US579320A

US579320A - Edwin john fletcher

Info

Publication number: US579320A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1897-03-23
Anticipated expiration: 1914-03-23

Description

(No Model.)

E. J. FLETCHER. CASE 0R BOX FR SILVRWARB, &c.

Patented Mar. 23, 1897.

Nrrn

rares EDWIN .IOIIN FLETCHER, OF NElV YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE VIIITING` MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

CASE OR BOX FOR SILVERWARE, 86C.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 579,320, dated March 23, 1897. Application tiled December 30, 1896. Serial No. 617.459. (No model.)

.To @ZZ whom t may concern.: The invention consists in adapting the ma- Be it known that I, EDWIN JOHN FLETCHER, terial to the above uses, and also includes a a citizen of the United States, residing in New form of hinge and stop designed to serve with York city, in the county and State of New this box. 55

5 York, have invented a certain new and use- By the use of my invention the objections ful Improvement in Cases or Boxes for Silvernoted above are avoided, the case is lighter ware and other Articles, of which the followthan usual, it is balanced, the material will ing is a specification. not warp or change shape and may be easily In the preferred forms of tops for cases of worked, and the labor and expense of manu- 6o 1o this class the lower face is practically plane, facture is materially lessened.

, while the upper exposed surface is plane or The accompanying drawings form a part of only slightly convex along the central porthis specification and represent the manner tion and curves gradually downward to a in which I have carried out the invention. thin edge at junction of the two faces. It Figure l is an end view of a case. Fig. 2 65 I5 has be enthe practice to make the foundationis a longitudinal vertical section on the line pieces for the tops of wood ofthe required 2 2 in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a cross-section of a thickness, out and molded to the form decompleted top alone. Figs. 4 and 5.are rescribed above. There are objections to cases spectively longitudinal and transverse secthus manufactured, the most important be tions through the bed. Fig. 6 is an end view 7o 2o ing the weight of the top, which when the of a casein the open condition. Fig. 7 is a case is empty and open overbalance the body vertical section of a portion, showing the and cause the case to topple over. 0th* hinge and immediately adjacent parts. Figs. ers are the change of form due to warping 8, 9, and l0 are sections showing modied and the expense of production. I employ forms and constructions of the corrugated 75 25 for this purpose a material consisting of paper. Fig. ll is a section through a top,

' plaitedor tluted paper in sheets cemented to showing a modification intended Jfor use on and between plane sheets, analogous to the large cases.

corrugated paper commonly used to in- Similar letters of reference indicate the case bottles and other fragile goods in transit. same parts in all the figures. 8o

3o From this materiallcut the foundation-pieces A is the base, ot' thin wood, pasteboard, or

for the tops and also for the beds. In the like stiff material in one or more independent most complete form of the invention I use thicknesses, having the exposed portions covtwo or more such pieces, superposed one upon ered with ornamental paper or other envelop.

the other, with their corrugations crossing or It is rectangular in outline, with rounded cor- 85 lying alternately longitudinally and transners, and projects a little on all sides beversely. A layer of wadding placed upon youd the body B,which it supports. Thelatthe pieces within the covering-sheet serves ter is a rectangular hoop or frame with plane to soften the angles and smoothly round the faces and bent corners, also covered with the upper face. The material is extremely light same ornamental paper, and may receive a 9o 4o for a given thickness and may be flattened lining-piece B', concealing and ornamenting or crushed along the margins to produce the the inner faces. The body is joined to the smoothly-rounded curve desired on the upper 'base by hinges B2 and stops B3, to be deface of the top, while maintaining the plane scribed, arranged to allow the body and its central area and lower face. The fouudationtop C to be turned back to a position at which 95 4 5 pieces for the beds are of t-he same material the center of gravity will lie in a line beyond and are usually provided with openings to the hinges to maintain the box in the open receive the bowls of the spoons or other condition. swelled portions of the article to be inclosed D is the bed inclosed within the bed-frame in the case. Such openings may be cut by D', covered with ornamental paper, and carroo 5o dies in the operation of stamping the bed from ries a pad D2 of cotton and a rich covering D5 the sheet. of silk or other fabric. The exterior of the bed-frame D' matches so closely to the body that the friction between the surfaces is sufcient to hold the casein the closed condition.

