US1325330A - Collapsible box or case - Google Patents

Description

J. RAE.

COLLAFSIBLE BOX 0R CASE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. M. 1918.

Patented Dec. 16, 1919.

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J. RAE.

COLLAPSIBLE BOX 08 CASE. APPLICATION mso NOV. 14, 1918.

1,325,330. Patented Dec. 16,1919.

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James Rae,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES RAE, OF WATFORD, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THE WATFORD MANUFACTURING COMPANY LIMITED, 01? WATFORD, ENGLAND.

COLLAPSIBLE BOX OR CASE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 16, 1919.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMEs RAE, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing in Watford, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in and Relating to Collapsible Boxes or Cases, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to collapsible boxes or cases and it has for its object to provide an improved form of box .or case of this type.

A box according to this invention com prises a top and bottom member each provided with peripheral walls which walls, however, at the sides are interrupted at each end for the purpose to be hereafter de scribed.

The end members of the box are formed of substantial thickness and have running across them adjacent the ends, grooves designed to receive the vertical ends of the side members, such grooves being so placed that they are within the walls of the top and bottom members, the upper and lower edges of the said end members engaging the aforesaid gaps or interrupted portions of the peripheral walls of the top and bottom members. The side members of the box or case are preferably strengthened with battens which are so placed and are of such length that they abut against the outer edges of the walls of the top and bottom members whenthe parts are all assembled, said side members at their vertical ends engaging the aforesaid grooves on the inside of the end members.

Perforations are provided in the top and bottom members adjacent the corners thereof through which a cord or cords may be passed to secure the parts when the case is collapsed and the parts superposed ready for transit.

The end members may also have strengthening battens upon them, and the walls of the top and bottom are of such depth that when the box is collapsed they form a case or receptacle to contain the side and end members. The battens of the side and end members are so spaced that when the parts are superposed for packing the battens of the side or end, as the case may be, lie inside the battens of the superposed member.

In order that the invention may be the better understood drawings are appended in which Figure 1 is a perspective view showingthe box with certain parts ready for assembling.

Fig. 2 is a section in the line A A Fig. l with the lid in osition.

Fig. 3 is section showing the parts in the collapsed position.

Fig. A is a perspective view showing a modification.

Fig. 5 is a transverse section.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view showing the case illustrated in Figs. 4; and 5 in its collapsed condition.

Referring to the accompanying drawings a indicates the bottom of the box and b the top or lid. The bottom is provided with shallow end and side walls indicated respectively by a 6 of which the walls at the sides are interrupted at 0 leaving spaces or gaps at these points. The end members of the box, indicated by d are in length equal to the width of the top and bottom of the box and each of saidmembers has running vertically thereof two grooves d said grooves being equal in width to the thickness of the side members 6 of the box. The grooves 6Z1 are so placed with regard to the ends of members (Z that when said members are in position on the bottom a, the said grooves may be engaged by the ends 0f the side members 6 the outer surfaces of which will then lie against the inner surfaces o-f the aforesaid wall 6 When assembled in the manner just clescribed the box is sufliciently rigid to prevent displacement of the sides or end members during the filling operation.

The top Z) is also pro-vided with peripheral end and side walls indicated respectively by 2' '5 which walls are gapped as already explained in connection with the bottom a, to engage the tops of the ends members 01 of the box when the lid is placed in position to close the said box.

When placed in position the walls 2' i on the top 6 are outside the side and end mem bers of the said box. 7' indicates battens upon the outside of the side and end members.

After the lid has been applied the case is corded externally in the usual manner.

In order that the parts may be secured when packed for transport there are provided in the top and bottom members perforations 9 through which cords or like flexible bodies 7 may be passed to secure the parts together.

