Box

Application filed September

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Adelbert A. Thomas, a citizen of the United States, and a resident °* Tn-^Ca?⁰’^{in tbe count}y ^of C°°k and State 5 of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Boxes, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention relates to boxes, such as are 10 used for jewelry and similar purposes.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved box in which an inside collar for forming a lap-joint between the body and cover will be secured in the box with15 out special securing means.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved spring connection between the cover and the body of the box whereby the cover will be. held either in open or closed position. movement of the cover.^- The stresses unon

The invention consists m the several novel the unner body nnrHnnc ?^ΡιΤ features hereinafter set forth and more par- Fulfil . . substantially ticularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective bf a box embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a section of the hinge and spring connection between the body and the cover, the latter being shown in open position. Fig.

3 is a similar view showing the box closed. Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4—4 of Fig.

3. Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 5—5 of Fig.4.

The box comprises a body 6 and a cover 35 7 provided with a leather, cloth or other suitable covering 8. The body and cover are pivotally connected by' a hinge comprising sheet-metal members‘9 and 10 which are connected by a pintle 11. The hinge-mem40 ber 9 is connected to the body by a metal strip 12 which fits against the outside of the body and has tongues 13 extending through holes in the sides of the box and said member, the tongues being clenched 45 against the inner face of the hinge member to securely hold the parts together. Hingemember 10. is similarly secured to the cover by a strip 14 and tongues 15. A collar 16 extending around the front, sides and back 50 of the box is used to lap the joint between the body and the cover of the box, the upper edge of the collar being extended above the edge of the box. The ends of this collar are lapped under the ends of hinge-member 55 9, as shown at 17, so that when the said

Patented Jan. 4, 1921.

13, 1918. Serial No. 253,854.

member is secured to the box body by tongues 13, the collar terminals will be sej^{1 pl}T *° ^bcdd *^{be en}Bre collar in the body. As a result, separate fastening . ^r collar is unnecessary. 60 The improved spring connection for holding the coyer in either open or closed position comprises a strip of spring wire which ^{1 s} bent to form a central loop 20 which is adapted to receive a hook-tongue 21 struck 65 up from the upper edge of hinge-member 10, forwardly bowed body portions 22 extending downwardly from the loop, and out^wa?^dly and downwardly inclined arms 23 which have their terminals held by hook- 70 tongues 24 which are struck up from the lower edge of the hinge-member 9. When the box is open, the lower bowed portions L². ®^ngag® . ^bin£^e member 9 to arrest the l 75 tensile in character so that there is no danger of straining the spring by an attempt to force the cover back of its correct open position. When the cover is closed, the arms 23 are under tension and this tension can be overcome without excessive pressure, because the arms are flexible between their ends. Ihis spring can be easily placed in operative position by placing the loop over the hook-tongue 21 and snapping the terminals of arms 23 under the tongues 24. Replacement can be easily made in the same manner.

This spring exemplifies one which is 90 formed of round wire, is durable and avoids excessive pressure when the box is closed and breakage by straining the cover when it is open. It will be understood that the connecting points of the spring are arranged 95 to cross the dead center as appears from Figs. 2 and 3.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth, since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.