US1626009A

US1626009A - Folding crate

Info

Publication number: US1626009A
Application number: US744966A
Authority: US
Inventors: Timothy J Murray
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1924-10-21
Filing date: 1924-10-21
Publication date: 1927-04-26
Anticipated expiration: 1944-04-26

Description

April 26, 1927. 1,626,009

T. J. MURRAY FOLDING CRATE Filed Oct. 2l. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet l F" EJE f a :z/ 4;

.1f f j? 40 /4 4/ fa- J' 4/ i /Z zo Y a f7 3 a, /Z 2 .f4 7 i J4' if I L u J/ E 'L E April 26, 1927. f 1,626,009

T. J. MURRAY FOLDI NG CRATE Filed Oct. 2l, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 26, 1.927.

UNITED STATES TIMOTHY J. MURRAY, QF COVINGTON, TNDIANA.

FOLDING QRATE.

Application led October 21,1924. Serial No. 744,966.

This invention relates to improvements in collapsible crates or boxes.

The primary object of this invention is the provision of a collapsible receptacle, embodying relatively simple and readily detachable means to permit the collapsing of 'the receptacle into compact relation.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a crate or receptacle, formed of very durable material, which may be easily and compactly collapsed or extended, and the parts of which are of such nature that they may be interchanged with other parts, and salvaged in so far as worn out parts of the receptacles are concerned, and used in connection with other parts.

A further object of this invention is the provision ofa preferably reticulate collapsible crate, which includes arts which are readily detachable to permit a crate to be extended or collapsed, and which does not embody any loops, hooks, or overhanging eyes, such as conventionally provided; the parts of the improved crate being made out of metal materials, and being free of Wooden arts.

p A further object of this invention is the provision of a sanitary receptacle, the parts of which are standardized and interchangeable.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an improved crate or receptacle, constructed after the principle of this invention, showing the walls thereof in connected relation, with the top open.

Figure 2 is a perspective'view of the crate illustrated in Figure 1, with the top closed.

Figures 3 and 4 are views showing different collapsed positions of the crate, by means of which all of the walls of the crate may he in connected relation,- yet collapsed, to permit a multiplicity of the crates to be shipped in the compact relation shown.

Figure 5 is an inside perspective vieW of a lower corner of the receptacle or crate.

Figure 6 is an upper inside fragmentary view of the receptacle and the means by which the upper corner Wall portions thereof are connected.

Figure 7 is a perspective view showing the manner in which a partition may be used in an elongated crate constructed after the princple of this invention, and

Figure 8 is a perspective view of an Lipper corner of a crate, showing the manner in which the walls of the crate may be connected in novel manner.

ln the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown only a preferred elnbodiment of the invention, the letter A may generally designate a crate, which may comprlse a bottom wall 10; side walls 11 and l2; rear wall 13; front wall 14; and hinged top 15. The receptacle A, as shown is about square 1n formation, although the same may be rectangular, or of any formation known. Each of the walls and the top and bottom of the receptacle A include a rectangular wire frame 20, With intersecting transverse wires 2l and 22 in the opening of each of the frames 20, of any deslred mesh.

Referring to the manner of connecting the various walls and top and bottom of the receptacle A together, it is to be noted that side bars of adjacent frames are preferably in abutting parallel relation, and such parallel adjacent bars are connected in hinged relation, by means of spiral coils, preferably of wire, which connect the adjacent ends of the walls in firm relation, so that they may be relatively moved in hinged manner.

Specifically, the bottom 10 of the receptacle A is connected at the bar portions of the frames 20 thereof to the adjacent bar portions of the frame of the side walls 11 and 12 and the rear and front walls 13 and lil by means of

spiral coils

25, 26, 27 and 28 respectively. These coils 25 to 28 respectively are individual units, and are threaded onto the bar portions of the Vframes 20 of the respective walls as shown, and the ends of each of these coils are looped in a complete ring 30, about the two bars of the 12 and 13 of the crate, by the

springs

26 and 27, so that the rings 3021 at the ends ot the

coils

26 and 27 terminate just short of the corner formed by the juncture ot' the

walls

10, 12 and 13, to prevent accidental removal ot' the hinging coils of the frames which they secure. It can readily be understood in what manner these spiral coils are placed to secure the various walls of the crate together, since they are merely threaded on the frame bars of the walls trom-a corner of the crate, weaving between' the y

transverse bars

21 and 22 ot each wall, and

snugly receiving the parallel bars in the passageway through the coils, to permit hinging ot the walls when it is necessary to collapse the crate.

