US1915227A - Container - Google Patents

Description

June 20, 1933. w. w. HARGRovEs CONTAINER Filed June 10, 1951 WwW/'00621. mv

abbo/1414445' particularly when filled andhavingother bas,

Patented June 20, 1933 seres f WILLIS W. IIARGROVES, F PORTSMOUTH, VIRGINIA, ASSIG-NOR TO PLANTERS MANU'` FACTUBING COMPANY, ING., (Tl1 PRTSIVLOUTH, VIEGINIA, A CGRPORATION 0F VIRGINIA CONTAINER Application filed June 10,

-1 velopedlto an enormous extent. Such sh1pment has been made possible by the increased rapidity of transportation as well as by the improved methods of handling the produce. Due to these enormous activitiesrelativ-e to 5, the shipment of produce during recent years,

the trade became highly competitive and a demand for sturdy but inexpensive containers arose. Many kinds of produce which were formerly shipped in barrels and boxes have more recently been ytransported in baskets. d

The well known round bottom basket wherein the strips of a mat are bent upward-V ly in a sweeping curve so that the ends of the strips form the side wall of the basket has been extensively used but many obj-ections are experienced in such use.v

Among the objections to this type of basket is the tendency of the same to mushroom,

kets stacked thereupon. Such action results in the bulging ofthe side wall of thebasket-to an extent where the shifting of the fruit or other contents is permitted whereby the apf plication of pressure on such produce will often damageor destroy the same, or necessi-v tate repacking, this being particularly true during long transportation and during long periodof storage.

` The objection to the round bottom basket was well recognized and baskets of the type n'ow known as straight side or bent bottom baskets were employed withthe view to overcoming these objections. lVhile the use of this type of basket largely avoided the objections encountered in the use of the round bottom basket as abovereferred to, I Vhave found that serious objections developed in using the straight side or bent bottom basket 1931. Serial No. 543,430.

in the handling of produce in the manner developed during recent years.

One of the objections to the straight vSide,

basket is that an abrupt bend is made at the periphery of the bottom where the staves extend upwardly to form the side wall. I have found that these sharp bendsk or broken points in the several staves are such that the bottom of the basket often becomes completely separated or broken from the side wall thereof. Attempts have been made to protect the sharp bends at the lower end of the staves by extending the low-er edge of a hoop around the bottom of the basket so thaty the basket will be ,supported upon the rim or edge of the hoop. Such a construction, while somewhat beneficial presents even further objections.

lt is an object of the present invention to produce a basket which overcomes the objections referred to above.

The invention contemplates the formation of a basket from a mat having a radial series 0f crossed veneer strips, wherein the side wall of the basket is substantially straight at its lower part and slightly flared thereabove, and wherein the basket is reinforced with hoops for maintaining it in this form. Furthermore, it is contemplated to mergel the side wall into the bottom of the basket by a sharp curve with the strips being maintained unbroken throughout the length thereof.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a basket which because of this substantially straight lower portion 0f the side wall and the flared upper portion thereof has a slightly inwardly curved or angled side wall. It is intended that the bottomof the basket be suficiently concaved to accommodate the thicknesses of the matted strips of which the basket is formed; and it is contemplated that the strips be each sharply curved from the 'periphery of the bottom into the extending side wall without being broken, and that a hoop or band be stapled to the strips of the side wall at such distance above the bottom of thebasket as to permit a slight flexing while maintaining the abrupt curve in each strip with its portion in the side wall of the basket between the curve and the `hoop being substantially straight. Y

From actual experience after storing of over one thousand cars of apples Vin cold storage Warehouses, piled ten baskets high during the past winter, it' has been proven that shrinkage is so little that repacking was not necessary whereas the commonly known straight side; basket had to be re-A packed, which means the new design effects a tremendous saving in labor and expense to fruit growers. With the common straight side basket the empty basket shows a high laboratory test from downward pressure. When the same packa e is loaded with apples in storage ten hig over a short period,

the staves or side wall bulge(s) and causes thefruit to settle and bruise or decay necessitating repacking when taken out of storage, whereas with my 'improved design the pressure from fruit on the inside is caught 'ein by the angle shape of staves and thereby withstands a tremendous downward pressure which means an enormous saving to fruit and vegetable shippers by eliminating the repacking and spoilage.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure'l is a side elevation of a basket formed in accordance with the present invention. Y

' Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the basket shown in Fig. 1. Y

Fig. g3 is amat of crossed strips from which the basket shown in Fig. 1 is adapted to be formed. j

Fig. 4: Vis a diagrammatic illustration of a former member showingv the mannery in which the mat of staves is folded thereover to permit the application of thel retaining hoops, and Y Y p Fig. 5 is a view of the bottom of the basket as shown in Fig. 1..