The top C has the same general outline as the bodyB. Itis practically uniform in thickness along the central portion and curving in each direction therefrom to the edges, which are thinner. It is glued or otherwise secured to the upper edge of the body.

The material forming the foundation for the top is peculiar. lt consists ot' several thicknesses of paper, superposed and cemented together to form a iloorm, on which is laid a sheet in, gathered or boX-plaited into corrugations or eonvoliitions, secured to the floor in' by glue applied on the lower swells. The upper face is similarly cemented and receives a deck m2 like the floor m', but preferably thinner. The material so formed is analogous to the corrugated paper quite generally used to inclose and protect glass and other fragile ware in transportation. Vhen made as above described, it produces in effect a light board of considerable thickness and quite stiff and iinyielding to bending strains. As the iioor m is heavier and stronger than the deck m2, the latter will crush Linder sufiicient pressure, while the former retains its plane. This quality is important in the manufacture of the tops. Having cut the blank to the proper size and form, the margins are crushed under a roller or polished tool, so that the edge of the deck lies nearly in contact with the edge of the tloor m' on all sides and produces the curved margin sought. When covered with the ornamental paper, it will retain its shape, having a plajne under surface, a plane middle upper surface, and a smooth curve from the latter to the edge. If greater thickness be required, two or more layers are superposed, with the corrugations of one crossing those of the other at a right angle.

The completed top C as I have shown it is constructed as follows: C' is a rectangular tablet of book-board, having rounded corners, and in length and width matching the body B. M is a piece of the corrugated paper described, somewhat shorter and narrower than the tablet Ci and cemented to the upper faceof the latter with its corrugations running longitudinally. M' is a similar piece, shorter and narrower than M, and applied thereon with its corrugations extending transversely. The margins of the pieces M and M are previously crushed, as above. Then a sheet C2 of cotton-batting is applied and the wholeiiiclosed bya sheet C3 of the ornamental paper, drawn tightly over the edges of the tablet C and cemented to its lower face. The result is a smooth cushion-shaped surface curving gradually to the edge, elastic enough to resume its shape when lightly pressed, and having a plane under face. In the finished case this lower face appears to be padded, the effect being produced by applying one or more strips C4 of cotton-batting upon the lin- 'ing-piece C5, glued to the upper edge of the body B before the top C is ceineiitedin place, as set forth in a United States Patent to me dated July 7, 1896, No. 563,5Sl.

The bed D is a piece of the saine material, having an opening d, produced by a suitable die, to receive the bowl of a spoon or other swelled or prominent portion of the article to be incased and allow it to sink therein. The bed is glued to the base, and if greater thickness be desired two or more pieces may be placed one upon the other, with the corrugations either parallel or at right angles.

The improved case shows an apparently massive and rich top, which at the saine time is inexpensive and light. The latter feature is important iii that it allows the case to stand open, as in Fig. (i, withciit falling backward on the removal of the iiiclosed spoon or other article, (not showin) a fault which has been previously overcome only by the uneconomical expedient of correspondingly weighting the base.

The hin ge-j oint between the body and base is important and is shown in Fig. 7. Asinall hole c, extending from the under edge of the body B aiigularly upward to a point on the inner face, is produced by the insertion and withdrawal of a needle or tine awl. A similar hole d is provided in the base on the line of the joint and preferably strengthened by an eyelet d. Another hole a2, a little forward of the latter, is also produced and may be similarly reinforced. A needle threaded with fine but strong silk cord F is passed upward through the hole a and through the angularpassage c in the body. It is then pushed through the hole a2 in the base and cut off, leaving the ends free. The ends are secured to the under side of the base by glue and also by a small piece of strong fabric G, cemented over them. One portion F of the cord serves as the hinge B2, while the other, F2, held between tlie body and its lining-piece Bi, serves as a stop B3 to prevent the body turning too far backward and sustains it in the open condition. Care must be taken to allow only sufiicient slack for this purpose, and also that the lower edge of the b'ody be drawn into close contact with the base before the ends are secured. There may be as many hinges and stops as are deemed necessary.

lt will be noticed that the flexion takes place at the lower rearangle of the body, and the hinge is therefore practically concealed. The stop B3 may extend from the hole d2 parallel with the angle assumed by thebody when the case is open, so that the strain will be taken in a direct line. The eyelet prevents cutting the material of the base,and the whole is particularly efficient in this situ ation where a light, strong, and easily-applied but inexpensive hinge is required.