The adjacent vertical bars of the frames of the side, front, and rear walls are similarly connected by spiral coils. `The side wall 11 has the vertical side bars of the frame 2O thereof connected respectively to the adjacent vertical bars of the frame 2O of the rear wall 13 and front wall 14, by means of

spiral coil members

30 and 31. ln like manner the vertical bar portions of the frame 20 of the other side wall 12 has the adjacent bar portions of the frames 2O of the rear and

front walls

13 and 14 of the receptacle A connected thereto, by means of

spiral coil members

33 and 34. The vertically disposed

coil members

30, 31, 33 and 34 are threaded upon the parallel bar portions ot the frames which each of the same connect, from a corner of the crate formed' by the juncture of three walls, and so that the ends of the vertically disposed coil members extend outwardly of the margins ot' the trames of said walls. This is so that the ends of said coils may be bent about the trame portions of the bottom and top walls, to more readily secure the walls of the crate together. Thus, as is illustrated in Figure 5 of the drawings, the lower end 37 of the vertical coil 33 is extended below the vertical margins of the trames 20 of the

walls

12 and 13, about the frames 2O of the bottom wall 10, and is bent to the inside of the crate at the juncture of the

walls

10, 12 and 13. As is shown in Figure 1 of the drawings the upper ends 39 of the

coils

31 and 34, at the front wall portion are extended above the top bar of the frame 2O of the front and

side walls

10, 11 and 12, in order that these ends 39 may be bent about the frame portion 20 of the top 15 when the latter is closed on the receptacle A.

The closure or top 15 is hingedly connected to the -ltop bar of the frame 2O of the rear wall 13, by means of a spiral coil member 40, and which coil member 40 at its ends terminates short ot the side walls, with the ends thereof riug.clamped at 41, about the parallel bars ot' the rear wall 13 and to wall 15, to permit the unimpeded hingeil movement ot the top upon the back wall. The upper ends 39 of the

vertical coils

30 and 33 are twisted over the frame portion ot the top wall 15. as shown in Figure l of the drawings, and as is illustrated in the fragmentary view of Figure 6 of the upper corner ot the crate A, formed by the juncture of the

walls

12, 13 and the top 15. It is to be noted that this end 39 is twisted in ring shape about the iframes ot the

walls

13 and 14, to permit the unhampered hinged movement of the top 15 upon the wall 13.

As is illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings, the side bar and front bar portions of the frame 20ct the top 15 are connected to the

walls

10, 11 and 12 by means of the side coils 45 and 467 and the front coil 47 rcspectively. The ends of these

coils

45, 46 and 47 are ring clamped at 48 about the bars of the frames which they receive therethrough.

From the foregoing discussion of this invention with respect to the crate A, it is readily apparent that coil members may be threaded over the frame bars of adjacent wa'lls, to connect said adjacent walls in a durable relation, without loose play, and when all of these coils are in place to connect the walls, the crate provides a very durable st-ructure. Spiral members are of strong material, and although they may be flexible, they are amply sufficient to connect the frames of the walls in a durable and stable relation. The spring units may be individually disconnected merely twisting the ring clamps to unwind the ends thereof, or by cutting the same loose, and the spiral coils may then be rotatably moved and unthreaded to disconnect the bar portions of adjacent walls. n this manner defective parts of the crate may be readily removed, and the crate may be readily collapsed for any number of times, so that it makes an article particularly desirable for use in the shipping of various commodities.

The arrangement of walls may be different from that illustrated, and if desired the top may be omitted :trom the crate, as when shipping dry measured materials.

in lieu of the end connections of the iudividual coils, meeting a't the corners of the crate, as shown and described, the. means of connection illustrated in Figure 8 may be used, which contemplates the twisting ot' the ends 50 and 51 ot the horizontal coils 52 and 53 with the end 54 ot a vertical coil 55; the latter coil being of course twisted about the horizontal frame ot' an adjacent horizontal wall, according to the principle of the inilO vention ab'ove described. The twisted connection 56 thus formed by the

ends

50, 51 and 54 of the coils shown is bent to a side of the crate, or within the same, as desired. In

order to release any of the coil units it isl merely necessary to clip off the twisted portion 56 of the coils, or to untwist the same, as preferred.

