US2203240A - Nested box - Google Patents

Description

June4 4, 1940. E. s. TlPToN 2,203,240

NESTED BOX Filed March 9, 1939 INVNTOR j y Bdnaie @WA4/ @TORNEY Patented June 4, 1940 UNITED STATES NESTED rBox f Edna Sibley Tipton, New York, N. Y.

vApplication March 9, 1939, Serial No..260,806

1o claims,

This invention concerns tray-like nested boxes, some or all of which have partitions. The partitions of boxes, in which other boxes are nested, are collapsible or nestable in order to facilitate nesting of the smaller boxes therein. v Part of the instant subject matter has been taken over from applicants abandoned application, Serial No. 622,901, filed July 16, 1932, for Articles of manufacture.

The object of this invention is to provide a set of coordinated receptacles, which may be nested and thus will occupy very little space, when they are stored or packed away for transportation. When these boxes arey unnested for r use, so to speak, they present a number of indin vidual trays, some vor all of which' are sub'- divided by the collapsible or nestable partitions into a plurality of compartments. lEach compartment may accommodate a different kind o r type of article in a segregated, orderlyfashion.

Nested boxes of this inventiony may represent an independent article of manufacture, and the largest of boxes may serve as a cover for the others, whereas the smallest of the boxes mayfbe provided with solid, permanently arrangedr partitions, which do not have to be collapsible for the nesting operation.

But such a unit of nested boxes may also form part of a larger unit or article of manufacture and fits, for instance, a pigeon hole or bin of a rack, cabinet or desk, lor may be nested into the drawers of any piece of furniture.

Nestable boxes of this invention may be put to use in a store in order tof afford the keeping and display of merchandise in a Well appointed fashion.v When, at another time, larger merchandise is to be kept on display, and there is cellently for such operation, but may be removedv and unobtrusively stored by nesting, when they have been emptied and have served their purpose for the time being.

The nestable boxes `offer good use inoifice and studio, for instance for pens, pencils,brushes, instruments, etc. when the user is at Work, and likes to have all instruments and tools conveniently atr his disposal. AWhenjin use v`the arrangement.

boxes may be stacked, when lnot inus'e` they are nested.

A set of boxes of this invention are particularly suitedv for transient' or permanent occupantsy of hotels and `apartment houses,` cabins such as knives, forks, spoons and other like arfticles. f lThe dining room or kitchenette mayKusually be supplied with furniture suchasa sideboard or cupboard, but such furniture is not usually equipped with drawers or other compartments vfor holding tableware ofthe typementioned.

The n ested boxes of this invention render possible the appointment ,of necessaries in new surroundings inl a manner to which one has become accustomed in-pri'or quarters'. `f

In like manner nestable boxes of this invention render necessar'ies available in rooms .and boudoirs, vby' separately accommodating haber# dash-ery, garments, toilet articles, cosmetics, utensils, etc. y

A construction Whereb-ysaid objects may be attained is exemplarily shown inthe accompanyverse vertical section.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section' of one of said boxes v looking inv the direction of oney of the sides which is supplied with mounting grooves'for partitions.

Fig. 3 is aA section of Fig. 2 taken at, and looking inthe direction indicated 'at line- 3--3l in Fig. 2. y Y.

Fig. 4 is the perspective viewof another embodiment of this invention in which part of the outside container yhas been vsectioned away in order to permit a yview of the novel interior Fig. 5` is across-sectioned yside View of yanother Containern-of. this invention, in which some of thepartitionskare tension-controlled, like in all l Athe remaining figures.

. .'Fig. 6 is a vcorresponding horizontal cross-sec'- tiontaken at a level and in the direction indi- Fig. 7 is a detailed View executed similarA to that of Fig. 2, but concerns another modification of,this'invention.v Fig. .,8: isa corresponding cross-section` taken at a line and in a direction denoted by the digit 8 in Fig. 7.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the various views.

In detail, the construction illustrated in said drawing is as follows:

In Fig. 1 the individual boxes from the largest to the smallest are indicated by the reference figures I, 2 and 3 respectively.

The partitions are shown in boxes I and 2 in the folded position, those in box I being indicated `at 4, 4, li; those in box 2 are indicated at 5, 5; Ythe partitions in the smallest box 3 may be either rigidly attached or foldable, are shown in dotted lines and are indicated by the reference numerals 6, B.

One particular novel feature of this inventionv is found in the foldability of the partitions and more especially in the construction whereby the two characteristics of foldability and non-removability are combined.

