US1345264A - Collapsible shipping box or crate - Google Patents

Description

H. K. SHIRLEY.

COLLAPSIBLE SHIPPING BOX 0R CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 19, 1919.

1,345,264. Patented June 29, 1920.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY KELLY SHIRLEY, OF MARIANNA, FLORIDA; MRS. MATTIE SHIRLEY ADMINISTRATOR OF SAID HENRY KELLY SHIRLEY, DECEASED.

COLLAPSIBLE SHIPPING BOX OR CRATE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented J n 29 1920 Application file'd July 19, 1919. Serial No. 311,922.

To all whom it may concerns Be it known that I, HENRY K. SHIRLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Marianna, in thecounty of Jackson and State of Florida, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Collapsible Shipping Boxes or Crates, of which the following is a specification, reference beinghad' to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to an improved collapsible shipping box or crate, particularly adapted for shipping eggs, though not necessarily, for it is obvious thatother articles may be also shipped in the box.

Heretofore in shipping eggs and other fragile or breakable articles in crates previously used, the crates are very liable to become crushed, owing tozpiling one upon the other. Hence a general and most important object of the invention is to pro vide a metal shipping crate or box rigidl reinforced, in order to assure strength ant rigidity, suflicient to withstand the weight of the numerous crates above, hence preventing the crates from crushing, and there by preventingt'he breakage of the eggs.

' A further object of the invention'is to provide a collapsible shipping crate of this kind comprising hinged side and end pieces, and topand bottom pieces hingedly connected to the side pieces at diagonally opposite upper and lower corners of the crate, the various pieces being rigidly reinforced" by means of vertical and longitudinal braces riveted to the pieces, the hinge connections of the pieces being so arranged whereby the side and end pieces may collapse toward each other, whereby the top and bottom pieces may collapse upon the exteriorsof the side pieces.

A further object of the invention is the provision'of upper and lower flanges on the end pieces against which the top and bottom pieces engage, whereby suitable bolts may be inserted through the top and bottom pieces of the flanges of the end pieces to hold the shipping crate or box'rigidly in erect po sition, for. the reception of a plurality of fillers super-imposed for the reception of eggs, the fillers being spaced by the usual corrugated cardboard sections.

A further object of the invention isthe provision of lateral flanges on the side pieces at diagonal opposite upper and lower corners of the crate or box, to receive bolts,

which pass through the top and bottom p eces and the flanges of the side pieces to securely fasten the top and bottom pieces.

A further object of the invention is theprovision of a box formed upon the inner faces of the side pieces, for the reception of various bolts (which are used for holding the crate or box erect) and also for the reception of the egg filler sections and the cardboard spacing means, whereby the crate may be returned with all its parts to the sender. While the design and construction at present illustrated and set forth is deemed preferable, it is obvious that as a result of a reduction of the invention to a more practical form for commercial purposes, the in-' vention may be susceptible to changes and the right to these changes is claimed, provided they are comprehended within th scope of what is claimed.

The invention comprises further features and combination of parts, as will be hereinafter set forth, shown inthe drawings and claimed.

In the drawings Figure 1 is' a perspective view of the improved crate or box constructed in accordance with the invention, showing the same,

reception of the various bolts, or the fillers,

which may be collapsed, so as to be inserted in the pocket.

Referring more especially to the drawings, 1 and 2, 4 and 5 designate'the side and end pieces of the crate or box, which are hingedly united by means of the hinges 6. Any number of hinges may be employed, but in the present instance there is illustrated hinges adjacent the top and bottom,

' and also intermediate hinges. These hinges are riveted to the pieces or sections upon their inner faces, as illustrated, whereby the sections or pieces maybe easily collapsed.

The side pieces are eachreinforced by the longitudinal b; aces 7 and 8, and also reinforced by means of the vertical braces 9. The braces 7 consist of heavy elongated sheet metal strips, which are riveted to the side pieces, as indicated at 10. Certain of these rivets pass through certain of the leaves of the hinges, while other of the rivets simply pass through the strips and through the side pieces. The braces 8 con- 10 sist of heavy sheet angle iron, and certain ,of

the flanges of these angleiron braces are riveted to the side pieces asindicated at 11, and'certain of these rivets pass through the sheet angle iron braces, and through the vertical braces, and certain other of the rivets simply pass through the flanges of the angle iron braces and the side pieces. The vertical braces consist of heavy sheet iron strips, which are riveted at12 to the side pieces,

thereby rigidly reinforcing the side pieces,

which also consist of heavy sheet iron plates. The end pieces 4: and 5 consist of heavy sheet iron plates, which are reinforced by the vertical sheet iron strips 13, which are riveted to the end plates. These end plates or pieces are additionally reinforced by the upper and lower sheet angle iron plates 14, which are riveted at 1.5 to the end sheet iron plates or pieces, and also to their vertical brace.

