US2864523A - Wirebound cleated plywood or corrugated fiber box - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 16, 1958 J. F. DEDMON WIREBOUND CLEATED PLYWOOD OR CORRUGATED FIBER BOX Filed July 7, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR: JAMES F. DEDMON Dec. 16, 1958 J. F. DEDMON WIREBOUND CLEATED PLYWOOD OR CORRUGATED FIBER BOX Filed July 7, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 7

HVVENTUR;

JAMES F. DEDMON BY %M ewrm ATT'YS Dec. 16, 1958 J. F. DEDMON 5 WIREBOUND CLEATED PLiWOOD OR CORRUGATED FIBER BOX Filed July '7, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. JAMES F. DEDMON BY WIREBOUND CLEATED PLYWOOD OR COUGATED FIBER BOX James F. Dedrnon, Milan, Tenn.

Application July 7, 1954, Serial No. 441,901

3 Uaims. (Cl. 217-12) This invention relates to a wirebound box or crate of thetype embodying encircling wires stapled to the cleats or slats of the box or crate.

The present invention provides a box made of a plurality of panels having inside vertically disposed slats or battens, and outside horizontally disposed cleats. Sheets of fiberboard, plywood, corrugated fiber or other material are arranged between the vertical slats or battens and the horizontal cleats, there being a wire positioned between the outer face of the inside vertical slats and the inner face of the sheets. The wire is stapled to the outer cleats by means of staples which pass through the vertical slats, the legs of the staples spanning the wire, and then passing through the sheet and into the outer horizontal cleats, where they may be clinched on the outside. Outside vertical cleats are arranged at the outer nited States Patent edges of each panel, and may be arranged between the horizontal cleats to provide great strength for the box, particularly at the corners thereof.

The primary object of the present invention resides in the provision of an improved box or crate having a plurality of hingedly connected panels, each panel consisting of outer cleats and inner slats, with a sheet of material arranged between the cleats and the slats and secured by binding wires arranged on the outer face of the sheet material and between the slats and the cleats.

Another important object of the invention consists in the provision of a new and novel box made up of hingedly connected panels having fiberboard, or other like material, to close the spaces between the slats and cleats, binding wires binding the elements of each together in such a manner that the panels of the crate may be made in a continuous operation.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a new and improved wirebound box or crate which is strong and durable in construction, which is so constructed as to provide rigidity, particularly at the corners thereof, and which is substantially dustproof and capable of being collapsed in real fiat condition for shipping purposes.

A still further object is the provision of an improved box or crate having hingedly connected panels, each panel and the completed box being rigid and durable in construction, capable of being readily and economically manufactured and easily and compactly collapsed for storing purposes.

Numerous other objects and advantages will be apparent throughout the specification which is to follow.

The accompanying drawings illustrate a certain selected embodiment of the invention, and the views therein are as follows:

Fig. l is a detail perspective exploded view showing the elements of the improved box or crate;

Fig. 2 is a detail top plan view of a certain number of panels which may constitute the box or crate before the panels are connected together at their free ends to form the box;

Fig. 3 is a detail exterior elevational view showing the 2,864,523 Patented Dec. 16, 1958 various connected panels of the crate or box before the free ends are connected together, said view looking in the direction of the arrows 33 ofFig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a detail inside elevational view looking in the direction of the arrows 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a detail endelevationalview of the box showing the same in its collapsed position;

Fig. 6 is a detail vertical. sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a detail vertical sectional view on the line 7-7 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is a detail horizontal sectional view on the line 8-3 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 9 is a detail perspectiveview showing a modified form of panel whereinthe horizontal and vertical outer cleats extend fully across the box in both directions;

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9 showing another modification of panel construction;

Fig. 11 is a detail perspective view of a panel similar to those disclosed in Figs. 1 to 9, but showing the sheet material arranged in the spaces between vertical and horizontal cleats; and

Fig. 12 is a detail horizontal sectional view on the line 1212 of Fig. 11.

