US891927A - Folding crate. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED JUNE 30, 1908.

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PATENTED JUNE 30, 1908.

W. H. GODDARD. FOLDING CRATE. APPLIOATION FILED JULY 9, 1907.

2 SHBETSSHBET Z.

. a J M d 0 N J UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLARD H. GODDARD, OF GRESTON, IOWA.

FOLDING CRATE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it'known that I, I/VlLLARD H. GoDDARD, citizen of the United States, residing at Creston, in the county of Union and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Crates, of which thel following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in crates of that character which are commonly employed for the transportation of poultry and the like, and aims to provide an improved construction whereby the crate can be collapsed when empty and returned to the shipper at reduced rates.

A further object of the invention is to design a simple and inexpensive crate of this type which is of durable construction and wil be perfectly rigid when locked in a distended position.

For a full understandinfr of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction and of the means for effecting the result, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a crate embodying the invention, the same being shown in a distended position; Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view through the crate; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through the same Fig. 4 is an end view of the crate when folded 5 Fig. 5 is a detail view of one of the L members secured to the sides of the crate for engaging the ends thereof 5 and, Fig. 6 is a similar view of one of the U-shaped clips carried by the sides for engaging the intermediate partition.

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 Anumeral 1 designates the bottom of the crate which is shown as rectangular in shape and is provided at its opposite ends with the upwardly extending end strips 2. The sides of the bottom are also provided with the upwardly extending longitudinal strips 3 which are somewhat higher than the before mention'ed end strips 2. The two ends of the crate are similar in construction and are loosely connected to the end strips 2 so as to fold inwardly between the side strips 3. Each of the ends comprises a plurality of spaced slats 4 having their extremities secured between the strips 5 of strap iron or similar material, the inner strips 5 of each end Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 9, 1907.

Patented June 30, 1908.

Serial No. 382,848.

being hinged to the plates 6 secured to the inner faces of the end strips 2, while the lowei` ends of the outer strips 5 are designed to engage the end strips 2 for the purpose of limiting the swinging movement of the ends of the crate. The side strips 3 are secured to the bottom 1 by means of a plurality of pairs of eye bolts 7 extending through the two members, the said eye bolts also engaging transverse reinforcing bars extending across the bottom of the crate. Each pair of the eye bolts 7 is connected by a bolt or pivot pin 9 upon which the sides of the crate are hinged. Each of the sides of the crate comprises a plurality of spaced and parallel slats 10 secured at their end portions and at intermediate portions between transverse strips 11, the latter being formed by doubling a piece of strap iron or like material upon itself,

the curved ends thereof extending slightly above the top slat and receiving a .longitudinal rod 12 while the lower ends of the inner strips are bent to form sleeves loosely receiving the bolts 9.

The two oppositely disposed side strips 3 are connected toward their lower portions by a rod 13 upon which the middle partition 14 is pivoted, the latter being designed to be folded against the bottom 1 and being similar in construction to the sides and ends of the crate, comprising a plurality of spaced slats connected by metallic strips. The two sides of the crate each carry upon their inner faces clips 15 designed to embrace the edges of the intermediate partition 14 'for the purpose of holding the same rigidly in an upright position when the crate is distended. These clips 15 may be in the nature of U-shaped members riveted or otherwise rigidly secured tothe intermediate strip 11 of the sides of the crate. Projections 16 extend. inwardly from the opposite ends of the crate sides and are designed to be received between the strip 5 of the ends of the crate in order to hold the latter rigidly in an upright position when the crate is distended. In the present instance, these projections 16 each constitute one arm of an L-shaped member, the opposite arm of which is secured to one of the end strips 11 of the crate sides.

