US518783A - Folding basket - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

B. M. HUDGIN. FOLDING BASKET.

' No. 518,783. I Patented Apr. 24,1894.

Nr'rno STATE ATENT Fries.

EMILY M. HUDGIN, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

FOLDING BASKET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 518,783, dated April 24:, 18 94. Application filed August 28, 1393. Serial No. 484,256. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known-that I, EMILY M. HUDGIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oincinnati, Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Folding Baskets, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to baskets, or handreceptacles of a similar nature, designed to be carried by hand for the transportation of packages; its object being to produce a novel receptacle of this nature capable of being folded into small compass when out of use in order that it may, itself, be conveniently carried or packed.

To this end, myinvention consists in a folding basket or hand-receptacle having a skeleton frame preferably formed of wires, strips, or tubes, of metal or of any light and strong material suitable for the purpose, constituting, when unfolded, and in connection with its cover, a receptacle or basket for the purpose indicated. The general principle of construction lies in combining and pivoting to center-pieces in successive radial relations, as hereinafter specified, a series of yokeor bow-shaped braces or ribs, each consisting of an outer bow or yoke'with stems hinged to and prolonging its parallel ends. All the stems are pivoted at their free ends in close radial relations to opposite center-pieces, so that the braces may fold together in parallel relations, and the stems, when thus brought together in parallel relations at opposite sides, may fold inward in a body at each side-one body over the other-by means of their hinged joints. The covering of the frame may beof cloth, leather, or of any material capable of being folded; and may be placed outside or inside of the frame, or made double so as to cover at'both'sides.

Myinvention is illustrated in the aecompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1, is a general side-elevation of my improved folding basket or receptacle. complete; Fig. 2, a perspective view of the skeleton folding frame complete, with the covering removed; Fig. ,3, a front or Side-elevationIcorresponding with Fig. 1, of the skeleton frame with radial braces folded together into parallel relations in the first step of folding; Fig. 4, a view of the partially folded frame in a plane perpendicular to that of the last. fig-v ure, and showing in dotted lines the position of parts when completely folded together. Figs. 5, and 6, are detail end and side views, respectively, of the central catch-device for holding the parts in open or unfolded position for use; and Fig. 7, a detail View of a slight modification of structure.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, A, designates the basket or receptacle embodying my invention. The skeleton frame, indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1, and in full perspectivein Fig. 2, consists of a series of yoke or how shaped braces, 19, extended by parallel stems, a, (designated in series order by consecutive numbers) which are pivoted to center-pieces, O, at the median cross line of the body of the basket. The center-pieces consist of two similar metal plates c, 0f the form shown more clearly in Figs. 5 and 6, which receive the stems, a, between them upon pivots inserted from sid to side through the plates. The braces consist in each case of yoke-shaped .ends, I), having stems a, hinged to and extending the free ends of the yoke portion, in parallel relations. The vupper-ends of the stems are pivoted at each side of the frame to the center-pieces, C, so that each brace swings in radial relations with the next, and so that their own hinge-connections with their yoke-ends, b, will be in line, 00, as indicated in Fig. 3, when the yokes are folded together. The stemsof each brace are pivoted to the yoke portion so as'to fold inward, each toward its corresponding stem, in the general plane of the entire brace. When the braces are *brought togetherin parallel relations asshown in Fig. 3, the stems may be folded downward.

as a body inward, overlapping each other as shown by the dotted lines in'Fig. 4;- -forming of the whole skeleton a small and compact bundle.

, Taking the braces in order from left' to' right, as seen in Fig. 2, the series begins with the brace, a, b, constituting the marginal support for the coverv around one half the mouth of the receptacle, and ends with the brace, a b ,occupyi'ng similar'relations asto the other half. The first and last in series are-of heavier or stronger material than the intervening braces; and the freeends of additional braces constituting yoke-shaped handles h, are pivotally attached to them as at, y, for conveniently carrying the basket by hand. The stems of the handles h are jointed in the same manner as the other braces-the joints being so placed as to register with the others in the line, or, (Fig. 3,) and permit the stems of the handles to fold inward with the braces to which they are attached.

The outer or marginal braces, a, b, a 5 of the series are prolonged somewhat beyond their pivotal attachment with the centerpieces, C, so that when spread out as in Figs. 1, and 2, their inner or free ends abut as shown in the detail Fig. 6. To hold them in this position I apply a spring catch, d, secured to the outer plate, 0, at each side of the frame, and standing normally with its head proj ecting inwardly as a hood over the abutting ends of the stems, a, a The stems being pivoted to the center pieces, 0, outwardly of the abutting ends, these ends swing upwardly in the same plane, from the position of the catch d, when the latter is pressed aside out of their plane of movement. of the shank of the catch, however, normally returns the catch back to its engaging position. The upper surface of the hood being inclined to the plane of movement of the stems, the latter engage and thrust it aside in moving downward, and permit it to spring back automatically'to engage over the stems when the basket is unfolded for use.

The cover, .2, (shown in Fig. 1,) may be attached to each brace to form links connecting them one to another, and bringing all to proper relative position when setting the outer braces, a I), a 11 and fold inward or outward between them in the manner of a bellows-covering, when the device is folded up. The braces may however be connected by flexible links or cords (not shown) performing the same function independently of the cover, so that the frame may fold inside or outside of the cover independently; or the latter may be made wholly detachable from the frame to be put on or in the frame as desired: or a duplicate cover over the frame both outside and inside may be used, either permanently or removably attached thereto. In Fig. 7 I have shown a slight modification of structure in which center pieces 0, each made in two similar parts, a, c, are pivotedtogether centrally, and have their outer ends attached rigidly to the stems, a, a This, however, possesses no advantage over the construction first described. In such case The resiliency the ends of the stems draw apart in folding down, and a catch book, 6, or similar device I is employed to retain them.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States- 1. In a folding basket or hand-receptacle, in combination with two opposite centerpieces, a series of yoke-shaped braces independently pivoted thereto and adapted to fold together in adjacent parallel cross-planes, substantially as set forth.

2. In a folding basket or hand-receptacle, a skeleton-frame consisting of a plurality of yoke-shaped braces, each independently pivoted to two opposite centerpieces and adapted to fold together in adjacent parallel crossplanes,-each arm of each brace being hinged to its yoke-portion so that when thus brought together the hinges at opposite sides are in a common axis, adapting the stems to fold inward as a body, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, in a folding basket or hand-receptacle, of opposite center-pieces, a plurality of yoke-shaped braces independently pivoted thereto in adjacent relations, to swing outward; and catches at each side adapted to engage the inner ends of the two outer braces of the series, and retain them connected with. the center-pieces, substantially as set forth.

t. In a folding basket or receptacle the combination of the yoke-shaped braces; the center-pieces consisting of the opposite plates with pins or rivets extending .through and between them as pivots for the braces; and the spring catches adapted to project a hood over the joint formed by the abutting ends of the outer braces of the series, substantially as set forth. Y

5. In a folding basket or hand-receptacle, the combination of the described system of folding braces, the center-pieces to which they are pivotally attached, and the yoke-handles pivoted to the outer braces between the center pieces and the yoke-bows so as to fold downward with said braces, and when in use, aid in keeping the receptacle in proper distended position.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EMILY M. IIUDGIN.

Vitnesses:

L. M. HOSEA, LANDON FREYBLER.

Images