US1071653A - Folding or collapsible box. - Google Patents

Description

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FOLDING OR GOLLAPSIBLE BOX. APPLIOATION FILED JULY 7. 1911 1,071,653, I Patented Aug. 26, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

[N VEN TOR 6%; z Jiar COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH Co.. WASHINGTON: D. c.

E. H. STOW.

FOLDING OR GOLLAPSIBLE BOX.

APPIQIOATJION FILED JULY 7, 1911.

Patented Aug. 26, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES. v JNVENTOR COLUMBIA PLANDIJRAPH co.. WASHINGTON. D. C.

UNTTED STATES PATENT GFFTQE.

ELI HENRY STOW, OF BINGI-IAMTON, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO ZAIDEE L. STOW, ONE-THIRD TO CLARENCE F. HOTCHKISS, AND ONE-THIRD TO FRANK M.

HAYS, OF BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK.

FOLDING OR COLLAPSIBLE BOX.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELI HENRY STOW, of Binghainton, in the county of Broome and State of New York, have'invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding or Collapsible Boxes; and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

This invention is a novel folding or collapsible box, particularly designed for use in packing or wrapping bottles, and enabling a number of them to be carried conveniently and at the same time protecting them from breakage while being transported or shipped.

The box when collapsed occupies little space and a large number of them can be conveniently packed or nested in a package; but when opened the box is well braced and easily carried, and may have separate compartments for each bottle so that they cannot touch each other or break by contact or clash, if roughly handled. The bottom of the box is arranged to fold inward beneath the partitions when the box is collapsed, and the covers of the box may fold inward or outward as desired, depending upon the height of the partitions in the box.

The box is preferably provided with wire handles or bails which serve as a means for holding the box in extended position, when properly engaged, and also as a convenient means for transporting the box when filled and closed; they also form an efficient means for sealing or securing the top of the box when folded. Said handles may also be connected by suspending devices such as tapes, cords or wires, which extend from the handle down the sides of the box and underneath the bottom thereof and support the bottom and the contents of the box, when the box is opened so that the weight in the box is practically directly suspended from the handles; and these suspending devices also brace the sides of the box so they cannot burst outward. Preferably the upper edges of the sides of'the' box are reinforced with stiffening bands of tin, or other suitable material, to which the handles may be conveniently fastened and to which the suspending cords or wires above referred to can also be attached. The handles may be Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 7, 1911.

Patented Aug. 26,1913.

Serial No. 637,380.

locked together by means of a connecting piece preferably of metal, which not only forms a tie between the handles, so as to hold them together, but also forms a convenient hand-piece or grip between the bails which will not cut the hand of the party carrying the box.

In the drawings I have illustrated one form of knock-down or folding box embodying the invention and containing several features above mentioned and I will describe the invention with reference thereto and summarize in the claims the various parts and combinations of parts for which I desire protection.

In the drawingsFigure 1 is a perspective view of a box embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a top view of such box extended, with the covers and handles thrown back. Fig. 3 is a bottom view of such box. Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section through the box. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical section through the box. Fig. 6 is a side view of the box collapsed, and Fig. 7 is an end view of the box partly collapsed.

The body of the box is formed of a tube or shuck 1, which may be made of pasteboard, or veneer, or any suitable material, preferably scored at the corners of the box so it can bend easily; and the body may be expanded into rectangular form, as indicated in Fig. 1, or collapsed flat upon itself as indicated in Figs. 6 and 7. The body shuck 1 may be stiffened, if desired, by a lining 1 of card-board or veneer, on its side walls; and similar linings 1 on its front and rear walls. Preferably strips 1 of fabric are inserted in the corners of the box, so as to form a hinge connection and brace between the adjacent side, front and rear walls of the box, at the corners thereof, and enable the box or shuck to be repeatedly collapsed and extended without material injury thereto. The top flaps or covers 2 of the box are also preferably formed of material, or layers of material like that of the body. As shown the cover'2 is composed of opposite flaps connected to the ends of the upper edges of the side walls of the shuck,

the box is extended; or turned outward as indicated in Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawings when the box is collapsed.