In order that the box may be readily handled without coming apart each of the shallow walls upon the ends of the bottom memher is undercut or grooved upon its inner face so as to form a channel designed to engage a projection running along the bottom of the end member, which member is slid into position through a gap or opening in. the shallow walls upon the sides of the bottom member. The member forming the lid is provided upon one side and at each end with a shallow wall, the end walls being recessed or undercut as previously explained to engage a projection upon the top of the end members of the box. The side walls are gapped to permit the top to he slid into position.

An arrangement such as that just referred to is illustrated in Figs. 4: to 6 in reference to which it will be seen that the end walls a of the bottom a are undercut or inclined as shown at a the lower ends of the end members (Z being correspondingly cut or shaped so that there is formed upon them projections which may be caused to engage the parts a being slid into position through the aforesaid gaps 0. By this means the end members are connected to the bottom in such a manner that the box with or without its contents may be transported by means of said end members.

The lid 7) is provided at each end and upon one side with shallow walls respectively indicated by z 2' the inner Surfaces of the end walls being undercut as already explained in connection with the end walls upon the bottom (4 said under cut portions being designed to engage suitable projections (Z on the end walls (Z the gaps in the side walls permitting the sliding engagement of the parts. The wall 2' upon the lid forms a stop whereby the lid is positioned so that its opposite edge does not project beyond the desired limits. One of the sides of the box is provided with a strip or batten b disposed upon the outside at its upper end, the width of the top being such that when closed one edge is in the same plane as the plane of the outer surface of the strip 6 In order that the lid may be secured against unauthorized removal, there are provided in it and in the strip 6 holes through which a cord h may be passed and secured in any suitable manner,

Claims l. A collapsible box or case comprising a bottom member, a wall upon the upper surface of said bottom member extending across each end thereof, a wall at each side of such length as to have openings adjacent the said walls, end members located inside said end walls, and extending fully across said bottom and within the openings in the side walls, transverse grooves in the inner faces of said end members, side members located Within the side walls of the bottom members and engaging the grooves in the ends, and a top member having upon the under side end walls extending fully across said member and side walls of such length as to leave openings adjacent said end walls, the top of the sides and ends of the box being located within the walls of the top, the height of the walls upon the top and bottom of the box being such that when collapsed the sides and ends may be inclosed therein.

2. A collapsible box or case comprising a bottom member, a wall upon the upper sur face of said bottom member extending across each end thereof, an undercut groove on the inner face of each of said walls, a wall at each side of said bottom member of such length as to leave openings adjacent the end walls, end members located within said ends and walls extending fully across said bottom members, projections on the lower end of said end members adapted to engage the grooves upon the inner faces of the end walls of the bottom member, transverse grooves in the inner surface of the end members, side members located within the side walls of the bottom members and engaging the grooves in the end members, and a top member having upon the underside end Walls extending across said top member, undercut grooves upon the outer faces of said end walls, projections upon the under surface of the top member adapted to engage the grooves in the top of the ends of the box, a wall upon one side of the top member extending between, from one end wall to the other, the height of the walls upon the top and bottom of the box being such that when collapsed the sides and ends may be inclosed therein.

3. A collapsible box or case comprising a bottom member, a wall upon the upper surface of said bottom member extending across each end thereof, an undercut groove on the inner face of each of said walls, a wall at each side of said bottom member of such length as to leave openings adjacent the end walls, end members located within said walls and extending fully across said bottom member, projections on the lower end of said end members adapted to engage the grooves upon the inner faces of the said walls of the bottom member, transverse grooves in the inner surfaces of the end members, said mem bers located within the side walls of the bottom members and engaging the grooves in the ends, and a top member having upon the under side end walls extending across said top member, undercut grooves upon the .outer faces of said end walls, projections upon the under surface of the top member adapted to engage the grooves in the top of the ends of the box, a wall upon one side of the top member extending between, from one end wall to the other, and battens upon the outer surface of the end members extending between the undercut grooves in the end members, the height of the walls upon the top andbottom of the box being such that 15 when collapsed the sides and ends may be inclosed therein.

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

JAMES RAE. Witnesses:

S. HAVENDRY, F. D. HEMMEND.

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