US1447698A

US1447698A - Collapsible crate

Info

Publication number: US1447698A
Application number: US555062A
Authority: US
Inventors: Chester E Tuell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1922-04-18
Filing date: 1922-04-18
Publication date: 1923-03-06
Anticipated expiration: 1940-03-06

Description

Mar. 6, 1923.

C. E. TUELL COLLAPS IBLE CRATE Filezi Apr. 18, 1922 Patented ar. 6, 1923.

' connsrsrrstn onh trn.

Application filedflpril'l, 1923. Serial No. '555 ,i52

To all whom it may concern:

' Be it known that Crms'rnn 'TUELL, citi- Zen of theYUnited istatesyresiding at Wash ingtomfin gthe District of Columbia, has in vented certain new and useful Improve ments in G011 apsib following is a specification.

f llihis specification l1as, reierence to a fold-v ing crate, a-ndmore specially relates toa crate suitable" for shipping. chickens and the like. J

1 (inc important object of the invention is to improve the generalconstruction oi devices of this character.

A second"importantobject of'the inventionisto provide a novel arrangement of dowel pins and sockets for hold ng the top or the crate in position both when the crate in its set up position.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the crate collapsed.

Figure 3 is a detail section showingthe corner arrangement in this crate.

Figure 4 is a detail section showing the dowel pin arrangement with the crate set up.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4i with the crate collapsed.

In the construction of this invention there is provided abott-om 10 at each corner of which is mounted a hinge plate which consists of a strip of metal split to provide a pair of legs 11, the metal beyond the split portion being indicated at 12 and bentback upon the legs. The legs are then bent to eX- tend away from this portion and the portion 12 is also bent so that one leg extends at right angles to the other. This portion 12 is provided with lower opening 13 and an upper opening 14. The lower opening 13 receives the reduced end 15 of lower side frame members 16 which are connected to the upper side frame members 17 by slats 18. The

1e Crates; of which the.

upper" Openings ceive the reduced end 19 of lower end frame members 20 which' are connected to upper framemembers 21,; slats 22. vVit-H'this construction t'he1;sides fan told do wnon thefbottom 10 and the ends can then fold down on the: end portions oi said l-sides. In the tops of the menjbers' 21 are iorineddowel pin sockets 23 andcor respoi'idingly placedsockets 24: are termed in the outside spaceof each member 20 Likewise the members 17 are provided with dowel pin sockets 25 in their top spaces.

*The top of this crate consistsfof a"'r ec-. ta ngn-lar tramle' having side frame: members 26 and end frame members 27. From the under side of these members dowel pinsj28 project, downwardly so as to enter the open ings and 25' when the crateVisset up or the openings 24: when the crate is collapsed.

Between the end members 27 extend intermediate .men'ibers 29 and secured to these in= terniediate members; adjacent .eachend are clips 30 which engage in notches 31 of the members 2lwhen the crate is set up or in notches 32. whenthe crate is collapsed. At each corner of the .top is a corner brace '33 which depends from the topaso asto engage the corners of the side and end frames both when the crate is set up and when it is co]- lapsed.

When the crate is set up the top is placed in the position showing Figure 1, and, in the position showing in Figure 1. and, owing to the dowel pins and corner and end frames against accidental collapsing. In like manner when the crate is collapsed the top with its dowelpinsy'clips and corner-braces will hold the parts together in such manner as to prevent breakage during shipment.

There has thus been provided a simple and eiiicient device of the kind described and v tor the purposes specified.

It is obvious that minor changes may be made in the form and construction of the invention without departing from the material principles thereof. It is nottherefore desired to confine the invention to the exact form herein shown and described, but it is wished to include all such as properly come within the scope claimed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new. is

1. In a folding crate, a bottom, side frame members hinged at. their bottom portions to the crate bottom and foldable inward thereon, end frame members hinged at their bottom portions to the ends of said bottom and foldable on the side frame members, said end frame members having dowel pin sockets in their top edges and correspondingly v placed dowel pin sockets in their outer faces bottom portions to the ends of said bottom and foldable on the side frame members, said end frame members having dowel pin sockets in their top edges and correspondingly placed dowel pin sockets in their outer faces adj acenttheir bottom edges, a top having depending dowel pins at its ends arranged to enter the sockets on the edgesof the crate ends when the crate is set up and to enter the sockets on the outer faces of said ends when the crate is collapsed, and clips carried by said top and engaged in the ends in both set up and collapsed positions whereby to.

hold the top securely on the remainder of the crate in either of said positions.

3. In a folding crate, a bottom, side frame members hinged at their bottom portions to the crate bottom and foldable inward there on, and frame members hinged at their bottom portions to the ends of said bottom and foldable on the side frame members, said end frame members having dowel pin sockets in their top edges and correspondingly placed dowel pin sockets in their outer faces adjacent their bottom edges, a top having depending dowel pins at its ends arranged to enter the sockets on the edges of the crate ends when the crate is set up and to enter the sockets on the outer faces of said ends when the crate is collapsed, clips carried by said top and engaged in the ends in both set up and collapsed positions whereby'to hold the top securely on the remainder of the crate in either of said positions, and corner plates depending from the-corners of said top and engaging the ends and sides of the crate in both set up and collapsed positions.

4. In a collapsible crate, a bottom, a hinge plate at eachcorner ofsaid bottom consisting of abody having two portions disposed at right angles'to each other and legs extending from said body portion along the edge portions of the ends and sides of the bottom and being secured thereto, said body having openings in the two portions thereof, crate sides having lower members provided with reduced endseach fitting an opening in y a respective hinge plate, crate ends having lower members provided with reduced ends each fitting a second opening in a respective hinge plate, and a top detachably connected to said ends and sides.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

CHESTER E. TUELL.