The particular construction herein disclosed for illustrating the invention comprises a box or crate made up of a plurality of hingedly connected panels. The number of panels employed may be any number desired to meet the purposes intended but is shown herein as being four to constitute a rectangularly shaped box. The four panels numbered 1 to 4, inclusive, each comprise spaced inner vertical slats or battens 5, preferably arranged at the ends of the panels which would be at the corners of the box. However, if the box is to be relatively large in size, more battens or slats may be provided. Also, instead of having additional intermediate slats or battens extending vertically, they may be angularly disposed, or they may be arranged in crosswise fashion. In any event, the slats or battens 5 will .be angularly or vertically disposed with respect to the horizontal, and therefore are referred to herein as being vertical slats or battens.

Each of the panels 1 to 4 comprises the inner vertical slats 5 and the exterior horizontal cleats 6, two vertical slats or battens 5 and three horizontal cleats being specifically shown in all views of the drawings. Sheet material 7, such as corrugated fiber, fiberboard, plywood, or other suitable material, is mounted between the outer surfaces of the vertical slats or battens 5 and the inside surfaces of the horizontal cleats 6.

Binding material 8, such as a binding wire, is arranged on the inside of the sheet material 7 and on the outer contacting surface of the slats or battens 5 at the upper, lower and central position. The binding wire 8, in each instance, is held in place by means of staples 9, the legs of which straddle the bindingwires 8, pass through the sheet material 7, and then pass through the horizontal cleats 6, the free ends of the staples being clinched on the outer faces of the cleats 6, as indicated at 10, Fig. 3. The binding wire 8 is so positioned with respect to the horizontal cleats 6 that the wire will be arranged substantially midway between the upper and lower edges of the cleats, of the narrow panels 2 and 4.

The binding wires 8 also are arranged so that they will extend between the inner surface of a sheet 7 and the outer surface of the vertical slats or battens 5, as clearly shown in the various figures, see particularly Figs. 6 and 7.

Each panel 1 to 4 also may include exterior vertical cleats 11 which are arranged at the end of each panel adjacent the outer'edges of each slat or batten 5, the outer vertical side edges of the cleats 11 preferably being flush with the outer edges of the battens 5. These outer vertical cleats 11 are specifically shown herein as being relatively short and arranged between the horizontal cleats 6. However, the outer vertical cleats 11 may extend the full height of the box, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10. In Fig. 9, the vertical cleats 11 are shown as being rabbeted, as indicated at 12, and contact corresponding rabbeted ends 13 at the ends of the outer horizontal cleat 6, Fig. 9. This latter construction, therefore, provides that both the horizontal and the vertical cleats 6 and 11, respectively, extend the full width and length of the box.

These outer vertical cleats 11 have their inner surfaces contacting the outer surfaces of the sheets 7 and are arranged opposite the slats or battens 5, so as to hold the sheet material 7 in locked or impinged position. Additional staples 9 pass through the battens 5, the sheet material 7, and through the vertical cleats 11, being clinched over on the outside of the vertical cleats.

The inner vertical slats or battens are relatively thin, and being arranged in the inside of the box inwardly of the cleats, permits the box to be collapsed in real flat position, as shown in Fig. 5. If the binding wires 8 were arranged exteriorly of the cleats 6, there would be a binding action of the wire against the corners of each panel, particularly when the ends of the wires are locked together, and prevent the box from being fully collapsed in real fiat form.

