US1939901A - Collapsible box or crate - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 19, 1933. JOHNSQN 1,939,901

COLLAFSIBLEI BOX OR CRATE Filed Oct. 5, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor Amund t/hnsan Dec. 19, 1933. A, JOHNSQN 1,939,901

' COLLAPSIBLE BOX OR CRATE Filed Oct. 5, 1932 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor Q m 3 Amund (jhnson By 2mm f1 llorncy Dec. 19, 1933 A. JOHNSON COLLAPSIBLE BOX OR CRATE Filed 001;. 5, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 IIIIIIIIIII IIIII 'I I I I I I III I I I I Inventor Am u 11d db/771.5011

flllorney Patented Dec. 19, 1933 PATENT OFFICE umrso STATES ooLLAPsIBLn BOX oRcRATE Amund Johnson, Gonvick, Application October 5, 1932. Serial No. 636,406

' 1 Claim. (01. 21 1-47) This invention relates to a collapsible box or crate which can be used for carrying eggs, fruits, and other articles, the general object of the invention being to provide top and bottom mem- .6 bers, each formed of a frame and a closure member, with means for so connecting the parts together, that the top member can be raised above the bottom member or the two members placed together to form a chamber for receiving the 'Icollapsible side and end pieces as well as a center piece, when such center piece is used.

A further object of the invention is to provide latch means for connecting the top and bottom members together when the device is in collapsed position.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accommalpanying drawings, and specifically pointed out in the appended claim.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding .parts throughout the several views, and in which:-

Figure l is a side view of the device in set-up condition.

Fig. 2 is an end view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view.

Fig. 4 is a section on line 4--4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view with the top closure removed and with parts broken away.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional View showing "the device in looking condition and also showing egg fillers therein.

In these drawings, the numeral 1 indicates a bottom frame which has a bottom member 2 attached to its under edges and the numeral 3 in- 'dicates a top frame which has a closure member 4 detachably connected with the top thereof, the drawings showing this member 4 connected to the frame 3 by the strips 5, one of which passes under a bracket 6 attached to one endpiece of the frame i3 and the other of which passes under a pivoted latch '7 at the other end of the frame. The two frames are connected together by the sectional links 8, the sections of each link being pivotally connected together as at 9 and also pivoted to the iupper and lower frames as at 10. As shown in these drawings, these links are connected with the end pieces of the two frames and to the middle portions of the side members thereof, but the location and arrangement of these links may be such as to conform to the size of the device and to the use to which it is to be put. If desired, flexible strips can be used for connecting the two frames together instead of the links.

A longitudinally extending rod 11 is located a slight distance from each side member of the top 7 frame 3 with its ends fitting in holes in the end pieces of said frames. A pair of transversely extending rods 12 are slightly spaced inwardly from the end pieces of the frame 3 and have their ends fitting in holes in the side pieces thereof and when a central partition is to be used, a third transverse bar 13 extends across the middle portion of the frame .3 and has its ends fitting in holes in the side members.

A side forming member 14 has its upper edge I hingedly connected to each of the rods 11 by the hinges l5 and end forming members 16 have their upper edges hingedly connected to the end rods 12 as shown at 17. When the central partition is used, this partition 18 has its upper edge hingedly. 76 connected to the middle rod 13 as shown at 19.

Thus when it is desired to set up a crate or box, it is simply necessary to unfasten the latch members 20 which are pivoted to the end pieces of the top frame and engage the keeper members 21 on the end pieces of the bottom frame, and 'then move the top frame upwardly so as to straighten the links 8 and then the side members 14 are swung downwardly and then the end members.

The end members fit between the side members. Of course if the central member 18 is used, this is also swung downwardly. Thus it will be seen that I have provided a simple form of collapsible crate or box which can be easily set up and knocked down and when in knocked down condition, the sides and ends as well as the central partition are enclosed by the upper and lower members as clearly shown in Fig. 6.

The egg fillers can also be placed in the space formed by the top and bottom members as shown at 22 in Fig. 6.

The device is of such construction that a number of them can be piled one upon another as the device is very substantial and the side and end pieces can be made of solid construction though if desired, they can be made of slotted construction. It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of the invention will be readily apparent.

It is to be understood that changes may be made in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, provided that such changes fall within the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new is:

A box or crate of the class described comprising top and bottom frames consisting of a pair of side membersand a pair of end members, seetional links connected to the exterior portions of said frames for connecting the two frames together, whereby the top frame can be placed upon the lower frame or the two frames separated, a bottom closure member connected with the lower edges of the bottom frame, a top closure member detachably connected to the upper edges of the top frame, a pair of longitudinally extending rods carried by the top frame and each having its ends extending into the end membersof said frame and arranged close to the lower inner corner of each side member of the top frame, a pair of transversely extending rods carried by the top frame and each having its ends extending into the side members of said frame and arranged close to the upper inner corner of an end member of the top frame, whereby the transversely extending rods are located above the plane of the longitudinally extending rods, an end wall forming member having its upper edge hinged to each transverse rod with its lower end contacting the inner wall of an end member of the lower frame when the box is in operative position and a side forming wall member having its upper edge hinged to each longitudinally extending rod with its lower end contacting the inner wall of each side member of the lower frame when the box is

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