US612395A - Egg-case - Google Patents

Description

No. 612,395. Patented Oct. I8, |898. A. J. BRANHAM.

EGG CASE.

{Application led July 11, 1898.) (LND Model.)

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Patented oct. la, 1398. A. J. BRANHAM. n

EGG CASE.

(Application filed July 11, 1898.

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ALVIN J. BRANHAM, OF SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI.

EGG-CAS E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 612,395, dated October 18, 1898. Application filed `J'uly 11, 1898. Serial No. 685,615.' `(Il'o model.)

To all whom t may con/cern,.-

Be it known that I, ALVIN J. BRANHAM, a citizen of the United States,residin g at S prin g* field, in the county of Greene and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Egg-Cases; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the saine.

This invention relates to improvements in egg-cases of that class inwhich an outer containing box or case is employed to receive one or more sliding drawers designed to hold the eggs in such manner as to prevent breakage thereof during transportation; and it consists in the features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, and specifically set forth in the appended claim.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved construction of drawer for eggcases of this class in which provision is made for retaining the eggs in position in the most effective manner and to which access may be readily and conveniently had for inserting and removing eggs.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure lis a perspective view of an egg-case constructed in accordance with myinvention. Fig. 2 is a central vertical transverse section of saine. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of one of the drawers. Fig. 4 is a side view of same. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the drawer. Fig. (5 is a broken detail perspective view of the tray. Fig. 7 is also a detail view showing the manner in which the eggs are retained in position by the elastic bands, and Fig. 8 is a similar view showinga modification in which an auxiliary longitudinal band is employed in connection with the transverse bands to hold the eggs against vertical displacement. Fig. 9 is a broken detail perspective view of the lid, showing the manner of securing the elastic bands thereto.'

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, wherein like letters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, A represents an inclosing box or case provided on the interior thereof with spaced ledges or cleats b, serving as supports for a series of sliding drawers C.

a hinged door D and a handhold or ring e,

whereby it may be conveniently lifted and transported. Each drawer O comprises inits construction a tray F, having a centrally-arranged bottom portion or shelf g, secured between cleats g or in any other suitable manner and provided with a series of concaved recesses or openings 7L, forming seats for the eggs. Connected at its rear end to this drawer by hinges t' is a lid-frame I, provided at its front end with alatch-pin j, adapted to engage a spring-keeper 7c on the tray to hold the lidframe closed. Extending across the opening of the lid-frame is a meshing composedof aseries of longitudinally-extending elastic bands Z and similar transversely-extendin g bands m, which are preferably secured to the said trayframe in the following manner: The side and end bars of said lid-frame are notched or cut out to form a series of retaining lugs or projections n, which are preferably dovetailed or undercut to receive the elastic bands and hold the same against vertical displacement. The elastic meshing may consist of a single band stretched back and forth longitudinally and transversely of the frame in the manner shown in Figs. 3 and 7 and engaged with the said retaining lugs or projections which hold them under tension; or it may consist of a series of independent endless bands engaged with two retaining-lugs on opposite sides of the frame. The retaininglugs on the front and back bars of the lidframe are arranged on a plane below those on the side bars of said frame, or made somewhat deeper, in order that the longitudinal elastic bands Z, held thereby, will extend below the transverse bands m, and so that said longitudinal bands will have position a short distance above the egg-receiving recesses or openings h in the bottom portion or shelf of the tray F and bear against opposite sides of the eggs, in the manner shown in Fig. 7, to prevent the same from moving in a direction transversely of the tray. The transverse bands m, as before stated, are arranged above the plane of the longitudinal bands and bear upon the upper portion orside of the egg and retain the same against vertical displacement.

IOO

The particular construction and arrangement of these bands are important, as the eggs are held from movement in two directions and prevented from rolling out of the recesses or openings h, and at the same time are yieldingly supported, so that they maymove freely to a limited extent to compensate for vibration of the tray in transit.

If desired, an auxiliary longitudinal elastic band o, extending immediately above the eggreceivingrecesses or openings and parallel with the longitudinal bands Z, may be employed to assist the transverse bands in retaining the eggs against vertical displacement. This construction is shown in Fig. 8, and While not deemed essential in shipping hen-eggs or other small eggs may be advantageously employed in shipping duck and other heavier and larger eggs.

The elastic meshing may be readily and conveniently replaced by simply disengaging the bands from the retaining-lugs and substituting others therefor and access to the tray obtained for inserting and removing the eggs by simply lifting the hinged lid I.

The trays may be secured to the casing A in any desired manner to obviate any liability of their accidentally sliding outwardly when the hinged doorD is opened. In the present instance I have shown each drawer provided with a spring-catch, p, adapted to engage a keeper (not shown) on the interior of the case to accomplish this purpose.

From the above description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of my improved egg-holding tray will be readily understood.

This construction of tray, while designed primarily for shipping eggs long distances on cars, is adapted especially for use by hucksters and commission men on account of the ease and convenience with which access may be had to the trays for inspection and removal of the eggs.

It will of course be understood that changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be made within the scope of the invention without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and useful, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-A An egg-holding drawer comprising in its construction a fixed tray having a bottom provided with seats for the eggs, a lid-frame hinged thereto and provided around the upper edge thereof with a series, of retaining lugs or projections, and a meshing consisting of a series of longitudinally and transversely extendingr elastic bands stretched across the opening of said frame and secured to said lugs, thesaid longitudinal elastic bands being adapted to bear against opposite sides of the eggs and the transverse bands upon the upper portions or sides thereof, substantially as described.

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

ALVIN J. BRANHAM.

Vitnesses:

GEO. J.' OATMAN, JOE P. WILSON.

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