US1205521A - Shipping-case. - Google Patents

Description

w. H. DOBLE. SHIPPING CASE.

APPLICATION FILED IAN.20. 1916.

1,205,521 Patented Nov. 21, 1916.

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UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEicE.

WILLIAM H. DOBLE, OF QUINCY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTH T0 PNEUMATIC SCALE CORPORATION, LIMITED, 0F QUINCY, MASSACHUSETTS, A COR- EORATION OF MAINE.

SHIPPING-CASE.

To all whom it mayV concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. DOBLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Quincy, county of. Norfolk, State of Massachusetts, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Shipping-Cases, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates to an improvement in folding metallic shipping cases.

It has special reference to that class of shipping cases which are formed with an inner and an outer wall spaced apart from each other and are employed in shipping packages of goods which need to be specially protected, the shipping cases being intended to be folded into compact form after the goods have been received at the place of destination and returned to the shipper to be again used.

It has been found sometimes that after' the shipping case has been received atits` destination with the filled packages and before it is returned to the shipper that the shipping case has been improperly used, as for instance, as a receptacle for waste matter, such as rubbish or ashes or other material for which the shipping case was not intended to be used and which soils the interior, so that when it is nally returned to the shipper, it is either entirely ruined for its proper purpose or else much labor and expense has to be incurred in cleaning it and restoring it to its proper condition.

Theobject of the invention is to so construct the shipping case that after the merchandise has been removed at its destination it will be'practically imposisble to use the case for such improper purposes as has been mentioned, or, at any rate, iL can not be so used without such inconvenience that there will be no temptation for such misuse.

The invention will be fully understood when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and the novel features thereof `will be pointed out and clearly deined in the claims-at the close of this specif'l- A Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 21, 1916.

Application filed January 20, 1916. Serial No. 73,235.

tion of the shipping case, showing a portion of the bottom and rear panels and their connections with each other. Fig. 3 'is an elevation of the lower part of the rear panel partly broken away and partly in section. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section through the shipping case on line l--4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a vertical section at right angles to Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a section on the same line as Fig.

2 showing the latch connection between the bottom and back disengaged and the back lifted a short distance away from the bottom panel. Fig. 7 is asection of a portion of the bottom panel showing the locking plate turned up against the under side of the bottom panel after the back panel has been entirely separated from the bottom panel.

Having reference now to the drawings, A is the top panel, B is the bottom panel, C the rear panel, D the front panel, and E, F the two end panels ofthe shipping case. Each panel is composedof an outer and an inner plate 1, 2, and a corrugated strengthening plate 3 which contacts alternately with the inner and outer plates.

There is inserted into the rear edge of the top panel a channel'plate 4 and into the upper edge of the rear panel C there is inserted a channel plate 5, the said channel plate 4L having a projecting neck 6 terminating in a. barrel port-ion 61 which has a series of cut out spaces alternating with a series of knuckle portions, and the channel piece 5 is formed with a'projecting neck portion 7 terminating in a barrel portion 71 which has a series of spaces alternating with a series of knuckle portions. A hinge rod 8 passes through the knuckle portions 61, and a hinge rod 9 passes through the knuckle portions 71. Said hinge rods are connected together by a series of links 10 which fill in the spaces between the knuckles 61 andthe spaces between the knuckles 7l.

The top A which serves as the cover has a clip fastening connection 11 with the front panel D which is put on .after the box is filled, but when the clip is removed the cover A is capable of being folded over on to the outer face of the panel C, by reason of the hinge connection between the back C and the top A already described. The front D has a hinge connection with the bottom B similar to the hinge connection between the top A and the back C, namely, the panel D` has a channel member 12 provided with :lic

knuckle extensions 13 and the bottom panel B has channel member la provided with knuckle extensions 15, and said knuckle extensions 13 and 15 are respectively pro vided with hinge pins 16 and 17 which are connected by links 1S. Thus when the clip connection 11 between the front panel and the top panel is disengaged, the front panel may be folded down and up against the under side of the bottom panel B.

