US417561A - Knockdown crate - Google Patents

Description

H. 0'. HYATT Q KNOOKDOWN GRATE.

(No Modal.)v

o. 417,561. Patented Dec. 17, 1889.

/5 w ZW/? Q V UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

HENRY OTIS I-IYATT, OF KINSTON, NORTH CAROLINA,

KNOCKDOWN cRATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 417,561, dated December 17, 1889.

Application filed July 8, 1889- Serial No. 316,841. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY OTIS HYATT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kinston, in the county of Lenoir and State of North Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fruit and Vegetable Crates; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, and to the letters of reference marked thereon;

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in crates of that class known as knockdown crates, designed for use in the transportation of fruits, vegetables, and the like.

It has for its object to provide a crate of this character by the use of which fruits and vegetables can be transported without injury to the fruit, and which may be readily collapsed when desired.

The invention consists in the peculiarities of construction and the combinations, arrangement, and adaptation of parts, all as more fully hereinafter described, shown in the drawings, and then particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which, with the letters of reference marked thereon,form a part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved crate set up ready for use. Fig. 2 is a like view of one of the heads, the key, and portions of. the securing-slats.

Referring now to the details of the drawings by letter, A designates the heads of the crate, which heads are formed around their peripheries with notches a, of proper size to receive the slats B, which form the body of the crate. These slats may be of any suitable material, and are rounded on their inner sides, as shown more clearly in Fig. 1, at the top thereof, above the head, to prevent bruising of the fruit. These slats near their ends are provided with the transverse grooves b,

as shown, to receive the edge of the heads between the notches when the parts are put together. The securing-slatsO are similar to the slats B, except that at their edges they are provided with the notches 0. These securing-slats are designed to fit within an enlarged notch cl in the periphery of the heads,

the side notches in said slats engaging thelugs 8 between the said larger notch and the adjacent notches.

D is the key, preferably wedge-shaped, there being two employed0ne at the top and one at the bottomas shown in Fig. 1.

E are the hoops or bands.

In pratice the heads are placed the proper distance apart, and the slats B placed in the notches in the heads, the grooves 19 engaging the edge of the heads between the notches. The securing-slats are then placed in position, as shown in Fig. 1, the bands placed over the ends of the slats and heads, and the keys are forced in between the two securingslats, pressing them outward when their side notches engage the adjacent lugs, and thus the parts are all bound firmly together. The bands may be secured to the slats by means of nails, staples, or other means, if desired.

WVhen it is desired to place fruit in the crate or to get at what there may be inside, it is only necessary to drive out the keys, push the securingslats together till they are freed from their engagement with the lugs on the heads and then slide them endwise. bands will hold the crate from collapsing.

The slats being rounded upon their inner sides, as hereinbefore described, allow the fruit, when shaken down, to arrange itself by falling into place without the sharp edges or corners of the slats cutting into or otherwise injuring the fruit, and when the crate is filled it will allow of rough handling without danger of bruising the fruit.

What I claim as new is 1. The combinaticn,with the notched heads, of the slats having grooves at their ends, the securing-slats, and the keys which enter between and force the securing-slats into engagement with the notched head, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the notched heads, the slats having transverse grooves at their ends engaging the notches in the head, the securiug-slats having side notches, and the keys which enter between and force the securing-slats in place, as set forth.

3. The combination,with the notched heads,

The

the slats having transverse grooves at their ends to engage the notched head, the securing-slats grooved at their ends at the side, the removable Wedge-shaped keys which force the notched securing-slats into engagement with the sides of the notches in the head, and the encircling bands, substantially as shown and described.

4. In a ventilating fruit or vegetable crate,

10 the combination, with the notched heads, of

the laterally movable or adjustable notched

Images