US858403A - Collapsible crate. - Google Patents

Description

JJ f No. 858.403; v PATENTEVD JULY 2, 1907. y N1 & E. c. LITTLE".l

GOLLAPSIBLB CRATE.

APPLIOATION PILBDANov. 16.1905. v

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APPLICATION FILED NOV. 16. 1905.

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9 zz/Yaya. lll 7 l, Il). -I f@ I /9 /f vUNITED STATES Specification of Letters Patent.

PATENT ormoni.

ooLLAPsIBLE CRATE.

Patented July 2, 1907.

Application led November 16, 1905. Serial NU- 237,708.

To all whom it may concern: l

Be it known that we, NATHANIEL LITTLE and EvnNen- LINE C. LITTLE, citizens of the United States, residing at Ames, in the county of Story and State of Iowa, have in` vented certain new anduseful Improvements in Collapsible 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.

Our invention relates to collapsible crates and its object is to provide a light and durable device of this character adapted to be folded into a compact bundle and which can be formed of thin material, holding means being utilized which serve the purpose of reinforcing the sides and bottom of the Crate.

Another object is to provide novel means for fastening the crate when the same is set up.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of a bottom having flanges secured to the sides and ends thereof and tothe end flanges are hinged end walls adapted to fold inward on the bottom and having grooves in their side edges. Side walls are hinged to the side flanges and are provided with angle irons at their ends for extending into the grooves in the end walls. Angle irons are also disposed at the centers of the side wallsl for engaging a partition located on the bottom of the crate and means are employed for locking these angle irons to the partition so as to bind all parts of the crate together. A cover is provided which not only serves as a cover for the crate when set up but also serves to close the crate and hold the parts in place when the device is collapsed.

'lhe invention also consists of the further novel features of construction and combination of parts, the preferred form whereof will be hereinafter more clearly described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings we have shown the preferred form of our invention.

In said drawings-Figure 1 is a perspective view of our crate. Fig. 2 is a vertical, longitudinal section therethrough. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the crate with the cover removed. Fig. 4 is a section on line x-x Fig. 2, and, Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section through the crate collapsed.

Referring to the figures by numerals of reference, `1 is a crate bottom having end flanges 2 and side flanges 3, said side flanges being higher than the end flanges. An intermediate cross strip 4 is secured upon the bottom and has pins 5 extending upward from it which are adapted to project into recesses 6 formed in the bottom of a partition 7 This partition has grooves 8 and 9 disposed longitudinally in its side edges, and extending throughout the length of the partition 7. These grooves are adapted to receive angle irons l0 and l1 which are fastened to the inner faces of side walls 12 and 13, said j side walls being hinged to the flanges 3 and adapted to fold inward. The iron l0 has a series of ears extending from it and the side wall l2 has slots 14 along its center when collapsed, as shown in Fig. 5. Locking pins 15 are connected to the partition 7 by means of a cord 16 and these pins are adapted to extend transversely through the-grooves 8 and 9 and to engage the irons l0 and 1l so as to lock the sides l2 and 13 to the partition. End walls 17 are hinged to the end flanges 2 and are provided in their side edges with grooves 18 adapted to receive angle irons 19 secured upon the inner faces of walls 12 and 13 at their ends. The slotted wall 12 is slightly shorter than the wall 13 so that whenthe two walls are caused to overlap the angle irons of the wal1l3 will overlap the ends of the wall l2 and permit the two walls to lie close together, as shown in Fig. 5.

The end flanges 2 are recessed as shown at 20 to receive catches 21 depending from the end flanges 22 of the cover 23 and notches 24 are also formed within the end walls 17 and adapted to be engaged by said catches. Reinforcing straps 25 are preferably secured upon the ends of the flanges 2 and 3 so that the same will be held rigidly connected. The lower edges of the side walls are preferably beveledas Ishown at 26 so that said walls can be swung downward to permit the angle irons thereon to clear the partition and end walls. Side flanges 27 extend downwardly from the cover and are adapted to overlap the side walls of the crate when the same is set up. i

When it is desired to collapse the crate herein described, the cover is detached therefrom by pulling outwardly on the catches 21. Pins l5 are then withdrawn from the partition 7 and the side walls 12 and 13 are swung apart so that their angle irons will be disengaged from the parts in which they are seated. Partition 7 is then raised from pins 5 and placed upon the bottom between the cross strip 4 and one of the end flanges after which the end walls 17 are swung inward and the side walls are folded inward with the wall 13 on top and its angle iron l0 projecting into the slot 14. The cover is then replaced and its catches 2l will engage the notches 20 in the end flanges 2 and said cover will securely hold all of the parts in collapsed position.

Sufficient space is formed in the collapsed crate to receive excelsior, card .board cells, and other material such as often usediin crates.

By using the angle irons for engaging the end walls and holding all of the walls together in proper relation, the side walls can be made of very thin material without sacrificing the strength of the crate because the peculiar shape of these angle irons absolutely prevents the bending of the sides longitudinally. Moreover, the angle irons 10 and ll constitute a very simple means of fastening the partsl of the crate together.

into which the ears of iron 10 are adapted to project Having thus fully described our invention, what We claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A collapsible crate comprising a bottom having end flanges and side flanges of greater height, an intermediate cross strip having upwardly extending pins upon its upper edge, a partition removably secured upon said cross strip and having recesses to receive said pins, said partition having grooves disposed longitudinally in its side edges and extending the whole length of said partition, said Walls hinged to said side flanges, angle irons on the inner faces of said side Walls and engaged in said grooves, one of said angle irons having a series of ears and the adjacent side wall having slots at its center into which said ears project when the crate is collapsed.

2. A collapsible crate comprising a bottom having end flanges and side flanges of greater height, an intermediate cross strip having upwardly extending pins upon its upper edge, a partition removably secured upon said cross strip and having recesses to receive said pins, said partition having grooves disposed longitudinally in its side edges and extending the whole length o1 said partition, said walls hinged to said side iianges, angle irons on the inner faces of said side walls and engaged in said grooves, one of said angle irons having a series of ears and the adjacent side Wall having slots at its center into which said ears project when the crate is collapsed, and locking pins con nected to said partition and extended transversely through said grooves and engaging the angle irons to' lock the sido walls to said partition.

In testimony whereof We have signed our naines to this speciication in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

NATHANUEL LITTLE. EVANGELlNE C. I'll'llLll.

Witnesses H. E. SLA'rTERr, L. M. Boswon'ru.

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