Each of the end panels E, F, has a hinge connection with one of the vertical edges of both the rear panel C and the :t1-ont panel D. The top panel A merely shuts down over the two end panels E, F, as shown by the overhanging flange portions 36, in Fig. 5, and there is a similar relation between the bottom B and the end panels E, F, as shown by the iianges 37, but they are not fastened together.

There is provided a separable latch connection between the bottom panel B and the rear panel C. This separable connection is of suoli character that while the packages P are in thefcase the said rear and bottom panels will iemain locked together even though the cover is opened, but after the cover is opened and the packages have all been removed, the separable connection will begin to be opened automatically if the case is lifted from the floor or other support on which it stands, and the said rear panel will then become completely separated from the bottom panel. ThisV separable connection comprises the invention and will be now described. The rear panel C is provided with a channel member 19 in its lower edge, said channel member having in the lower face thereof a longitudinal groove or valley 20. The bottom panel B has inserted in the back edge thereof and secured therein a channel member 38 having a projecting barrel portion 21 formed with a lip 22 which engages with the groove or valley 2O in the channel member 19 for the purpose of affording a more rigid connection between the bottom panel B and the rear panel C when the said two panels are locked together. A rod 23 passes through said barrel 21 from end to end. The barrel 21 has a plurality of spaces cut out at different places in its length. Corresponding with each space in the barrel is a plate having at one end a coil 24 which loosely surrounds said rod 23 within the said space, and a flat portion 25 which extends up through a space between the adjacent edges of the panels B and C against the tace of the inner wall plate 2 oi' the rear panel but is not attached thereto. The said inner wall plate 2 is formed with apertures 26 therein which are overlapped by said plates 25. Said plates 25 are each provided with a. nose shaped projection 27 which extends through the opening 26 and into the space between the inner wall plate 2 and the outer wall plate 1. These nose pieces 27 have a sloping back 28, but the front edge of the nose piece is in height substantially the same as the opening 26 through which it extends.

A spring plate 29 is secured at one edge 30 to the face otl the inner wall plate 2within the space between the two wall plates 1,

y 2, the free end of saidy spring extending downward and having a bent end 31 which bears against the inner end of the nose piece 27. The said spring kis under tension, and therefore constantly tends to push the nose piece 27 out of the recess and thereby tends to turn the plate 25 around on the hinge rod 23. he pressure of the packages P, against said plate when the case is full, resists this tendency otl the plate to turn on the rod, but as soon as the last package is removed the plate 25 will be tree to be moved under pressure of the sprinO 29 until the spring 29 has sprung back as far as it will go, which will be suticient for the nose piece 27 to be pushed entirely out of the opening 26. The bent end 31 of the spring where it engages the inner end of the nose piece is offset sutliciently to push the nose piece entirely out'otl the opening. At this time the plate 25 will be tilted back on its hinge rod 23 at an inward and upward inclination away from the inner wall 2 vof the rear panel C, assuming that the case is resting on the floor or other bottom support.

ik spiral spring 32 is coiled around the rod 23, under tension, one end 33 of said spring bearing against the edge of the innerY spring, 32, however, is lessV powerfulrthan the spring 29. After the packages 1) are all removed from the case, the spring 29 is sutticiently strong to push the nose piece 27 out through the opening 26 as already described against the counter pressure of the spring 32, thus coiling the springV 82 still more and increasing its tension. Now after the last package has been removed, it' the case is attempted to be raised liromthe ioor the panel C will be lifted up without lifting the rear edge of the panel B because the groove 2O will separate from the lip or tongue 22, and the inner small end of the nose 27 will ride down on the inner wall plate 2 below the opening 26 as shown in gins to come into engagement with the lower edge of the plate 2, the spring 32 will become operative and turn the plate 25 back on its hinge as fast as it is allowed by the sloping back28 of the nose until the nose has passed entirely below the plate 2, at which time that part of the plate 25 which is above the nose 27 will engage flatly against the plate 2 until the panel C has `been lifted far enough from the bottom panel B to entirely free it from the plate 25. Then the plate 25 is free to respond fully to the action of the spring 32 and will be turned around on the rod 23 to bring it flat against the under side of the panel B as shown in Fig. 7. The outer plate l and the intermediate corrugated plate 3 of the bottom panel are formed with openings 35 to admit the nose piece 27.

