US1563356A - Collapsible crate - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 1', 1925. v, 1,563,356

C. M. FRANKLIN COLLAPSIBL-E CRATE Filed Oct. 3, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 v r ==rd ATTORNEY WITNESS: z i;

C. M. FRANKLIN COLLAPSIBLE CRATE Dec. 1 1925' Filed Oct. 3, 19-24 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY WITNESS;

Dec. 1 1925- c. M. FRANKLIN COLLAPSIBLE CRATE Filed Oct. 3, 1924 4 sheets-sheet s :ITT FIT O O O O INVENTOR wrrmsss AT'rqnsY Dec. 1 1925 C. M. FRANKLIN COLLAPS I BLE CRATE Filed Oct. 5, 192 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 1, 1925.

UNITED STATES CHARLEY MELLVILL FRANKLIN, F GRISWOLD, IOWA.

coLLArsIBLE CRATE.

Application filed October 3, 1924. Serial No. 731,483.

residing at Griswold, in the county of Cass and State of Iowa, have invented new and useful Improvements in Collapsible Crates,

of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to collapsible or knock-down crates and its principal object is to provide a crate of this character which when in knocked-down position will take up a minimum space and when set up for use will be rigid and durable.

A further object of the invention is to provide a knock-down crate for shipping which can be quickly set up for use or knocked down and stored in a comparatively small space.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a knocked down shipping crate which embodies a plurality of sections one of which is vertically movable and certain of which are'hinged and arranged in operative position to support the vertically movable section in rigid position for use. hen the crate is in knocked down position the vertically movable section will overlie the hinged sections and all of the same against accidental movement.

lVith the preceding and other objects and advantages in mind the invention consists of the novel combination of elements, construction and arrangement of parts and operation to be hereinafter specifically referred to, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the crate in a collapsed position;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same;

Figure 3 is an end elevation of the crate knocked down;

Figure 4 is a similar view showing the crate set up for use;

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view of the crate set up for use;

Figure 6 is a top plan view of the crate set up for use;

Figure 7 is a side elevation taken at right angle to Figure 4;

Figure 8 is a perspective of the vertically movable top section of the crate;

Figure 9 is a perspective of parts of the crate.

Referring to the drawings in detail wherein corresponding characters of refer- .ence denotes the corresponding parts of the several views the numeral 5 designates the bottom section of my improved crate while 6 designates a top or upper section.

Side walls or sections 7 are hingedly connected as at 8 to the bottom section 5 and when in use are arranged in the positions shown in Figures 4, 5 and 9, and when collapsed lie parallel to the bottom section as shown particularly in Figure 3.

Secured to the bottom section 5 at opposite sides thereof and at points outwardly from the adjacent hinged sections 7 are pairs of vertically extending posts 8 each of which is provided with a hinged joint 9 adjacent their lower ends. The longitudinal edges of the top sections 6 are provided with recesses 10 which slidably receive the vertically arranged posts 8. Straps 11 are secured to the longitudinal edges of the section 5 and bridge the recesses and serve to hold the strap sections against lateral shifting. Stops 12 are carried by the upper ends of the posts 8 and adapted to be engaged by the straps 11 to limit the upward movement of the top section 6 when arranging with same in operative position. Shoulders 13 are also formed upon the inner faces of these posts which accommodate themselves in inclined recesses l t in the adjacent or hinged sections 7 and engaged beneath the edges of the top sections 6 toassist in supporting the same in rigid position. Pairs of spaced feet 16 are secured to the upper face of the sections 6 and extend transversely across the same. The cleats of each pair are disposed at opposite sides of the recesses 10 and accommodate the posts 8 when the latter are arranged in a horizontal position as shown in Figure 2. In order to hold the posts in position between the pairs of cleats latch elements 18 are provided to engage the free ends of the posts as shown in Figure 1.

The top section 6 is provided with a 1ongitudinal extended door opening 19 which is normally closed by a slide 20 received in guides 21 at the opposite ends of the top sect-ion and against longitudinal displacement by detachable fastenings 22. A partition wall 23 is provided for the crate and has its far edge pivoted as at 24 to bring about a horizontal axis to permit that this division wall be arranged in a horizontal position upon the section 5 when the crate is collapsed.

In order to hold the hinged sections 7 carried by this section.

which extend parallel to the division wall 23 in Vertical position hasps 26 are pivoted to opposite ends of the section 5 and engageable in eyes 27 carried by these sections 7. When these hasps 26 are in inoperative position the free ends thereof are engaged behind vertical shafts 28 on the section 5 and are engageable with hook elements 27 carried by the upperends of these sections 7 and in the eyes 28 carried by the opposite end of the top section 6. With the hooks 2'7 and eyes 2-8 in the manner shown in Figure 4: these hinged end sections 7 will be held in vertical position. Vhen the hasps 26 are not in use they are arranged to extend along the sides of the outer edges of the bottom section 5 with their free ends engaged behind vertical shafts 29 From the disclosure it will be observed that when it is necessary to set up the crate the top section (3 is raised vertically on the posts 8 and the sections 7 swung to a vertical position and engaged below the edges of the section (3. In collapsing the structure the end walls are first swung inwardly to overlie the bottom section 5 and the top section 6 allowed to move downwardly to rest upon the sections 7. The posts 8 are then swung to a horizontal position to engage between the pairs of cleats 16 where they are locked against movement by means of the pivoted latch element 18, thus all the parts are rigidly held together and the entire assembly packed or stored in a small space.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of the invention it should be understood that changes in the arran ement of parts may be made and that I am only limited by the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. A knocked down crate comprising a bottom section, hinged. sections carried by the bottom section and capable of being arranged in a horizontal or vertical position, a top section, guides carried thereby, hinged posts carried by the bottom section and slidably received in the guides, the posts being adapted to be arranged in a horizontal position on the top section when the crate is collapsed, and latch elements engageable with the posts when the latter are arranged in such position whereby to hold. all the parts against movement with respect to each other.

2. A knocked down crate comprising a bottom section, hinged sections carried thereby capable of being folded upon the bottom section wnen not in use, hinged posts carried by the bottom section and adapted to be arranged either in a vertical or horizontal position, a top section carried thereby and slidably receiving the posts and pairs of cleats on the top section each pair of which being adapted to receive one of the posts therebetween when the latter are arranged in a horizontalposition and latch elements carried by the sections and en 'ageable with the posts to hold the same in position. y

In testimony whereof I ailix my signa ture.

CHARLEY MELLVILL FRANKLIN,

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