US1732128A - Collapsible barrel - Google Patents

Description

Patented st. 15, 1929 UNITED STATES HARLEY A. W. HOWCOTT, 0F NEWYORLEANS, LOUISIANA COLLAPSIBLE BARREL Application filed July 25, 1928. Serial No. 295,137.

My invention relates to improvements in collapsible containers, and especially those wherein a plurality of hingedly connected sections may be readily disconnected, permitting storage of such containers in a limited space, and it consists inthe combinations, constructions, and arrangements herein de-y scribed and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide a container which may be readily assembled f and dismantled without the use of special tools.

A further object of my invention is the provision of stave sections which may be hingedly connected, and each hinge formed with flange members cooperating with the next adjacent stave so as to provide a tight joint at the `junction of the staves. A still further object of my invention is the provision of end closure members cooperating with the stave sections in such manner as to brace the stave sections upon their inner sides, thus adding to the rigidity of the container.

A still further object of my invention is to provide end section of a collapsible nature which may be readily removed from a con-- tainer, and also to provide locking means whereby said closures will be positively held in engagement with the stave sections.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, and the novel features of the invention will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accom panying drawings, forming part of this ap plication, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a container embodying my invention. 40 Figure 2 is a sectional view on the line 2--2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of one of the stave sections. t

Figure 5 is a perspective view illustrating one of the end closures and locking means.

I construct a barrel or container made up primarily of a desired number olf stave sec tions 1, which when connected will produce the complete body of the barrel. Itis undern stood that any number, of sections may be employed, and that the staves may have thev general contour of ordinary barrel staves, presenting a bilged elect. The staves may be formed from any suitable material, such as wood or metal, and in either event, one longitudinal edge of each stave is provided with projecting apertured hinge ears 2, adapted to cooperate with the next adjacent stave as will be explained. The opposite edge of the stave is'provided with an odset flange 3, providing a recess 4, for reception of an abutting stave section. The ends of the flange 3 stop short ot the stave ends and a portion. of the stave is cut away to provide a shoulder 5, in whichy shoulder there is provided a threaded opening 6. (See Figure 4.) At opposite lends of each stave section and eX- tending circumferentially, there are'provided kerfs or channels 7 for reception of the end closure members.A In assembling a barrel or container, the desired number of stave sections are selected, these sections being arranged so that the edge lies within the recess 4 of the next adjacent stave, with the apertures oi' the ears 2 in alinement with the aperture 6 of the abutting stave. A bolt 8 is then secured to the ear 2 into threaded engagement with the aperture 6. It will thus be seen that the sections 1 are hingedly connected `to one another, and that the juncture of the sections 1 overlying the adjacent stave.4

The heads of the barrel are composed of three sections 9, 10 and 11, so shaped and of a size to be accommodated within the kerf 7 of the barrel staves when assembled to forni the barrel body. It will be noted, by refer ence to Figures 1 and 2, that the sections 9 and 11 are rigidly held within the lzerf 7 and that the section 10 is removably arranged between the sections 9 and 11. The section 10 is composed of two sections 10a and 10b,.each

`.are eectively closed by the offset flange 3 the opposite section. lOa or 10b, as the case may be. The handles 12 may be of any desired shape, but in the present instance, I have shown them as substantially rectangular, having hand holds 14- and being apertured as at 15. (See Figure 5.)

Assuming that a barrel body has been asseinbled, and it is desired to close the ends, the sections 9 and 11 are inserted into the open ends of the barrel, and adjusted within the kerf 7 on opposite sides of the barrel` leaving the central portion of the barrel open. The sections 10a and 10b are neXt introduced between the sections 9 and 11. This is readily accomplished by arranging thel sections "10a and 10b, as shown in Figure 5. A downward pressureV on these two'sections will-cause engagementof these `sections,at the outermost parts with the'lerf?. The entire coverniay now be securely held in f this positionl by swinging ofrthe handles-1Wdownwardly to lie inia plane parallel with the cover, and securing the handles by insertion of a threadedlfastening member '16 throughI the apertures-15 intorespectivc sections 9 and 11.

lTo gain'access tothe interior Vof the barrel, it is only necessary to'- reniove "the fastenings 16, `grasp the handles .12,1 exerting an upward pull, thismovement of the `partsfcausing ldis` engagement wit'hthe kerf 72 orderito'provide an' even surface to the exteriortiof thevv container, the 'flanges maybe connected' "by" circumferential "ribs 17'. The provision of such ribs-will permit ready rolling fof a' barrel, if it-is "so desired;f

'F rom' the foregoing description, rit will be readilyseen that I' haveprovide'da container which may be readily collapsed; vthat thev joints abutting each' stave* section are eifectively sealed when assemble-d; and that said containerlwhenfconstructedns here shown and" described 'will' be strong'Y and durable, easily assembledand cheap Ito manufacture. Claim-:1: `f l 1. Abarrel having its body portion made up of a plurality-'of stave sectionsgfeach stave section: having one of its longitudinal edges formed with"l -an *offset lflange, the opposite longitudinalI edge being? provided `with "ear members, said flange-and first-'named longitudinal edge beingfproifided'with shoulders for engagement by saidf'ear members, and nieanssconnecting said sta-'ve sections.VVA l k"2. A barrel having itsbody`v portion made upof a pluralitylofstave secti'on`s,each stave section having "one of its longitudinalV ledges formed withan offset fla-nge providing are# c'essf, said ange'and longitudinaledfg terminatinginw'ard'ly of the ou'teredges and pifo vidingl shoulders, saidy shoulders beingpro`A` vided with threaded apertures", itheopposite longitudinal 'edge of each stave being pro# vided with aperture-dl ear portions, said?` porl tions "being of;l size tol iengagev snugly"upon sai'df` shoulders, whereby-"to `cause contacting u l IVMISUVL." .igl- ,i .kfw L Y f ;n j.; ,vr

apertured ears and shoulders.

HARLEY A. W. HOWCOTT.

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