US935443A - Folding coop or crate. - Google Patents

Description

P. T. WING. FOLDING 0001 OR CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED IAIB..13, 1909.

935,443. Patented Sept.28, 1909.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

5n fez P. T. WING.

FOLDING 0001 OR CRATE. APPLICATION FILED MAR.13. 1909. 935 ,443 Patented Sept. 28, 1909. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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FREDERICK T. WING, OF LINCOLN, NEBRASKA.

FOLDING COOP OR CRATE.

' lapsible coops or crates for shipping poultry, eggs, fruits, vegetables, etc., the object of the invention being to provide a coop or crate which is simple of construction, inexpensive of production, capable of being readily set-up for use and collapsed for shipment, and which, in addition possesses both strength and durability.

The invention consists of the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a set-up crate embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a central vertical cross section of the same. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the coop as it appears when folded or collapsed. Fig. 4. is a longitudinal section of the same.

The coop or crate embodying my invention is of conventional oblong rectangular form, and embodies a bottom 1, sides 2, ends 3 and a top or cover 4. In the main, it is contemplated to construct the coop of wood, only such metal parts being employed as are necessary to form the fastening and pivot connections between the parts, but it may be constructed wholly of wood or wholly of metal or of any desired degree of combination of these materials.

The bottom 1, which is preferably imperforate, is provided with longitudinally extending supporting sill strips 5, and has secured to the upper surface thereof end cross strips or bars 6, which are of less length than the width of said bottom and provided with terminal bearing plates 7 carrying pivot pins 8.

Each of the sides 2 of the coop is preferably composed of a series of longitudinal slats connected by metallic strips 9 and 10, preferably three in number, arranged at the center and adjacent the ends thereof. These straps form pivotal supports for the side, each strap being bent at its lower end to form an eye 11 pivotally engaging a staple or the like fixed to the bottom 1, thus so Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 13, 1909.

Patented Sept. 28, 1909.

Serial No. 483,219.

mounting the side that it may assume a vertical posit-ion in the formation of the set-up coop or be turned down to a horizontal position upon the bottom 1 in folding or collapsing the coop. The height of the sides is such that when they are turned down they will rest on opposite sides of the longitudinal center of the bottom 1 with their upper edges lying in close relation.

The end pieces 3 may be of any suitable construction and include corner posts 13 and an upper cross bar 1% connecting the upper ends of said posts, the lower ends of which are pivotally mounted upon the pin 8 to swing in either direction longitudinally of the coop. The two end pieces are connected at opposite sides of the crate by longitudinal slats 15, which are pivot-ally connected with the corner posts, as shown at 16.

hen the crate is set-up for use, the ends of the side pieces 2 rest against the corner post 13, by which outward movement of said sides is prevented, while the side pieces in turn, when fastened in position, serve to hold the end pieces from swinging movement. The upper ends of the central straps 9 of the side pieces are bent outwardly at right angles to provide eyes or perforated keeper members 17 which are adapted to engage notches 18 formed in the upper edges of the slats 15, and which have their openings arranged to register with vertical openings 19 formed in the slats 15 when the coop is set-up. lVhen the sides are erected, their upper slats also bear against the slats 15, thus adding to the stability of the coop.

The top or cover at of the coop may be either solid or slatted, a slatted type being illustrated in the present instance. As shown, the slats 20 of this top or cover are connected by intermediate and end transverse strips 21 and 22, respectively, the strips 22 being adapted to rest upon the cross pieces 1 1 of the end pieces 3 when the cover is fitted in position. The width of the cover is also such that the outer slats thereof are adapted to rest upon the upper ends of the corner posts 13 and upper edges of the slats 15. The cover is hinged or pivoted at one end, as indicated at 23, to the. cross bar 14 of one of the end pieces 3, so that it may be swung up and down to open and closed position. It may be secured in closed position when the crate is filled or in transit by a wire loop or other suitable fastening device 2% connecting it at its other end with the cross bar 1% of the other end piece 3.

In order to hold the parts of the body of the coop in a set-up condition, fastening devices 25, such as cotter pins, are employed and passed downward through openings 26 in the overlapping side slats of the cover, through the keeper members 17 of the straps 9 and through the openings 19 in the straps 15, by which the folding portions of the body will be held against relative movement. Upon detaching these pins, it will be readily understood that the side pieces 8 may be swung inwardly down upon the bottom 1, while the end pieces and cover may be swung together in either direction longitudinally of the coop to the collapsed condition shown in Figs. 3 and i, in which they may be suitably secured, thus folding the coop in a compact fiat form for ready and convenient storage or shipment.

The mode of setting up the coop will be readily understood from the foregoing description, and it will be seen that when the coop is set up the fastening devices 25 will assist in holding the cover at closed.

A crate constructed in accordance with my invention, as hereinbefore described, is simple, inexpensive and durable, may be set-up and collapsed within a minimum amount of time and with a minimum amount of labor, and is adapted when folded or collapsed to occupy a comparatively small amount of space, thus insuring economy in storage and shipment.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new, is:

1. A coop or crate comprising a bottom,

side walls pivotally connected to the bottomto fold inwardly down upon the upper surface thereof, said side walls being provided with fastening members, end walls pivotally connected with the bottom to swing longitudinally thereof, slats pivotally con necting the end walls at each side of the coop and provided with openings to register with said fastening members, a cover mounted upon the end pieces, and fastening members adapted to engage the cover, the side walls and the openings in said slats to secure the parts in set-up condition.

2. A coop comprising a bottom, end walls pivotally connected with the bottom to swing longitudinally thereof, slats pivotally conmeeting the end walls at each side of the coop and provided with openings therein, side walls pivoted to swing down upon the bottom and provided with perforated fastening members to register with the openings in said slats, a cover mounted upon the end walls having openings therein, and detachable keys adapted to be passed clownward through the openings in the cover, the perforations in the side walls and the openings in the slats to secure the parts in set-up condition.

3. A coop comprising a bottom, end walls pivotally connected with the bottom to swing longitudinally thereof, slats pivotally connected with the end walls at opposite sides of the coop, each of said slats being provided with an opening and a notch in its upper edge intersecting the same, side walls provided with straps pivotally connected with the bottom to adapt said walls to swing inwardly over upon the upper surface thereof, one of said straps of each side being provided at its upper end with an outwardly bent keeper having a perforation therein, said keepers being adapted to engage the notches in the slats, a cover carried by the end pieces and having openings therein to register with the perforations in the keeper members and the openings in the slats, and keys adapted to be passed through said perforations and openings to secure the parts in set-up condition.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FREDERICK T. WVING. l Vitnesses B. H. HAGELIN, H. J. WVING.

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