US774183A - Collapsible crate. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED NOV. 8, 1904.

E. A. KEGK.

GOLLAPSIBLE CRATE.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 23. 1904.

N0 MODEL.

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Patented November 8, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE,

EDGAR A. KECK, OF COTULLA, TEXAS.

COLLAPSIBLE CRATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 774,183, dated November 8, 1904.

Application filed May 23, 1904. Serial No. 209,343. (No model.)

T0 all whom, it may concern/.-

Be it known that LEDGAR A. Knox, a citi- Zen of the United States, residing at Cotulla, in the county of Lasalle and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Collapsible Crate,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the class of closures known as collapsible crates used for shipping produce of various kinds and which may be folded or collapsed when empty for return shipment, and has for its object to improve and cheapen the construction and produce a device of this character of increased strengthand durability and of increased convenience and adaptability to the purposes required.

WVith these and other objects in view,which will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in certain novel features of construction, as hereinafter fully described and claimed.

1n the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which corresponding parts are denoted by like designating characters, is illustrated the preferred form of the embodiment of the invention capable of carrying the same into practical operation, it being understood that the invention is not necessarily limited thereto, as various changes in the shape, proportions, and general assemblage of the parts may be resorted to without departing from the principle of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages, and the right is therefore reserved of making all the changes and modifications which fairly fall within the scope of the invention and the claims made therefor.

In the drawings thus employed, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved crate in open position. Fig. 2 is an end view of the same collapsed. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of portions of the slats and one of the bands, illustrating more fully the manner of connecting them.

The improved device comprises a body portion of spaced slats 10, preferably of wood, and having at the ends endless bands 11 12 of flexible metal and connected to the slats by staples 13 14, the staples closely enclasping the bands and driven by their points into the slats close to the edges of the bands. The

bands will be of relatively wide material, so that when attached by the two-pointed staples the connection will be very rigid and all tendency to wabbling obviated, as will be obvious. To increase the stiffness, a certain number of the slats, as at 15, are formed wider than the remainder of the bands and connected by two or more of the staples in each. By this means it will be obvious that the stiffness or rigidity is materially increased without increase of expense or weight.

The ends of the crate areof spaced slats 16, connected by transverse cleats 17, extended at the ends to project between the slats 10 and bear upon the outer edges of the bands 11 12 and supported thereby. Suitable catches will be provided to connect the end members to the body portion, and an approved form of such fastening means is illustrated, consisting in strips of flexible wire 18, fastened to the end members, as by staples 19, and projecting at the ends for bending or looping around the bands 11 12.

The body portion may be manufactured of any desired size or any required shape imparted to it, as the slats and bands may be of any size, and by reason of the flexibility of the bands any desired form may be imparted thereto, as will be obvious; but preferably the body portion will be oblong in transverse section and with rounded corners, as shown, as this form of crate piles more economically when shipped in large quantities and is self-ventilated by reason of the rounded corners.

It is thus manifest that a very strong and rigid and durable crate is producechwhich is at the same time light and open to provide for the necessary ventilation of the contents.

or the inspection of the same from all sides.

When the crate is to be emptied, the unbcnding of the wire clamps at one end will release the closure member, and when the contents are removed the opposite end member will be similarly released and the body portion collapsed for the return shipment, together with the head closures.

A very important advantage of the present device resides in the fact that the ends may be fitted between the sides of the crate in its collapsed condition, as indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawings, and in this collapsed condition of the crate the projected ends of the Wires 18 are Wrapped around the respective opposite bands of the slatted body, so as to retain the crate in its collapsed condition and prevent edgewise displacement of the heads or ends from the crate.

Having thus described the invention, What I claim is A collapsible crate comprising acontinuous slatted body having flexible bands connecting the slats adjacent the opposite ends thereof, ends fitted Within the body and provided With transverse cleats projected at opposite edges of the ends With the projected ends of the cleats entered between pairs of slats of the body and engaging across the respective bands,

EDGAR A. KEGK.

Witnesses:

L. A. KERR, B. WILDENTI-IAL.

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