US1115388A - Folding chicken-crate. - Google Patents

Description

IW.. E. BROWN. 'F.nLDING CHICKEN GRATB.

v APPLICATION FILED1'EB.14.1914.

' mmssg. i

Patented Oct. 27, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

| 4 w. im 7 M /g W /l/l M H/ ('lttomm W. E. BROWN.

FOLDING CHICKEN R'TE.y

APPLIUATION 11L1:1 1E.14.1914.

Patented m2731914.

2 SHEETS SHEET 2.

Lill.,

@MIM/Wto@ u .of which the UNITED 4SILIES PATENT OFFICE..

y WILLIS a snows, or immune, frkansas.

FQLDIN@ CHICKEN-CIATE- 0 .all whom it may concern.

ie it known that-I, lVILLis E; BROWN, a citizen of the United States, residing at llorraine, in the county of Ellsworth and State of Kansas, have invented new and useful improvements in Folding Chicken-Crates,

following is a specification.

This invention relates to shipping crates, and particularly to crates for shipping chickens or the like; and it has for its primary object the provision of a crate of this character in which all of the Walls theeof are adapted to be folded onto one another to permit thocrate to assume a relatively compact package for return shipment.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a structure of this character wherein the Work of filling the crate or removing the contents thereof may be done expeditiously.

Another' object of the invention is the provision of means for edectually holding the different Walls of the crate normally in set up positions.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists ot certain novel features oi construction, combination and arrangenient of parts, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

lin thel accompanying drawingsz-Figure 1 is a top plan view ot the crate; Fig. Z is a side View thereof; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section therethrough; Fig. fl is a transverse section on the line 4 4 oi Fig. 2*; Fig. 5 is an end View of the crate; Fig. 6 is a longi tudinal section therethrough, showing the same in a folded condition; Fig. 7 is a seetion on line 7-7 of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one of the fastening devices.

'llhe crate comprises a suitable bottom 1 provided preferablywith toraminous side walls 2 and foraminous end Walls 3, the latter having hinged connection at l with the bottom at a point below the hinges 5 between the sides of thebottorn and the adjacent lower edges of the Walls Q. 'll` he said side Walls 2 are provided with angular combined stops and braces 6, which engage against the adjacent surfaces of the end walls 3 when the latter are folded to the positions shown in Fig. 3, thereby to limit the swinging movements of these Walls to set up positions. The bottom and the side and end walls are preferably made of sheet metal but may be made ot any suitable material.

Specification of Letters latonti. Application led February 14, 19M. Serial No. 818,816;

atenten oct. et', reir.

The closure sections 7-7 are employed for the pur ose of closing the top lot' the crate after t e latter is set up as shown iu Fig. Lt, and as illustrated said sections are hinged at 8`to the upper edes of the side Walls 2, so that they may' adjusted to overlie said side Walls, as shown in Fig. 7 when vthe crate is knocked down'or folded for return shipment.` rllhe ,positions of the hinges t and 5 between the bottom 1 and the sides and ends 2 and 3 as specified is desired in order that the ends 3 may be first folded onto the bottoni 1, asshown in Fig. 6, and the sides 2 then folded to overlie the ends 3,

v while finally, the closure sections 7 are folded to the positions shown in Fig. 7, so as to directly overlie the sides 2. lin this manner the sides and ends and the closure sections may all assume substantially parallel posif tions relatively and the crate as a whole adjusted into a comparatively compact package, as will be understood.

Flrhen the walls oii the crate are adjusted to the position shown in Fig. 7 ll employ means for holding said parts in such positions, and as illustrated this means consists of a chain 9 having branches 10, 10 that respectively extend in opposite directions over the adjacent superimposed Walls of the crate. 'llhe branches are provided with snap fasteners or the like 11 that are adapted to engage in keeper loops 12 which may be secured u on the sides of the bottom Wall 1. When t 1e crate is set up to the position shown in Fig. 3 the snap hooks 11 may be connected in hired hooks 1B secured to the sides 2. This arrangement is desirable in that all the Walls of lthe crate may be substantially braced and heldagainst being accidentally knocked down while the crate is in shipment.

1t is sometimes desirable to sub-divide the crate into non-con1municating compartments, and for this reason li prefer to employ swinging partitions 111, which are susanar portions 16 that are to adjacent bars 23 of the closure section and they slidably support a bar 26, as clearly illustrated in Figs. l and e ot the drawings. ln addition to the bars 24, the bar 26 has fixed thereto bars 27 and these bars in turn are connected to a mating bar 28, the ends of the latter being slidable on rods 29 on j the under sides of the bars 20 and 21. The

rods 30 extend from the bar 26, and are disposed in parallel relation to the bars 27, and they are provided With tree ends having hooks 3l that are adapted to be engaged beneath flanges 32 formed on the end bar 22. The said flanges 32 are curved transversely throughout their length and they are adapted to be engaged with cams v33 that are pivoted in brackets 34e of the end Walls 3, as shown clearly in Figs. 2, 3, 5 and 8. lt will thus be seen that when the hooks 3l of the rods 30 are disconnected from the flange 32 that the bars are tree for sliding movement upon the lined bars 24.

ln addition to the described elements each closure section is provided with a slide bar 35, which is normally positioned adjacent the intermediatebar l5. .Said bar 35 has lined thereto the inner ends ot rods 36, which are similar to the rods 30 previously referred to. Said rods entend through a sliding bar 37 having its ends mounten on the rods 29 and the bars are then extended over the adjacent end 22 of the closure section and the ends'38 of the rods are extended over the adjacent dange 32. The laars 39 intense between the adjacent bars 22 and 23 of the closure section form a guide tor the bar 37, While the rods d0 between the bar 37 and the bar 35 are associated with the adjacent portions of the rod 36 so as to define therewith a substantially oraminated surface.

From the construction described, it is seen that either the bars 36 or the bars 30 hereinbetore referred to may be adjusted so that an opening isformed in the closure section by means of Which the hand may be inserted into the crate when it is desired to remove 'the contents thereof.

F rom the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the invention will be readily understood without requiring amore extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion and the minor details of construction may be resorted to Without departing from the principle or sacrificing' anyl of the advantages ot this invention as claimed.

A. crate comprising a bottom member, swinging side Walls, swinging end Walls, closure sections carried by said side Walls and hinged thereto and having portions eX- tending over said end Walls, means on the end Walls having detachable connection with said extending portions, and a dexilole brace normally extending between .the bot; tom member and said side Walls and adapted to be extended over said sidey Walls when the crate is in a folded condition, and means on said bottom member for .receiving the tree terminals of said brace.

ln testimony whereof l ax my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WlllLLl-S E, BRWN.

Witnesses:

EowAno lilloMniUne, fC. E. Klorrnnnnrrnn,

Images