It will thus be seen that after the shipping case has been emptied of its contents, if anyone attempts to lift the case when it is still empty the bottom B will become automatically separated from the panel C and thus the case will be rendered practically useless as a receptacle for rubbish or the like unless one takes the trouble to set it up again and fill it sufciently to hold the hinge plate 25 back against the wall plate 2 and hold the parts locked in position as already described when in use. The trouble one must take to do this, however, is such that it is unlikely that anyone will undertake to use it for the objectionable purposes previously mentioned.

Vhat I claim is:

l. A box having a drop bottom, a separable connection between said bottom and one of the side panels, means for normally tending to disengage said connection and so constructed and located that said tendency is resisted by the engagement of the contents of the box against said connection.

2. A box having a drop bottom `panel, said bottom panel having a hinged connection with one of the side panels, a separable connection with the side panel opposite said first side panel, said separable connection being held in its engaging position by the resistance of the contents of the box when theL box contains material which bears against said connection, and ymeans which automatically disengages said connection when the contents are removed, the bottom being constructedV to drop automatically when the empty box is lifted.

3. A box having a separable latch connection between the bottom and one of the side panels thereof, and which is held in latchisa removed, the said side panel automatically separating from said bottom panel when the side panel is raised while the latch mechanisml is in disengaged position.

t. A box having a separable latch connection between the bottom and one of the side panels thereof, said separable connection comprising a member hinged to one edge of the bottom panel and having an extension which projects up on the inner face of the said side panel, and a latch portion mounted thereon, said side panel being formed with a recess with which said latch portion is adapted to engage to hold the said bottom and side panel in locking engagement, and means which normally presses against said latch member and holds it out of engaging position'when the box is empty, the pressure of said disengaging means being overcome by the pressure of the contents of the box if the box contains material of sufficient quantity to press against said latch mechanism from the inside of the box.

5. A box having a separable connection between the bottom and one of the side panels thereof, said separable connection comprising a hinge rod attached to an extension of one edge of the bottom panel, a latch plate having on one edge a coil through which said hinge rod loosely'passes, said latch plate having an extension which extends up between the adjacent edges of the said bottom and side panel and along; Y

side of the inner face of said side panel, a hook portion on the face of said latch member toward the face of said side panel, said side panel being formed with a recess with which saidhook is adapted to engage to lock said two panels together and which is held in suchengaging position by the pressure of the contents of the box if the box contains material of sufficient quantity' to press against said latch member from within the box, and means which automatically disengages said hook from said recess when the pressure from within the box is released. i*

6. A box having a separable connection between the bottom and one of the side panels thereof, said separable connection comprising a hinge rod attached to an extension alongside of one edge of the bottom panel, a latch plate having on one edge a coil through which said hngerod loosely passes, said latch plate having anV extension which extends up between the adjacent edges of the said bottom and said panels and alongside of the inner` face of said side panel, a hook portion on the face of said latch member toward the face of said side panel, said side panel being formed with a recess with which said hook is adapted to engage to lock said two panels together and which is held in such engaging position by the pressure of the contents of the box it' the box contains material ot sutlicient quantity to press against said latch member from within the box, and a spring within the wall of said side panel which presses against said hook tending to disengage it from the recess and causing such disengagement when ythe box is emptied of its contents.