Now referring to the drawing in detail, the numeral 10 designates the bottom of the basket which isformed of the center portion of a mat of veneer strips as shown in Fig. 3. At the center of the bottom 10 the usual fasteners 11 are employed, the fasteners actingy as a lmeans to hold the mat together during the formation of the basket, and also adding to the rigidity` of the basket after it.

has been formed. The strips forming the bottom of the basket are each bent in the 10 to form a side wall 13. The lower portion of the wallv is preferably formed with the staves above the curve 12 extending' at a; right angle or perpendicular to the bottom 10. This part of the wall is parallel to the axis of the basket. Each of the staves above this (portion of the wall is bent or curved outwar y to form an angle giving a comparatively straight line in the stave from the locality of merger of the' said right angled portion with the upper portion. Due to this arrangement of the staves an angled or concaved edect is given to the side wall. The upper ends of the staves are clamped between inner and outer hoops 14 and 15 respectively, and handles 16 are secured in position by being passed through these hoops and bent tightly thereupon.

A hoop 17 is stapled to the staves in a line slightly above the center of the side wall, and a lower hoop 18 is stapled about midway between the curves 12 in the staves and the hoop 17. In the specific preferred practice the distance `of hoop 18 which controls the perpendicular wall from the bottom curve is preferably one-third the distance from bottom of top hoop 15 to sharp curve 12, and it is in this line about the side wall that the straight uniform lower portion is merged or angled into the fiared upper portion. Therefore preferably two-thirds distance from sharp curve l12 to lower edge of outside top hoop 15 exists in the wallabove the hoop 18. It is my idea that the length of these angles as well as the degree may be varied and also that the spacing of hoops as condition may necessitate from further experience may be varied.

In forming the mat of sta-Ves as shown in Fig. 3 logs of wood of the character normally employed in the making of veneer baskets are boiled or steamed inthe usual manner. The logs of wood in this condition are then veneered to form thin strips of substantially uniform width. The strips, while still moist and in some instances while'still warm, are placed as shown in the mat and are fastened together ati their overlapping portions. The mats thus-formed are thereafter placed, while still moist and extremely pliable, in a machine of one of the well known types, or are otherwise caused to be bent over the rounded edge 19 of a former 20. The former is merely diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 4. The former`20 is concaved or hollow at the lower portion thereof to accommodate the thicknesses of the overlapping portions of the strips at the center of the mat as well as to permit the concaving of the bottom. In shaping the mat it is caused to be pressed securely against the former by the member 21 and also caused to be folded over the side of the former by any of the well known mechanism. The member 21 is preferably flanged as at 22 to assistthe bending of the strips and themaintenance Vof the same in position for stapling. When tliebasket is in this position j as above set forth. Each hoop has preferably twenty staples driven therethrough for securing it in position upon the side wall of the basket and two additional' staples are used to tie down the overlapping ends thereof. When desired the presser member 21 may be extended at its center portion as at 28 to give the basket a slightly concaved bottom in the normal manner, so that when the basket is in use the ra-ised bottom will aid in the ventilation ofthe contents thereof.

After a basket has been formed as abo-ve described it is permitted to dry or'it is dried by artificial means whereupon the strips are made less pliable andheld in the shape illustrated, although a certain degree of resiliency is still retained in the strips.

It will be seen from the above that the wall of the basket is substantially straight except lfor the slight iiare in its upper portion whereby a curved or angled inwardly extending bend exists to aid in strengthening the side wall of a filled basket against downward pressure. As the bottom of the basket and the side wall are joined by a comparatively sharp curve, the side wall will receive the major portion oftheV strain being placed upon the basket by the weight of any filled baskets stacked thereupon. No rupture or substantial rupture exists in the strips at the lines of bend so that the existence of splinters which might ordinarily damage the produce in baskets adj acently positioned while in storage or vtransportation is practically eliminated. I

The securing of the lower hoop to the side wall in spaced relation to the sharp curves l2 in the strips at the junction of the side wall with the bottom l0 is an important feature of the invention in that it permits the slight flexing of the strips to cause the side wall to largely bear the strain of downward pressure. Furthermore, the maintenance of the basket in this `form while avoiding the necessity for rupturing the strips by the insertion of Vrivets adjacent to the short curves therein, eliminates the rupture of the strips near theV curves, during the normal use intended for the same.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to. secure by Letters Patent is 1. A basket formed out of a plurality of veneer strips each comprising a bottom member and a. pair of staves with the staves being bent up and extending at angles relative to the bottom member, the bottom members of the strips crossing each other diametrically of the bottom of the basket so that the staves extend upwardly to form the side walls there- G5 of, inner and outer reinforcing hoops secured to the staves at their upper ends, an intermediate hoop encircling and secured to the staves in a line adjacent the center of the side wall, and a lower hoop encircling the staves in a line materiallyspaced from both the bottom of the basket and from said intermediate hoop, said staves being sharply bent but not broken where the bott-om of the basket is merged into the side wall whereby to permit the greatest supporting circumference of the bottom to be not substantially removed from alignment with the side wall below said lower hoop, the side wall being outwardly bent adjacent said lower hoop to extend upwardly in substantially a straight line to the top of the basket.

