US737607A - Fruit-tray. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED SEPT. 1, 1-903.

J. H. GUNBY. FRUIT TRAY.

T oN r JH 6MM Edin) 1? UNTTED STATES llatented September 1, 1903.1

PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH HENRY GUNBY, OFCHICO, CALIFORNIA,` ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO THOMAS HIRAM MORQAN, OF BUT'IE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.

FRUIT-TRAY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 737,607, dated September 1, 1903.

Application filed September 8, 1902. Serial No. 122,624. (No model.)

T0 all whom, t may concern:

Beit known that I, JOSEPH HENRY GUNBY,a citizen of the United States, residing at Chico, in the county of Butte and State of California, have invented a new and useful Fruit-Tray, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to trays employed for the purpose of drying fruits, vegetables, and similar products, either in the open ai; or in drying-kilns; and the object of the invention is to produce a simplyconstructed easilyhandled tray which will contain the minimum amount of material and possess the maximum strength and durability.

Another object of the invention is to produce a tray from which broken parts maybe readily detached and a new or duplicate part inserted without destroying any part of the tray.

The invention consists in certain novel features of the construction, as hereinafter shown and described, and specified in the claims.

In the drawings illustrative of the invention, Figure 1 is a perspective view of one of the improved trays viewed from above. Fig. 2 is a perspective view viewed from beneath. Fig. 3 is a transverse section of a number of the trays superimposed.

Trays of the class to which this invention relates are usually about eight feet long, three feet wide, and about two inches high, the sides and ends of one-inch material and the bottom of thin strips secured by their ends to the bottoms ot' the sides and further secured by longitudinal cleats outside of the bottom members and with one or more intermediate longitudinal cleats secured by the ends to the end members of the frame and also to the transverse bottom members.

In the above construction of trays the parts are all firmly nailed together, and in case of breakage of any part the broken part can be replaced only by partially destroying the tray and expend ing a large amount of labor thereon.

In the improved tray herewith illustrated provision is made for replacing broken parts without disturbing the other parts or partially destroying them.

The improvements may be applied to anysized tray, and consists in side members 10 11, provided with longitudinal grooves or seats 14 15, opening inward and disposed near the bottom of the side members. The end members 12 13 are formed narrower than the side members, with their lower edges in transverse alinement with the upper sides of the longitudinal grooves, as shown, so that the inlets to the longitudinal grooves are unobstructed. The bottom of the tray consists in a plurality of thin iiexible strips removably engaging the grooves or seats 14 15 by their ends, as shown, the open ends of the grooves permitting the sections forming the bottom of the tray to be readily inserted without disturbing other parts. When thus arranged and the plurality of sections 16 forming the bottom placed in position, two small nails in the end sections will iirmly secure all of the sections in place, as the intermediate sections are prevented from longitudinal or vertical Inovement by the grooves 14 l5, and the stationary end sections will prevent any lateral movement to the sections.

By this construction it will be noted the lower edges of the side members 10 11 project below the lower surfaces of the bottom sections 16, and within this space is arranged a diagonal staybrace 17, secured by its ends only with nails passing through the stay-brace and the end section 16 into the end members 12 13. Secured by their ends to the side members 10 11 are transverse tie-braces 18, spaced apart, as shown. Any number of these tiebraces may be employed, but generally four will be sufficient, as shown. These tie-braces 18 perform a threefold function-first, as braces to prevent the side members from speading; second, as supports to the diagonal brace 17 and bottom sections 1G, and, third, as cleats to hold the trays separated when a number of them are superimposed, and thus provide for the circulation of air between the IOO insert a new diagonal brace, and nail it fast, all of which may be done Without disturbing the tie-braces or any other part.

In the eventof the breakage of any of the sections 16, forming the bottom of the tray, the Vbroken sections may be readily removed and a new section sprung into its place by bending the section, as illustrated at 19 in Fig. 3, Which action may be accomplished, as will be Obvious, Without disturbing any other part of the tray.

Another very important advantage in this manner of forming the tray is the comparatively feW nails required, as inthe fullsized standard tray of this construction less than twenty-five nails are required, whereas in a tray of the same capacity as'ordinarily constructed from one hundred to one hundred and thirty nails are required to secure the same results.

It Will be noted that the transverse tiebraces 18, adjacent to the ends of the tray7 are set some distance back from the ends, so that thenails Which secure the diagonal bracemember 17 are exposed', Wherebytheymay be inserted and removed Without interfering with the transverse tie-bars. By this means the diagonal tie-bar may be readily removed When broken, as above noted, and the nails drawn Without interfering with the transverse tie-bar.

The trays may be constructed in any required proportions and modiiied in minor particulars Without departing from the principle of the invention or sacricing any of its advantages.

I-Iaving thus described the invention, what is claimed is A fruit-tray comprising side and end members rigidly associated, the side members extending below the end members and being provided in the extended portions With longitudinal grooves extending throughout their entire length and adapted to form seats for transverse members forming the bottom of the tray, a plurality of braces extending transversely across the bottom of the tray and rigidly secured to the under surface of the l side members, a diagonally-disposed staybrace secured at its extremities to the end members of the'tray and supported intermediate of its ends by the cross-braces, and a bottom `comprising a plurality of flexible strips of Wood disposed transversely of the

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