US805494A

US805494A - Folding egg-crate.

Info

Publication number: US805494A
Application number: US24924005A
Authority: US
Inventors: Job Smith
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1905-03-09
Filing date: 1905-03-09
Publication date: 1905-11-28
Anticipated expiration: 1922-11-28

Description

No. 805,494. PATENTED NOV. 28, 1905.

J. SMITH.

FOLDING EGG CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED Mme, 1905.

2 SHEETB-SHBIIT 1.

Human 4% cm W W No. 805,494. PATENTED NOV. 28, 1905.

J. SMITH.

FOLDING EGG CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED mum, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.,

Witness UNITED STATES IlATENT OFF-ICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 28, 1905 Application filed March 9, 1905. Serial No. 249,240.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OB SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hope, in the county of Steele and State of North Dakota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Egg-Crates; 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 same.

My invention relates to collapsible crates particularly adapted for containing eggs; and the object of the invention is to provide a device of this character all of the parts of which are connected in such a manner as to be readily folded or collapsed into a compact bundle which may be conveniently stored, and therefore shipped at comparatively slight cost.

Another object is to provide means for binding all of the parts firmly together after the crate has been set up or opened, thereby preventing accidental displacement of any of said parts when the crate is in use as a receptacle.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists of a folding member having end flanges of sufficient height to overlap the ends of the sections of the crate when the same are collapsed or folded, and this holding member constitutes the cover of the crate when the same is used as a receptacle. Hinged to one edge of the holding member is a side wall having the crate-base hinged to its opposite edge in such a manner as to be capable of swinging into a plane parallel with the holding member. This base-section is provided with aflange, alongone edge of which is hinged the other wall of the crate, and the two end walls of the crate are hinged to the end portions of the base-section and are adapted to swing into position at right angles thereto, so as to be contacted by all four members of the orate-to wit, the holding member, the two side walls, and the base. The hinges are so constructed that when the crate is collapsed one side wall rests upon the holding member and is contacted by the base, upon which the ends of the crate are folded. The other side wall rests upon these ends and securing means are employed for locking the same to the end flanges of the holding member. The parts of' the crate are thus securely fastened in a collapsed position and occupy a minimum space.

The invention also consists in further novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown the preferred form of my invention.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the crate set up for use as a receptacle for eggs or other articles. Fig. 2 is a central vertical longitudinal section therethrough. Fig. 3 is a section on line 3 3, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the crate collapsed and secured in such position. Fig. 5 is a central vertical longitudinal section through the collapsed crate; and Fig. 6 is a section on line 6 6, Fig. 5.

Referring to the figures by numerals of reference, 1 is the top or holding member of the crate, and the same is provided at each end with a flange 2, said flanges being of such height as to overlap some of the members of the crate when the same is folded. Connected to one edge of the member 1 are pins 3, which are connected by links 4 with one edge of a member 5, constituting a side wall of the crate. This member may be of any suitable proportions, but is necessarily of such length as to fit snugly between flanges 2. It is provided at the edge thereof farthest removed from the links 4 with pivot-pins 6, connected by means of links 7 to one edge of the base member 8 of the crate. This base member is as long as the wall 5 and has a flange 9 along one edge to .which is hinged the other side wall 10 of the device. To the ends of the base member 8 are hinged the end members 11 and 12 of the crate, and these are mounted in such a manner as to fold inwardly upon the base 8 and between it and the side wall 10. The hooks 13 are secured to the end flanges 2 of holding member 1 and are adapted when the crate is collapsed to engage staples 14, which extend from the ends of side Wall 10, thereby holding all parts of the crate securely bound in a collapsed position. Staples 15 are also arranged on the outer faces of the end members 11 and 12and are adapted to be engaged by the hooks 13 when the crate is set up for use as a receptacle. In order, however, that the side wall 10 may rest firmly upon these end members 11 and 12 when they are folded, as shown in Fig. 5, recesses 16 are formed in the inner face of the member 10 and the staples 15 project into them. The two

side walls

5 and 10 are grooved transversely at the center thereof, as shown at 17, for the reception of a partition 18, adapted to be placed within the crate after the same has been set up. It will be understood that the side member is not as high as the side member 5, but when it assumes a position upon the flange 9 of base 8 it equals the member 5 in height. The end sections 11 and 12 are provided with passages 19, which extend therethrough from side to side and are adapted to register with apertures 20 formed in the side walls. These passages and apertures receive rods 21 for holding the parts of the crate together when the same has been set up.

