US580507A - Folding egg-crate - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1;

N. RENNER. FOLDING EGG CRATE H No. 580,507. Patented Apr, 13, 1897.

(No ModeL) 2 Shets-Sheet 12.

N. RENNER. FOLDING EGG CRATE.

No. 580,507. Patented Aplu 13, 1897.

FFICE NIOKOLAUS RENNER, OF ELMHURST, ILLINOIS.

I FOLDING EGG-CRATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 580,507, dated April 13, 1897. Application filed December 19, 1896. $erial No. 616,248. (No model-J To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NICKOLAUS RENNER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Elmhurst, in the county of Du Page and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Egg-Crates; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention has relation to folding eggcrates, and the object is to provide a safe and durable crate for transporting eggs from the producer to the consumer, said crate being so constructed that when empty it may be folded to occupy much less space on its re turn shipment.

To this end the novelty consists in the con struction, combination, and arrangement of the same, as will be hereinafter more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings the same reference-numerals indicate the same parts of the invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved folding egg-crate. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the crate folded. Fig. 3 is a top plan view with the cover thrown back.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of the same.

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective of the bolt securing the lower edge of the partition to the bottom of the crate, and Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the hook.

l 1 represent thesolid side pieces, and 2 2 the solid end pieces, the sides and end pieces being secured together at their vertical contiguous edges by the strap-hinges 3 3 to form a rectangular case, the hinges permitting it to be folded so that the parallel sides and ends lie fiat and approximately in the same plane.

5 5 represent semicircular straps, the integral ears 6 6 of which are secured in the same vertical plane to the inner face of the side pieces 1 1, and these straps receive a vertical bolt 7, which passes through the loops 8 on the horizontal straps 9, secured to the vertical ends of the partition 10, so as to substantially secure the partition in place midway between the side pieces 1 1 to divide the case into two equal compartments when the crate is in use.

12 represents the top, which is secured to the upper edge of one of the sides by straphinges 13 13, and its opposite parallel edge is provided with pivoted hooks let 14, which engage the screw-eyes 15 15 to secure the top in place when the case is filled. These hooks are provided with a leaf-spring 16,whioh engages the outside of the eye 15 to prevent the accidental displacement of the hook after it has been inserted in the eye.

17 represents the bottom, which is secured to the lower edge of one of the sides (oppo site the one to which the top is secured) by hinges 18 18, and its opposite parallel edge is provided with hooks 14 14, which engage the screw-eyes 15 15 to secure the bottom in place. The inner face of this bottom is provided with a transverse strap 19,.having a loop or eye 20 located in the same vertical plane with the partition 10, the lower horizontal edge of said partition being formed with a semicircular recess 21 to clear the loop 20 of the strap 19.

22 represents a vertical bolt journaled in the lower strap-hinge of the partition and having a loop-handle 23, and its lower end terminating in a horizontal arm 24, which may be swung around by its handle to engage the loop 20 on the bottom and assist in supporting the same when the case is filled.

Although I have specifically described the construction and relative arrangement of the several elements of my invention, I do not desire to be confined to the same, as such changes or modifications may be made as clearly fall within the scope of my invention without departing from the spirit thereof.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and useful, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, 1s-

A folding egg-crate comprising the solid sides 1 1 and ends 2 2 hinged at vertical contiguous edges to form a rectangular case, the

hinged top and bottom provided with the pivoted hooks 14 1 1 provided with the springtongues 16 and adapted to engage the eyes 15 on the sides 1 1, in combination with the hinged partition provided with the vertical bolt 22 having an integral loop-han dle 23 and horizontal arm 24:, and the strap 19 formed with a loop 20 adapted to receive the arm 24 of the bolt 22, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

N IOKOLAUS RENNER.

Witnesses:

L. L. BETTINGER, J. J. SHELEY.

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