Untitled record

Application filed Decemter 8, 1892. Serial No. 454,481. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, William H. H. Mulford, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Streator, in the county of La 5 Salle, State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Crates, of which the following is a specification.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, to wherein like reference-letters indicate like parts, Figure 1. is my improved crate set up for use. Fig. 2. is the same opened out preparatory to folding. Fig. 3. is the same folded for transportation or storage, when not in use. 15 Fig. 4. is an enlarged end-view of the same when folded. Figs. 5. and 6. are detail views; and Fig. 7. is a modified form.

In shipping many things, such as live fowls, bread, fruits, vegetables, &c., it is nepessary 20 to use crates for the protection of the articles. These crates have to be made strong and durable enough to accomplish the desired end, and hence the cost is such that they are usually returned to the shipper, refilled and 2 5 again used; sometimes this occurs many times. Such crates are bulky and take up much room, so that the return freight, drayage and handling in returning the empty crates, usually termed “empties,” is an important item 30 of expense to be considered.

The object of my invention is to provide a crate that shall be safe in its use and durable in its construction, that will obviate a large portion of the expense of handling the “ emp35 ties.”

My invention consists in certain arrangements of the sections of a folding crate and in certain fastening devices and grasping an d holding members by which the sections of 40 the crate are held and maintained securely in their respective open and closed positions, to be particularly described and pointed out in my claims.

In the drawings A. represents the bottom 45 of the crate, which is preferably of wood and in one piece.

B. B. are the ends of the crate, which are so pivotally attached to the bottom as to be adapted to fold downward upon it.

C. C. are the sides, also pivotally attached to the bottom and adapted to fold downward.

D. D. are the top sections, pivotally attached to the top edge of the sides and adapted to be folded upon the same either backward or forward. 55

Ε. is a small door located in one of the top sections, for filling or emptying the crate.

E'. is a rod extending along the inner side of one of the top sections, bent in such a manner at one end with a return bend, that an 60 end thrust will slide it in the eyes /./., the ends entering the eyes /'./'. in the other top section and thus firmly holding the two top sections firmly together at their meeting point in the center of the crate. 65 /³. is an eye through which the rod slides, and acts as a stop against which the stop /³. on the rod strikes to prevent the rod being entirely withdrawn.

F. is a hasp on the rod F'. which comes in 7α close contact to a similar hasp e. on the door E., so the two may be locked together with one lock, thus preventing the opening of the door, or the withdrawal of the rod, and securing the contents of the crate from inter- 75 ference. It is obvious that the hasp F. and hasp e. may both be provided with latches, if desired.

G. is a rod similar to F. in construction and operation for securing together the adjacent 80 ends of the sides and ends, and passing through the eyes b. c. operates in the same manner. When the rod G. is in place, securing together an end and side section, and the top is closed and in place, the corner of the 85 top rests upon or above the top of the rod and prevents its withdrawal, without folding back the top to expose the top of the rod, the stop g. and eye g'. prevent the rod’s entire withdrawal at any time. 90

A simple straight rod may be used if preferred, as also in place of the rod F., but I. prefer to use the device described, as it is simple and durable, and prevents the separation of the parts, and as also furnishing a 95 cheap and effective device for the purpose.

Other simple means, as hooks, rings, &c., may be employed if desired, and a latch added to the door E. and another to hold the hasp F. if preferred, without departing from the 100 spirit of my invention.

It will thus be seen that the crate when set

523,366 up is firm, rigid and reliable, and is also capable of being quickly and easily folded into a small space. It is also easily cleaned.

The sides and ends may be attached to the 5 bottom in any of the well-known ways permitting the folding of the parts. I prefer to use staples, passing over the lower frame-rod and into the bottom for this purpose, as it is both cheap and serviceable. If preferred, io the sides and ends may be so attached to the bottom as not to allow of an outward opening beyond a line perpendicular to the bottom, or nearly so.

The crate may be constructed of wire upon 15 rod frames, as shown in the drawings, or may be made of wicker or willow work, or other preferred material. The form of the crate may also be varied to suit the purpose to which it is to be put. In an open crate the 20 top sections are simply dispensed with. But these modifications do not depart from the spirit of my invention.

The mode of operation is as follows: Taking a crate set up as in Fig. 1., the bar F. is 25 unlocked and moved endwise, the top sections thus disconnected are turned back. The bars G. are then withdrawn sufficiently to disconnect the end and side sections. The end sections are then folded inward and lie flat 30 down upon the bottom, the side sections are then folded inward and lie flat down upon the end sections, and the top sections are folded back or outward, and lie upon the side sections. Small grasping and holding hooks h 35 may be employed to hold the sections firmly to the bottom, and give compactness in handling. (See Figs. 1, 3, and 4.) For the purpose of allowing the side sections to fold down flat upon the ends, the sides are raised the 40 thickness of the end sections above the bottom by means of small strips of wood or their equivalents.

It is obvious that, if desired, the top sections may be attached to the ends, as shown in 45 Fig. 7, instead of to the sides. When, in square crates the operation would be the same, but in crates having a greater length than breadth, the two top sections when the crate is folded would overlap each other unless the height of 50 the crate was exactly one-half the length of the same, when the top sections could fold back upon the ends in a similar manner to that shown in Figs. 3. and 4. In the preferredconstruction, the height is one-half the 55 width of the crate and hence when folded the I top sections come to the edge of the bottom, as shown in Figs. 3. and 4.

The door may extend clear across from one side of the section to the other, if preferred, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. 60