US1307621A - davidson - Google Patents

Description

F. B. DAVIDSON. PARTITION MEMBER FOR com/amass.

APPLICATION FiLED SEPT. 1. 1916.

11,307,621. Patented June 24,1919.

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UNITE sTATEs rA NT oEEIoE FRANK B. DAVIDSON, or MARSEILLES, ILLINOIS, AssIeNoE To HOWE AND DAVIDSON COMPANY, or MAEsEILLEs, ILLINoIs, A CORPORATION OFNEW JEnsEY.

PARTITION MEMBER roia' CONTAINERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

4 Patented J une 24, 19 19.

Application filed September 7, 1916. Serial No. 118,793.

To all whom it may concern) Be'it known that I, FRANK B. DAVIDSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Marseilles, in the county of La Salle and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Partition Members for Containers, of which the following is a specification. r

This invention relates to improvements in partition members or separators of that kind ordinarily employedin the packing of goods of a fragile character,in containers, cartons, and shipping cases, and more in particular to the manner in which the several parts, comprising a partition member or separator, are formed and assembled to provide the completed structure. U 7

Partition members or separators of the character referred to are commonly constructed of sheet material such as cardboard, fiber-board, or the like, and consist of a plurality of strips, arranged in parallel rows, which intersect each other at right angles and are connected together by means of interlocking notches formed in themargins of the strips at the several points of intersection, thereby forming a rectangular, crate-like structure, having a plurality of smaller rectangular compartments or units, in which one or more of the articles or goods are placed.

In the manufacture of devices of this character, the locking notches are ordinarily cut from the material of the strips by means of suitable cutting machinery, said notches material or trim, as it is called, to provide the marginal slots of the desired widthi Because of the narrow width of the trim to be removed, considerable difliculty is experienced in the cutting operation, for the reason that the trim has not sufficient body to permitits being severed from the material of the-strip in a clean and uniform manner. Furthermore, the trim is manifestly difficult of removal from the narrow form of notch, on account of the close proximity of the margins and the rectangular shape thereof, with the result that the trim tends to adhere or remain lodged within the notch, thus necessitating the expenditure of considerable time and labor in properly freemg the notches of the trim after the same has been cut. The difliculties experienced in the cutting operation are greatly increased when a number of strips are operated on simultaneously, as is the common practice in the manufacture of these devices. 'Man1- festly, therefore, while the narrow form of slot or notch is desirable to produce a stable crate layer structure, the difficulty in forming the slots has led to the substitution, for the narrow slot with parallel edges, of a different form or shape of slot, namely, a substantially V-Shaped notch. From the standpoint of manufacture, the V-shaped notch is much superior to the narrow form of notch, for the reason that notches thus formed are considerably greater in width, hence can be cut with greater ease and in a clean and workmanlike manner. Furthern'iorc, the shape and increased width and size of the trim permits the same to be removed with little difiiculty, inasmuch as the trim is more accessible, and the tendency to become lodged in the notch is practically eliminated.

A V-shaped notch, however,'is obviously not, in'itself, calculated to provide a rigidly constructed crate structure, for the reason that such a slot is incapable of contacting with or bearing against both sides or surfaces of a strip inserted therein, so as to strip, the other edge or cut, 12, bein the manufacture of the member or separator embodying my invention, the same comprises a plurallty .of

strips or crate members, which are formed from sheetmater al such as cardor fiberboard, as -before stated. These strlps are preferably of the same Widtlnalthough they may vary in length, dependingon the size or particular shape ofthe partition member desired. The method of forming. the looking notches is quite the same for all the strips, therefore a description of one strip 111 this regard will suiiicefor all. Considering, therefore, eitherof theloyvermost strips of Fig. 2, thesame are provided along one of their longitudinalmargins, namely,the upper margin, with a. plurality of notches 10 preferably spaced apart, throughout the length of the strips, .in equidistantrelation. These notches are substantially Vshaped, although, to .describe their shape more exactly, they consist of or are formed by means of cuts or edges 11 and 12 inclined at angles .to each other, one of the edges, 11,.extending perpendicular or at right angles to the upper longitudinal margin of the strip and inwardly from saidmargin a distance substantially equal to one-half the width ofthe inclined at an angle of approximately tiirty degrees (30) to the perpendicular edge 11 and joining the inner endof the same, to

form a sharp point orapex of the notch. In

addition-to theedges already described, each notch is preferably provided with a short inclined edge 13 at the entrance thereof and adjacent to the outer end of the perpendicular edge 11,-said short. edge beinginclined at approximately an angle of thirty degrees (309) to the perpendicularedge 11 and in the opposite direction from the inclined edge 12. The presence of this-short inclined edge eliminates the sharpor right-angled corner that would otherwise be present at one side of the entrance of the notch, thereby facilitating the entrance of a strip therein.

