US929634A - Folding egg-case. - Google Patents

Description

R. M. SKILBS & P. H. BALDWIN. FOLDING EGG OASE.

APPLIOATIOI FILED Ill. 11, 1908.

a 929,634. Patented July 27, 1909.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT M. SKILES AND PATRICK H. BALDWIN, OF ORESTON, IOWA; SAID SKILES ASSIGNOR T0 J. F. LAWLER, Ol ADAMS COUNTY, IOWA.

FOLDING EGG-CASE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 11, 1908.

Patented July 27, 1909.

Serial No. 20,483.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ROBERT M. SKILEs and IAtrnicn. ll. BALDWIN, citizens of the United States, residing at Creston, in the county of Union, State of Iowa, have in vented a new and useful Folding Egg-Case, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to shipping crates and has for its object to provide a strong, durable and thoroughly efiicient crate of this character capable of being quickly set up for use and readily knocked down and compactly folded for transportation or shipment.

A further object of the invention is to provide an eg crate, the construction and relative disposition of the several parts of which are such that when the crate is folded for return shi ment a chamber or compartment will be ormed at one end of the crate for the reception of the egg receiving cells or fillers.

A further object is to provide improved means for locking the side walls in engagement with the end. walls of the crate, and means for locking the cover in closed posi tion.

A still further object of the invention is generally to improve this class of devices so as to increase their utility, durability and efliciency.

Further ob'ects and advantages will appear in the ollowin understood that various changes in form, proportions and minor details of construction may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a knockdown crate constructed in accordance with our invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view showin the cover removed and one of the side we. is in open position. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a crate showing the same knocked-down for transportation or shipment. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of Fig. 3.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all of the figures of the drawings.

The improved crate forming the subject matter of the present invention includes a bottom section 5 preferably formed of wood description, it beingand having one or more staples G secured to the opposite ends thereof and on which are pivot-ally mounted the end walls 7 of the crate.

Secured to the opposite longitudinal edges of the bottom section 5 are side strips 8 preferably formed of metal and having their upper longitudinal edges bent to produce a plurality of spaced eyes 9 which register with corresponding eyes 10 on the side walls or sect-ions 11 and 11' for the reception of a pivot rod 12. The side walls are reinforced and strengthened by vertical strips 12 which also form stops for limiting the outward movement of the end walls 7.

Secured to the inner faces of the end walls or sections 7 are tubular members 13 in which are mounted for rotation locking rods 14 having their opposite ends bent laterally to form terminal angularly disposed fingers 15. One of the fingers 15 of each locking rod 14 is adapted to pass through a correspondingly shaped recess 16 formed in the adjacent side section of the crate when the latter is set up for use so that by partially rotating the rods the outer finger pieces 15 will press against the exterior walls of the side sections and thus hold the latter rigidly combined with the end walls of the crate.

The crate is provided with a removable cover 17 to the front edge of which is secured one or more metallic plates 18 having their forward ed es bent to form tubular membars 19 in w ich is slidably mounted a lockin rod or bolt 20. The opposite ends of the 10% or bolt 20 are formed with angular portions 21 ada ted to engage the tubular extensions 22 oi similar plates 23 secured to the adjacent side wall of the crate, there being a finger loop 24 formed in the intermediate portion of the rod and by means of which the latter may be moved to operative and inoperative position. Secured to the rear longitudinal edge of the cover 17 are similar plates 25 in the tubular portions of which are slidably mounted relatively short rod sections or bolts 26, which latter engage keepers 27 secured to the side wall 11' and similar in construction to the keepers 23.

Riveted, bolted or otherwise rigidly secured to the side strips 8 are keepers 28 and 29, the keepers 28 being adapted to receive the angular portions 21 of the locking memside wall 11 of the crate. then placed in position on top of the side her 20 when the crate is knocked down for shipment while the keepers 29 are adapted to receive the angular portions of the locking rods 26, as best shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

Extending transversely across the interior of the crate is a partition 30 having its lower edge pivotally connected with the bottom section 5 by means of loops or staples 31 so that the partition may be folded downwardly in engagement with the bottom section when it is desired to knock down the crate for trans ortation. The partition is preferably emp oyed in connection with the crate when the latter is used for shipping eggs and similar commodities and in which event the fillers will be disposed within the con'ipartments formed by said partition, in the usual manner.

The hinges of the sections on one side of the crate are preferably spaced a greater distance from the bottom section than the hinges of the section on the opposite side of the crate so that said sections may be compactly folded without. danger ofbinding.

In order to knock down the crate for transportation or shi ment the partition 30 is folded downwardly in engagement with the bottom section 5 and the end walls 7 folded inwardly and downwardly in the direction of the partition, after which the side wall 11 is folded laterally on the end walls and the side wall 11 folded downwardly on the The cover 17 is walls of the crate and the angu ar extensions 21 of the lockin member 20 passed through the loops of the lieepers 28, the locking member 26 being subsequently inserted in the tubular members of the keepers 29 thereby to lock the several parts of the crate in as sembled osition.

Attention is here called to the fact that when the crate is knocked down for transportation or shi ment a chamber or compartment 32 wil be formed at one end of the crate for the reception of fillers and the like when the box is used as a crate for shipping eggs. It will also be observed that by having the hinges of the side members constructed in the manner shown either side member may be swung laterally to open position so as to expose the contents of the crate without the necessity of removing the cover.

Suitable handles or loops 33 are preferably secured to the side members of the crate to assist in moving said walls to open and closed position.

\Vhen it is desired to use the crate for shipping eggs the end walls are swung up wardly to vertical position after which the side members are swung upwardly, the openings 16 in the side members permitting the latter to be moved in el'igagement with the end walls. ()ne of the finger pieces 15 of each locking member is then partially rotated which causes the other finger 15 to engage the exterior walls of the side members, best shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. \Vhen the side and end walls are thus asseml'iled the cover 17 is placed in position on the crate and the angular extensions of the rod 20 moved into engagement with the keepers 22 and 23 by manipulating the finger piece 24, the locking members 26 being subsequently introduced into the keepers 27, in the manner before described.

The crates may be made in dili'ercnt sizes and shapes and constructed of wood, metal or other suitable material.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is:

A folding crate including a bottom section having side and end sections pivotally connected therewith, a partition. pivotally mounted on the bottom section, said end sec tions and partition being foldable downwardly in engagement with the bottom. section, and the side sections foldable downwardly on the partition and end section to produce an intermediate filler receiving compertinent at one end of the crate, side strips secured to the opposite longitudinal edges of the bottom section, tubular members rigidly secured to the side strips, :1 cover, keepers secured to the side sections, tubular members rigidly secured to the cover and spaced from the kQGPQYS on the side sections, a locking member slidably mounted in the tubular members and adapted to engage the keepers of the side sectlons, said locking member being provided with an intermediate finger loop and adapted to engage the keepers on the side strips when the crate is folded.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own, we have hereto aflixed our signa tures in the presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT M. SKILES. PATRICK H. BALDWIN. Witnesses E. L. CARROLL, C. W. Cannorm.

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