US1980908A

US1980908A - Crate

Info

Publication number: US1980908A
Application number: US665455A
Authority: US
Inventors: Cameron Evan Dhu
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1933-04-10
Filing date: 1933-04-10
Publication date: 1934-11-13
Anticipated expiration: 1951-11-13

Description

Nov. 13, 1934.

E. D. CAMERON CRATE Filed April 10, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z, Jnnentor (Zttornegs,

Patented Nov. 13, 1934 UNITED STATES CRATE Evan Dhu Cameron, Paris, Tex., assignor of onehalf to Paul Cameron, Paris, Tex.

Application April 10, 1933, Serial No. 665,455

2 Claims.

This invention relates to crates of the knockdown type, designed primarily for use in shipping or transporting baby chicks, dressed poultry, fruits, vegetables, nuts, eggs or other dry merchandise.

An important object of the invention is the provision of a crate of this character which may be readily and easily knocked down and packed in such a Way that comparatively little space will be required in shipping or returning the crates to the produce shipper, thereby reducing the cost of returning the empty crates, to a minimum.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a crate including a body portion formed of spaced slats, and end members formed with grooves for the reception of the ends of the slats, thereby securely holding the slats in their active positions, when the crate is set up for use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a crate having means to permit the contents of the crate to be conveniently displayed, without the necessity of removing the contents of the crate.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made Within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a crate constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional View through the head of the crate.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view through the crate.

Figure 4 is a fragmental elevational view illustrating the brace bar of the head in use as a support for the upper end of the crate when the crate is used for display purposes.

Figure 5 is a plan view of a plurality of crates packed for return shipment.

Figure 6 is an end elevational view thereof.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the crate includes a disk-like bottom 5, and a disk-like top or head 6, the bottom 5 being provided with an annular groove 7, formed in the upper surface thereof, the groove 7 being spaced a short distance from the periphery of the bottom.

The lower surface of the head or top 6, is also formed with an annular groove spaced from the edge thereof, the grooves of the head and bottom being so constructed that-they will accommodate the ends of the body portion, indicated by the reference character 8. I

This body portion 8, is constructed of a plurality of slats 9 to which the metallic strips 10 are connected, the strips being arranged near the ends of the slats 9, to hold the slats in proper spaced relation with respect to each other, but at the same time permit of flexing of the body portion, so that the body portion may be laid fiat, when in a knock-down condition, to facilitate the transportation of the crate, for return to the original shipper.

As clearly shown by the drawings, the ends of the slats 9 are tapered, so that they will fit snugly Within the annular grooves of the bottom and head.

In the formation of a crate, the ends of the body portion are brought together, and secured by means of loop members indicated by the reference character 11, which loop members are slid over the upper and lower ends of the adjacent end slats of the body portion. These loop members are of lengths so that the end slats of the body portion will be supported in spaced relation with each other.

Secured to the top or head 6, is a brace bar 12, which is formed with grooves 13, disposed near its ends. A brace bar indicated at 14 is secured to the bottom 5, firmly bracing the bottom so that it will withstand the strain directed to the crate, when being lifted,

The bottom 5, head 6 and brace bar, are formed with openings through which the rod 15 extends, the rod being provided with a head at its lower end, and a threaded portion 16 at its upper end, the threaded portion of the rod accommodating the nut 17, that draws the bottom and head into close engagement with the ends of the body portion of the crate. 95

From the foregoing it will be seen that should it be desired to display the contents of the crate, the brace bar carried by the head 6 of the crate, may be disconnected from the head, and the head temporarily discarded.

The brace bar may now be positioned across the open end of the crate, holding the crate in its extended position, and at the same time permitting the contents of the crate to be readily viewed.

A handle such as shown at 18, may be connected with the brace bar carried by the head, to insure the convenient handling of the crate.

The crate as shown and described, is used primarily for shipping fruits, vegetables or other dry stacked on the heads and bottoms, and the con-,

necting rods of the crates, extended through the openings in the heads and bottoms, and between slats of the body portion, securing several crates in a pile which will require approximately the same space in shipping, as would be required in shipping three or four crates in their assembled top and positioned over one end of the crate and positions. 7

Owing to the fact that the grooves in the bottom' and head of a crate, are spaced from the edges of the bottom and head, the bottom and head provide supports for the crate, when the crate is positioned onits side, to the end that the crates may be readily rolled, and handled with facility.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is:

1. In a shipping crate, a body portion including a plurality of slats held together in circular formation, a bottom member and a top member, the top member including a removable transverse bar having grooves in which the ends of certain of the slats are held, securing the body portion in its circular formation when the stop is removed and exposing the contents of the crate, and a handle secured to the transverse bar.

i 2. In a shipping crate, a body portion including a plurality of spaced slats held together in and said grooves adapted to receive the upper ends of certain of the slats when the removable bar is disconnected from the said bar adapted to hold the crate against collapsing, when the top has been removed, and a handle connected with the removable member.-

EVAN DHU CAMERON,;

circular formation, a bottom member and a top member, a removable bar having grooves form- .ing a part of the top,