntinuous strip of heavy wire, or a metal rod or bar. The end members of the crate are constructed With a frame formed of a single piece of wire or metal rod or bar, the end frames being constructed of a width slightly less than the distance between the side bars A: of the supporting frame, the free ends of the end frames providing the hinge members 6 embracing the yokes 5 of the supporting frame to form a pivotal connection for the end frames of the crate. The frames also have the side bars 7 extending from the hinge members 6 to the under bent portions or loops 8 connected together by the connecting bar 9 as clearly shown in Fig. 4:, and suitably secured to the yokes 5 of the supporting frame and to the connecting bar 9 of the end frames are the wire screens 10 of suitable size mesh.

The sides of the crate are constructed of frames having their lower rails 11, upper rails 12, and the end rails 13 formed preferably of L-shaped angle iron, the respective rails having their ends joined together in any suitable manner, but being disposed relative to each other so that one angular portion of the rails will present a straight smooth surface and the other angular portion of the rails will project laterally inwardly. The respective frames of the side members are suitably provided with the screens 14 suitably secured to the respective edges surrounding the opening within the frames.

The side frames of the crate are hingedly connected to the bottom 1 by the portions of the bar 4 of the supporting frame which project beyond the tubes 2 passing through apertures formed through the inwardly projecting angular portions of the end rails 13 at the lower portions thereof, and in a man nor that the inwardly projecting angular portion. 15 of the bottom rails underlaps the bottom surfaces of the bottom 1 when the when the side frames are collapsed inwardly when the crate is folded.

The top frame of the crate is constructed of the side rails 16 and the end rails 17 formed of L-shaped angle iron similar to the frames constituting the side members of the crate. The top frame is constructed slightly longer and wider than the 'side and end framesso that the depending angular portions of "the respective rails lfi of'the top frame will overlap the top rails 12 of the side frames, and the depending angular portions of the end rails 17 are vertically disposed over the yokes 5 of the supporting frame, and are hingedly secured to the end frames of the crate by the loops 8 of the end frainefpassing through apertures formed in these depending angular portions of the end rails 17. This manner of connecting the end rails of the top frame of the crate" with the end frames forms an ellicient hinge connection between the two frames.

lVithin the opening surrounded by the rails 16 and 17 of the top frame is suitably secured the screen l8. Within the screen 18 of the top frame are formed preferably two 10. pe i s e a nin e a i different parts of the crate," one of the door Op nin s being ho it ts es fit f edj y swear rein or n am nd r i n ly' os'i e ebpe n'ss wo doors are provided, oneof which isshown F e nd mpris s t o p ll eras d Y bars 20 having an eye 21 formed at each end emew ic ye a e des ned tov sl da y embrace the parallel rods 22. extending longitudinally of the top frame of the'crate and having their endssecured as at23- in thedepending angular portions of. the end rails 17 at a 'l'ioiritfslightly below the under surfaces of the horizontal angular portions 1 of the top frame and the screen 18. The

bars '20 have suitably secured thereon a screen 2 1 which forms the doors, and this mounting of the doors enables the same to be readily moved in either" direction for opening or closing the openings in" the screen 18 as desired. The doors are of course provided with suitable securing means for retaining the same 'in either opened or closed position.

For dividing the crate into two or more compartments, only two compartments beingshown in thedrawings for the sake of illustration, a partition all is providedl This partition wall consists of a substantially U-shaped frame 25 having the outward] y "projecting trunnions '26 which project through theapertures 27 ,see Fig. 2, formed in the depending anguar portions of the side rails 16 of the top frame, the projecting ends of. the trunnions 26 being headed as. at 28 for retaining the trunnions 26jrevolubly mounted within the side rails of the top frame, and above the top rails 12 end rails of the top and side frames of the side frames. The U-shaped partition wall frame 25 is also provided with the screen 29' having'its edges suitably secured to the respective parts of the frame 25. This partition wall is capable of lateral swinging movement whereby the same may be positioned against the bottom surfaces of the top frame when the crate is collapsed, but to maintain the partition wall in vertical position when thccratc is set up for use, the spring catch'30 is provided. This catch is formed of a strip of spring metal having its ends secured to the bottom 1, and its central portion struck upwardly and formed with the indented recess 31 into which recess the central portion of the horizontal bar of the frame is adapted to be'sprung and seated when the partition wall has been forced downwardly to its upright position within the crate. i i

For securing the upper and lower portions of'the crate together when collapsed, the hooks 32 are provided. These hooks have one of their ends looped in apertures formed in the depending angular portions of the Side rails of the top frame, and the opposite ends curved to provide the hooks which engage the lower edges of the angular members 'ldof the lower rails 11 of the side frames, thus securely retaining the top fra e upon'the side frames when the crate is in' folded position. i

' To collapse or fold the crate, the partition wall frame 25 is forced out of its engagement with the spring catch 30 and swtngupwardly under the top frame, the side frames are'then forced inwardly upon the upper surface of the bottom 1, the top faces of the rails 12 of the side frames meeting substantially flush with each other, and afterward the top frameis forced in a longitudinal direction, and owing to the pivotal mounting of the top frame upon the end frames, the pivotal connection between the end frames and the supporting frame, the same are readily swung downwardly to rest upon the side frames which have previouslybeen folded inwardly upon thebottom of the crate, and when the parts are in such folded positions thehooks 32 are then caught under the edge of the angular portien 15 of the bottom rails of the side frames and the crate isnow in' secure folded position. WVhen settingup the crate from its folded operatien is carried on in the reverse order as ve described for' folding the crate from set up position. i

In forming the topand side frames of the crate, theside and end rails may have their ends oined by riveting, brazin gior welding, or thesejframes may be formed by stamping the same from a continuous sheet or strip of metal whereby the side rails and will position, it obvious. that the each be an integral frame structure. The screens are formed as shown, and especially with the diagonal strands to insure rigidity.

It will be seen from the foregoing that I have provided a simple, strong and durable collapsible shipping crate, and one which can be manufactured and placed upon the market at a nominal cost; and while I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, minor alterations and variations may be made therein from time to time as deemed expedient without departing from the spirit of this invention or the scope of the claim.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is 2- In a folding crate, the combination with a solid bottom, of tubular members formed at the side edges of said bottom, upstanding flange members formed at the ends of said bottom, a supporting frame having its side bars mounted in said tubular members and projecting beyond the ends thereof, yokes upon the ends of said supporting frame surmounting said upstanding flange members,

inner sides of said yokes, U-shaped end frames having their ends pivotally connected to the cross bar of said yoke and having loops at the upper corners thereof, a top frame formed of L-shaped angle bars having certain of the flange members of the side bars depending downwardly for embracing the upper bars of said side frames, and certain of the angle members of the end bars thereof depending downwardly and pivotally connected to the loops of said end frames, and screen members for covering the openings in said side frames, said end frames and said top frame.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EMIL F. HAESKE.

Witnesses:

JULIUS L. COHEN, ROBERT E. KENNEDY.

Uopiee of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. (1."

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