In Figures 3 and 4 are shown two means of collapsing the crate. According to the method illustrated in Figure 3, the

coil connecting members

25, 26, 27 and 28 of the bars of the frame portion 20 of the bottom wall 10 remain in place connected with the side Walls 11 and 12 and the rear and

front walls

13 and 14 respectively, as shown in the drawings. The top wall or closure 15 remains connected with the outer bar portion of the frame of the rear wall 13, by means of coil 40, and all other connecting coils are removed, to permit the positioning of all of the walls of the cra'te in the same plane, so that a plurality of the crates collapsed in such relation may be piled one upon the other and shipped in compact space. Of course, the other coils necessary to connect the vertical bar portions of the side, rear and front Walls, and the top wall therewith,l

are supplied.

As to the method of collapsing shown in Figure 4, the

vertical coils

30, 31, 33 and 34 connecting the side walls 11 and 12 and the rear and

front walls

13 and 14, rema'in in place. The coil 40 remains in place to connect the top 15 to the rear wall 13, and also the coil 28 remains in place to connect the bottom wall 10 to the front wall 14. All other coils are removed from the crate, and the crate can then be laterally collapsed with the side wall 11 overlying the rear Wall 13, and the front Wall 14 overlying the side wall 12. The top and bottom 15 and 10 respectively extend outwardly from the walls with which they are above mentioned as being connected, and in this position the walls of the crate may be folded into substantially the same` compact plane, and any number of the crates may be piled in the position shown, for folded shipping purposes.

'In Figure 7 is shown a somewhat modified form of crate which illustrates the manner in which a partition wall 60 may be interposed in the compartment of the crate B, to subdivide the same into two compartments. This crate B may be said to consist o f-a bottom 61; end

Walls

62 and 63; rear wall 64; front wall 65; and top 66 hingedly connected to the reticulate frame portion of the rear wall 64. The partition Wall 60 is of the structure above mentioned for the walls of the crate A, comprising a substantially rectangular frame with interwoven or meshing cross pieces. It is placed in the pocket or compartment of the crate B midway between the end Walls-62 and 63, and

parallel therewith, having Ithe vertical bar portions of the frame thereof connected with the rear and front walls 64 and 65 respecf tively, bymeans of

spiral coil members

68 and 69,' in the manner above described for the crate A and so that the upper and lower ends 70 and 71

ofthe coil members

68 and 69 are twisted about the frame portions of the bars of the top and bottom Walls of the crate' B. In the preferred instance the bottom coil 74 is also provided for connecting the lower bar of the frame of the partition wall 6() to the frame of the bottom.wall 61 of the crate; the ends of this coil 74 being twisted in ring shaped formationabout the frames of the walls 60 and 61 only. The

longitudinal top and bottom bars of the frames of the front and rear walls 64 and 65, are relatively long, and it is preferred that a pair of the coils be used for c'onnecting each bar portion. Thus, for instance, the

coils

80 and 81 may be used fonconnecting the closure 66 to the rear wall 64; onefof each of these coils being used at each side of the plane of the partition wall 60; and the ends of these

coils

80 and 81 beingclamped in ring shaped formation about the frame of the walls 64 and 66 only.

From the foregoing discription of this invention it is apparent that a novel type of crate has been provided, which merely includes walls which are of the same formation, and a single type of connecting member in the form of a spiral coil. The coils are individually provided for connecting the edge abutments of adjacent walls, and the spiral coils are threaded about the reticulate framework forming-thev Walls, and at their ends are clamped to the framework in any preferred relation to secure the same against accidental detachment. The collapsing or extension of the crates may be readily accomplished, and when extended in the position for receiving commodities a durable and stable crate is provided, free of cumbersome or, projecting parts. The crosspieces of the walls may be woven, Welded or soldered together, or in fact the Walls may be made of any approved material, just so the frame portions thereof are sufiicient to permit the threading of the coils for securing the walls as described. The low cost of production of the crate is apparent.

It will of course be understood that the connecting members are of such material as to inherently retain their coil shape Whether attached or detached from the walls.

Various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be made to the form of the invention herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of this mvention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. As an article of manufacture a collapsible crate comprising a bottom, side Walls, a

ront Wall, and rear wall, and inherently shaped spiral coil members threaded through the adjacent ed e portions of said Walls and bottom to rigi ly connect the same in detachable relation.

