US496024A

US496024A - Fruit-picking basket

Info

Publication number: US496024A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1893-04-25
Anticipated expiration: 1910-04-25

Description

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL CAMPBELL VARNER, OF NEIV YORK MILLS, NEW YORK.

FRUIT-PICKING BASKET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 496,024, dated April 25, 1893.

Application led June 28, 1892. Serial No. 438,315. (No model.)

T 0 @ZZ whom, 25 11a/ay concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL CAMPBELL WARNER, of New York Mills, in the county of Oneida and State of New York, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Fruit- Pickin g Baskets; and I do hereby declare that the following isa full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, Which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in baskets having opening bottoms, and more particularly intended for gathering fruit.

In the drawings, Figure l shows a front elevation of my basket. Fig. 2 shows an end elevation, with bottom closed. Fig. 3 shows an end elevation with the bottom partially opened in the act of discharging fruit. Fig. 4 shows a plan view with the bottom closed. Fig. 5 shows a bottom view. Fig. 6 shows in perspective, the frame work of the basket in connection with a portion of the basket lining. Fig. 7 shows the frame work of a moditied form of construction of the basket.

The basket consists of suitable frame work composed of vertical wires as 2, and horizontal wires as 3, on the inner side of which frame is secured a suitable canvas lining as 4, by sewing on to the wires of the frame.

The top and bottom of the basket are open; the bottom being closed, as shown in Figs. 1 to 6, by a pair of hinged doors, 5 and 6, the door 5 being hinged at 5L and 5b to one side of the frame, and the door 6 being hinged at 6a and 6b to the opposite side of the frame.

The basket is intended to be worn or carried by the person using it, hence is provided with a concave side to adapt it to t against the side of the person. The opposite side of the basket is preferably made convex to conform to the inner side in order to increase the capacity and add to the general appearance of the basket. Hinged adjacent to the swinging edges of the two bottom pieces, is provided a bottom supporter 7, which is provided with two pliable prongs or forks v7a and 7b engaging the two edges of the bottom and extending upward above the upper edge of the basket and has attached thereto a carrying strap 8 adapted to pass over the shoulder of the user. The bottom supporter is retained against the end of the basket by an extra wire or retainer 9 forming a slot opening in which the bottom supporter is free to vibrate.

In the wire of the supporter, adjacent to the concave side of the basket, is provided a double or loop l0, which forms a projection adapt- 6o ed to catch over the upper edge of the frame of the basket and lock the bottom doors in closed position.

11 is an eye formed by a loop in the wire 9, adapted to receive the thumb or finger of the operator, and is located in a position so that when the thumb is insertedrin the eye, the lingers mayreach the arm 7 ot the supporter and throw the projection lO oft from the upper edge of the frame to release the bottom. 'zo A spring l2 is provided in the line of the hinges of the bottom part 6, having one of its arms secured at l2 to the frame of the basket and the other arm secured at l2b to the end of the bottom piece and tensioned to close the bottom on to the lower end of the basket; this spring, however, is not essential and may be omitted.

In the modified form of construction, shown in Fig. 7, the bottom is provided in one piece 8o as a., instead of two, as in the other figures; which bottom is hinged at one side, as shown at b b, to the side and bottom wire on the outside of the basket.

The bottom is supported in closed position by the strap c, which is secured at either end, as shown at d, on the swinging edge of the bottom, and extending upward to the upper edge of the basket, passes through suitable retaining loops e, and thence over the shoul- 9o der of the user.

The operation of the device is substantially as follows: The basket being supported on the person of the user, is held closed by the supporter and maybe locked by engaging the projections l0 with the upper edge of the basket. The basket may then be iilled with fruit or other articles. When it is desired to remove the fruit from the basket the projections lO are thrown oft from the upper edge roo of the frame, when by grasping the frame work the basket is supported thereby throwing the weight of the fruit on to the unsupported bottom, which is opened against the tension of the spring 12, and the fruit discharged through the opening, without bruising or injuring it, if the basket is held in close proximity to the surface upon which the articles of fruit are to be deposited. When the fruit has been deposited from the basket, the bottom may be closed by means of the supporter 7 or by the action of the spring 12, and by throwing the projections l over the upper edge of the frame, the basket is again in readiness for use.

In the modified form of construction, shown in Fig. 7, the basket will hold the articles therein, as long as the basket is supported by means of the strap c which extends down to and is connected with the bottom.

When it is desired to discharge the fruit from the basket the frame may be raised or` supported independently of the strap, when the fruit in the basket will cause the bottom to open,al1owin g the articles to escape through the opening.

The frame work of the basket may be made closed so as to dispense with the canvas covering 4; but I prefer to use the canvas cover, as it is less injurious to the fruit, for the pickingof which the basket is particular] yadapted.

Other changes and modifications in and from the construction described, may be made without departing from the equivalents of my construction.

What I desire to secure by Letters Patent 1S- l. A fruit basket having a concave side adapted to fit against the side of the person, a hinged, outwardly opening bottom, and a supporting strap adapted to be passed over the shoulder and connected with and supporting the swinging edge of the bottom,substan tially as set forth.

2. The combination in a basket of a frame therefor, open at the lower end, a swinging bottom hinged to one side of the frame,a bottom supporter secured to the swinging edge of the vbottom and having a locking projection adapted to be engaged with the frame work of the basket and secure the bottom in closed position,thesupporter extending above the frame work of the basket and furnishing handles or points of attachment for a supporting strap or belt, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination in a basket of a frame work therefor open at the lower end, and a two part hinged bottom, each part being hinged at its outer side to the frame work; a forked bottom supporter engaging each of the parts of the bottom and extending above the frame work, providing handle or means of attachment for a supporting strap and having l a locking projection adapted to engage the upper edge of the basket and lock the bottom in closed position, substantially as set forth. 4. The combination in a basketof a frame work forming the body of the basket and being open at its lower end and a two part bottom hinged at its outer edges to the frame work and adapted to open apart, a bottom supporter havingtwo prongs or parts, adapted to engage each of the parts of the bottom extending above the frame work of the basket, and having a locking projection adapted to be engaged with the basket and providing handles or means of supporting the basket above the frame Work, and a retaining wire for securing the supporter against the end of the basket and allowing it to be vibrated to throw the locking projection into and 'out of engagement, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have aiixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL CAMPBELL WARNER. Witnesses:

GEORGE C. CARTER, MARY A. KELLER.