When it is desired to unfold the parts of the crate to produce an egg-receptacle, the hooks 13 are disengaged from the staples let in the ends of side wall 10 and said wall is swung upward upon flange 9, as shown in Fig. 6. The end members 11 and 12 are then swung outward upon their hinges and will rest on the ends of the base member 8 and with their passages 19 registering with the openings 20 in the side wall 10. Thoholding member 1 is then swung away from the side wall 5, so as to permit said wall to be moved upon its hinges into position against the sides of the members 11 and 12, so that the openings 20 in said wall 5 will register with the passages 19. This folding operation is permissible in view of the peculiar construction of the hinges which connect the side wall 5 with the base member 8. The links 7 connecting said wall and base member are of sufficient size to permit the wall 5 to swing upward into the desired position. The links 1 are also of such length as to permit the holding member to assume a position upon the side walls and end members after all of the parts have been brought into the positions above described. Said holding member therefore serves the function of a lid and its hooks 13 are brought into position where they can engage the staples on the end members, as shown in Fig. 2.

As shown in Fig. 6, hooks 22 are located upon the outer face of the side wall 10, and these hooks are adapted to engage staples 23, arranged along one edge of the holding member 1, thereby assisting the hooks 13 in securely fastening the holding member in place. The rods 21 are adapted to be inserted through the openings and passages 19, so as to bind the side walls and end members firmly together. Each rod is preferably provided with a head 2 at one end and a nut 25 for engaging its opposite end, which is screw-tlneaded. After the crate has been set up in the manner described the partition 18 can be placed within the slots 17. To collapse the crate, it is first necessary, of course, to disengage the hooks 13 and 22 from the parts engaged thereby. The side wall 5 and the top or holding member 1 are then swung around under the bottom member 8, with the side member 5 between the

parts

1 and 8 and the flanges 2 overlapping the ends thereof. The end members 11 and 12 are then swung inwardly upon the base 8, after which the side wall 10 is brought into position thereover and secured by means of the hooks 13 and staples 14:, as shown in Fig. 5.

It will be understood that the crate is very simple and inexpensive in construction and can be quickly folded into a compact bundle. Moreover, as all of the parts are permanently connected it is impossible for portions of the crate to become lost in transit.

In the foregoing description I have shown the preferred form of my invention; but I do not limit myself thereto, as I am aware that modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit or sacrificing the advantages thereof, and I therefore reserve the right to make such changes as fairly fall within the scope of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A collapsible crate comprising a holding member, said member constituting the top of the crate, a side wall, slidably-connected hinge members secured to the side wall and holding member whereby said side wall is adapted to assume a position upon one face of the holding member or at right angles to the opposite face thereof, a base-section, slidably-connected hinge members secured to the base-section and to the side wall whereby said base-section is adapted to rest upon one face of the side wall or to extend at right angles from the opposite face of said wall, end sections hinged to the base member and adapted to fold thereon, a flange along one end of the base member equal in heightto the thickness of the end members, a side wall hinged to the flange and adapted to overlap the end members when collapsed, means for binding the side wall and end sections together when the crate is set up, end flanges upon the holding member adapted to overlap the base and side wall of the crate when collapsed, and securing means upon the flanges for engaging one of the side walls to hold the crate in a collapsed position.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOB SMITH.

\Vitnesses:

S. J. DANSKIN, B. Gumnne.

IIO