US2565236A

US2565236A - Collapsible box

Info

Publication number: US2565236A
Application number: US786097A
Authority: US
Inventors: Philip J Karam
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1947-11-14
Filing date: 1947-11-14
Publication date: 1951-08-21
Anticipated expiration: 1968-08-21

Description

Aug. 21, 1951 P. J. KARAM 2,565,236

COLLAPSIBLE BOX Filed Nov. 14, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 24 INVENTUR ATTORNEY P. J. KARAM COLLAPSIBLE BOX Aug. 21, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 14, 1947 INVENTHR 1) WWW ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 21, 1951 UNITED STATES" PATENT OFFICE COLLAPSIBLE BOX Philip J. Karam, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Application November 14, 1947, SerialNo'. 786,097

ification and illustrated in the accompanying,

drawings that form a part of the same.

The invention consists essentially of th novel features of construction as pointedv out broadly and specifically in the claim for novelty follow.- ing a description containing an explanation in detail of an acceptable form of the invention.

The objects of the invention are to devise a collapsible. box which may be easily and quickly collapsed or opened ready for use to furnish a collapsible box in which the top and bottom may be removed without injury to any part of the container; to eliminate the use of nail pullers or hammers in openingboxes, shipping cases and the like; to fabricate a collapsible box which may be used many times; to construct collapsible boxes which may be used for containers, folding, shelves, play pens and the like; to make a collapsible box which will be simple in construction and inexpensive to manufacture; and, generally, to provide a collapsible box which will be durable, dependable, and efficient for its many purposes.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the. cola lapsible box ready for use.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the box showing the top partially removed.

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing. the sides of the box in a partially collapsed position.

Figure 4- is a side view showing the sides of the box. ina collapsed position.

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view as taken on the line 5-5 in Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a sectional plan view, as taken on the line 66 in Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a perspective view show ng the top or bottom wall of the box.

Like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the various figures.

The collapsible box, a hereinafter described, may be made of plywood, wood, metal, cardboard and wood, or any other suitable material or combination of materials.

Referring to the drawings, the collapsible box consists of the side walls, as indicated by the numerals it and I I, and the end walls l2 and I3, which are each hingedly secured to one another. The top wall l4 and the bottom wall l5 of the collapsible box are adapted to be easily secured in position on the side and end walls ill, ll, I2 and 13, or removed therefrom.

The side Walls [0 and H of the collapsible box 2. each consist of a panel I-B which has the corners of same notched so as" to form. a projection on each end thereof. The reinforcing strips H and I8 are suitably secured to the outer surface of each of the panels l6, and are in the form of a rectangle.

The end walls l2 and I3 of the collapsiblebox. are each formed of a panel H! which is higher than that of the side walls It] and H. These panels is are rectangular in shape and each have a pair of vertical slots 20 towards the outer ends thereof. The reinforcing strips 2| and 22' are fixedly secured to the outer surface of the panel [9 at the top and bottom thereof. The

horizontal members

23 and 24 are fixedly secured to the upper and lower surfaces of the reinforcing strips 2| and 22,. respectively. These hori--

zontal members

23 and 24 abut the upper and lower edges of the panel Ill and each extend inward to form a flange or lipatthe top andbottom of the latter.

The side walls l0 and l I of the box are adapted to hingedly engage the end walls [2 and I3 so as to form the four walls of the box. In this respect, the projections 33' on each end of the panels l6 engage the slots 20 in the ends of the panels l9. The projections 33 on the panels I5 extend a predetermined distance through the slots 25 in the panels [9' and the

vertical strips

25 and 26 are fixedly secured to the ends of these projections. In this respect, it will be seen that the projections onthe panels l6 are free to hinge in the slots 20 in the panels l9, and that

thevertical strips

25 and 26 retain the former in these slots, thus providing a hinged connection between the side walls and the end walls of the box.