The bottom of the box is composed of op Y posite flaps 3, which may be formed of strips of material similar to the body 1; and are preferably connected to the lower edges of the front and rear walls of the body by means of hinge pieces of fabric or other suit able material, which will allow the bottom pieces to be folded inwardly against the inner faces of the front and rear walls of the body as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4 when the box is to be collapsed.

The interior of the box may be divided into compartments by means of intersecting partitions 4-, 4:, which may be of pasteboard or other suitable like material ar ranged like egg-crate partitions. The ends of the partition strip 1 may be secured, by

pasting or otherwise, to the inner walls of the body as indicated at 4* Fig. 2; while the ends of the partition pieces 1 may be similarly attached to the front and rear walls of the box. The construction is such that when the shuck is folded the partitions also fold, as indicated in Fig. 7, so that the box when collapsed can lie flat and compact.

The upper edges of the front and rear walls of the box may be protected by reinforcing strips 5, which are preferably of metal; to these reinforcing strips 5 may be connected suspending devices, such as cords or wires 5 that preferably extend from one strip down beneath the bottom of the box and up to the other strip. As shown, these wires 5 may pass through apertures 1 in the lower edges of the front and rear walls of the box, which apertures may be protected by eyelets if desired. These wires 5 support the bottom members 3 of the box when the box is extended as indicated in the drawings.

To the upper ends of the front and rear walls of the box are attached bails or handle pieces 6, preferably formed of wire bent into U-shape and having their ends connected to the reinforcing members 5. As shown the ends of the bails 6 are engaged with eyes 5" on the upper edges of the reinforcing metal pieces 5. The bails 6 may be turned down against the outer face of the front and rear walls of the box, when the box is being filled or emptied so they will not obstruct the opening or closing of the cover flaps, 2. WVhen the box is extended and the cover flaps closed, the bails are turned inward toward each other over the flaps 2 as indicated in Figs. 1 and 4.

To one of the bails 6, is attached a connecting piece 7 which may be a metal plate hingedly attached to one of the bails by beading its edge over the adjacent portion of such bail as shown. The other edge of the bail bent over, as indicated, to form hooks, with which the opposite bail 6 can be easily engaged, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 1-. When so engaged the two bails are connected by the plate 7 and will, hold the cover flaps 2 closed, and also draw the front and rear walls of the box toward each other. The plate 7 forms a convenient hand piece by which the box can be lifted; and when so lifted the weight on the bottom of the box is distributed directly through the wires or cords 5 to the plate 7 and the strain taken off of the walls of the box.

Thus a very convenient strong and durable collapsible box or carrier is provided and considerable weight can be carried in the box without danger of breaking down. The plate 7 may be notched as at 7 if desired, to facilitate the engagement or disengagement of the free bail therefrom; as by pressing the portion of the free bail exposed at this notch as indicated in Fig. 1, such bail can be readily disengaged from the hooks 7 When the box is to be knocked down the bails are disengaged and turned over against the outer faces of the front and rear walls of the box: the cover flaps 2 are then opened and turned down against the outer faces of the side walls of the box; the bot-- tom members 3 are then turned upward against the inner faces of the front and rear walls of the box, below the partitions 1, 1, see Figs. 1 and 7 and then the box can be collapsed as indicated in Figs. 6 and 7. W hen so collapsed a number of these boxes can be packed in small space. When it is desired to use the box, the body is first extended into rectangular form, then the bottom flaps are drawn down, as indicated in F 2 to 5. To facilitate the drawing down of the bottom flaps 3, they may be provided with notches 3 at their central portions, which notches form an opening through which the finger of the operator can engage the bottom flaps, see Figs. 2 and 3. The box can then be filled by placing the bottles within the compartments; and then the cover flaps 2 are turned over into position; then the bails are turned across the cover flaps and connected by the plate 7 as described, and the package is completely closed and ready for transport, and can be readily carried by the hand piece 7. The partitions are very useful when the box is used for carrying bottles as they keep the bottles separate, and they also form transverse and longitudinal braces or ties between the vertical lines of the box; but I do not consider the invention restricted to the use of such foldable partitions.