2. As an article of manufacture a frame comprising walls, and spiral coil members receiving the adjacent marginal portions of said walls forhingedly connecting said walls, the ends of said spiral coil members being twisted about the adjacent portions of said walls to prevent accidental detachment thereof. j

3. In a folding crate the combination of reticulate Walls including substantially rectangular frames, and spiral coil means connecting the abutting frame portions of adjal'cent walls together to provide a stable boX- like crate.

4. ln a folding crate the combination of a bottom Wall including a rectangular Wire frame, side walls and front andv rear walls including rectangular Wire frames, individual spiral coil members threaded to receive the adjacent parallel frame portions of the bottom Wall and said side, rear and front walls to connect said side, rear and front walls upon said bottom Wall, and individual spiral members connecting the adjacent frame portions of the side Walls with the front and rear walls to provide a substantially rectangular shaped crate.

5. In a folding crate the combination of a bottom wall including a rectangular wire frame, side walls and front and rear walls including rectangular wire frames, individ ual metal coil members threaded to receive the adjacent parallel frame portions of the bottom Wall and said side, rear and front Walls to connect said side, rear and front Walls upon said bottom Wall, and individual spiral members connecting the adjacent frame portions of the side Walls with the front and rear Walls to provide a substantially rectangular shaped crate, a top wall, and a spiral coil member connecting the top Wall to an upper portion of the frame of said rear wall.

6. In a folding crate the combination of a bottom Wall including a rectangular wire frame, side walls and front and rear Walls including rectangular Wire frames, individual spiral coil members threaded to receive the adjacent parallel frame portions of the bottom wall and said side, rear and front walls to connect said side, rear and front walls upon said bottom wall, individual spiral members connecting the adjacent frame portions of the side Walls with the front and rear Walls to provide a substantially rectangular shaped crate, a top wall, a spiral coil member connecting the top Wall to an upper portion of the frame of said rear wall, and spiral coil members for the top portions ofthe frames of said side and front walls for connecting the adjacent portions of the top wall thereto to provide 'an inclosed crate. j

7. A collapsible crate comprising wire walls providin rectangular shaped frames With straight gar portions, and detachable coil members threaded to receive said straight portions of adjacent Walls therein and at their ends being clamped about said frame portions whereby to provide a crate in which the Walls are hingedly connected and readily detachable by removal of said spiral coil members.

8. As an article of manufacture a collapsible crate comprising Walls including frame portions, and removable coil members threaded to receive the frame portions of adjacent walls whereby to provide a stable extended crate and to permit hinging of said walls upon each other when certain of said coil members are removed.

9. In a folding crate the combination of a body portion providing side walls, a front wall, and a rear wall, spiral coils hingedly connecting the adjacent ends of the side walls with their adjacent ends of the front and rear Walls whereby the side Walls may be collapsed on each of the front and rear walls, top and bottom Walls, and spiral members hingedly connecting said top and bottom walls to the upper and lower portions of the rear and front walls respectivel whereby said Walls may be collapsed in su stantially flat relation.

l0. As an article of manufacture a folding crate comprising a bottom Wall, front, rear, and oppositely disposed side Walls hingedly connected lto edge portions of said bottom Wall, atop wall connected to an edge of said rear wall opposite to the hinged connection of said rear Wall with said bottom Wall, whereby said Walls may be collapsed in a common plane, and removable means for connecting the edges of the side walls with the edges of the front and rear walls to provide a rectangular shaped crate with the walls in right angle relation.

11. As an article of manufacture a crate, a partition, and removable coilmeans threading the partition within the crate to subdivide the same.

12. In a folding crate the combination of aplurality, of iat reticulate Walls having straight rigid lWire margin portions, and detachable coils threaded in close fitting relation upon the adjacent margin Wires of apair of the walls, the latter extending entirely longitudinally through the coil and being connected by the coil in a hinged relation.

13. In a folding crate the combination of' a base of reticulate formation, having marginal rod portions, side, front and rear walls of reticulate formation having marginal rod portions, coil springs threading a marginal rod portion of the side, frontand rear Walls to the marginal portions of the base around the latter, coil springs threading the rod portions of the adjacent side, front and rear Walls together to provide a substantially rectangular shaped box having a compartment therein with a top opening, a cloSure of reticulate formation having marginal rod portions, a coil spring hingedly receiving the marginal rod portion of the rear wall lo and a marginal rod portion of the closure to hingedly mount the latter on the rear Wall, and detachable coils for threading the remaining marginal rod portions of the closure to the adjacent top marginal rod portions 15 nf the side and front walls to close the crate.

TIMOTHY J. MURRAY.