US259522A - Coop or crate - Google Patents

Description

4 COOP 0B. CRATE.

No; 259,522.` Patented June 13, 1882.

NITED STATES ATENT ritten COOP OR CRATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 259,522, dated June 13, 1882.

Application lcd April 24, 1882.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, LEONIIART F. Enoes CHER, ot' Bruce, in the county of Barren and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in (loops or Crates; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in coops or crates; and it consists in the combination of the side pieces, which are grooved along each of their inner edges and across their ends, the end pieces, which are held between the side pieces when the side pieces are clamped together by bolts, and a top and bottom portion, which consists of a number of slats which are loosely connected together by means ot' straps, wires, cord, chains, or other flexible materials, and which parts are made to catch in the grooves in the side pieces, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

The object of my invention is to provide a coop or crate for the transportation of poultry, fruit, or other similar articles, and which can be taken apart and packed into a very small space when empty, so as not to occupy so much room,and thus save the cost ot' transportation when empty.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of myinyention. Fig. 2 is an end view of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section. Fig. et is a vertical longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 5 is a detached view of one of the side pieces.

A represents the side pieces, which are formed of four suitable timbers, which are secured together in any suitable manner, and which then have the slats B nailed across them. The upper one of the timbers in each side has its end made to extend any suitable distance beyond the coop or crate for the purpose of forming ahandle, C, by means of which the coop or crate can be easily carried around. Along the inner edge of each side piece, A, are made the longitudinal parallel grooves D, and extending across the side at each end is the vertical groove E. In the vertical groove E the ends of the end pieces, F, are made to catch, and these end pieces are securely held between the ends of the sides of the coop or (Model.)

crate by means of the clamping-bolts, which are made removable, so that the coop or crate can be readily taken apart when itis not needed for use.

The bottom of the crate or' coop is formed of a number of slats, I, which are loosely connected together by means of a cord,wire, strap, or other flexible material, J, which is fastened to the under side of each slat, so as to string them all-together. These slats J are fastened together just close enough to have their edges always in contact, so that when the slats J are slipped into the grooves of the inner edges of the two sides their edges will always be in contact with each other, and thus form a solid door.

The top of the crate is formed of a number of strips or slats, L, which are fastened to the same rope, cord, wire, or strap as the bottom slats, but at a greater distance apart, so that when placed in position they will be separated sufficiently far apart to form an open top. The bottom and top slats are united together by the same cord, wire, or strap, but are separated far-enough from each other to allow the cord, wire, or strap to pass up over one end of the crate or box, as shown. No slats or strips of any kind are connected to the wire or cords where they pass up over the ends of the coop or crate, because none are needed at this place, for the end ofthe crate is closed by one of the end pieces. Each of the cords, wires, or straps have secured to their free ends suitable hooks and eyes, O, so that after the bottom and top parts have been slipped into the grooves made to receive them in the side pieces, A, they can be fastened together, so that there is no chance for them to become accidentally displaced.

When the coop or crate is not needed for immediate use it is only necessary to unfasten the hooks or eyes, withdraw the top and bottom slats, then remove the bolts P, and the `whole coop or crate is divided into a number of pieces which can be packed into a very compact bundle, so as to occupy as little room as possible.

Should it be necessary at any time to take poultry or any article from the crate, it is only necessary to loosen the hooks and eyes and then that end of the top can be moved back a suitable distance to allow the hand to be freely inserted and any article removed.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. A coop or crate composed of the grooved side pieces, the end pieces which are held between the side pieces by means of clampingboits, and the exible top and bottom parts, which are slipped into the grooves made in the inner edges of the side pieces, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a crate or coop, the combination of the side pieces, A, provided with the grooves D E, end pieces, F, and bolts P, with the series of strips I L, secured to the cords or bands J, substantially as described.

LEONHRT FREDRICH FROESCHER.

Witnesses ADoLPII RAPP, J. T. G. WINLOCK.

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