Referring now to the notches of each strip,-it is tobe pointed out that all of the notches formed along the same margin of a strip bear the same relation to one another,

that is, the severaledges 11, 12, and '13 of all ofthe notches are parallel with each other and etherwise Qscupy ce respon ms positions. The pertinency of this observation will be appreciated in connection with What follows.

Although all of the strips may be said to be similar, as regards their formation, it is preferred, for the sake ofclearness of description, to divide the several strips into two or more series, each embracing a plurality of parallel strips arrangedtransversely or at right angles to the other series (or tier immediately above or below, as they are shown in Fig. 2). Series A, therefore, comprises two strips 14 and 15, spaced apart in parallel relation and in upright position, the same being identical in formatlon but reversed as regardsthe relative position of thenotches 10 ofeach strip; thatis to say, the position of .a notch 10.of one stri is in the reverse position of the corresponc ing notch 0f the other strip, thus theperpendicularedges 11, .11, as well as the inclined edges 12, 12 of corresponding notches, are located on opposite sides of a transverse plane passing through the apeX Qf'each notch. This relationship ordispositlon of the strips is accompllshed by merely reversing two identically formed strips longitudinally.

Y Thesecond series ortier .B, as illustrated,

consists of four strips arranged in parallel and spaced-apart relation and identical in formation, butdiifering from the strips of series A in the following particular. These strips are provided along both of their longitudinal margins with notches 16 and 17 spaced apart at equal distances, the notches 16being located alongthe lower margin and adjacent the ends of the strip, and the notches17 located along the upper margin and intermediate the notches 16, 16. As regards the relative positions of the notches, it is to be noted that the perpendicular edges 18 and inclined edges 19 of all the notches are on corresponding sides, but that the inthe alternately arranged pairs of strips 20 and 21, it is to be noted that the corresponding notches 16 and 17 of each strip are in transverse alinement, but that they are alternately reversed, that is, the perpendicular and inclined edges 18 and 19-of the notches 16 and 17 respectively, are alternately disposed on opposite sides of a transverse plane passing t 11011gl1 the apex of ea h of the lined notches. 'lhis relationship as 'clined edges 19 of the notches 16 and 17 are 1 10 ists or is followed throughout eachgroup or set of transversely alined notches, and is accomplished by merely reversing longitudinally each alternate strip '20 and 21, said strips being otherwise identical in form.

Series C comprises two identically formed,

parallel strips 22 and 23 having the same formation as the strips'lt and 15 of series A, althoughso arranged that the notches 2 1 thereof are located along the lower margin of the Strips and face downwardly. 'I hese strips are also arranged so that the corresponding or transversely alined notches are disposed in reversed relation, in the same manner as described in connection with said strips 14 and 15, namely, the perpendicular edges 25 and inclined edges 26 are located on opposite sides of a vertical plane passing through the apex of each notch.

With the several strips formed and arranged as hereinbefore described, the manner in which the same are assembled to form the completed partition member will be understood from the following. Referring to Fig. 2, let it be assumed that the strips 1 1 and 15 of series A are first supported in the positions shown, and that the strips 20 and 21 of series B are allowed to drop'or be moved downwardly, following the dotted lines. In this manner, the notches 16, 16 at the end of the strips 20, 21 will enter and engage the notches 10, 10, the strips coming to rest with the upper and lower margins thereof lying in substantially the same horizontal planes, as shown in Fig. 1. Considering now more in detail the nature of the locking engagement between the strips of series A and a single strip 20 of series B (for instance, the

left-hand strip 20 in Figs. 1 and 2), it will be noted that the perpendicular edges 11 of the notches 10, 10 of strips 14: and 15 contact with the strip 20- at the opposite ends thereof, and likewise on opposite sides or faces of the strip, thus providing lateral support on both sides of said strip 20, serving to maintain the same in a vertical and upright position. With a single strip 20 of series B in position,'it is clear that the strips 1 1 and- 15 of series A are not stable, inasmuch as the V-shape of the notches permits the latter to tilt to the left, or toward the inclined edges of the notches 16 of the strip 20. But upon the addition of the next strip 21, a rigid structure is formed, for the reason that the perpendicular edges 18 of the notches 16 thereof contact with the opposite surface of the strips 14 and 15 from that in contact with the perpendicular edgesl8 of the strip 20, hence the strips 14 and 15 are now restrained from tilting toward the left or inclined edge of notch 16 of strip 20, and thus are held in upright position. And so, upon the addition of the other strips 20 and 21,

the strips 14. and 15 are further supported by perpendicular edges on opposite sides therestructure. The addition of the strips 22 and 23 of series C, however, makes an even more rigid structure, as Wlll presently be seen.

