US1306136A - Folding crate - Google Patents

Description

E, P. AND1. L. CARPENTER. FOLDING CRATE. APPLICATION FILED MAYG. I9|5| 1 ,306, 1 36.5 Patented June 10, 1919.

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` EDWARD P. CARPENTER, or ELMIRA HEIGHTS, AND JOHN L. CARPENTER, 0E POTSDAM,

NEW YORK.

FOLDING CRATE.

, Patented June 10, 1919.

Application filed May s, 1916. serial No. 96,174.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it lknown that we, EDWARD P. CAR- PENTER and JOHN L. CARPENTER, citizens of the United States, residing at Elmira Heights and Potsdam, respectively, in the counties of Chemung and St. Lawrence, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Crates; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to the class of folding crates, and has particular reference to returnable folded crates, which are adapted for shipping produce and other perishable material.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a collapsible crate which can be4 quickly folded into a compact state for return shipment, and also to provide a device of this character which will be strong and durable when in set up position and in which the parts are effectively held from displacement when in their set up condition.

In the shipment of perishable market products to market centers, a demand has been created for collapsible crates and shipping receptacles which while possessing all of the requisite strength to withstand the hard usage of short trip shipments, may also be taken down or collapsed into a compact form for return shipment, so that they may be used repeatedly.

As above stated, our invention has for its object to provide such a device, and with this, and other objects which will hereinafter appear, in view, our invention will now be fully set forth and described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the shipping receptacle in set up condition,

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the crate in folded condition, and

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4. i Y

Referring more particularly to said drawings, 1 indicates the top of the receptacle or crate which is hinged to the rear side 2 as by an inside hinge 3. The 'rear side 2 is hinged along its lower longitudinal edge to the bot-` tom 4 as by an outside hinge 5. Said bottom 4 is provided along itsforward longitudinal edge with a vertical upstanding flange 6 to whose upper free end is hinged the front side 7 as bythe outside hinge 8.

End piecesv 9 and 10 are hinged to the transverse edges ofthe bottom 4 by means of hinges 11 and 12 in such relation to the bottom 4 that the 'ends 9 and 10 may fold inwardly upon the bottom. The vertical edges of the ends 9 and 10 are provided with the voutwardlyrturned llanges 13 which interit to form lock joints with the recesses 14 which are formed by turning `the vertical edges of the ends of the front and rear sides to surround the flanges 13. When the ends 9 and 10 are in in the position above described, they are locked in position by means of leaf springs 15 which are riveted or otherwise formed in the front and rear sides of the device. The springs 15 are shaped to normally project from the recesses 16 behind the elevated ends 9 and 10 to lock the latter in position, but may be depressed into the recesses 16 to release the end pieces so that the latter may be dropped into folded position.

The top 1 of the receptacle is hinged to the upper edge of the rear side upon the hinges 3, and is flanged upon its front edge, the 'znge 19 being of such depth that the ends, s1 es therebehind, as will hereinafter appear. In the extended or set up position of the receptacle, the flange 19 of the top 1 depends over the front of the receptacle and aids in holding the latter in rigid relation. The lower edge of the front portion ofthe flange 19 has hinged thereto the hasp 20 having openings 23 through which are engaged staples 21 and 22, carried by the front 7, when the receptacle is set up for shipment.

In folding the receptacle for return shipment or storage, the lid or top 1 is first raised after which the ends 9 and 10 are released from the spring clips 15 and folded inwardly upon the bottom 4, said. ends 9 and and 'bottom' may be compactly folded 10, and the flanges 13 thereof, lying below the level of the upper edge of the flange 6 on the front edge of the bottom. The front side 7 is then folded inwardly upon the ends 9 and 10 with its staples 21 and 22 directed upwardly, the flange 6 allowing said front side to lie Hat upon the ends. The rear side or back 2 is then swung rearwardly and downwardly and under the bottoni il,

with its inner face against the under face within the limits of the top 1 and its depending flange 19.

The operation and use. of our improved apparatus has been clearly brought out in the course of the foregoing description, so that a furtherrehearsal thereof is not required, but it will be evident that the present invention provides a simple, adequate shipping crate or receptacle which may be readily folded for return` shipment in such extension and arrangement to depend overthe front member when the crate is set 'up and to vproject `beyond the front member when the crate is folded as stated, and a hasp carried -by the flange and having a pair of openings therethrough disposed to receive the staples respectively when the crate is set up 'and to receive in the outer one of them the upper one of the staples when the crate isfoldedas specified.

In testimony whereof, we affix our signatures, in the presence of two witnesses.

EDLWVARD P. CARPENTER. JoHN L. CARPENTER.

Witnesses Jfsf H- LEAHY, GEO. M. GARFIELD. v

Copies of this patent n iay be obtained for ve cents each, vby addressing the Commissioner of PatentsE Washington, D. C. i I

35' ing end members arranged to fold thereon, Y

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