US382622A

US382622A - John l

Info

Publication number: US382622A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1888-05-08
Anticipated expiration: 1905-05-08

Description

l .(No Model.)

J. L. RITTER. 's

EGG CRATE AND TRAY'. NO- `382s622f p 'Patentea-May'8188a.

lIO

of one of the trays.

l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

vJOHN L. RITTER, OF MILNES, VIRGINIA.

see CRATE AND TRAY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 382,622, dated May 8,1888.

Application filed January 3l, 1888. Serial No. 262,557. (No model.)v

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN L. RITTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milnes, in the county of Page and State of Virginia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Egg Crates and Trays, of Whichthe following isa specification. v Y

My invention is an improved egg-crateand tray therefor; and it consists in the improved construction hereinafter set forth, whereby a simple, efficient, and durable arrangement is provided.

In the accompanying drawings,fo1'ming part of this specification, Figure l is a perspective view of an egg-crate embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is avplan view of one of the trays. Fig. 3 is a sectional end view of the crate made up. Fig. 4 is a perspective view Fig. 5 is a vdetail perspective view of the fastening device employed at each en d of the crate. Figs. 6 and 7 are detail views of lmoditied forms.

The bodyvof the crate is made up of a series d of suspended trays, A, each of which is composed of longitudinal side bars, o, end bars, b, and intermediate bar, c. A wire, d, is knotted at one end, e, and is then passed through a perforation about midway between the upper and lowerv edges of one of the end bars, b. As shown in the drawings, the relative distance which said hole is located from the adjacent side of the tray is about one-sixth 'the width of the end bar. This said wired is then led longitudinally through the frame of said tray in about the central horizontal plane thereof, and said Wire passes through a perforation in the central bar and also through one in the oppo site end bar, both perforations being in alignment with that iirst referred to. The said Wire is then led'for. a short distance horizontally along the outer face of said baruntil it arrives at another perforation therein in about the same horiz'otal plane, at which point -it is passed through the opening and led back through the central and opposite end bars. This operation of leading the wire back and forth is continued until the entire 'width of the interior of each tray is provided with a series of longitudinal wires equidistantly arranged. A transverse wire, f, is then passed back and forth in the same horizontal plane through the side bars, the longitudinal wire being provided with depressions g for receiving said transverse wire,'so that the contiguous parts will not be objectionably irregular.

The tray is provided with a bottom,-B, of pasteboard or like material, which rests upon and is supported by the crossed wires'.` A series of perforations is made in each bottomB for the reception of the eggs. Each perfora- 6o tion is relatively so located that it -will be within the limits of each rectangular section of the crossed wires. g I L At each outer corner of the tray is secured an angle-plate, C, which is locatedin position in a higher plane than lthe frame of the tray, 'so that the upper part of the plate extends above the upper edge of the tray. This ar-r rangement, when the trays rest upon, each other, permits their intimate contact, but holds them rigidly against lateral displacement. By reference to Fig.l l it will be seen that the upper projecting portion of each-bracket einj braces thelower exposed portion of the corresponding'corner of the tray next above. AThe 75 arrangement of plates, therefore, forms an overlapping corner connection that insures the proper retention of the several trays in position.

When the trays have beentarranged in posi tion tothe desired number, a top, D, is placed upon the upper tray and the entire series and the top are rigidly connected togetherat each I v end by means of a vertical rod, E, which passes through perforations in the top and end bars of the successive trays and is threaded at its loWerend to engage a threaded opening in a `metal plate, F, secured onthe under side of the bottom tray. The top D at each end is provided with a'plate, G, perforated'to register with the opening therein, and through which projects the upper threaded end of the rod E. A winged nut, H, engages the upper threaded portion of the rod E. This nut can be so ad j usted that it will bear upon the plate G, and 95 thus rmly clamp the top and trays between the upper and lower plates. j

From the preceding description-it will be seen that the individual traysare of exceed ingly simple, durable, and useful construction,

and that they can be quickly and conveniently Y assembled in any desired number to present a crate of any required capacity. v

While I have explained with particularity4 ICG the specific arrangement of interlaoing Wires, I desire it understood that the construction set forth discloses but one arrangement of such wires, and many arrangements of such Wires may be resorted to without departing from my invention. In such modifications i-t will only be necessary that the wires form supports for the bottoms or cells.

The outer faces `of the sides and ends of each tray are provided with horizontal grooves to receive the external portions of the Wires and protect the latter against jars or shocks.

In each of the several trays I use the regular cells to prevent lateral displacement of the eggs.

In Figs. 6 and 7 I show modifications ofthe connection between the trays in lieu of the corner plates or brackets. The under and upper sides of the end rails of each tray in Fig. 6 are rabbeted to provide projecting shoulders, which interlock and prevent lateral displacement.

In Fig. 7 the same result is produced by tacking a strip on the inner side of the end rails of each tray, so as to cause said strip to project upward and catch or engage the tray above. It will be observed that in each of the three forms shown the same generic feature is preserved-fi. e., the end rails of the tray are provided with projecting shoulders which interlock and prevent lateral displacement. Y

I do not wish to restrict the use of my crate to carrying and storing eggs, as it may be employed to advantage as a fruit-crate.

Having described my invention, I claim- 1. An egg-tray having a bottom of wires, a perforated sheet of pasteboard or like material resting on the wires, and egg-cells resting on the board, as setvforth.

2. An egg-crate composed of a series of superimposed ,trays each having a bottom of wires, aperforated sheet of pasteboard or like material resting on said Wires, and cell-cases resting on 'said board, as set forth. 4 5

3. An egg-crate consisting of a series of superimposed trays vertically perforated at the ends, a top, a perforated plate on the bottom tray and having a threaded opening, a perforated plate on the top, and a rod passing 5o through said perforations, threaded at its lower end to engage said bottom plate and threaded at its upper end to receive a clampscrew, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my 55 own I havehereto affixed mysignaturein presence oftwo witnesses.

JOHN L. RITTER.

Vitnesses:

JOHN H. SIGGERs, E. G. SIGGEns.