US2348438A - Container - Google Patents

Description

May 9, 1944. R. E. MOYER CONTAINER Filed Aug, 12, 1940 Patented May 9, 1944 i; -io,N1TED sTA'res ,ATENT j orrlcs CONTAINER ltalph E. Moyer, New Buffalo; Mich, assignor to Kidd, Dater & Price Grocery (30., Benton Harbor, Michqa corporation of Michigan Application August 12, 1940, Serial No. 352,180

1 Claim. (01. 217-12) This invention relates in general to a basket or container more particularly'described as a holder or carrier for fruits, berries and other small articles commonly sold, displayed or contained in a box or measure less than-abushel, such'asa 7 quart, peck or half-bushel.

An important object of the invention i's in the provision of a box,crate, or container of this kind which is made in flat form with a removable top and bottom which is easily set up or assembled Whenever it is to be used.

A further object of the invention is in the provision of an improved handle and fastening means for the cover.

A still further object of the invention is in the provision of a removable bottom so that fruit or other material may be packed in the container upside down and the bottom placed thereon when the container is filled.

Other objects of the invention will appear in the specification and will be apparent from the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a perspective of a container in accordance with this invention which shows the cover and handle attachment;

Fig. 2 is a development of the side walls forming the container of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a bottom view;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the bottom showing the attachment of the cross piece; and

Fig. 5 is another sectional detail of the bottom showing the lock therefor.

The ordinary type of berry box or basket is either larger at the top than at the bottom or is rounded at the ends so that it takes up more space than necessary and does not stack compactly when it is filled. For many types of fruits and vegetables, it is desirable to open the package or container to display the condition of the fruit or goods therein and if the top is removable, the arrangement or assembly of the top layer is disturbed which detracts from its appearance. ,By providing a removable bottom which may be locked in place, the container may be filled from the bottom with the top appiied to the container and inverted, the container then filled from the underside and the bottom applied thereto, and if desired, a filled package of this kind may be inverted at any time and access had to the interior from the bottom for inspection and examination without disturbing the upper facing layer at the top of the container.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, a berry box or crate of rectangular dimensions comprises rectangular sides 6 and ends I,

each comprising one or more thin strips 8 of Wood veneer or the like, cut to shape and size and connected at one end by continuous bendable hoop 9 and at the other end, short rim sections [0 and II. l

' In the side walls, the stripsare usually overlapped and the rims and hoop are secured thereto by staples l2 which are clinched through at the back and overlapping the junctures between the end and side sections In and H.

At the inside of the bottom are end pieces l5 attached to the inner side of the end sections by the staples, and connected to the opposite sides in the same way are groove bottom strips l6 and I1, one of the strips as I! has notches l3 at the ends for seating a bottom therein.

The bottom comprises a number of longitudinally extending strips I9 to fit between ends of the container when the sides are assembled having an attached central cross piece 20 to fit between the side pieces and attached end pieces 2| wider than the bottom and the middle cross piece so that one end thereof is seated in a groove 22 of the bottom strip I6, and the other end extends through the notch H3 in the opposite strip l1 resting upon the upper side of the groove 23 therein. To secure the bottom in place, a pair of locking strips 24 with somewhat rounded ends are of a length sufficient to be seated in both of the grooves 22 and 23 when the end pieces 2| of the bottom are seated in the notches l8. By turning these locking strips into and out of engagement with the grooves, the bottom is locked into and released from engagement with the strips 16 and I1.

A lid or cover for the container comprises a plurality of longitudinal strips 25 connected at the center and ends by cross piece 26 and is adapted to fit on top of the edge provided by the folded sides of the container when it is assembled for use.

In order to connect the sides and ends of the container, the extremities are provided with interengaging staples 21 and 28 which project from the ends of the connected sections and are bent over in engagement of each other to lock them and the sections together. Extending upwardly on the outer faces of the sides are rounded ends of staples 29 which project upwardly above the cover when it is placed on top of the container. Extending outwardly from the cover are corresponding staple loops 3!) through which the loops 29 are inserted and these projections on opposite sides are adapted to be engaged by upwardly bent extremities 3| of a wire handle 32 looped inwardly through the staples 29 and thereby holding the lid or cover in place. The handle is of suflicient resilience that it may be sprung into or out of engagement with the loops 29 and the extremities being bent upwardly, tend to draw the sides together in lifting or carrying the container with a load therein.

With this construction, a box or container of this kind is assembled in fiat form for shipment and storage, and the other parts are ready for instant assembly whenever needed. The con-, nected sides and ends are bent to rectangular shape and secured together at the corners, the

top is applied and the container inverted if it is to be filled from the bottom, and after filling, the bottom is applied and locked in place, or if desired, the bottom may first be applied and locked in place, the receptacle filled from the top with no obstruction of handle or fastening means and when filled, the top is applied and secured in place by the handle, v

Similar fastening means 29 and 30 may be applied at the ends of the container and cover for additionally holding and looking it in place if desired. A measure of this kind will occupy the least space for the volume enclosed, the containers may be nested tightly together in courses or tiers without loss of space between them and the handle ofiers no obstruction for compact stacking as it will lie flatly against the cover when not in use.

Although this construction is described in connection with a berry box or fruit container which is not intended for permanent use, and such devices are generally made of light or flimsy materials so that they are adapted as a knock-down form for reuse, a more substantial structure of this kind may be made for alternate use and knock-down purposes.

I claim: A container structure having rectangular closely connected sides and ends open at the top and bottom, said sides having opposite side strips at the bottom, a cover for the structure, means for attaching the cover to the sides and ends, a removable rectangular bottom comprising connecting cross slats with those at the ends extending beyond those between the ends, the opposite side strips at the bottom having grooves open at one side at each end for receiving the ends of the said end cross slats and preventing the bottom from moving inwardly within the container and movable locking slats extending below the bottom and engageable at the ends with the grooves for holding the bottom in place.

- RALPH E. MOYER.

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