US945797A - Folding or collapsible box, case, and the like. - Google Patents

Description

D. PARKINS. FOLDING 0R GOLLAPSIBLE BOX, CASE, AND THE LIKE. APPLIGATION FILED D130. 27, 1901.

945,797. Patented Jan. 11,1910;

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 D. PARKINS. FOLDING 0R GOLLAPSIBLE BOX, CASE, AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED 11110.27. 1907.

Patented Jan. 11,1910.

2 SHEBTS-BEBBT 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DANIEL PARKINS. OF LUTON, ENGLAND.

FOLDING OR COLLAPSIBLE BOX, CASE, AND THE LIKE.

9&5397.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, Daniel. lankiixs, a citizen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. and resident of 39 T'TI lI r x i 1 a Town road. Luton, county ot bedtord, England. builder and contractor. have invented certain new and useful ln'iprovements in and Connected with Folding or Collapsible Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 2?. 1907.

Boxes, Cases, and the Like. of which the following is a specification, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it apper tains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to folding boxes, cases, crates and the like, and refers to that class of article in which the sides and ends are arranged to fold inward and rest on the bottom. This kind of case is usually made with a bottom which is rigid or nonfolding and the sides are attached to it by hinges one or two ot the sides being preferably attached directly to the bottom, and the other two or three sides being attached to strips or ribs of varying depth tixed to the bottom in such a manner that the sides can be folded down to lie Hat on or over the bottom.

bly invention consists particularly in improvements connected with hinges which in my invention are. also used for securing the sides and ends of the case together and also improvements in the hinges and fastening devices for the cover of the case.

According to my invention the hinges are formed with long strap or plate like sides which extend partly or entirely up the sides or ends of the case. The straps are fixed close to the corners of the box, and are shaped to engage one another when the sides and ends are erected. My preference one of the strap sides is bent into angle form and the other into a groove so that the angle part will lit the groove and so hold the sides against outward pressure. Additional hinges of usual or ordinary form may also be em ployed if desired. A lever, bolt or other contrivance may be fitted to the case to hold the sides up and prevent them falling in from external pressure. A particularly convenient contrivance for this purpose consists of a lever-like hook pivoted to one hinge strap and adapted to engage a slot or recess in the other. This lever may be of spring-like form and be held by being sprung into a. recess or catch over a projection. The cover of the case may be of any suitable kind but for many purposes I find a Hat cover having loose hinges on one side, and a spring catch,

Patented Jan. 11, 1.910.

Serial No. 408.234.

lock, or equivalent on the other is most suitable for the purpose. The catches of the locks may be hinged to the cover so as to fold when the case is collapsed.

It must be nmlerstood that my invention can be applied to packing and other Ct scs, boxes, crates and the like. and that the hinges can be lixed to the sides or to the sides aiid ends and bottom in any suitable manner. and according to whether the case or the like is made of wood. metal or other material.

To increase the strength of the bent parts of the hinges the same may be made in folded or double form. and one plate or tlap lixed to the bottom of the box can have two straps which are lixed one to a side piece and one to an end piece and which engage each other when the box is in extended position.

I will now describe my invention with reference to the accompanying drawings in which V Figure l is a perspective view of my improved box with the cover removed and a portion of one side broken away; Fig. is a fragmentary view in perspective of one corner of my box; Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the cover; Fig. 4: is a detail view in perspective showing the corner locking device; Fig. 5 is a detail view in perspective of a corner of a modified vform of box; Fig. (3 illustrates two views of an improved hinge; and Fig. 7 is a. perspective view of a form of catch which may be employed.

Fig. 1. shows a case or box constructed according to my invention in which the ends are partly folded in. (I. is the bottom of the box to which the end piece 1 is directly at tached by hinge (I while the other end 5 and the sides (1 and c are respectively attached by their hinges to the ribs or strips (2 a and 0 of varying depths and so arranged that the ends and sides can fold in order on to the bottom a. The side 1: is attached by hinge J of which the extended side f is bent into a groove to engage the curved or bent edge f of the hinge d. Similar hinges are fixed at each corner of. the box.

Fig. 2. shows a corner of the box with the extended sides of the hinges in engagement and also shows a small bolt 9 which is used to prevent the ends and sides folding inward when not required to do so.

Fig. 3 shows a sectional view of a cover suitable for use with my folding box and in which an inner rim is provided leaving a space i between the two rims into which the top edges of the sides and ends of the box can fit. This form of loose cover removes the necessity for a fastening such as the bolt shown in Fig. 2. or the lever hook shown in Fig. 4. which hook fastened to one of the extended sides of the hinges engages a slot 2' in the other hinge. The handle portion of the lever hook preferably of spring-like nature and adapted to engage recesses or projections in its opened and closed positlons.

Fig. 5. shows a construction of the hinge 1n which a bent flap or portion carries both i plates, the sald plates being interposed bethe extended sides and f.

Fig. (3. shows two views of an improved hinge for attaching a cover to the box. This hinge is of the kind known as loose or loose pin hinges but it has its side it specially bent over at the joint so that the pin m can lie flush with the edge of the box. The other side or flap h of this hinge is attached to the cover or lid n and can be removed with it as shown by dotted lines for folding.

Fig. T. shows a folding or hinge-like catch or hasp consisting of plate 0 and hook p which can be used with any suitable kind of lock the shape of the hook being altered to suit various locks.

It must be understood that the various parts of the fittings herein described may be altered to suit requirements providing the essential feature of my invention are not departed from and I do not claim the use of metal corners which engage each other except in combination with and forming part of the hinges for the sides and ends of folding boxes, cases and the like.

\Vhat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a folding box, a bottom. hinges thereon, having extensions attached to the sides and ends of the box to form corner tween the surfaces of the sides and ends and having interlocking flanges, adapted to engage when the ends and sides are swung into position to form a closure.

2. In a folding box. a bottom. a plate at each corner thereof, members hinged to the plates in different planes, sides and ends for the box secured to the members. and flanges in the members adapted to interlock.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two witnesses.

DANIEL PARKINS.

itnesses IVALTER I. SKERTEN, GEO. J. B. FRANKIJX.

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