The front vertical strip 25 on the left-hand end of the panel I6 of the side wall I0 is secured to the inner side of the panel; while the rear vertical strip 26 on the left-hand end of the panel it of the side wall H is secured to the outer side thereof. Furthermore, the front vertical strip 25 on the right-hand end of the panel I6 of the side wall I0 is secured to the outer side of the panel; while the rear vertical strip 26 on the right-hand end of the panel I6 of the side wall H is secured to the inner side thereof. The reinforcin strips l1 and I8 which form a rectangle on the panel l6 of the side wall ID are located at the left-hand side thereof so as to leave a clearance between the former and the panel I9 of the end wall l3; while the reinforcing strips I! and I8 on the panel l6 of the side wall II are located towards the right-hand side of the same, thus leaving a clearance between these strips and the panel 19 of the end wall 12. The location of the reinforcing strips l1 and I8, and the

vertical strips

25 and 26, permit the sides of the box to be folded so that the same will be flat when not in use.

The top wall 14 and the bottom wall l5 are interchangeable and adapted to be fitted between the reinforcing strips ll on the side walls I and H and the flanges which are formed by the

horizontal members

23 and 24, which abut the upper and lower edges of the panels [9.

The top and bottom walls [4 and 15 each consist of the panel 27 which is adapted to hinge or bend in the centre thereof. The panel 21 is reinforced by the

frame portions

28 and 29, which are each U-shaped and abut one another to form a rectangle. The frame portion 29 has the sealing strips 30 and 3| fixedly secured thereto and the same extend over the frame 28.

The cleats 32 are secured on the inside of the panel 21 and suitably spaced apart so as. to engage the side and end walls of the box when the covers are assembled thereon.

In the use of the invention, the side walls If! and II and the end walls 12 and [3 are hinged open to form a rectangle. The bottom wall I is bent inward in a V-shaped manner and placed against the reinforcing strips H on the side walls It and H. The bottom wall is then flattened and the ends thereof extend in past the

horizontal members

23 and 24, which secure the same in position. The sealing strips 30 and 3| are nailed, or otherwise secured, to the frame portion 28 which prevents the panel 21 from bending, thus maintaining the same substantially in position with respect to the side and end walls of the collapsible box. The top wall 14 is similar to that of the bottom wall [5 and may be secured in position on the box in the same manner as hereinbefore described. In removing the top or bottom walls from the box, the sealing strips 38 and 3! are freed from the frame portion 28, thus permitting the panel 2! to be bent and removed therefrom in an opposite manner to that previously outlined in the assembly of the same.

In the foregoing, the box is described as having a front and back and also a top and bottom wall; however, it will be noted that these terms are employed for descriptive purposes only and that the box may be used in any position, with either the top or bottom wall serving as a cover.

What I claim is:

In a collapsible box, side walls each consist- 4 ing of a panel being notched at the corners thereof to form projections on each end thereof, reinforcing strips secured to the outer surface of each of said panels to form a rectangle, end walls each consisting of a panel higher than that of said side walls, the panels of said end walls being rectangular in shape and each having a pair of vertical slots therein towards the outer end thereof, reinforcing strips secured to the outer surface of said panel of said end walls at the top and bottom thereof, horizontal members fixedly secured to the upper and lower surfaces of said reinforcing strips on said end walls, said horizontal members abutting the upper and lower edges of said panels of said end walls and extending inward to form a lip at the top and bottom of the latter, the projections on the ends of said side walls engaging in the vertical slots in said end walls and extending therebeyond, vertical strips fixedly secured to the projection on the ends of said side walls to maintain the same hingedly secured to one another, top walls and bottom walls each consisting of a slightly flexible panel, a pair of U-shaped frame portions secured on the outer surface of each of said panels on said top and bottom walls, said U-shaped portions abutting one another to form a rectangle and permitting each of said panels of said top and bottom walls to bend along the centre thereof, sealing strips fixedly secured to one of said U-shaped frame portions on each of said top and bottom walls, said panels of said top and bottom walls being bent to facilitate the engagement of the ends thereof with the said end walls, and the free ends of said sealing strips being secured to the other of said U-shaped frame portions for substantially securing said panel of said top and bottom walls in a flat position.

PHILIP J. KARAM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 234,450 Yaxley Nov. 16, 1880 653,907 Duden July 17, 1900 786,858 Thomas Apr. 11, 1905 801,113 Sisley Oct. 3, 1905 1,029,161 Williams June 11, 1912 1,054,378 Williams Feb. 25, 1913 1,789,075 Kawasaki Jan. 13, 1931