US1303873A - Hebbebt t - Google Patents

Description

H. T. FOGG.

CONTAINER CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 7. 191a.

Patented May 20, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

H. T. FOGG.

CONTAINER CRATE.

APPLICATION FlLED SEPT. 1. I915 1,303,873. Patented May 20,1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- n liests: izz/512% HERBERT T. FOGG,-0F EAST .QR'ANGE, NEW JERSEYLASSIGNOR 'lO NATIONAL BISCUIT COMPANY, oENEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATIONDF- NEW JERSEY.

CONTAINER-CRATE.

"Specification of Letters-Patent. 'Patented MayZO, 1919.

Application fil'e'cl September 7, 1916. j Sria1No. 118,794.

T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known'that I, HERBERTT. Fooc, a

"citizen of theUnited 'States, residing at East board and comprising intersecting and interlockedmembers arranged to provide a cratelike structure, adapted to be inserted into the carton or container and to receive and separate the several rows of biscuits or other contents asthey are packed in superimposed layers. Each crate or separator is preferably designed to accommodate one layer of the goods, and so constructed to form a.se

ries ofhorizontally arranged compartments or units'adapted to receive and sep'arate'the several ro'ws of each layer, thereby preventing the lateral shifting and movement of the contents of each layer, which otherwise would lead to breakage and damaging of the woods, in the transportation or handling of the containers or cartons. vThe several crates an'd'the'layers contained therein are preferably separated by the use ofpartition' sheets placed intermediate each of such layers, and

thereby serving to support the several crate layers one upon the other.

The object sought to be accomplished in the'manufacture of crates or'separators is to reduce thecost oflabor and material entering into the production ofthese articles, and

' ofequal' importance the production of a sepa'rat'or whoseconstruction will "facilitate packingof the goods in the carto-nsor con- I tain'ers,'thatf is, by making it possible to place the crate partially assembledinto the container, and to insert the remaining parts as thelpa cking .of the goods progresses. It is toward the attainment of these g l b- 1 tha the features of .the present invention "are directed, as "well as. certain other out.

objects, which will hereinafter a; pointed The device embodying the features of my lllYGIltlOIl'lS clearly set forth in the descriptron which follows, and fil-llyillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which' Figure 1 is a View in perspective of a single crate or separator embodying the features'of theinvention;

Fig. 2is a view inxelevation of the blank from which the 'bodymembe'ris formed;

Fig. 3 I cross or crate strip;

4 is a view iinperspective showing the manner in which the body member may be closed by the provision of overlapping flaps connected together; v a

Fig. 5 is a detail view i-n'p'erspective showing the arrangement of the notches in the flaps shown in Fig. 4:;

Fig. '6 is a modified form of the crate, with end SVlllgSfOlCl'Q-d in one position;

Fig. 7 is a' ;perspective view of one of the members of'Figi6, with the end wings folded in reverse position;

Fig. 8 is a view in elevation of the members of Fig. 6 in'blank form;

Fig. 9v is a view of' the endportion of a cross strip used with the members arranged as in Fig. 6; and I a Fig. 10'isa'view of the end portion of a cross strip used with the members arranged as in Fig. 7.

Referring now in a general Way to the construction of a crate or separator embodying my invention, the same comprises a plurality of strips adapted to stand on edge and arranged in a series of parallel strips; extend'ing at right angles to each other, the strips of each "series having interlocking connection with the strips of the other series by the provision of "locking "notches, thereby forming a crate of comparatively rigid and self supporting construction.

