US1639555A - Shipping crate - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 16, 1927.

H. A. CLARK..

sHIrPING cam:

Filed Aug. 25. 192s .n rlll... o o

Patented Aug. 16, 1927.

lihllll@ STATES 1,639,555 rricn.

SHIPPING CRATE.

Application filed August 25, 1926, Serial No. 131,526, and Canada .Tune 16, 1925.

This invention relates to improvements in shipping crates tp-pertaining particularly to a device of this character designed for carrying live lobsters and wherein each is placed in an individual compartment.

An object is to provide a shipping crate as described in which the compartments are T-shaped to freely yet economically receive a lobster, divider by screens to allow of the circulation of water and yet lreep the lobsters separated and liner with seaweed or the like to resemble as nearly as possible the natural surrounding in the ocean bed.

A. further object is to providel a shipping crate for live lobsters composed of a number of removable trays or layers of compartments that are T-shaped and so arranged that the tails or stems of inverted rows seat the confronting interstices.

' A still further object is to provide device of the character described wherein the number of parts are few, the construction simple and being` capable of manufacture at a reasonable cost is thus rendered commercially desirable.

To the accomplishment of these and related objects that will become apparent as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the construction, combinati-on and arrangement of parts as shall be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

ln the drawings, forming a part of this disclosure: Fig'. l is a plan of the crate with part of the cover broken away to show the interior arrangement and 2 is an end elevation the wall being similarly removed to disclose the contents.

In carrying out my invention, with a view to delivering' a maximum percentage of live lobsters in perfect condition at their destination, l have provided this crate of economical construction and arrangement comprising only a perforated outer container of very ordinary design and tiers of trays preferably of wire mesh subdivided into T- shaped compartments by like material. The subdivided trays comprise rows of parallel T-shaped cubicles, alternately inverted, so that the stems of confronting rows mesh with registering interstices Qccuring between the stems, thus providing individual compartments of a very desirable shape and so formed that waste room is eliminated. By lining' these with seaweed and like products of the sea bottom, accommodation .closely resembling his favorite haunts and indigenous quarters is provided the lobster which results 'n his delivery in the best possible condition. Y

Referring particularly to the drawings wherein like characters designate like parts throughout the several views, the box or casing designated a. This comprises a contai ier of wood or galvanized sheet metal and includes vperforations o in sides, ends, top and ,bottom and also a hinged top c fastened when in closed position by the hasps d.

Trays c of wire meshv or other suitable material are disposed in tiers, within this container', and are subdivided-into T-shaped compartments f. These are arranged parallel in inverted rows so that ythe confronting stems seat in the registering interstices formed thereby in the opposite row. rlhe presentembodiment illustrates two such pairs of adjoining rows and four trays thereof.

In shipping live lobsters these compartments will preferably be lined with seaweed and the like and when of reasonable dimensions will be found to be most desirable receptacles for such work due to their eX- cellent configuration that prevents the lob-` ster movi-ng around and getting tangled up with himself ori-his fellows.

In use, the trays of cubicles will be liner and with the lowermost one reposing in the container the lobsters are packe-df therein,r one in each compartment with its head and spreading claws in the cross head end and his tail extending down the stem. Then the bottom tray is filled, the second tray is placed thereon in the crate thus closing any communication between compartments eX- cept for-the water as will be hereinafter described that circulates through the screen. When the second' tray is filled the third is applied and so on. The closing of the hinged top of the crate acts to isolate the cubicles in the top tray as did the superposing tray for those thereunder.

If it is desired to keep the lobsters in water during their trip the crates when closed and locked are placed' in well bottom boats where they are submerged in sea brine and thus transported, the sea water finding access to the wire mesh apartments through the perforation in the crates.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be manifest that a shipping crate is provided which will fulfill all the necessary requirements of such a device but as many changes could be made in the above description and many apparently widely dierent embodiments of my invention constructed within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit or scope thereof, it is intended that all matters contained in the said accompanying specification and drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limited sense.

llaving,v thus described my invention, what l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,-

l. A shipping crate for live lobsters comprising a casing` and a tray subdivided into parallel T-shaped compartments matching` so as to employ all the space in the tray with the exception of two half compartment spaces at either end of the tray.

2. A shipping crate for live lobsters comprising a casing and tiers of removable trays that are subdivided into reversed parallel rows of T-shaped compartments matching so as to employ all the space in the tray with the exception of two half compartment spaces at either end of the tray.

3. A shipping crate for live lobsters comprising a ventilated casing with a removable cover and a plurality of trays subdivided into interspaced parallel T-shaped compartments matching so as to employ all the space in the tray with the exception of two half compartment spaces at either end of the tray.

Zl. A shipping crate for live lobsters comprising' an outer ventilated casing and subdivided wire screen trays subdivided into interspersed rows of parallel l'-shaped compartments matching' so as to employ all the space in the tray with the exception of two half compartment spaces at either end of the tray.

5. A shipping crate for live lobsters comprising an outer ventilated casing, a removable closure therefor and tiers of wire screen trays subdivided into parallel rows of interspaced T-shaped open topped compartments matching so as to employ all the space in the tray with the exception of two half compartment spaces at each end of the tray.

6. A shipping` crate for live lobsters comprising an outer ventilated casing, a hinged closure therefor, and tiers of trays each subdivided into parallel rows of T-shaped compartments matching so as to employ all the space in the tray with the exception of two half compartment spaces at either end of the tray, the several compartments of each tray having open tops which are closed by the bottom of the superposed tray while the compartments of the top tray are isolated by the hinged closure when same is in closed position.

7. ln a shipping crate for live lobsters, tray comprising a pair of inverted rows of interspaced parallel compartments of uniform size and shape of corresponding` irregular outline and matching` so as to employ all the space in the tray with the exception of two half compartment spaces at each end of the tray.

S. En a shipping crate for live lobsters, a tray comprising a pair of alternately inverted rows of interspaced T-shaped compartments, in either half thereof and matching` so as to employ all the space in the tray with the exception of two half compartment spaces at either end of the tray.

9. ln a shipping crate for live lobsters, a plurality of trays each comprising two pairs of parallel rows of T-shaped compartments whose inturned stems fill the alternate interstices formed between the stems of the adjoining` row of Ts by the contactingr of the cross heads thereof.

10. A shipping crate for live lobsters, comprising an outer ventilated casing' and tiers of wire mesh trays subdivided into opposed parallel rows of lshaped lobsterreceiving` compartments matching so as to employ all the spaces in the tray with the exception of two half compartment spaces at either end of the tray and lined with seaweed.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiilx my signature.

HENRY ALLAN CLARK.

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