US1069834A - Collapsible berry-box. - Google Patents

Description

J. F. WHITE.

COLLAPSIBLE BERRY BOX.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.3,1912.

1,069,834 Patented Aug. 12, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

%QMMLMU/M Z% Z9:

J. P. WHITE.

COLLAPSIBLE BERRY BOX.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 3,.1912.

1,069,834 Patented Aug. 12,1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

J. F. WHITE.

COLLAPSIBLE BERRY BOX.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 3, 1912.

1,069,340 P tented Aug 12,1913.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3/ TTNTTED dTATES FATENT @FFTGE.

JOHN F. WHITE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

COLLAPSIBLE BERRY-BOX.

ooassa.

Application filed February 3, 1912.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, JOHN F. VI-UTE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicage, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Collapsible Berry- Boxes, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to improvements in b xes and has for its primary object the provision of a collapsible berry box of sim ple construction adapted to be readily assembled or taken apart, and possessing characteristics enabling the same to be shipped in a compact fiat condition when not in use, and afiording a strong, evenly balanced receptacle reinforced by a double wall through out when in use.

The preferred embodiment of the invention practically eliminates the use of a paste or separate fastenings to secure the meeting edges of parts of a knock-down box together, and dispenses in a large measure with the requirement for the use of lugs or irregular shaped tongues to prevent collapsing of the box when in use, and correspondingly increasing the ease and facility with which the box may be made and assembled.

Heretofore it has been attempted to provide collapsible boxes of the general character herein set forth, but they have been unbalanced and of unequal strength in different parts thereof, owing either to the fact that some of the walls are of single, while others are of double thickness, while in other instances, as where all of the walls are formed of a single piece of material, one or more of the walls would be of more than double thickness, inherently involving the additional disadvantage of useless waste of material. In the former instance, where any of the walls are of single ply, it is obvious that the same requires the employment of a box board of substantially greater thickness and rigidity than where double thickness walls are afforded, and it is well recognized in this art that the use of a lighter material, as contemplated by me, requires less scoring and consequent weakening than where heavy stiff board is used.

The invention comprises a box composed of three separate members, properly designated a bottom and two side members, the

bottom being provided with extensions constituting reinforcing inner walls for the ad- Speeifieation of Letters Patent.

Patented A11 12,1913.

Serial No. 675,246.

joining sides, and the side members cooperating to correspondingly reinforce the remaining sides of the box, the parts being adapted to be secured together by interlocking tongues and slitted portions to properly tie the sides together and support the bottom in place, the securing means being amply capable of performing their expected functions and preventing unexpected unlocking incident to careless handling or shipping so commonly encountered.

More specifically, the invention consists in the formation of the side members so that they may be connected in assembled relation and fastened together while at the same time presenting a substantially smooth interior for the introduction of the bottom member thereinto from the top opening formed by the assembled sides.

The improved features in detail and construction will be apparent from the specific description hereinafter contained when read in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein the before referred to preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of one of the side members of the box; Fig. 2 is an elevation of the bottom member of the box; Fig. 3 is an elevation of the other side member of the box; Fig. t is a perspective view of the side members assembled; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the bottom member showing the manner of folding the same; Fig. (5 is a perspective view of the completed box assembled; Fig. 7 is a cross section on line (la-00 of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a cross section on line 1 1 of Fig. 6; Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a modified form of bottom member, and Fig. 10 is a perspective view of an assembled box in which is utilized a bottom member of the construction shown in Fig. 9.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views, A represents one of the side members, B the other side member, and G the bottom member. The side members are scored as at a and Z) to permit bending of the same into three wall sections A A A and B B B respectively, while the bottom member is similarly scored as at c to provide a bottom section C and two side sections 0 C the side sections C C in this instance, however, being of less depth than the corresponding side sections A B of the side members, so that when assembled (Figs. 5 and 6) the bottom C is arranged at a substantial dis tance above the extreme bottom edges of the box to provide an air space below the bottom from which air may pass through the bottom C and aerate the contents of the box, apertures D being provided in the bottom for that purpose and cut away portions E being formed in the lower margins of the side sections A B to permit entrance of air to the space below the bottom C These last mentioned cut away portions in the margins of the sides also constitute supporting feet; F on said sides adapted to rest on somewhat; uneven surfaces.

In assembling the box, it is desirable to first assemble the side members and then insert the bottom member. To that end, I form at opposite ends of the side members, that is in the section A and the section B parallel slits G, H adapted to be vertically disposed with reference to the completed box, and to receive correspondingly arranged, similarly oppositely disposed tongues I, J cut out from the side sections A B The side sections being folded along the creases a, b and the tongues passed through both slitted portions to prevent any obstruction being constituted by the tongues on the inner surface of the sides, it will be seen that the side members are interlocked, through the medium of the tongues, at two points, and with the tongues in oppositely disposed relation, so that any pulling strain tending to release one of the tongues acts to secure the other with a firmer hold in its interlocking engagement. This practically insures against any accidental release of the parts. As thus assembled, it will be seen that the sections A B constitute a reinforced double ply wall, while the opposite sections A B constitute a similar double ply reinforced wall. The sides are now ready to receive the bottom member, to which end the side sections A B are provided with parallel slits K, L, disposed horizontally with reference to the completed box, adapted to receive depending tongues M, N, cut out from the side wall sections C C of the bottom member. member being introduced within the connected side members, and the tongues M, N passed downwardly through the slits K, L, the bottom C will be properly supported in position as hereinbefore pointed out, and so that the side sections A C and B G constitute reinforced double ply side walls similar to the remaining double ply reinforced side walls to which I have previously alluded. In this way, every wall of the box is reinforced to substantially the same extent, the box evenly balanced and properly proportioned throughout, and wastefulness of material obviated.

