US1324313A

US1324313A - Folding crate

Info

Publication number: US1324313A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1919-12-09
Anticipated expiration: 1936-12-09

Description

E. B. JOHNSTON.

mums cam. APPLICATION FILED .|AN.22- I917.

1,324,313. Patented Dec. 9,1919.

. EUGENE B. JonNsro or GLENHOPE, PENNSYLVANIA.

FOLDING CRAfIEi.

Specification of Letters Patent;

Patented Dec. 9, 1919.

Application filed January 22, 1917. Serial No. 143,794.

tainer particularly designed for use in shipping fruit and other perishable goods that must be carefully crated while being shipped.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a folding crate'which consists of comparatively few parts and is simple in construction, but durable and well adapted to withstand the rough usage to which devices of this character are ordinarily subjected.

For a full description of the invention and the advantages and merits thereof, reference is to be had to the following descrip tion and the accompanying drawings, wherein is illustrated the preferredform of my invention, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation showing the crate in open position.

Fig. 2 is a plan showing the crate tion just before folding.

Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of one of the locking plates.

Referring to the drawing, wherein is illustrated the preferred form of my invention, and in which like numerals of reference inin posidicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the'bottom 1 comprises a substantially rectangular frame 2 to which the ends of the bars 3 are attached. The bars 3 are arranged in spaced relation to permit suflicient space for providing plenty of ventilation for the contents of the crate.

Attached to each end of the two outermost slats of each side wall 4: is a locking plate 11 and this plate is provided with an arcuate slot 12. In addition to being arcuate, this slot is tapered so that its small end is disposed adjacent one corner of the plate 11 while its opposite wide terminal is disposed adjacent the center-of the plate. The slot, therefore, is relatively large at the center of the plate and is curved and tapered toward one corner of the plate as shown to advantage in Fig. 6 of the drawing. This structure permits the bill of the hook 13 to be inserted in the large end of the slot so that when the side walls are moved into upright position the hook may be received in the small end near the corner of the plate to prevent casual displacement and to hold the side walls in their operative positions. The lower edge of the outer slat in each end wall is provided with a hook 13 at each end. The hooks 13 are adapted to register with the arcuate slots in the corresponding plate when the side walls are raised to operative position as clearly shown by Fig. 1 of the draw ing. When the walls are swung to upright position, the ends of the hooks 13 may extend through the wide portions of the arouate tapered slots 12 and the hooks then thrust upwardly into the narrow end of the slot so that the bill of the hooks will engage the backs of the plates. Particular advantage is found in this construction of the method of fastening the sides together, inasmuch as it is unnecessary to empty the crate before taking down the side walls. By virtue of the curved slots the hooks may be forced inwardly and slightly downwardly to cause the bill of the hook to be removed from engagement with the plate. When this is done in all four corners of the crate, the sides and ends will immediately dro and the contents of the crate be thereby e ected whereupon the crate may be quickly folded.

From the foregoing it will be observed that a very simple and durable folding crate has been provided, the details of which embody the prefered form. I desire it to be understood however, that slight changes in the minor details of construction maybe made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claim hereunto appended.

I claim:

A crate comprising a bottom having hinged side and end walls each end of each side wall being equipped with a plate having an arcuate tapered slot extending across the plate and terminating near one of the corners thereof, hooks carried by the ends lar e ends of the slots in the plate when the ally displaced from engagement with the Wal s are elevated to upright position, the' backs of the plates. 10 said hooks being adapted for movement In testimony whereof I aflix my signature through the slots to maintain the bills of the in presence of tWo witnesses.

: hooks in engagement with the backs of the EUGENE B. JOHNSTON.

plates, the said restricted ends of the slots Witnesses: 1 maintaining the said hooks inoperative posi- S. M. JOHNSTON, tion whereby the said bills can not be casu- P. C. GATES.