llv this articular construction of reinforcing the side and end pieces, and also constructing the side and end pieces in the form of sheet metal plates, it will be seen that the crate involves considerable rigidity, to withstand the heavy strains, and the rough usage each similarly constructed. In fact, each consists of elongatedlsheet iron plates or other suitable metal, and fastened in any suitable manner adjacent the marginal edge thereof are longitudinal and transversely elongated heavy iron or other metal strips 20 and 21. Certain of the rivets of one of the longitudinal braces of each of the top and bottom sections or pieces constitute means to secure suitable hinges 22 in place,

which are in turn riveted or otherwise secured to the diagonally opposite upper and lower longitudinal strips 7 of the side pieces. By this arrangement it will-be observedthat the top and bottom pieces or sections are hingedly mounted at diagonal opposite upper and lower portions of the crate or box, whereby when the side and end pieces of the crate or box are collapsed as shown in Fig. 5, the top and bottom pieces or sections are 6 capable of folding upon the outer faces of the side pieces, so that the crate or box may be folded or collapsed in a small compass for return to the sender.

The top and bottom pieces or sections are large enough, so as to overlie or overlap the flanges of the longitudinal and transverse bracing angle iron members, and the overlying parts of the top and bottom pieces and said flanges of the angle iron braces arekprovided with registering apertures 24; for the reception of bolts 25 having nuts 26, whereby the side, end, top and bottom pieces may be securely and rigidly fastened.- By this means of fastening the top and bottom pieces, and also owing to the reinforcing means, it-has been found possiblethat the crate or box has considerable rigidity, suiiicient to withstand the rough usage, strains and "the weight, which are subjectedto the crate or box during its. use, particularly when shipping eggs and the like. 7

When the crate or box is collapsed, the end pieces may be folded in either direction, one toward and upon one of the side pieces, the other away from one of the side pieces and vice 'versa, after which the top and-bottom pieces may be folded upon the outer face of the opposite side pieces, hence permitting the plate or box to be folded in a small compass. 1

Upon the inner adjacent faces of the side pieces suitable pockets 26 are constructed.

, These pockets consist of pieces of heavy fabric, preferably heavy canvas, though not necessarily, which are riveted at 27 to the side pieces. One of the longitudinaledges of each piece of fabric is unattached for its full length, there being additional pieces of similar fabric 28 also riveted to the side pieces, to overlap the first pieces. The first pieces are loosely arranged relatively to the side pieces, so as to bulge inwardly sufficiently, whereby the various bolts and nuts which are used for fastening the top and bot-- tom pieces, and also the fillers or egg separators 29, may be arranged in the pockets. The fabric pieces 28 constitute flaps, which overlap the pockets, and are provided with suitable fasteners 30, similar to glove fas- .teners, to hold the flaps closed. The egg fillers are of the usual construction, consisting of intersecting pieces of cardboard and these fillers when'in use are open and are disposed in super-imposed relations, to provide compartments for the eggs. The fillers are spaced by means of corrugated cardboard 3]., or any other suitable means, to keep the eggs separated, and also to cushion the eggs and to prevent breakage during shipment.

A partition 36 is mounted in the crate or box, and has suitable braces near its vertical edges, and also riveted at 38 adjacent the vertical edges are projections 37, which extend through openings in the sides of the crate or box, thereby holding the partition securely in place. 1 V V 7 Suitable braces 45 are secured to the bottom and top pieces of the crate or box, thereby additionally reinforcing the top and bottom pieces, particularly rendering them more rigid at their central portions. The braces 45 are secured between the top and bottom pieces proper, and their braces 20, and the L-shaped parts are positioned adjacent the free edges of the top and bottom pieces.

The invention having been set forth, what is claimed as new and useful is:

1. In a collapsible shipping crate, the combination with side and end pieces hingedly united, whereby the end pieces are adapted to collapse upon the inner faces of the side pieces, of rectangular frames having vertical braces secured to the outer faces of the side and end pieces, the end frames having upper and lower elongated transversely disposed braces angular in cross section, the frames of the side pieces having elongated braces angular in cross section secured to the side pieces adjacent certain of their diagonally opposite longitudinal edge portions, top and bottom pieces hingedly united at diagonally opposite longitudinal corners of the crate, and adapted to overlie certain of the flanges of the longitudinal angle braces of the side pieces, means passing through the top and bottom pieces and the flanges of the longitudinal angle braces of the side pieces to hold the top and bottom pieces in place and the crate in rectangular formation, said crate having a transverse partition, and receptacles carried on the inner faces of the side pieces.

2. The combination with side and end pieces hingedly united, whereby the side pieces are adapted to collapse toward each other and the end pieces adapted to lie against the inner faces of the side pieces,

hingedly connected to longitudinal edges of,

the side pieces at diagonally opposite corners of the crate, and adapted to overlie certain flanges of the angle bars of the rectangular frames of the side pieces, means passing through the top and bottom pieces and said flanges of the braces of the side pieces to hold the crate rigidly in rectangular formation, said top and bottom pieces having rectangular frames and provided with central transverse braces having their ends secured under the longitudinal bars of the last mentioned rectangular frames,

to additionally insure rigidity, an interior transverse partition and article receiving. fillers mounted on the interior of the crate.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afliX my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

HENRY KELLY SHIRLEY Witnesses: I PAUL LoNe,

J. W. SMITH. V

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