The bottom- The free edges of the bottom section C are provided with extensions or flaps O, scoring 0 being provided to permit bending up of these flaps to effectually close the opening between the bottom and the adjoining pairs of side sections A B and A B By the provision of the construction herein described, it will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that a device is afforded of simple, cheap, and durable construction capable of performing the services for which the same is intended. It will also be apparent that, although I have herein disclosed a special embodiment of the inven tion, said invention is capable of embodiment in other forms and devices than that shown and described. As an example, Ihave illustrated in Figs. 7 and S a second embodiment of the invention wherein the general characteristics of my hereinbefore described berry box are contained, supplemented by the additional feature of a cover, it being understood that berry boxes, as a general proposition, do not require a lid or cover, while in other uses of a collapsible or knockdown box, a cover is desirable. To afford the cover referred to I utilize, in lieu of the bottom section G a combined bot-tom and top section adapted to be inserted and held in place by the sides as previously pointed out. One of the upturned bottom flanges O of the first series of figures, in the present instance designated is carried upwardly to the upper edge of the box where it is creased and terminates in a cover or lid P, the latter in turn having depending flanges 39 adapted to be inserted into the spaces 7 between the plies constituting the double walled sides of the box, which arrangement will effectually secure the cover in place. The top may be also apertured in this instance as at Q for ventilating purposes. The side sections R of the combined bottom and top member are of suflicient depth in this instance to position the bottom S in the plane of the bottom edge of the sides, as distinguished from having the bottom occupy a relatively elevated position, as previously pointed out.

T. claim:

1. A knock-down paper box of the character described comprising a body having two side members and one bottom member separably connected by interlocking tongues and slitted portions, the side members overlapping to constitute two ply walls and the bottom member having side extensions 00- operating with portions of the side members to constitute remaining two ply walls so that said body has double walls entirely around the same.

2. A knock-down paper box of the character described comprising a body having two side members and one bottom member separably connected by interlocking tongues and slitted portions the ends of the side members overlapping to constitute two ply walls and the bottom member having side extensions cooperating with intermediate portions of the side members to constitute remaining two ply walls, so that said body has double walls entirely around the same, the free edges of the bottom member being provided with upwardly turned flanges to close the lower portion of the box adjacent thereto.

3. A knock-down paper box of the character described comprising a body having two side members and one bottom member separably connected by interlocking tongues and slitted portions the ends of the side members overlapping to constitute two ply walls and the bottom member having side extensions cooperating with intermediate portions of the side members to constitute remaining two ply walls, so that said body has double walls entirely around the same, the free edges of the bottom member being provided with upwardly turned flanges to close the lower portion of the box adjacent thereto, one of said flanges extending upwardly and carrying a top.

4:. A knock-down paper box of the character described comprising a body having two side members and one bottom member separably connected by interlocking tongues and slitted portions, the ends of the side members overlapping to constitute two ply walls and the bottom member having side extensions cooperating with intermediate portions of the side members to constitute remaining two ply walls, so that said body has double walls entirely around the same, the free edges of the bottom member being provided with upwardly turned flanges to close the lower portion of the box adjacent thereto, one of said flanges extending upwardly and carrying a top, the top being provided with a depending flange adapted to fit between the plies of one of the two ply walls of the box.

5. A knock-down paper box of the character described comprising a body having two side members and a separate bottom member separably connected by interlocking tongues and slitted portions, the side members overlapping to constitute two ply walls and the bottom member having side extensions cooperating with portions of the side members to constitute remaining two ply walls, so that said body has double walls entirely around the same, one of the 1nem bers carrying a top section.

6. A knock-down paper box of the character described comprising a body having two side members and a separate bottom member separably connected by interlocking tongues and slit-ted portions, the side members overlapping to constitute two ply walls and the bottom member having side extensions cooperating with portions of the side members to constitute remaining two ply walls, so that said body has double walls entirely around the same, one of the members carrying a top section, and the top section having a depending flange adapted to fit within the space between one of the two ply walls of the box.

7. A knock-down paper box of the character described comprising a body having two side members and one bottom member separably connected by interlocking tongues and slitted portions, the side members overlapping to constitute two ply walls and. the bottom member having side extensions cooperating with port-ions of the side members to constitute remaining two ply walls, so that said body has double walls entirely around the same, said bottom member also carrying a top section, substantially as described.

S. A knock-down paper box of the character described comprising a body having two side members and one bottom member separably connected by interlocking tongues and slitted portions, the side members overlapping to constitute two ply walls and the bottom member having side extensions cooperating with portions of the side members to constitute remaining two ply walls, so that said body has a double wall entirely around the same, said bottom member also carrying a top section, and the top section having a depending flange adapted to fit into the space between one of the two ply walls.

9. A knock down box of the character described, comprising a body having oppositely disposed side members provided with end portions overlapping for the full length thereof, the end portions of said side members being provided with oppositely disposed interlocking tongues and slitted portions, and a bottom member having side extensions overlying the intermediate portions of the side members, to constitute two-ply walls entirely around the sides of the box, the side extensions of the bottom being provided with downwardly extending tongues and the intermediate portions of the side members being provided with slits adapted to receive said tongues.

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

JOHN F. WHITE. Witnesses E. I. HANSEN, I. M. PHILLIPS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). G.

Images