Although the preceding description is applicable" to a general classof crates, the novel and, improved features of construction embodyingthe present invention "will now be described in; detail. 4 v

The mate, consisting ofinterseetiiig strips is a view in elevation of a single as before stated, comprises abody member and a series of transverse or cross strips 11. The body member, as shown inthe blank in Fig. 2, is a strip of sheet material having a width equal to the height of the completed crate and a length substantially three times the longitudinal dimension of a single strip.v This strip is divided into.

three sections of substantially equal length.

to wit, two end sections 12, 12; and a 0611- tral section 13, said portions being separated bysuitable score lines, as will here matter be described. Theend sections are 1dent1cal in formation and are adapted to be bent at right angles to and extend in the'saine direction from the central sectlon 13, said end sections forming the two upright and-parallel strips which extend at. right angles to and engage the cross strips-11, 11,'the adjacent. ends being connected together by the central section 13,

which extends parallel to the cross strips and, lnfact, forms the outermost cross strip along one side ofthe crate. At the points" of connection o'r folding where the blank is bent to form the three sections, the following arrangements of cuts and scorelmes are provided: Extending fro th -1 gitudinal margi-n of the blank are perpendicular score lines let, 1 1, which terminate midway between the upper and lower mar- I gins.

inner ends of said score linesl l and into the central section are two cuts 15, 15,.each.

Extending longitudinally from the of whichjoins at its outer end a cut 16, extendingat right angles toeach cut 15 and intersecting the lower longitudinal .margin of the blank strip. The adjacent end por-.

tions of said cuts 15 and 16 are preferably curved, in orderto provide a rounded corner, for the tongue. to be formed by said score lines and cuts, as will presently be .pointed out. Upon bending the blank along the score lines 141-, 14, so as to dispose the end sect ons at right angles to the central section as shown in Fig 1, the portions ineluded between the edges of the cuts 1 5, 16 and the lower margin of the blank strip, torm't-ongues. 17 17, which are integral.

withthe central section, and which extendoutwardly from the ends of said end sections beyond and at right angles thereto, when the blank is folded into rectangular form.

' dieular score line 18, spaced a short distance inwardly from the end margins of the end section and extending parallel thereto from. the upper longitudinal margin thereof, to point midway. between the upper andv vlowerlongitudinal margins ,ga cut 19 ex-, tending longitudinally .lrom' the inner end of said score linelS and in a direction away from the free end margin of the section, and

At each of the free ends of the end sections is provided a similar arrangement on score lines and cuts, namely, perpena transverse cut 20 extending from the end of said longitudinal cut 19. This formation of score lines and cuts forms awlng or flap 21 at the free end of each end section, which is adapted to be bent inwardly along "the score line 18, as shown in Fig. 1, there being formed also a tongue 22, as before,

, whicligis integral withand remains in the tance substantially equal to one-half the width of the strip. .These'notches are preferably V-shaped, having one edge perpendicular to said. margin. and complementary edge. at an angle'thereto. Although the particular shape ofthe notches is immaterial, it may be pointed out that they are formed in the manner stated to avoid. the difliculty which is experienced in cutting narrow notches in the material, of a width required to receive thethickness-of the cross strips; The remainin members of the com )lete b i I i 1. crate are the cross strips 11. before ,men-

'tioned. These strips (Fig. 3 are rec-tangular in shape and formed from a single thickness of the sheet. material. In one of the longitudinal margins of each strip areprovided lockmg notches 2 1, preferably spaced inwardly from the ends of the stripand formedV-shaped as are the notches ofthe body member 10 and for the same reasons.

In assembling the several membersof the crate it is to be understood that this operation is preferably carried on simultaneously .wvith the packing of each layer; thusfthe' first'step is to insert within the container the body member 10 (without the cross 7 strips) with its parts folded as hereinbefore' described, and in upright position, with its lower margins resting upon the bottom sur face ofthe container orthe partition sheet of the layer immediately below. Inasmuch as the body member is not supportedby the cross strips, as when the crate is completely assemblechitis the purpose, ,amongothers, of the wings and tongues to maintain the body inemberin upright position, and in rectangular shape, prior to the addition of the cross strips. The purpose of the wings and tongues will. be more clearly understood from the following: The body member is proportioned to fitsnugly within the con tainer,and hence theends of the tongues 17 and 22 at the ends of the sections 12, 12, will engage or abut againstt e walls the contamer, and thus act to space-said sections away from said walls and maintainthe same in parallel relation, as well as to prevent the shifting or movement of the body member within the container after the same has been placed therein. Furthermore, the wings 21, 21, together with the tongues 22, 22 integral therewith, provide, in effect, transverse supporting members or feet which support the free ends of the body member in upright position in the absence of the cross strips. The body member is further proportioned so that upon placing the body member within the container, the central section lies flatwise against the adjacent wall of the container, as do the outer surfaces of the wings 21, 21 and the tongues 22, 22; thus themovement of the body member longitudinally of the end sections is prevented.

