US41049A - Improvement in cases for conveying fruit-boxes - Google Patents

Description

Nifrn *rares Armar OFFICE.

R. H. BAKER, OF JAMESTOVN, NEV YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN CASES FOR CONVEYING FRUIT-BOXES.

To @ZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, It. H. BAKER, of Jamestown, in the-county of Chautauqua and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Fruit-Case; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a side view of my invention, partly in section and in a closed state. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same in astate adjusted for use; Fig. 8, a plan or top View of acorner of one of the frames pertaining to the same; Fig. et, a vertical section of one of the boxes pertaining to the same; Fig. 5, a plan or top view of a portion of one of the boxes pertaining to the same; Fig. 6, a detached perspective view of one of the clamps of a box pertaining to the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

The object of this invention is to obtain a case for' conveying or transporting fruit-sueh as strawberries, blackberries, the-which may be readily adjusted or arranged to securely hold a number of boxes of a suitable capacity, and when not required for use, or when the boxes are emptied of their contents, be capable of being adjusted in a very compact form, so as to facilitate the transportation of the cases back to their destination.

To this end the invention consists in the employment or use of a number of frames arranged in connection with a number of boxes so constructed that they may be readily taken apart and adjusted together, as hereinafter fully set forth. t

To enable those skilled in the art to fully understand and construct my invention, I will proceed to describe it.

A A A/ A represent rectangular frames, which may be constructed of wood of any proper size. These frames are of equal dimensions, and the two central ones, A A, and lower one, A, are provided at each angle or corner with an upright angular plate, B. These plates are of metal, and extend upward a short distance above the frames A A A. rIhe two central frames, A A, have each a horizontal metal plate, C, secured in their angles at their inner sides, as shown in Fig. 3,

and nearly at the centers of the sides and end pieces of the frames, as shown in Fig. l. The lower frame, A, has a bottom board, a, attached to it, which forms the bottom of the case, and thc top frame, A', has a top board, b, secured to it, which forms the top of the ease. (See Fig. l.)

D represents rectangular boxes, the ends of the sides c of which abut against each other with a ruiter-joint, as shown clearly in Fig. 5. rIhe sides c, near their ends, have vertical grooves' d made in them to receive metal clamps E. These clamps are constructed of metal, and may be described as being formed of a piece of sheet metal bent in angle form, and having its edges bent to form right angles with its sides j', as shown clearly in Fig. 6. Each clamp E is provided with a bottom plate, g, which project-s considerably beyond the bent edges c. The bent edges e of the clamps iit within the grooves d in the side c of the boxes, and iirmly hold the same together, and the bottom plates; g, ofthe clamps extend beyond the inner sides of the boxes and form bearings or supports for the bottoms 7L of the boxesl (See Fig. 4.)

The case is put 4together as follows: On the bottom a of the lower frame, A, two boxes D are placed side by side, said boxes being filled with the fruit, and upon said boxes a frame A is laid, the plates C of which rest upon the outer edges of the boxes. Within this frame A the lower ends of two more filled boxes D are placed, and on these boxes the outer frame A is placed, and within this last-named frame A the lower ends of two more filled boxes D are placed, on which the top frame, A, rests. The several frames A A A A are connected or fastened in position by hooks F F', as shown clearly in Fig. 2.' The. boxes D are not provided with lids, as .the bottoms of the upper tiers of boxes serve as tops for the lower ones, while the top board, I), of the upper frame, A, serves as a top for the upper tier. /Vhen the several parts are thus adjusted together, the boxes D will be securely held in position and the fruit protected from injury. Vhen the boxes are emptied of their contents, they .are taken apart by withdrawing the clamps E, and the sides c connected together in pairs by the clamps, as shown in Fig. 1, one sidec being laid upon the other, and the several pairs of sides placed side by side Within the several fra1nes7which are placed inclose con,- tact one upon the other, with the bottoms la of the boxes being placed between the layers of sides, as shown in Fig. l. The plates B at the angles or corners of the frame prevent the latter from moving laterally out of proper position, and the frames are securely connected together by the hooks F, as shown in Fig. 1. llhus it will be seen that when the boxes D are emptied of their contents the case may be adjusted together in a very compact form.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is Y A fruit-case constructed of a series of boxes so arranged as to admit of being taken apart and adjusted together, and a series of frames to receive the boxes7 all arranged substantially as set forth.

R. H. BAKER. Vitnesses:

M. H. HUTToN, GEORGE HUNT.

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