2. A basket comprising a plurality of veneer strips, each strip being sharply bent to form a bottom portion and a pair of upstanding stave portions integral therewith,

the bottom portions being secured together in cross relationship to form the basket bottom and the staveportions adapted to form the basket wall, the stave portions extending upwardly for a material distance from the sharp bend in substantially a straight line and being then angularly bent to further extend upwardly in substantially a straight line to the top of the basket'thereby forming lower and upper straight portions on the basket wall, the sharp bend at the points where the stave portions join the bottom portions being such that the greatest supporting circumference on the basket bottom is not substantially removed from alignment with said lower straight portion, reinforcing hoops at the top of said stave portions, and a lower hoop adjacent the angular bend.

3. A basket comprising a plurality of veneer strips, each strip being sharply bent to form a bottom portion and a pair of upstanding stave portions integral therewith,

the bottomportions being secured together in cross relationship to form the basket bottom and they stave portions adapted to form the basket wall, the stave portions extending upwardly for a material distance from the sha-rp bend in substantially a straight line and being then angularly bent to further extend upwardly in substantially a straight line to the top of the basket thereby forming lower and upper straight portions on the. basket wall, the sharp bend at the points where the stave portions join the bottom portions being such that the greatest supporting circumference on the basket botto-m is not substantially removed from alignment with said lower straight portion, reinforcing hoops at the top of said stave portions, a lower-hoop adjacent the angular bend, and anintermediate hoop secured to said stave portions in the upper straight portion of the basket.

4. A basket comprising a plurality of veneer strips, each strip. being sharply bent to les form -awbottom portion and a pair of upstanding stave portions integral therewith, the bottom portions Vbeing secured together in cross relationship to form the basket bottom and the stave portions adapted to form the basket wall, the stave portions being substantially vertical for a material Vdistance aboveV the bottom and being then angularly bent to further extend in substantially a 1Q straight line to the `top of the b asket thereby Y vertical portion, reinforcing hoops at the top of said stave portions, and a lower hoop adjacent the angular bend whereby to permit a slight flexing of the staves below said hoop.

5. A basket comprising a plurality of veneer strips, each strip being sharply bent to form a bottom portion and a pair of upstanding stave portions integral therewith, the bottom portions being secured together in cross relationship to form the basket bottom and the stave portions adapted to form the basket wall, the stave portions being substantially vertical for a' material distance above the vbottom and being then angularly bent to further extend in substantially a straight line tothe top of the basket thereby forming a vertical portion and a portion of gradually increasing diameter on the .basket wall, the sharp bend at the points where the stave portions join the bottom portions being such that'the greatest supporting circumference on the basket bottom is not substantially removed from alignment with said vertical portion, reinforcing hoops at the top of said stave portion, a lower hoop adjacent the angular bend whereby to permit a slight ieX- ing ofy the staves below said hoop, and an intermediate hoop secured to said staves in the portion of gradually increasing diameter.

6. A basket comprising a plurality of veneer strips, each strip being sharply bent to form a bottom portion and a pair of upstanding stave portions integral therewith, the bottom portions being secured together in cross relationship to form the basket bottom and the stave portions adapted to form the basket wall, the sharp bend at the points the bottom and being then angularly bent to extend in substantially a straight line to the top of the'baskety whereby to provide a basket wall having a lower portion of substantially uniform diameter and lan upper portion of gradually increasing diameter thus permitting a substantially vertical thrust in the `basket bottom, reinforcing hoops secured to the top of the stave portions, and a lower hoop spaced from the sharp bend whereby to permit a slight flexing of the stave portions below said hoop.

7. ,A basket comprising a plurality of'veneer strips, each strip being sharply bent but not broken to form a bottom portion anda pair of integral stave portions, the bottom portions being secured'V together in cross relationship to form an arched basket bottom and the stave portions beingadapted to form the basket wall, said basket *wall vbeing of greater diameter at the top` than at thefbottom, the sharp bend at the points where the stave portions join the bottom portions being such that the greatest supporting circumference on the basket .bottom approximates alignment with the basketV wall, a reinforcing hoop at the top of said stave portions, anda lower reinforcing hoop located below the center of the basket wall and spaced from the sharp bend at the bottom of the basket at suchy a distance from the sharp bend as to maintain the sharpness of the aforesaid bend when the basket is weighted and at the same time permit a slightflexing of thestaves be tween said lower hoop and the bottom plane of the basket. Y

8. A basket comprising a plurality of veneer strips, each strip being sharply bent but not broken to form ay bottom portion and a pair ofintegral stave portions, the bottom portions being secured together in cross relationship to form an arched basket bottom and the stave portions being adapted to form the basket wall, said basket wall being of greater diameter at the top than at the bottom, the sharpbend at the points where the stave portions ]om the bottom portions being such that the greatest supporting circumference on the basketbottom approximates alignment with the basket wall, reinforcing hoops at the top of said stave portions, a lower reinforcing hooprlocated below the center of the basket wall and spaced from the sharp bend Vat the bottom of the basket-at such a distance from l w WILLIS W. HARGROVES.

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