' The body member having been placed within the container as described, the goods are packed in the form of rows, arranged transversely of the notched sections, there being added a cross-strip after each row is packed, until the entire layer is completed. It is manifest that, by reason of the construction of the body member, the same is retained in the proper upright position and rectangular form to permit the insertion of the cross strips and the interlocking of the several notches of the body member therewith, without necessitating a. subsequent shifting of the goods in order to reare conside'a/bly longer than the. wings of the previously described form, said flaps being of a length sufficient to overlap at their ends when folded into the same plane. Although any suitable means may be employed for connecting the overlapping end portion of these flaps together, one method consists inproviding locking notches 27, 27, located at the ends and onopposite margins of the flaps, which maybe interlocked by. inserting one notch 27 int-o the other, in the manner shown in Fig. 5.

The provision of the overlapping and joined together flaps permits a more construction, which enables the body memher to retain its proper rectangular contour during the packing operation and before the cross strips are added.

Inadditionto the forms of crate already described, it is desirable also to provide a crate or separator that is adjustable to a certain degree, as regards the spacing ofthe parallel .or end sectionsof the body member from the walls of the container. In order to secure a degree of adjustability,the fol lowing construction is resorted to, which departs from the forms already described only in the details specifically referred to and. shown in Figs. 6 to 10.

In this form of the device the body member comprises two identically formed sections 30, 30, which are disconnected from each other by the omission of the central sectionof the previous forms. and hence the sections are free to be moved toward or away from each other. In addition to this feature, there are provided wings 31 and tongues 32 at each end of each section, said tongues and wings being formed in exactly the same;

manne as described in connection with the wings and tongues of the end sections of the first form of crate descrlbed, namely, by providing score lines 33, 33, spaced inwardly from each end of the sectionand-extending end margins of the'sections, and'transverse cuts extending from the inner ends of said first mentioned cuts and intersecting the lower longitudinal margin. A specific departure is made from the previous arrangement of the wings and tongues, which will be clearly set forth. Inthis instance the wings 31 are made of a dilferent length than the tongues 32, that is, the distance measured longitudinally from the bend or fold line 33 to the vertical or end margins ofthe wings is greater than the distance from the same fold line to the outer edge of the corresponding tongues. Thus, for instance, the length of the wings may be one inch and the length of the tongues an inch and a quarter or an inch and a half, although, as it will be hereinafter seen, it is immaterial whether the wings or the tongues are of greater length. Now referring to Fig. 6, it will be seen that, if it is desired to space the body sections air-inch and a quarter or a half inwardly from the opposite walls of the container. the wings would be bent inwardly toward each other and the tongues bent outwardly. and so act to determine the space separating the body sectionsan'd the wall, in the manner already described. Now, it is desired to decrease the space separating the body sections and the opposite Walls of the container, it is only necessary to turn or bend the wings outwardly as shown in Fig. 7, instead of inwardly, said tongues being simultaneously bentinwarelly, or, in other words, bend. the