Now assuming that the strips 22 and 23 are lowered along the dotted lines of Fig. 2 until they engage the strips of series B, that is, until the notches 24E of said strips 22 and 23 enter and are engaged by corresponding notches 17 of the strips 20 and 21. By the addition of strips 22 and 23 two distinct re sults are forthcoming. In the first place, the

notches 24 0f the strips 22 and 23 being re-.

versed, the perpendicular edges of each two corresponding notches will engage opposite sides of each strip 20 and 21, thus serving to maintain said strips 20 and 21 in parallel and upright position; In the second place, the strips 20 and 21 perform a reciprocal function with respect to the strips 22 and 23, in that the transversely alined notches 17, 17 being alternately reversed, with respect to the disposition of the perpendicular edges thereof, the said strips 22 and 23 are supported and maintained in upright position and incapable of lateral or tilting movement.

Considering, generally, the relation which exists between the strips 14 and 15 of series A and strips 22 and 23 of series C, it is to be noted that these several parallel strips when assembled are not only-arranged in parallel relation, but that the corresponding transversely alined notches of said strips are disposed in alternately reversed relation, thereby positioning a perpendicular edge alternately on opposite sides of each strip of s..- ries B, in exactly the same manner that the notches of series B are alternately reversed to support each strip of series A and C, as hereinbefore described.

To summarize briefly, what appears to be the paramount result, accomplished by the structure and arrangement of the several strips as herein described, isthe production of a crate or separator made entirely of strips having V-shaped notches, which interlock at the points of intersection, and each and every strip supported in uprightposition by at least two perpendicular edges of the notches in contact therewith throughout struction of crate are primarily associated with the manufacture and production of such devlces, and more particularly with a method of cuttingor'forming the strips or units of a complete crate whereby a material reduction in the cost of production is obtained This result is secured, first, by utilizing a form of notch which is far superior and more practical, from the standpoint of manufacture, to the ordinary narrow, parallel edged form of notch, and, secondly, by employing a method of assembling the strips so that the apparent unstability and lack of rigidity, that would seem to follow from the use of the V-shaped notch, is. successfully avoided. It follows, therefore, that the crate embodying the features of the invention takes to itself all the advantages of stability and rigidity that must necessarily accompany the use of narrow form of notch, at the same time eliminating the disadvantages which accompany the cutting or forming-of said narrow form of notch.

Obviously the simplest form of crate that can be constructed, embodying the arrangement of the strips, and notches as herein described, is one comprising two transversely arrangedseries of at least two strips each. This simple form of crate can clearly be elaborated, by multiplying the number of series or. the number ofstrips in Veachseries, without departing from the principle herein disclosed. For this reason it is not intended to limit the scope of'the invention tothe particular form of device llGI'Gll'l described and illustrated, exceptin sofar as expressly, limited by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A partition member for containers, embracing '-a set of two fiat partition strips having V-shaped notches opening through one of the longitudinal edges of said strips, a second. set of two flat partition strips extending between the strips of said first set and having V- shaped notches opening through one, of the longitudinal edges of said strips and adapted to have interlocking engagement with the notches in the strips of said first set, each notch in each strip having one edge perpendicular to the edge of the strip through which: said notch opens, and

one strip of each set being arranged in a position reverse to the other strip of the same set so that the perpendicular edges of the notches of the strips in each set face in Copies of this. patent may be obtained for transverse to the strips of saidfirst set, and

a thirdset of fiat partition strips arranged transverse tothe strips of said second set, each of said strips'having V-shapednotches opening through oneof the longitudinal edges thereof and adapted toflhave interlocking engagement with the notches of the strips arranged transverse to said strips, each notch having one edge perpendicular to the edge of the strip through which said notch opens, and one strip of each set being arranged in a position reverse to another strip of the same set so that the perpcndicular edges of the notches. of said strips face in opposite directions and engage the strips arranged transverse thereto on opposite sides thereof.

3. A partition member for containers, embracing a set of partition strips having V- shaped notches opening upward through the. upper longitudinal edges of said strips, asecond set of partition strips arranged transverse to the strips of said first set and having V-shaped notches opening downward through the lower longitudinal edges of said strips and adapted to have interlocking engagement with the notches of the strips of said first set; the strips of said second set having additional V-shaped notches opening upward through the upper longitudinal edges of said strips, a third set of strips arranged transverse to the strips of said second set and having V-shaped notches opening downward through the lower longitudinal edges of said strips and adapted to have interlocking engagement with the upwardly opening notches in the strips of said second set, each notch in each strip having onejedgc arranged perpendicular to the edge of the strip through which the notch opens, and at least one strip of each set being arranged in a positionreverse tothat of another strip in the same set so that the perpendicular-edges five cents each, by addressingthe fiommissioner of latents. Washington, 1 G3. V

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