Untitled record

Application filed May 8,1916. Serial No. 96,174.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, Edward P. Carrenter and John L. Carpenter, citizens ot the United States, residing at Elmira 5 Heights and Potsdam, respectively, in the counties of Chemung and St. Lawrence, btate of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Crates; and we do hereby declare the fol10 lowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to. make and use the same.

This invention relates to the class of folding crates, and has particular reference to returnable folded crates, which are adapted for shipping produce and other perishable material.

The primary object of the invention is to 20 provide a collapsible crate which can be quickly folded into a compact state for re- ’ turn shipment, and also to provide a device of this character which will be strong and durable when in set up position and in which 25 the parts are effectively held from displacement when in their set up condition.

In the shipment of perishable market products to market centers, a demand has been created for collapsible crates and shipping 30 receptacles which while possessing all of the requisite strength to withstand tlie hard usage of short trip shipments, may also be taken down or.collapsed into a compact form foi return shipment, so that they may be 35 used repeatedly.

As above stated, our invention has for its object to provide such a device, and with this, and other objects which will hereinafter appear, in view, our invention will now 40 be. fully set forth and described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which: ^&

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the shipping receptacle in set up condition,

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view on the line 2—2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line 3—3 of Fig. 1, . ^{is a} Perspective view of the crate 50 m folded condition, and

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5—5 of Fig. 4.

• ^Eeferring more particularly to said drawings, 1 indicates the top of the receptacle or crate which is hinged to the rear side 2 as by 55 an inside hinge 3. The rear side 2 is hinged along its lower longitudinal edge to the bottom 4 as by an outside hinge 5. Said bottom is provided along its forward longitudinal edge with a vertical upstanding flange 6 to whose upper free end is hinged the front side 7 as by the outside hinge 8.

End pieces 9 and 10 are hinged to the transverse edges of the bottom 4 by means of hinges 11 and 12 in such relation to the bottom 4 that the ends 9 and 10 may fold inwardly upon the bottom. The vertical edges of the ends 9 and 10 are provided with the outwardly turned flanges 13 which interut to form ^{oc <} J^oints with the recesses 14 which are formed by turning the vertical edges of the ends of the front and rear sides to surround the flanges 13. When the ends 9 and 10 are m in the position above described, they are locked in position by means 75 of leaf springs 15 which are riveted or otherwise formed in the front and rear sides of the device. The springs 15 are shaped to normally project from the recesses 16 behind the elevated ends 9 and 10 to lock the 80 latter in position, but may be depressed into In JIi^CeSi^eS 16 1° ^re^^ease the end pieces so that the latter may be dropped into folded position.

The top 1 of the receptacle is hinged to the 85 upper edge of the rear side upon the hinges 3, and is flanged upon its front edge, the flange 19 being of such depth that the ends, sides and bottom- may be compactly folded therebehind, as will hereinafter appear. In 90 the extended or set up position of the receptacle, the flange 19 of the top 1 depends over the front of the receptacle and aids in holding the latter m rigid relation. The lower edge of the front portion of the flange 19 has 95 thereto the hasp 20 having openings ²³through which are engaged staples 21 and 22, carried by the front 7, when the receptacle is set up for shipment.

In folding the receptacle for return ship- 100 ment or storage, the lid or top 1 is first raised after which the ends 9 and 10 are released from the spring clips 15 and folded inwardly upon the bottom 4, said ends 9 and

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10, and the flanges 13 thereof, lying below the level of the upper edge of the flange 6 on the front edge of the bottom. The front side 7 is then folded inwardly upon the ends 9 and 10 with its staples 21 and 22 directed upwardly, the flange 6 allowing said front side to lie flat upon the ends. Tjje rear side or back 2 is then swung rearwardly and downwardly and under the bottom -1, with its inner face against the under face of the bottom. The top 1 is then folded with its end face against what is then the lower face of the rear side or back 2, so that the flange 10 extends upwardly of and beyond the adjacent edges of the folded sides and ends. The hasp 20 may be then brought into position against the outer face of the front 7, and receive in its lower opening 23 the upper staple 21. A securing device may be then engaged through this staple. Thus the whole. structure is folded and held within the limits of the top 1 and its depending flange 19.

The operation and use. of our improved apparatus has been clearly brought out in the course of the foregoing description, so that a further rehearsal thereof is not required, but it will be evident that the present invention provides a simple, adequate shipping .crate or receptacle which may be readily folded for return shipment in such

Copies of this patent may be obtained, for five cents each, by

Washington, D. 0.” compact form that it requires little room and will not be easily injured.