US515072A - Fruit-basket - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

T. COGSWELL.

FRUIT BASKET. y No. 515,072. Patented Feb. l2O, 1894.

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TATES PATENT muon.

FRUIT-BASKET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 515,072, dated February 20, 1894.

Application filed October 24, 1892.

To a/ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMASv GoGswELL, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of San Diego, in the county of San Diego, State of California, have invented a new and useful Fruit-Basket; andIdo here- -by declare that the following is a full, clear,

and exact description of my said invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My present invention is an improved basket or similar receptacle especially adapted for the use of fruit gatherers, berry pickers, duc.; and its objects are to enable the contents of the basket to be readily discharged therefrom without bruising or manual handling thereof; and to enable the bail or handle to be turned down out of the way when the baskets are to be transported lor stored; or to facilitate the discharge of the contents of the basket by enabling the body to be swung on the bail.

The invention therefore consists in the novel construction of the basket; in the novel construction of the bailV attaching devices; and in the novel combination with the body of a flexible discharge chute or funnel.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a basket constructed in accordance with my invention and embodying the several features thereof. Fig. 2 is a detail side elevation of the basket' indicating the bail folded. Fig. 3 is a part side elevation and part section showing the position of parts when the basket is to be emptied of its contents. Fig. @is a transverse vertical section through the basket and bail attaching devices.

Referring to the drawings by letters, A, designates the body of the basket, which is shown of the ordinary oblong form, but the shape and construction of the body may be varied at pleasure of the manufacturer. This body has its sides, bottom and one end fixed in relation to each other, but the remaining end piece B, is hinged to the sides at the upper edge as indicated at a, by any suitable hinge or pivotal connections so that such endkmay be unclosed as indicated in Fig. 3, to allow the contents of the body to escape. Any suit- Serial No. 449.818. (No model.)

able device may be employed to lock this end when closed.

In order to facilitate the transfer of the contents of the body from it to another receptacle, I employ a flexible funnel O, consisting of a bottomless sack one end of which is secured to and around the hinged end of the body as shown, so that when the body is tilted as indicated in Fig. 3, the hinged end piece B, will swing open in the sack and the contents of the body can escape into the sack and therethrough into any other receptacle desired without handling of such contents. This feature is especially desirable in handling fruits, as the fruit will be guided from the body into the desired receptacle without handling it and transferred Without bruising. When it is not desired to use the funnel sack, it is folded over the hinged end piece B, and underneath the body, as indicated in Figs. l and 4, and secured in such position by a pivoted clamping Wire D, which binds the end of the sack to the bottom of the body. The sack then in connection with wire D, keeps the end piece B, closed. up as indicated in Fig. 3, releasing thesack and end piece B, when desired.

Wire D, may be replaced by other suitable securing devices if desired which will hold the sack or end piece closed.

E, represents the bail of ordinary form,but in its ends are longitudinal slots c. The ends of the bail are adapted to enter combined socket and hinge pieces F, attached to the outer sides of the body. Each piece F, has an earf, on its upper end through which passes a pivot pin G, which also passes through the slot e, in the end of the bail, and through the top edge of the body, forming a bond between ear f, and the body, and at the same time con ining the end of bail to and between the piece F, and side of body. When the bail is drawn up to the position indicated in dotted lines Fig. 2, and full linesFig. 3, 'the pins G, are at the bottom of slots e, and the bail can then be turned over sidewise, as indicated in full lines Fig. 2, or the basket can be tilted as indicated in Fig. 3, because the ends of the bail are then clear of the sides of the pieces F.

When the bail is pushed down as indicated in Figs. l and 4., the ends thereof are confined The Wire D, can be turned IOO between the sides of the pieces F, so that turn- Y ing of the bail on the body is prevented; in order to hold the bail in this position, rigid with the body, spring catches are used. `As shown, I have used fiat springs H, H, the upper ends of which are secured to earsf, by the pins G,'as indicated clearly in the drawings, though it may be lsecured by an independent fastening. Near the lower end of each spring is secured a stud or tooth h, which is adapted to project through an opening f in the socket piece F, near the bottom thereof into the slots e, in the bail ends, as indicated in Figs. l and 2. When these teeth are thus engaged with slots e, it is impossible to pull the bail up out of the socket pieces, consequently the bail is.

locked rigidly to the body and the latter can be handled as an ordinary basket. When it is desired to tilt the basket on the bail as indicated in Fig. 3, or to fold the bail, as indicated in full lines Fig. 2, the lower ends of springs H, are pulled outward, so as to Withdraw teeth h, from the openings f', and are turned to one side as indicated in Fig. 2. The bail can then be drawn out, until arrested by pins Gr.

The pieces F, as indicated in the drawings, may be made of stamped metal, or may be cast and are secured to the sides of the basket by rivets or nails f2.

As the invention may be applied to a variety of vessels, and forms thereof, and as the mechanical parts are subject to structural variation without varying their functions or oftices, I do not conne myself to the precise construction herein shown and described.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as new is- 1. In a fruit basket, the combination of the body and bottomless sack attached to the end thereof, and suitable means for holding the sack around the end and bottom of body, substantially as described.

2. The combination of the body having one end piece hinged substantially as described; with a funnel secured to the end of body adjoining the hinged end piece, substantially as described.

3. The combination of the body having its sides, bottom and one end piece fixed in relation to each other, and its remaining end piece hinged substantially as described; with a bottomless sack secured to the body around the hinged end thereof, and means for closing such end piece, substantially as described.

4. The combination of the body, the combined hinge and socket pieces secured to the sides thereof, and the bail having its end slotted and adapted to engage said socket pieces, the fixed pivot pins engaging the slots in the bail, and the catches for holding said bail rigid, substantially as and for the purpose described.

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5. The combination of the body, the combined hinge and socket pieces secured to the sides thereof, the bail having its ends pivotally connected to said socket pieces and the spring catches adapted to lock the ends of the bail when they are forced into said socket pieces, substantially as described.

6. The combination of the body, the bail having its ends slotted, the fixed pins engaging said slots for pivotally connecting the bail to the body, and the devices for locking said bail rigidly to the body when desired, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. The combination of the body having one end piece hinged substantially as described, with a funnel secured to the end of body adjoining the hinged end piece, and the bail pivotally connected to the body, and means for locking said bail rigidly to the body, substantially as and for the purpose described.

8. In a fruit basket the combination of the body, having hinged end B, the bail E, the hinge socket pieces F, F, the spring catches H, H, and the bottomless sack C, all constructed and arranged substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

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

THOMAS COGS WELL.

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