Modifications may be made in the forms and proportions within wide limits without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing its advantages.

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Fig. 8 shows a form in which the book-board C is dispensed with, the rigidity being attained by the plurality of thin sheets making up the iioor m', the thin deck m2 serving as a iioor for the second sheet of corrugated paper.

Fig. 9 shows the floor-sheet m and deck fm2 of the same thickness, reinforced by the bookboard C. Fig. 10 shows a thin deck with a greater number of sheets in the iioor. Fig. l1 shows a portion of a very thick top made up of several layers arranged with their corrugations crossing, mounted on a sheet of heavy book-board. This construction is intended to serve in extraordinarily large cases or trunks containing large pieces oranumber of smaller ones making a set.

Although I have described the box as ind tended for use with silverware it will be nnderstood that it may be used to inclose other articles in kindred or other lines.

The severalllayers of corrugated paper may be applied without cement between, depending on the covering-sheet C3 alone to hold all in place.

Instead of the cotton-batting C2, pieces of fabric or soft felt may be used. It is essential only that it be soft and yielding enough to smoothly round the surfaces and. prevent the angular edges of the layers of corrugated paper showing through the covering.

I have shown the ends of the cord forming the hinge B2 and stop B3 concealed and held between the two layers constituting the base, but they may be continued through and covered by the ornamental paper, as will also be the case when but one layer is employed.

Instead of the silk cord other strong and flexible material may be substituted, such as twisted wire or strips of rawhide.

I claiml. In a case or box, the top composed of corrugated paper having its margins crushed or flattened, and held in shape by a coveringshect stretched tightly thereover and cemented, all substantially as and for the purposes herein speciiied.

2. In a case or box, the top composed of corlugated paper having its margins crushed or flattened, in combination with a reinforcingtablet of strong material applied on its under face, and a covering-sheet'stretched tightly on the upper face of said corrugated paper, extending over said margins and cemented to the under face of said reinforcing-tablet, all substantially as herein specified.

3. In a case or box, the piece M of corrugated paper consisting of the floor m', the corrugated sheet m cemented thereto and the deck m2 cemented to the upper face of said corrugated sheet, the said iioor being heavier than said deck to maintain its form when said deck and corrugated sheet are crushed along the margins, in combination with a covering-sheet stretched on said deck and extending over the edges to hold the top in shape, all substantially as herein specified.

4:. In atop for a case or box, the reinforcingtablet C', two or more pieces M, M of corrugated paper superposed one upon the other with the corrugations at right angles, each shorter and narrower than the next below, and having the margins crushed or fiattened, in combination with a covering-sheet stretched over and inclosing the whole and cemented to the under face of said tablet, all substantially as herein specified.

5. In atop for a case or box, the reinforcingtablet C, two or more pieces IWI, M of corrugated paper superposed one upon the other with the corrugations at right angles, each shorter and narrower than the next below, and having the margins crushed or flattened, in combination with the padding C2 and a covering-sheet stretched over and inclosing the whole and cemented to the under face of said tablet, all substantially as herein speciiied.

6. In a case or box, the bed D of corrugated paper having the opening d therein, in combination 'with the bed-frame D', padding D2 and covering D3, all substantially as herein specified.

7. In a case or box, the base A, bed D of corrugated paper having the opening d therein, the bed-frame D', padding D2 and covering D3, in combination with the body B hinged to the base and inclosing said bed-frame, the top C of corrugated paper m, m', fm2, padding C2 and covering-sheet C3, and the stops B3 to limit the motion of said body and top relatively to said base, all substantially as herein specified.

8. The hinge described consisting of a flexible cord extending through the base into and through the rear portion of the body diagonally from the lower rear angle of the edge to a point on the inner face, thence downward again through the base and having the ends fastened, in combination with said body and base and forming a hinge and stop therefor, all substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

9. The base A having the holes a and a2, the body B having the hole c reaching diagonally from the lower rear angle of the edge -to the inner face, in combination withv a flexible member extending through said holes as shown and having the ends fastened, the reinforce G securing said ends, the said cord `being concealed in said base and body and by the covering material, all substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

In testimony that I claim the invention above set forthI affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWIN J OIIN FLETCHER.

Witnesses Roer. CONNOR, Gno. W. Casa, Jr.

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