In cases where the box is to be a four sided box, as herein shown, there will be four panels. Panels 1 to 4 are spaced apart, and the wires 8 span these spaces; thus the four panels are hingedly connected together by the binding wires 8. Every four panels are spaced apart a distance greater than the spacing of the individual four panels which constitute the enclosing side walls of the box, Figs. 2 to 4. The binding wires 8 are severed at the end of every four panels, that is, between each end panel 4 and the adjacent end panel 1 of the next succeeding group of panels, so as to leave projecting wire ends 14 extending from the outer ends of panels 1 and extending outwardly from panel 4 as indicated at 15, Fig. 2. These free ends 14 and 15 are adapted to be secured together as by twisting or otherwise, as indicated at 16, Figs. 1 and 5. During the manufacture of the boxes of the present invention, the slats or battens 5, the cleats 6 and 11, the sheet material 7, and the wire 8 are all fed continuously in flat form. The feeding is such that a greater space is provided between every fourth panel and the next succeeding panel than the space between the other connecting panels, thus providing the greater lengths for the ends 14 and 15 of the wires to permit the twisting 16. Every fourth panel has the additional space to provide a relatively long end of wire to accomplish the twisting purpose.

The panels 2 and 4, as herein specifically shown, are made somewhat less in height than the corresponding panels 1 and 3, as clearly shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, so as to accommodate the ends of a top member 17 which interfits with the box when expanded. The top 17, Fig. 1, is positioned so that the outer edges 18 of the rails 19 will be flush with the outer surfaces of the cleats 6 at the outer surfaces thereof. The side stiles 20 of the top 17 will be recessed below the top edges of the outer cleats 6 of the panels 1 and 3. The top 17 thus may be locked in place by driving nails through the end rails 18 and into the upper edges of the cleats 6 of panels 2 and 4. The stiles 20 ofthe top 17 have their upper surfaces flush with the top edges of the top cleats 6 of the panels 1 and 3, thus permitting nails to be driven into the sides of the top cleats 6 of the panels 1 and 3 and into the side edges of the stiles 20 of the top 17. A sheet 21 of fiberboard or plywood is adapted to be mounted on the inner surface of the top and secured to the stiles and rails of the top 17 by staples or nails.

The bottom 22 may comprise two outside end members 23, 23, Fig. 1, to which end cross members 24, 24 are secured by nailing, or otherwise. The cross members 24 extend inwardly from the outer ends of the longitudinal members 23, whereupon the cross members 24 will fit within the bottom horizontal cleats 6, while the vertical cleats 11 of the panels will be flush with the outer end and edge surfaces of the cleats 6. Therefore, nails may be driven through the extending ends of the longitudinal members 23 and driven into the outer or bottom surfaces of the bottom cleats 6 of the panels 2 and 4. The bottom 22 also may be fastened in place by driving nails through the sides of the bottom cleats 6 of the panels 1 and 3 and into the side edges of the stiles 23. Sheet material 25 may be secured to the bottom 22.

Depending upon the size of the box, and the weight of the material which is to be put into the box, the top and bottom construction may be reversed, as in some instances the weight may be suspended from the top and in other cases it may be supported on the bottom. Therefore, the top and bottom members 17 and 22 may be reversed, depending upon conditions. The bottom 22 may be strengthened by one or more bracing members 26 if desired.

Instead of employing the cleat construction disclosed in Figs. 1 to 8, or the modification shown in Fig. 9, the horizontal cleats 6, Fig. 10, may be provided with tongues 27 which fit into recesses 28 formed in the inner side edges of the vertical cleats 11.

In some instances it may not be necessary to have the sheet material 7 of the panels 1 to 4 impinged between the cleats 6 and 11 and the slats or battens 5, as shown in Figs. .11 and 12. It is desirable, however that the box or crate be relatively dustproof. Therefore, the sheet material 7 may be of a size to fit between the inner edges of the vertical cleats 11 and between the inner edges of the vertical cleats 6, thereby saving considerable of the sheet material 7. Also, to furthersave sheet material, the sheet material 7 may be of such a size that it will extend only between the openings defined by inner peripheral edges of the vertical cleats 11 and the opposed edges of the horizontal cleats. In this latter embodiment where three horizontal cleats 6 are employed, the sheet material 7 may fill in only the openings between adjacently disposed horizontal cleats and the inner sides of the vertical cleats 11, Figs. 11 and 12, the sheet material being defined by the horizontal edges 29 of the horizontal cleats 6 and the vertical edges 30 of the vertical cleats 11.