The top of the crate is formed in two sections 17 and 18 hinged to the upper edges of the crate sides, the section 18 being preferably somewhat narrower than the section 17. Each of the sections comprises a plurality of spaced slats connected at their ends and at an intermediate portion by strips 19 secured to the opposite sides thereof, the said strips being formed by doubling a piece of strap iron, or similar material upon itself, the looped ends of the members thus provided being located4 at the outer edges of the top sections and receiving the before mentioned rods 12 carried by the sides, while the inner ends project slightly beyond the inner slats and engage each other, the ends of one of the top sections being received between the ends rojecting from the opposite top section, and ocking pins being utilized to hold the sections together, the said locking pins 20 p assing through corresponding openings in the projecting portions of the strips 19. If found desirable, chains or similar members 21 may be utilized for securing the locking pins 2O to the crate whereby the same will be prevented from becoming lost. When the sections 17 and 18 of the top of the crate are thereby locked together, the sides of the crate are prevented from swinging outwardly and are held against the ends and middle partition, the projections 16 locking the ends against swinging movement while the clips 15 hold the middle partition against swinging movement. Upon removing the locking pin 20, however, the sides of the crate can be swung outwardly to disengage the projections 16 and clips 15 from the ends and middle partition, respectively, and the latter mentioned members can then be folded between the side strips 3. One of the sides and the smaller section 18 of the top hinged thereto are then folded inwardly against the ends of the crate and the opposite side and larger section 17 of the top folded inwardly upon the previously mentioned members. For the purpose of locking the crate in a folded position, tie members 22 are secured to one of the side strips 3, each of said tie members comprising an eye designed to extend between the projecting ends of the strips 19 of the section 17 of the top and receive the corresponding locking pin 20.

One of the slats 23 of the top of the crate is made removable to facilitate placing of the fowls within the crate or removing them therefrom, and the said slat 23 is slidable between the strips 19 and normally locked in position by a key 24 passing through corresponding openings in the said slat and intermediate strips 19.

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

1. In a crate, the combination of a bottom, swinging ends carried by the bottom and comprising slats received between pairs of transverse strips, one of the transverse strips of each pair constituting a hinge member while the opposite transverse strip of each pair constitutes a stop to limit the swinging movement of the ends, swinging sides carried by the bottom, and means for holding the sides and ends in a distended position.

-tions 2. In a crate, the combination of a bottom, swinging ends carried by the bottom, swinging .sides carried by the bottom and having an interlocking connection with the ends when distended, cover sections hinged to the .sides and each comprising slats connected by transverse strips, the said strips proj ectingv beyond the inner edges of the cover sections and overlapping each other when the cover sections are in normal position, locking pins for holding the overlapping ends of the strips together, and tie members carried by the bottom and provided with eyes designed to engage the locking pins to hold the' crate in a folded position.

3. In a crate, the combination of a bottom, swinging ends carried by the bottom, swinging sides carried by the bottom, projections upon the sides designed to have an interlocking connection with the ends, and cover sechinged to the sides, each ofthe cover sections comprising spaced slats received between transverse strips, the ends of the strips projecting beyond the inner edges the cover sections and the ends carried by one section being received by the ends carried by the opposite section, and locking pins passing through corresponding openings in the said ends of the strips.

4. In a crate, the combination of a bottom, swinging ends carried by the bottom, swinging sides carried by the bottom and having an interlocking connection with the ends when distended, cover sections hinged to the sides and each comprising a plurality of spaced slats received between transverse strips, the said strips projecting beyond the inner edges of the cover sections and the ends of the strips upon one section being received between the ends of the strips upon the opposite section, locking pins designed to pass through corresponding openings in the said ends of the strips, and tie members carried by the bottom and provided with eyes designed to engage the locking pins to lock the crate in a folded position.

5. In a crate, the combination of a bottom provided with end strips and side strips, hinged plates secured to the end strips, ends comprising spaced slats received between transverse strips, the inner strips being hinged to the before mentioned plates while the outer strips are designed to engage the said end strips to limit the swinging movement of the ends, sides loosely connected to the side strips and having an interlocking connection with the ends, and means for holding the sides and ends in engagement with each other.

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

WILLARD H. GODDARD. [1.. a] IVitnesses:

ARLA POTTER, GEO. J. BARTH.

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