VVhat I claim is:

1. A collapsible goods holder and carrier comprising a box having sides flexibly united to one another at the four corners, bottom closing flaps flexibly united to the bottom ends of the sides and adapted to be folded upwardly inside the box, supporting straps fastened to the upper ends of opposite sides and passing thence downward to and across the bottom of the box, upon which straps the bottom flaps rest when the box is in use, and bails coupled to the straps at the top of the box for handling the carrier, said box being adapted to be collapsed with opposite sides folded against adjacent sides and the straps turned diagonally across the bottom.

2. A collapsible goods holder and carrier comprising a box having sides flexibly united to one another at the four corners, bottom closing flaps flexibly united to the bottom ends of the sides and adapted to be folded upwardly inside the box, supporting straps fastened to the upper ends of opposite sides ancl passing thence downward outside the box to and across the bottom of the box through openings provided therefor in the sides and bottom flaps, upon which straps the bottom flaps rest when the box is in use, and bails on the opposite sides coupled to the straps at their upper ends, said box being adapted to be collapsed.

3. A collapsible goods holder and carrier comprising a box having sides flexibly united to one another at the four corners, bottom closing flaps flexibly united to the bottom ends of the sides and adapted to be folded upwardly inside the box, supporting straps fastened to the upper ends of opposite sides and passing thence downward outside the box to and across the bottom of the box through openings provided therefor in the sides and bottom flaps, upon which straps the bottom flaps rest when the box is in use, outwardly opening top closing flaps flexibly united to the upper ends of the sides, and bails on the opposite sides coupled to the straps at their upper ends, said box being adapted to be collapsed.

4. A collapsible goods holder and carrier comprising a box having sides flexibly united to one another at the four corners, bottom closing flaps flexibly united to the bottom ends of the sides and adapted to be folded upwardly inside the box, supporting straps fastened to the upper ends of opposite sides and passing thence downward out side the box to and across the bottom of the box through openings provided therefor in the sides and bottom flaps, upon which straps the bottom flaps rest when the box is in use, outwardly opening top closing flaps flexibly united to the upper ends of the sides, bails on the opposite sides coupled to the straps at their upper ends, and means for fastening said bails together across the top flaps when the box is closed, the box when empty and open being adapted to be collapsed.

5. A collapsible goods holder and carrier comprising a box having sides flexibly united to one another at the four corners, bottom closing flaps flexibly united to the bottom ends of the sides and adapted to be folded upwardly inside the box, crossed compartment forming strips flexibly united to the sides of the box above the bottom flaps when in folded position, supporting straps fastened to the upper ends of opposite sides and passing thence downward to and across the bottom of the box, upon which straps the bottom flaps rest when the box is in use, outwardly opening top closing flaps flexibly united to the upper ends of the sides, and bails on the opposite sides coupled to the straps at their upper ends, the box when the bottom and top flaps are turned upward being adapted to be collapsed with opposite sides folded against adjacent sides and the straps at the bot-tom and the transverse compartment strips turned diagonally across the box.

6. A collapsible holder and carrier comprising a body having sides, the meeting edges whereof are permanently and foldably connected, two of the sides being provided with a flap adapted to be folded outwardly in line with the side to which it is attached and inwardly to a position substantially at right angles to the sides, two of the said sides having openings near their edges, wires or the like extending along the faces of opposite sides and passing through the openings near the ends thereof, and detachable means for connecting the ends of the wires -or the like.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ELI HENRY STOW.

Witnesses:

ROBERT B. HoLLnNBEoK, ZAIDEE L. STOW.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

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