The box or crate of the invention, therefore, embodies all the advantages of a conventional six sided box having the six sides nailed together. The invention also has all the advantages of a wirebound crate. It has none of the disadvantages of either. The box of the invention can be made continuously in the manner of an open wirebound crate, but still embody all the features of a conventional six sided box in which the sides, bottom and top are all nailed together. The invention also provides a box which is considerably stronger than either the conventional box construction or the conventional wirebound box or crate construction. It overcomes the disadvantages of both and includes all the advantages of both. The particular construction disclosed herein provides for complete collapsing of the crate in real fiat form and embodies a strong corner construction.

The invention also contemplates the use of cross slats or diagonal slats or battens, to be applied to the panels 1 to 4 wherever necessary, in order to further strengthen the device, and such strengthening or bracing construction will depend entirely upon the size of the box or crate of the invention as well as the weight of the commodity for which the box is to be used.

Changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages, and the right is hereby reserved to make all such changes as fall fairly within the scope of the following claims.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. A collapsible wirebound structure, such as a box or crate, including a plurality of spaced apart hingedly connected closed side panels, each panel comprising outer vertically spaced horizontal cleats, inner horizontally spaced vertical battens adjacent the opposite ends of said cleats coacting with said cleats to define a polygonally shaped open frame, a sheet of material between said battens and said cleats covering the entire frame between the cleats and battens to define the closed panel, a plurality of binding wires arranged on the inside of the sheet material and arranged between said battens and said sheet of material, one each extending substantially parallel to a cleat, all of said wires serving to hingedly connect all of said panels, fastening means securing said cleats, battens, sheet of material and wires together, whereby none of the elements may move relative to any other element, and top and bottom closures for said structure.

2. A collapsible wirebound structure, such as a box or crate, including a plurality of spaced apart hingedly connected closed side panels, each panel comprising outer vertically spaced horizontal cleats, inner horizontally spaced vertical battens adjacent the opposite ends of said cleats coacting with said cleats to define a polygonally shaped open frame, a sheet of material between said battens and said cleats covering the entire frame between the battens and the cleats to define the closed panel, a plurality of binding wires arranged between said battens and said sheet of material and arranged on the inside face of the sheet material, one each extending substantially parallel to a cleat, all of said wires serving to hingedly connect all of said panels, staples securing said cleats, battens, sheet of material and wires together, outer vertical cleats secured over the outer surface of said sheet and having their outer side edges substantially flush with the outer side edges of said vertical battens, whereby none of the elements may move relative to any other element, and a bottom for said structure.

3. A collapsible wirebound structure, such as a box or crate, including a plurality of spaced apart hingedly connected closed side panels, each panel comprising outer vertically spaced horizontal cleats, inner horizontally spaced vertical battens adjacent the opposite ends of said cleats coacting with said cleats to define a polygonally shaped open frame, a sheet of material between said battens and said cleats covering the entire frame to define the closed panel, a plurality of binding wires arranged on the inside of the sheet material and between said battens and said sheet of material, one each extending substantially parallel to a cleat, all of said wires serving to hingedly connect all of said panels, staples straddling the binding wires and securing said cleats, battens, sheet of material, wires together, and outer vertical cleats secured over the outer surface of said sheet of material and extending between the outer horizontal cleats, said vertical cleats having their outer side edges substantially flush with the outer side edges of said vertical battens, whereby none of the elements may move relative to any other element, and a bottom to close said open frame.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 587,923 Bokop Aug. 10, 1897 946,278 Sherman Jan. 11, 1910 1,122,864 Cochran Dec. 29, 1914 1,845,194 Rosenmund Feb. 16, 1932 1,908,100 Andrews -s May 9, 1933 1,940,285 Babcock Dec. 19, 1933 2,332,652 MacKenzie Oct. 26, 1943 2,609,957 Sester Sept. 9, 1952 2,743,010 Koester Apr. 24, 1956

Images