Wings 1 into the reverseposition. Thus the wings now act in the same capacity as did the tongues, and, being shorter, serve to space the body sections a less distance from the walls of the container. It is obvious that difierent forms of crate strips 35, 36 must be used in connection with the two adjusted positions of the body sections, said strips differing only in the disposition of the locking notches with relation to the ends of the strip, that is, the notches 37 of a strip 35, used with the body sections as arranged in Fig. 7, must be spaced inwardly, say one inch, from the ends thereof, as shown in Fig. 9, and in the arrangement shown in Fig. 6 the notches 38 of a strip 36 would be spaced inwardly a correspondingly greater distance, say one inch and a quarter or a half, as shown in Fig. 10. In this manner then it is possible to provide a crate capable of at least two adjustments in the manner stated, by merely reversing the position or direction of folding the wings at the ends of the body sections and by providing cross strips with the corresponding arrangement of locking notches.

The crate strip embodying the features of I my invention has the advantage of being constructed of the least amount of material necessary consistent with strength and rigidity, and, furthermore, contains the novel features which make it particularly useful and practical crate for use when the method of packing herein described is practised, namely, that of placing the crate within the container in partially assembled form and adding the cross strips as the rows of goods are successively completed. The adjustable type of crate is of advantage in that it permits practically a single form of crate to be used for the packing of various kinds of goods which vary in thickness andhence require a certain variation in the spacing of the strips. This is accomplished in a simple manner, without necessitating the alteration of the crate, with the exception of the form of cross strip used.

The features embodying my invention may be variously modified Without departing from the spirit of the invention. and for this reason it is not desired to limit the scope of the invention except in so far as specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:-

1. A separator of the character described. having two upright side sections laterally spaced apart and provided between their ends with notches to receive one or more cross strips, and each side section being provided at each end thereof with an integral portion adapted to be bent into a position substantially at right-angles to the body of the section and having; an integral flap cut from the body of the section and adapted to project from that side of said section opposite to the side from which said integral portion extends, the lower edges of said flaps and integral portions being in the same plane with the lower edges of said side sections. v

2. A separator of the character described, comprising two upright side sections laterally spaced apart and provided between their ends with notches to receive one or more cross strips, and a transverse section connected with said side sections and extending between the same at one end of the separator, and each side section being provided at each end thereof with a tongue out fromth'e body of the section and adapted to project outward therefrom' substantially at right-angles to the body of the section, and the lower edges of said tongues being in the same plane with the lower edges of said side sections.

3. A separator of the character described.

made from a strip of sheet material and bent along fold lines into a position having two upright side .sections laterally'spaced apart, and a transverse section extending between said side sections at one end of the separator, said side sections beingprovided at the ends thereof with integral tongues cut from the body of the side sections and adapted to be bent into positions projecting outward therefrom at the corners of the separator. a 7

4. A separator of the tharacter described,

made from a strip of sheet material and bent along fold lines into a position having two upright side sections laterally spaced apart, and a transverse section extending between said side sections at one end of i the separator, said. side sections being provided at the ends thereof with integral tongues cut from the body of the side sections and adapted to be bent into positions extending outward. therefrom at the cor-- ners of the separator, each side'section being provided at the end thereof opposite said transverse section with an integral wing adapted to be bent toextend inward from the side sections, and the lower edges of said tongues and wingsbeing in the same plane with the lower edges of said side sections. 7

A blank for a separator ofthe character described, comprising a fiat strip of sheet material having, transversely arranged notches opening outward through one of the longitudinal edges of saidstrip', the latter being divided into two end sections and. an intermediate section by a score or fold line at each end of theintermediate section and extending transversely partially. across the strip from the longitudinal edge thereof through which said notches open, said strip being provided adjacent e'ach end thereof with a score or f0 (1 line extending trainsverse ly partially across the strip from said presence of tWo Witnesses, this 31st day of last named longitudinal edge thereof and August, A. D. 1916.

having a tongue out in the body of the strip at each of said several fold or score HERBERT FOGG' 5 lines. \Vitnesses:

In testimony that I claim the foregoing FREDERICK W. Bonn, as my invention, I affix my signature in the L. D. K101).

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

Washington, D. 0.

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