i7. A box having Ya separable connection between the bottom and one ot' the said panels thereof, said separable connection comprising a hinge rod attached to Van extension alongside ot one edge of the bottom panel, a latch plate having on one edge a coil through which said hinge rod loosely passes, said latch plate having an extension which extends up between the adjacent edges of the said bottom and said side panel and alongside of the inner face of said side panel, a hook portion von the face of said latch member toward the tace of said side panel, said side panel being formed with a recess with which said hook is adapted to engage to lock said two panels together and which is held in such engaging position by the pressure ot' the contents of the box it the box contains material ot' sutlicient quantity to press against said latch member from within the box, a spring within 'the wall oit said side panel which presses against said hook tending to disengage it from the recess and causing such disengagement when the box is emptied of its contents, said side panel being then separable from the bottom panel by simply lifting said side panel while the bottom panel remains stationary and a spring which, when the said side panel is released from engagement with said locking plate, swings said locking plate around on its hinge, and holds it folded up against the under side ot' the bottom panel.

8. A folding metallic box having a hinge connection between the bottom and kone of the side panels, a separable locking connection between said bottom and the side panel opposite said first side panel, said locking mechanism being held in engagement by the pressure of material contained within the box, and means constantly tending to disengage said locking mechanism and which is operative to disengage said locking mechanism when the box is emptied of its contents, the other two side panels ot said box being at all times free to separate from said bottom panel, Athereby permitting the bottom of the box to drop open automatically when the box is lifted away from any bottom support. l

9. A box having a drop bottom hinged on one edge to one of the side panels of said box, the opposite edge of said bottom having a latch mechanism connected therewith which is adapted to engage with the side panel opposite Said lirst side panel and which is held in such engagement by the pressure thereon of material contained within the box, if the box contains material, and mechanism connected with said last mentioned side panel which normally tends vto hold said latch disengaged when the box is empty and which is operative to disengage said latch when the contents of the box are removed, thereby rendering the bottom capable of automatically dropping by gravity when the empty box is lifted away from the bottom support.

10. A folding metallic box having panels composed ot inner and outer plates spaced apart from each other, a hinge connection between one edge of the bottom panel and one ot the side panels, the opposite edge of said bottom panel having a channel plate inserted therein formed with an outwardly extending barrel portion, the side panel ad-v jacent the edge of said lbottom portion which carries said channel member having a channel plate formed with a longitudinal groove therein, the barrel portion of said channel member of the bottom panel being formed with a longitudinal lip which engages with the groove in the channel mem ber of the said side panel, a separable latch connection between said bottom panel and said last mentioned side panel, means which normally holds said latch disengaged from said side panel when the box is empty but which is held in engaging position by the pressure of contents within the box when the box is filled.

11. A folding metallic box having panels composed of inner and outer plates spaced apart from each other, a hinge connection between one edge ot' the bottom panel and one of the side panels, the opposite edge of said bottom panel having a channel plate inserted therein formedwith an outwardly extending barrel portion, the side panel adjacent the edge of said bottom portion which carries said channel member having a channel formed with a longitudinal groove therein, the barrel yportion of said channel member ot the bottom panel being formed with a longitudinal lip which engages ywith the groove in the channel member of the said side panel, a rod extending through said barrel portion, a plate having on one edge a coil through which said rod passes, said plate extending Vup between said bottom and said last mentioned side panel and against the inner face of the said side panel, said side panel being formed with a recess `and said plate being formed with a hook which is adapted to engage in said recess to lock the said bottom and said side panel together and which is held in engaging position by the pressure of the contents of the box'when the box is full, and means which automatically disengages said hook from said recess When the pressure of the conplish such disengagement When the box is tents of the box is removed. empty, the said bottom being free to drop l2. A box having a top cover capable of by gravity if the box islifted when empty. being opened to introduce material into the In testimony whereof I atlix my signa- 5 box, a drop bottom, a separable connection ture, in presence of tWo Witnesses.

between said bottom and one of the side panels, means tending to disengage the said WILLIAM I-I. DOBLE. connection, said tendency being resisted by Witnesses: the contents of the box engaging with said GEO. A. ROBINSON,

10 connection, and being effective to accom- ROSEINA MCQUEEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. C.

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