For the attainment of these characteristics the following construction is suggested:

In an embodiment of Figs. 1, 2 and 3 each partition is provided upon each end with two short Pegs or dowel-like projections as 'I and 8; the lower one, "I, is termed the hinge-pin and the upper one, 8, is termed the locking pin.

For the reception of hingepin l, a vertically disposed groove or slot 9 is formed in the inner opposing faces of two opposite vertical walls IIJ, Iii; also for the reception and movement of said locking pin 8, a groove or slot II, having a substantially arcuate form is formed4 in the inner opposing faces of said two opposite vertical walls.

In the formation of said groove I I, av radius R is employed the length of which is equal to the distance from center to center of said pins l and 8 as indicated at a in Fig. 2; the center from which said radius is struck is located at a short distance above the bottom of the box, as indicated at b; the upper extremity of said groove II extends downwardly, as shown at I2; said downwardly disposed extremity forms the locking feature whereby the foldable partitions are retained in their upright positions.

Y For the purpose of explaining how this locking feature operates, referenceis made to Fig. 2 of the drawing, in which three partitions are indicated as follows: The one at the left hand end of said view indicates a partition in the upright, service position; in the center of said view, a partition, indicated in dotted lines, is shown in a position which is intermediate to the service position and the folded position; at the right hand end of said Fig. 2 a partition is indicated in the downward (outofservice, nestable) position; in order to place the upright partition in the folded position it is raised suiciently to permit the locking pin Si to enter the arcuate portion of slot II, substantially as indicated in dotted lines in said Fig. 2; in this position, the partition will readily fall by gravity into the folded position shown at the right hand end of said figure. To erect a partition into its service position, it is manually actuated by graspingY its upper edge and raising the same until the locking pin 8 drops into the vertically disposed upper end I2 of the groove II.

The partitions of any unit of the nestable series may extend transversely to those in any other unit.

The material from which the boxunits ofthe series are made may be wood, metal or any other suitable composition such as plastics commer-v cialiZed under the trade names of Bakelite Viscoloid, etc.

Or course it may also be desirable to arrange the height of nestable boxes such as 22, 23 and 24 in Fig. 4, so that their tops are substantially level when they are nested, as shown. These nestable boxes 22, 23 and 24, may be coordinated with a l cover.

However, after the largest nestable box ZI has been collapsed and then turned into an upsidedown position the partitions 25, which correspond to the partitions 4 of the device of Figs. 1, 2 and 3, will gravitationally drop backinto their pitched, substantially vertical positions, and will thus interfere with thedepositing of box 2 I in an upside-down position on lthe nested other boxes 22, 23 and 24'. V

vFor this and other reasons of positively allocating the partitions in either the pitched or the nestable position, an arrangement may be preferred which does not depend upon mere gravtyfor the positioning of the partitions but which vtemporarily secures them, preferablyby tension, in the said extreme positions, This is illustrated in the remaining figures.

In Fig. '7, which concerns a construction applicable to all the nestable boxes and especially to a largest nestable box I, hinge pins 2l', locking pins 28, the straight hinge groove 22 at the bottom for hinge pins 21, the one of opposite vertical side walls 30, the arcuate groove 3l, and the hook portion 32 of said groove correspond to the parts l, 8, 9, II), Ii andY l2 of the embodiment of Figs. l, 2 and 3. But here the arcuate groove- 3l has a reclined spur portion 28 at its lower end.

The straight groove 29 is correspondingly inhook 32 at the upper end of the arcuate groove 3l. This arrangement, by itself, has the advantage that the unnested box may stand upright on the side of the box from which the spur, hook and hinge groove are tilted away, in which position of the box the partitions are gravita`-v tionally stable when pitched or when collapsed.

From the bottom at which side walls 3l) are assembled with the bottom panel 33 of box 2l, a narrow groove 3@ iscotmtersunk into such wall 3i), for instance by the cut of a thin milling cutter of a diameter corresponding to the top extent of the slot or groove 34.

