US1452404A - Folding crate - Google Patents

Description

Apr. 17, 1923. 1,452,404

B. s. ALLEN FOLDING CRATE Filed June 24, 1920 9 6 I g 0 I2 7 ,3. A i/ip/L Patented Apr. 17, 1923.

v UNITED STATES- PATENT-creme.

BROADUS s. ALLEN, or eArFNnY, SOUTH CAROLINA, 'assrenon, BY MESNE ASSIGN- 'MENTS, To MAY B. LIrsooMB.

Cat

FOLDING CRATE.

AppIication filed June 24, 1920. serial No. 391,300..

To all whom it may concern: W

Be it known that I, BRoADUs S. ALLE a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Gaffney, in the county of, Cherokee and State of South. Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements m a Folding Crate, of which'the followingis a specification. j v a This invention relates to shipping crates of the folding or collapsible type. I

The object of the invention is to provide a simply constructed, cheap and efficient crate of this character which will occupy a minimum amountof space'when collapsed and which may be quickly set up and collapsed when desired.

With this and other objects in v1ew,the invention consists in certain novel features of construction as hereinafter shown and described and then specifically pointed out in the claim hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of the crate constituting this inventlon shown in setup operative position.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the crate in setup position. i

Fig. 3 is a similar view of the crate in collapsed position, and, j

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of-the crate in collapsed position.

In the embodiment illustrated the crate constituting this invention comprises a base or bottom member 1 preferably rectangular in configuration and having fixed side members 2 and 3 secured to the outer side edges thereof the side member 2 being about twice as wide more or less, as the member 3 for a purpose presently to be described. Hinged to these fixed side members 2 and 3 are fdldable side members 4 and 5, the member 5 which is wider than the member 4 being.

wardly and to hold them in vertical posi- 7 tion when opened up and prevent them with the end members and hold the bined hinged and fixed' side members the difference, 1n height being equal to the thickness of the top members 8 and 9 which are hinged to the upper edges of the side members 4 and 5f and are adapted to fold betweenthe upper edges of the end members 6 and 7 when the crate is in closed operative position. (See Fig. 1.)

The end members 6 and 7 are provided in their upper; edges with cutout portions or I from opening outwardly beyondsuch posirecesses 10 which are here shown formed midwaythe width of said end members and are designed to receive longitudinally eX- tending tongues 11 carried by the free edges of the top members 8 and 9 the two tongues 11 being of a width to correspond to the.

length of the recess 10 and fitting snugly therein as is shown clearly in Figs. 1 and 2 so that when the crate isin setup position these tongues will be interlockingly engaged parts in operatlve position. i

Sliding latches or pins 12 are preferably carried by the ends 6 and 7 and are adapted of these pins is mounted adjacent each end of each recess and are designed to enter sockets or bores 14 formed in the tongues 11 opposite the grooves or seats in the ends in which said pins are mounted. These pins are preferably provided with curved heads 15 which are adapted to be turned down into seats 16 r so as to prevent the pins from slipping out after having been placed in position for locking the tops 8 and 9 in operative position.

The hinged side member 5 is preferably provided with an eye 17 to receive a hook 18 carried by the other side member 4 when the crate is in collapsed position for locking the parts in this position.

In the use of this crate the parts being in I setup operative position as shown inv Fig. 1 whenit is desired to collapse it for shipment or other purposes'the top members 8 and 9 are raised sufiiciently to release the tongues 11 from the recesses 10 and the end members 6 and 7 are then folded downwardly and inwardly flat against the base member 1. The

85 to project into the recesses 10 thereof. One

tops 8 and 9 are then folded inwardly flat against the inner faces of the side members 4; and 5 and the side member 5 carrying the top 9 is folded down over the end members 6 and 7 as is shown clearly in Fig. 3. The

other side member 4 carrying the folded top 8 is then folded inwardly until said top 8 rests on the outer face of the side member 5. When the parts are in this position the crate will be collapsed and will be held in this position by the engagement of the hook 1'8 with the eye 17 above described.

It will thus be obvious that making the fixed side members 2 and 3 of different heights the "fold of the top and side members may be compactly effected. as is shown clearly in Fig". .1.

The preferred embodiment of the inven tion is disclosed in the drawings and. set forth in the specification, but it will be understood that any modifications within the scope of the claim may be made in the construction without departing from the principle of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

\Vhat I claim is A crate'c'om'prising a foldable body having recessed end walls, said recesses opening through the top edges of said walls, a sectional top carried by the body, supporting tongues on the opposite ends of each section of the top and adapted to be seated in said recesses when the top is closed and the body set up, and oppositely disposed manually operable fasteners concealed within each of the end walls and slidable through the side walls of the recesses to engage and lock in the adjacent tongues at one end of the top sections when seatedin the recesses, thereby fastening the said sections ofthe top closed.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature hereto.

BROADUS s. ALLEN.

Images