US2194770A - Headboard for asparagus pack - Google Patents

Description

March 26, 1940. L. SARTINI HEADBOAR'D FOR ASPARAGUS PACK Filed May 27, 1939 INVENTOR L.Sa1'Z 1uL BY I ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 26, 1940 UNITE stars rarest OFFICE This invention relates in general to an improvement in the equipment used in connection with the packing of fresh asparagus in crates for shipment. to market, and in particular the invention is directed to an improved headboard of the type used in loose packing of asparagus in crates.

The usual crates into which the asparagus is packed are of the fpyramidbtype, that is, are is taper sided. These crates are initially constructed without the slats on one side and the bottom but with the slats on the other side and top.

For packing, the crates are supported on a itjframe with the open side uppermost and with the top slats at a backward slope from their then lower edges.

Before the stalks of asparagus are placed in the crate, a flat headboard of substantial thick- 20 ness is inserted into the crate parallel with and resting against the top slats; such headboard being somewhat wider than the top of the crate and having a transverse slot into which the usual central partition of the crate engages. In other words, the headboard straddles the central partition and forms a stop for the tips of the asparagus stalks as will hereinafter appear.

After the headboard is in place, the stalks of asparagus are packed into the crate with the tips touching the headboard and the butt ends extending out of the open bottom of the crate. The stalks, while held under a certain compression from the open side of the crate, are then sheared or cut off flush with the bottom of the crate.

tom and side slats are fixed on the crate. Finally the headboard is withdrawn and this often snaps off the tips of some of the stalks, impairing the appearance of the pack. The headboardsas now a in use are of a thickness to occupy all the space between the tips of the stalks and the top slats, and thus the board cannot be moved free of the tips before being withdrawn.

It is therefore the principal object of my invention to provide an improved headboardfor use in connection with the packing of asparagus in crates; such headboard being arranged so that it may be shifted away from the asparagus Thereafter, the initially omitted bot' projecting at each end, as at 4, beyond the ends to a position projecting from the board and in order to locate the tip engaging face of the board the proper distance from the top slats, as, is now accomplished by the use of a relatively thick headboard; such elements having stop means 5 associated therewith to prevent swinging movement of the elements beyond the desired projecting position when swung out from a folded position.

A further object of the invention is to produce l0 a simple and inexpensive device and yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawing similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the-several views:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved 2o headboard.

Figure 2 is an enlarged end view of the device as positioned in a crate during packing of the latter.

. Figure 3 is an enlarged top plan of the device in a crate and illustrating one hinged spacing strip in projecting position and the other strip infolded position.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawing, my improved headboard comprises a rectangular panel I of relatively thin but rigid material such as Masonite; said panel I having a transverse slot 2 centrally of its ends and cut up from its lower edgeto a point adjacent but short of the upper edge of the panel. r

A rigid, longitudinal strip 3, preferably of metal, is secured on the back of the panel adjacent and parallel tothe upper edge of the panel and above the upper end of slot 2; the strip 3 of the panel.

A pair of rigid transverse strips 5, also preferably of metal, are hinged, by means of spaced hinges 6, on the back of panel I in spaced relation and each disposed centrally between one end of the panel and slot 2. The strips are hinged for swinging movement from a folded position to an edgewise and projecting position at right angles thereto. Hinge mounting bolts 1 are secured on the panel and strips by nuts la, and are of a length beyond the nuts and are positioned so that corresponding ones through the panel and strips will engage each other and form a stop when the strips are swung to a projecting right angle position as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

In use, the panel is slipped into the crate 8 from the open side and with the central partition 9 of the crate engaging in or being straddled by the slot 2; the panel being disposed adjacent the top slats Ill of the crate. The ends 4 of strip 3 rest on the edges of the crate ends II, and the strips are in projecting position and rest against the inner surface of top slats lo, and when the strips are so positioned, the working or tip engaging face of panel I is disposed the proper distance from said top slats.

After the crate is packed, as previously described, the strips are folded back close to the back of the panel I and said panel is then shifted away from the asparagus tips and toward the top slats Hi. When clear of the tips, the panel is withdrawn and without possibility of breaking the tips as now frequently occurs.

The strips 5 project some distance above the upper edge of the panel in order to facilitate folding of such strips, and which are also notched, as shown, in the edge adjacent longitudinal strip 3 whereby to permit the strips 5 to fold toward the panel without binding.

In order to facilitate such folding of strips 5, they are preferably provided at their upper end with rearwardly projecting handles l2.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I have produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A removable headboard for a packing crate comprising a panel adapted to engage in a crate in face to face relation with and adjacent the top thereof, a panel locating element adapted to project from the panel and engage the crate top, and means mounting said element on the panel for movement from a projecting position to a position with the element clear of the crate top whereby the panel may shift toward said crate top; said last named means comprising a hinge.

2. A device as in claim 1; there being means associated with said hinge to limit swinging movement of the element beyond a predetermined po sition.

3. A removable headboard for a packing crate comprising a panel adapted to engage in a crate in face to face relation with and adjacent the top thereof, a rigid strip extending across the face of the panel adjacent the crate top, and means mounting the strip on the panel for movement from a position projecting edgewise from the panel to a substantially folded position with the panel.

4. A removable headboard for a packing crate comprising a panel adapted to engage in a crate in face to face relation with and adjacent the top thereof, a rigid strip extending across the face of the panel adjacent the crate top, and a hinge mounting the strip on the panel for swing movement to and from a position projecting edge- Wise from the panel.

5. A device as in claim 4 in which the hinge is secured on the panel and strip by nuts and bolts; the bolts being of such length and so po sitioned as to engage each other and limit such swinging movement of the strip beyond a predetermined point.

6. A removable headboard for an asparagus packing crate, comprising a relatively thin rectangular but elongated panel having a transverse slot cut therein from one edge centrally between the ends of the panel, said slot extending to a point adjacent but short of the other edge of the panel, a rigid longitudinal strip secured on the panel adjacent and parallel to said other edge, said strip overhanging the panel ends, a pair of rigid transverse strips disposed one on each side of the slot, hinges for said strips, and means securing the hinges on the panel and strips and whereby the strips may swing from an edgewise position projecting from the panel to a substantially folded position relative thereto.

LOUIS SARTINI.

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