.The slot or groove 34 is just wide enough to allow a vertical play of tension means therein, which may for instance be a round spring `wire 35. i Wire 35 comprises a straight central portion -lowest positionl shown so that the upper p-in 3B i's also firmly locked in the end of the hook portion 32 of arcuate groove '3 I. But against the pres- 'itA sure of spring the partition 25 may be manipulated, lifted and moved parallel to itself to the right, until the upper pin 28 slides into the arcuate groove 3| around the hinge pin 21, which is now lodged in the upper end of the hinge groove 29. When the partition 25 has been swung into a horizontal position, pin 28 enters upon the spur 26 at the end of groove 3|, and the partition 25 will move parallel to itself in a substantially horizontal position at an incline to the left, pins 21 and 28 following the hinge groove 29 and spur 26, respectively. At the end of this motion the pin 28 is locked at the bottom of the spur 26, because pin 21 has been pushed down and to the left by the spring 35, so that the partition 25 is now retained'under tension in a nestable position, which corresponds to the position indicated for a partition 4 at the extreme right of Fig. 2.

Since the partitions are now retained in the nestable position, under spring pressure, they will not flop around and flap into any possible position when the box 2| is turned upside-down in order to be deposited as a lid upon the nested boxes 22, 23 and 24. After the nestable box 2| has been removed and restored to an upside-up position, the partitions, which are now collapsed in a nestable position, may be pitched again by reversing the procedure described in the second preceding paragraph: Against the tension of spring 35, the partition 25 is pulled up to the right; then pin 28 engages again in the arcuate groove 3| and slides therealong-nally locking pin 28 snaps into the hook end 32, and the tension of springs 35 depressing hinge pins 21 again retains the partition in the pitched position shown in Fig. '7.

If the hinge pins are arranged at a slightly elevated positionvon the opposite sides of a partition-intermediate to the top and bottom edges of the partitionsthe arcuate guide groove and the locking pins such as Il and 3|, and 8 and 28, respectively, may be dispensed with, other means being provided for engaging the partition releasably in an upright, pitched position. Such an embodiment is indicated in Figs. 5 and 6.

In order to indicate versatility of the arrangement of this invention, the nestable box 40 of the modification of Figs. 5 and 6 is shown to be formed and struck up in sheet metal. Transverse grooves 4| are formed in the bottom portion 42 of the nestable box 40, and serve to receive and to engage the lower edge of a partition 43, when it is in an upright, pitched position. From the bottom portion 42 of nestable box 40 are bent up opposite outer sides 44. These opposite outer sides 44 are folded in, back upon themselves again by way of flaps 45 forming inner opposite walls, the respective outer walls 44 and inner walls 45 being suitably spaced apart, for instance by insertion of flaps extending from the end walls which are not shown. Thus free play is allowed between said side 44 and wall 45 for a spring 46. Spring 46 is curved so that portions 41 thereof, which are located adjacent to or between partitions 43 of the nestable box 40, are

These rollers 50 are also engaged underneath the concave portion 52 of spring 46 in the space between the inner and ' outer walls 44 and 45.

The tension of spring 46 normally retains the partition 43 in the upright, pitched position shownA in Fig. 5 in which the bottom edge of the partition is engaged in groove 4|. But when the partition 43 is lifted out ofthe groove 4| against the reaction of spring 46, and is then tilted and released, it will flop and snap into a position in which it rests horizontally flat upon the bottom portion 42, the spring portion 42 now assuming a substantially straight or convex position, by way of contrast with the concave position in which it is shown in Fig. 5.

While the partition 45 is collapsed into a nestable position, the roller 5D is of course depressed into its lowest position, and the spring portion 52 reacting thereupon will now retain the partition 43 in the horizontal nestable position, until the partition 43 is returned by a tilting manipulation against the reaction of spring portion 52 into a vertical position, in which the lower end of partition 43 again snaps into the groove 4| in the bottom portion 42 of the nestable box.

It is clearly shown in the drawing, and attention is hereby furthermore called to the fact, that the foldability of said partitions, also the method of their self-retainability in the upright position are inherent in structural, co-operative features formed in, upon or carried by said partitions at each end thereof and the box walls adjacent said ends whereby not only the necessity of any accessory fixtures isdispensed with, but

a high degree of strength, economy, eflciency i and convenience in use are also attained.

The examples herein shown and described are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in limitation of the invention.

What I claim is: i

1. An article of manufacture comprising a series of nestable boxes each having vertically disposed partitions which are adapted to be folded into contact with the bottom of the respective box, two oppositely-positioned walls of said box being provided in their inner opposing faces with grooves adapted to form receiving, retaining, guiding and locking means for co-operative, coactingfeatures carried upon the ends of said partitions, and partitions for said box having upon each end thereof a feature such as a pin or dowel having co-.operative action with said grooves so as to occupy, be retained, guided and locked thereby in their service position.

