US916848A - Folding crate. - Google Patents

Description

1.1. I- UUA| FGLDING' SKATE.

A'EPLIOATION TILED JAN. 2.7 1908.

Patalted Mar. 30, 1909.

2 sums-sum 1.

Attarne g L. P. 00X.

' 'POLDING GRATE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.Z7, 1908.

Patented Mar. 30; 1909.-

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LAWRENCE P. COX, OF FORT WAYNE, INDIANA.

FOLDING CRATE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 30, 1909.

Application filed. January 27, 1908. Serial N 0. 412,908.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LAWRENCE P. Cox, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fort Wayne, R. F. D. it2,in the county of Allen and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Crates, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to crates, and more particularly to collapsible crates, and has for its object to provide a crate of this character which may be conveniently folded when not in use and which will be strong and durable when set up for shipment.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, and it will be understood that changes in the specific structure shown and described may be made within the scope of the claim without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings forming a portion of this specification, and in which like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the present crate, Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the crate in its folded position, Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there is shown a crate having side walls 11 and 12 respectively, end walls 13 and 14 respectively, a bottom 15, and a top or lid 16.

The side wall 11 at each end is provided with an offset portion 17 directed toward the center of the crate, as shown. The side wall 11 is hingedly connected to the top or lid 16 as shown at 18, and this lid is thus arranged to lie at times against the outer side of the side 11 and in parallel relation thereto.

The ends 13 and 14 each consist of members 19 and 20 respectively hingedly connected with each other as shown at 21. The sections 19 are hingedly connected to the offset portions 17 as shown at 22, and the section 20 is hingedly connected to the front wall 12 as shown at 23.

The bottom is hingedly connected as shown at 24 to the wall 11 at the bottom thereof, as shown. The wall 12 at its lower edge is provided with an inwardly extending and longitudinally disposed cleat 25, and this cleat is thus arranged to support the bottom 15 when the crate is in an unfolded position.

Secured to the offset portions 17, there are shown flexible strips of metal 26, and these strips are bent at their ends as shown at 27 and are thus arranged to engage the walls of the crate when the same is in a folded position whereby the walls of the crate are securely held in their closed position.

The lid 16 is preferably provided with a latch 28 arranged for coengagement with a receiving member 29.

l/Vhen it is desired to fold the crate, the lid 16 is swung to the back and in a position parallel to the side 11, and the bottom 15 is afterward folded in a like manner to lie against the inner side of the side 11, and between the oflset portions 17. The sections 19 and are then shoved inwardly to lie upon each other, and in this operation the front wall 12 will also be moved inwardly to lie with its ends outwardly of the adjoining portions 17, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The strips 26 are then bent as previously described and the crate is thus folded and held in a compact manner.

From the construction described it will be apparent that a simple and inexpensive crate is provided which will be strong and durable, and which may be folded in such a manner that large quantities of such crates may be handled with little difficulty.

While it is desirable to construct these crates from longitudinally extending and spaced staves, it will be understood that a crate of this character may be constructed from solid material.

It is desirable to cover all hinges projecting within the crate with small pieces of canvas or the like 30 and thereby prevent injury to fruit within the crate which may come in contact with such hinges.

What is claimed is:

In a folding crate, the combination of a back, a bottom hingedly connected to the lower edge of said back adapted at times to be folded inwardly against said back, a cover hingedly disposed upon the upper extremity of said back adapted to be folded backwardly against the rear face of said back at times, ends hingedly disposed upon. the opposite ends of said back, each of said ends comprising two sections hingedly connected to each other adapted to fold inwardly of said crate, a front hingedly connected to the opposite ends of said ends of said crate, clasps secured upon the opposite extremities of said back, fingers inwardly disposed from the forward extremities of said elasps for engagement about the 0p osite ends of said front and inwardly turned ngers carried upon the rear extremities of said 5 clasps for engagement about the opposite extremities of said cover When in a folded position.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, 1n presence oi two Witnesses.

LAWRENCE P. COX.

\Vitnesses JAMES M. ROBINSON, MARTIN H. LUEOKE.

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