US986249A

US986249A - Shipping-crate.

Info

Publication number: US986249A
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles A Walton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1910-04-09
Filing date: 1910-04-09
Publication date: 1911-03-07
Anticipated expiration: 1928-03-07

Description

G. A. WALTON.

SHIPPING CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.9,1910,

Patented Mar. 7, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

lllll* il Le' 0 0 0 0 W M 0 M 1HE NoRRls PETERS ca. wAsH'NcIoN, DA c.

0. A. WALTON.

SHIPPING CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 9, 1910.

Patented Mar. 7, 1911.

2 SHEETSHSHEET 2.

THE Norems Perses cn., wAsmNaroN. D. i.

man sie CHARLES A. WALTON, OF BROKEN BOW, NEBRASKA.

SHIPPING-CRATE.

Application led April 9,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES A. VALTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Broken Bow, in the county of Custer and State of Nebraska, have invented new and useful Improvements in Shipping-Crates, of 1 which the following is a specification.

The invention appertains to coops or crates for shipping poultry and small live stock, the purpose being to provide a shipping receptacle which will prevent injury to the stock shipped and which at the same time will admit of the crate being-reduced to a compact form for reshipmeut, the parts being of such construction and arrangement as to fold closely and to preventdisplacement since all with the exception of the top are positively connected and the top when in place is made secure and holds the other parts in folded position.

The invention consists of the novel features, details of construction and combination 0f parts, which hereinafter will be more particularly set forth, illustrated in the aeeompanying drawings, and pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, forming a part of the application, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a crate or shipping receptacle embodying the invention as it appears when set up for use. Fig. 2 is a vertical central longitudinal section of the crate on the line -fe of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the crate on the line 1/-3/ of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of the crate folded. Fig. 5 is a cross section of the crate on the line 2 2- of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a detail view, showing more particularly the door and the securing means cooperating therewith.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description, and indicated in all the views of the drawings, by the same reference characters.

The crate comprises a bottom 1, sides 2, ends 3, a partition 4 and a top 5. The inclosing walls and partition are hinged at their lower edges to the bottom so as to fold thereon. The top 5 is separate from the sides and is adapted to be held ,in place by suitable fastenings. The bottom 1 may be of anyv formation and is generally composed of boards closely fitted and secured by means of cleats. The sides 2 and ends 3 are generally formed of slats which are spaced apart and which are connected by cleats or Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented lli'ar. 7, 1911.

1910. Serial. No. 554,473.

strips, the spaces admitting air and light. The top 5 is constructed in a like manner of slats and connecting' strips. rlhe partition 4 tis centrally disposed and is hinged at its f lower edge to the bottom in any manner to admit of its folding close upon the bottom. The ends 3 like the partition 4 are hinged f at their lower edges to said bottom so as to fold thereon. The hinges G for connecting the

parts

2, 3, and 4 to the bottom may be of any construction.

he sides 2 are hinged to the bottom 1 in a manner to admit of the partition and ends cmning between said bottom and sides when the latter are folded. The hinges 7 connecting the sides with the bottom have one member secured to the bottom and the other member offset and attached to a block S, whereby said member is spaced from the side a distance which, in conjunction with the offset portion, enables the sides when folded to be spaced from the bottom a distance to accommodate the partition and ends in the space. The blocks 8 are located near the ends of the sides so as to enter the spaces formed between the two lower strips or slats of the end pieces when the latter' are folded. lVhen the sides and ends are in upright position they are secured near their upper edges by means of hooks 9, which are pivotally connected to the sides near their corners and are adapted to engage eyes 10 near the upper outer corners of the ends The top 5 is provided with hooks 11 which cooperate with eyes 1Q provided upon the ends 3 so as to hold the top in place when the crate is set up for use. lhen the crate is folded, as indicated in Fig. 4, the hooks 11 engage eyes 13 provided upon the ends of the bottom. The partition 4 is held in upright position by engaging a cross piece 14 applied to the inner side of the top and of such construction as to engage the upper edge of the partition. Access is had to the compartments provided upon opposite sides of the partition by means of openings formed in the top and which are closed by doors 15. The doors 15 are hinged at one end and are adapted to swing open and shut at the opposite end.

Each of the doors 15 is hinged and operated by means of a device of substantially X-form and constructed of a single length of spring wire. The operating device comprises two members 1G, which cross intermediate of their ends and a third member 17,

Cil

which connects the members 1G at one end and which member is pivotally connected to the top at one end of the opening for which the door is provided. rIlle staples 18 embrace the third member 17 and are driven into the top and serve to pivotally connect the door and the Operating member to said top. The free ends of the members 16 terminate in outer extensions 19, which ar-e adapted to engage eyes Q appli-ed to the top at the end of the door opening' opposite that to Which the door is pivoted. lVhen the outer extensions 19 are engaged With the eyes Q0 the door 15 is held closed. By pressing the outer ends of the members 16 together the extensions 19 are disengaged from the eyes 20, thereby permitting the door to be swung open. A keeper 21 is provided at the free end of each of the doors and extends over the outer portions of the. members 1G so as to hold the same to the door. Staples Q2 secure the members 1G to the door near its inner or pivotal end.

lire netting 23 is applied to the top and inclosing sides of the crate and prevents the stock from projecting the head or feet beyond the crate With the liability of injury which frequently occurs from this source. The crate may be constructed of any material so long as the inclos'mg Walls have openings for the admission of light and air. lVhen tlie crate is constructed of Wooden strips the Wire netting is employed, but in the event of the inclosing sides being of sheet metal the same is perforated, thereby avoiding the necessity for using tvire netting as will be readily understood. lVhen the crate is to be folded the top is removed and the partition e and ends 3 are folded upon the bottom after Which the sides Q are folded upon the partition and ends and subsequently the top is placed in position upon the folded sides and secured by m-ans of the hooks 11, which are engaged with the eyes 13 in the manner stated and as shoivn in Fig. 2.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the advantages of the construction and of the method of operation Will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, and While I have described the principle of operation of the invention, together with the device which I now consider to be the embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that the device shown is merely illustrative, and that such changes may be made When desired as are Within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

Having thus described thel invention what is claimed as new, is

1. In a crate provided ivith an opening, a door for closing said opening. spring members crossed intermediate of their ends and secured to the door at one end and pivotally connected to the crate at one end of the opening and having the opposite ends of the spring members confined to the opposite end of the door and free to move and projecting beyond. the door and terminating in lateral extensions, and eyes provided upon the crate atthe opposite end of the opening to receive the outer extensions of the said spring members.

2. A crate having an opening, a door for closing said opening', an operating member consisting of a spring 'tvire bent upon itself forming crossing members and a third member connecting the crossing members at one end, said members having their end portions projecting beyond opposite ends of the door, means for pivotally connecting said third member to the crate, means for connecting the spring members to the door adjacent said third member, a keeper coniining the opposite end portions of the spring members to the opposite end of the door` the free ends of said spring members having lateral extensions, and eyes provided upon the crate to engage the outer extensions of the spring members for holding the door closed In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

in presence of tivo Witnesses.

CHARLES A. VALTON.

lVitnesses Citas. L. Gn'r'rnnrox, vCHARLES T. Ona.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.