2. A box comprising a bottom having vertically-extending side walls rigidly secured thereto so as to form a rectangular structure, one ormore partitions for such box, each of said partitions having a longitudinally-extending dowelv adjacent each edge of each end thereof, there being a pair of transversely aligned grooves in the inner opposing faces of said walls for the reception of the dowels upon the respective ends of said partitions, whereby said partitions are arrangable into either a vertical service position or in atwise contact with said bottom for the respective purposes set forth.

3. An article of manufacture consisting of a series of nestable boxes, a unit thereof comprising a bottom having vertically-extending side Walls rigidly secured thereto so as to form a rectangular structure, one or more partitions for such `box each of which partitions is provided with a longitudinally-extending dowel adjacent each edge of each end thereof, there being for Azo each partition employed, a pair of transverselyaligned grooves, one in each inner, opposing face lof said side walls for the reception of the dowel upon the respective ends of said partitions whereby said partitions are arrangable in'to either a vertical service position or in atwise contact with said bottom, for the respective purposes set forth.

4. An article ofmanufacture consisting of, a box of rectangular form having a permanently attached bottom and partitions for said box havk ing at each end thereof dowels or like members, the oppositely-positioned walls of said box being provided with grooves for the reception and free movement of said dowels therein, said grooves being oi such configuration as to permit said partitions to be disposed in flatwise contact with the .bottoni of said box and/or to be erected into and retained at a vertical position with their lower edges in contact with said bottom.

5. As an article of manufacture, tray-like, solid, relatively nestable boxes having back walls and partitions arising from said walls and rendered nestable by an arrangement under which the partitions can be swung back onto said walls, comprising hinge pins upon opposite ends of said partitions, opposite side Walls upon each box having guide grooves for said pins, and tension means arranged in said side walls, engaged upon said hinge pins, and tensioning said partitions into the positions in which said Apartitions either arise -from or are swung back onto said back walls.

6. As an article of manufacture, tray-like, solid, relatively nestable boxes having back walls and partitions arising from said walls and rendered nestaole by an arrangement under which the partitions can be swung back onto said walls, comprising hinge pins and lock pins upon opposite ends of said partitions, opposite side walls forming part of each of said boxes and having guide grooves for said pins, the grooves for the lock pins being arcuately disposed and having offset spur portions at opposite ends for accommodating said lock pins when said partitions arise from or are swung onto said back walls, respectively.

'7. As an article of manufacture, tray-like, solid, relatively nestable boxes having back walls and partitions arising from said walls and rendered nestable by an arrangement under which the partitions can be swung back onto said walls, comprising hinge pins and lock pins upon opposite ends of said partitions, opposite side walls forming part of each of said boxes and having guide grooves for said pins, the grooves for the lock pins being arcuately disposed and having olset spur portions at opposite ends inclinedly partitions, said hinge pins being predeterminedly` spaced from the upper and lower edges ofsaidv partitions, opposite side walls forming part of said boxes, and having guide grooves arising from said back wall and accommodating said hinge pins, and tension means pressing said hinge pins down in said guide grooves.

9. As an article of manufacture,v tray-like, solid, relatively nestable boxes having back walls and partitions arising from said Walls and rendered nestable by an arrangement under which the partitions can be swung back onto said walls, comprising hinge pins upon opposite ends of said partitions, said hinge pins being predeterminedly spaced from the upper and lower edges of said partitions, opposite side walls forming part of said boxes and having guide grooves arising from said back wall and accommodating said hinge pins, tension means pressing said hinge pins down in said guide grooves, and locking means receiving said partitions under the ypressure of said tension, means and releasalbly retaining said partitions in pitched positions in which the partitions arise from said back walls.

7.0. An article of manufacture comprising a series of nestable boxes each having vertically disposed partitions which are adapted to be folded into contact with the bottom of the respective box, two oppositeli/positioned walls of said box being provided in their inner opposing faces with grooves adapted to form receiving, retaining, guiding and locking means for co-operative, coac-ting features carried upon the ends of said partitions, partitions for said box having upon each end thereof a feature such as a pin or dowel having co-operative action with said grooves so as to occupy, be retained, guided and locked thereby in their service position, and tension means reacting upon said box, engaged upon portion oi" said partitions, and supplementing the gravitational tendency of the partitions to assume a lowest position in the norm-ally disposed box by depressing said portion down towards the. bottom of the box.

` EDNA SIBLEY TIPTON.

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