US2682964A - Transporting receptacle for baby chicks - Google Patents

Description

July 6, 1954 N. F. TOADVINE TRANSPORTING RECEPTACLE FOR BABY CHICKS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 18, 1952 T, N NI m I w r MY B M w Patented July 6, 1954 UNITED STATES ATE? QFFICE TRANSPORTING RECEPTACLE FOR BABY CHICKS 2 Claims.

This invention relates to transporting receptacles for baby chicks and more particularly to a returnable receptacle having a disposable bottom on which the chicks are supported.

It is among the objects of the invention to provide an improved chick transporting receptacle having a foldable wall and partition structure which is returnable to the shipper for reuse and a disposable bottom portion which is left with the chicks at the delivery location and is disposed of by the purchaser after the chicks are moved .into the brooder; which has a wall and partition structure which can be repeatedly sterilized without damage and maintained'in a clean and sterile condition; which also includes a returnable top or cover which can be repeatedly sterilized and is so constructed that when the receptacles are stacked one on the other an air space will be provided between each cover and the bottom superimposed thereon; which provides a foldable wall and partition structure the parts of which are hingedly connected together so that the structures remain in unitary condition at all times; and which is simple and durable in construction, economical to manufacture, easy to handle, and efiicient and effective in use.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the following description and the appended claims in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure l is a top plan view of a chick transporting receptacle illustrative of the invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view showing two of the receptacles in stacked condition;

Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of a receptacle;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary cross sectional view on an enlarged scale on the line 3'4 of Figure 1; and

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the wall and partition structure of the receptacle when in folded condition.

With continued reference to the drawings, and particularly to Figure 3, the receptacle comprises a top or cover, generally indicated at H), 4

an upstanding wall and partition structure, generally indicated at I I and a bottom, generally indicated at I2.

' The bottom I2 is preferably formed of an inexpensive sheet material of suitable rigidity, such as corrugated cardboard, and includes a bottom wall I3 of rectangular shape and a flange It upstanding marginally from the bottom wall I3 and extending around the latter. The flange I4 includes bent-up portions extending one along 2 each edge of the rectangular bottom wall portion l3, and is of a height only sufficient to provide a barrier for baby chicks so that the chicks will be retained in the bottom I2 of the receptacle.

The bottom wall I3 of the bottom 12 is covered by a sheet I5 of crepe paper which provides a sanitary covering for the bottom and also, because of its creped or slightly corrugated construction, provides a secure footing for the baby chicks on the upper surface of the bottom I2 of the receptacle and does away with the necessity of placing any loose material, such as sawdust or shavings, in the bottom of the receptacle to provide a proper surface for the chicks.

The bottom i2 being of inexpensive material is disposable by the purchaser of the chicks and is not returned to the shipper as are the wall and partition structure Ii and the top it.

The structure II comprises a pair of side walls I 8 and I9 arranged in parallel spaced relation and a first end wall It extends transversely between said side walls adjacent one of the complemental ends of said walls, one end of the end wall I6 being hingedly connected 'to the complemental end of the side wall i8, as at 23, and the other end of the end wall it being hingedly connected to the complemental end of the side wall I9 as likewise indicated by the numeral 23. A second end wall I? extends transversely between the side walls I 3 and i 9 adjacent the other complemental ends of the latter-named side walls and has one end hingedly connected in like manner to the complemental end of the side wall I8, not indicated, and has the other end hingedly connected to the complemental end of the side wall E3, as indicated at 23.

Positioned within the structure it is a pair of partition pieces 28 and 2! arranged in crisscross intersecting relation. The partition piece 2i! has one of its ends hingedly connected to the end wall It intermediate its ends, as indicated at 2-6, and has the other end hingedly connected to the end wall I! intermediate its ends, as indicated at 21. The partition piece 2i has one of its ends hingedly connected to the side wall I8 intermediate its ends, as at 28, and has the other end hingedly connected to the side wall 19 intermediate its ends, as at 29. The pieces 29 and H are connected at the criss-cross intersecting point for hinged movement. Specifically, the partition pieces 28 and El are oppositely notched at their midlength locations as indicated at 2-3 and 25 respectively, with each notch extending substantially one-half the width of the corresponding partition piece and the two pieces are fitted together with a portion of each piece between the corresponding notch and the opposite edge of the piece received in the notch of the other piece. The notches 24 and 25 have a width sufficient to permit thepartition pieces 20 and 2| to move angularly relative to each other from the position illustrated in Figure 3 to that illustrated in Figure 5.

The walls I6, I1, I8 and I9 and the partition pieces 20 and 2I are fabricated Wholly of durable and corrosion resistant material and are all provided with ventilating openings, as indicated at 30, to provide free circulation therethrough. The thus described wall structure is set into the bottom I2 so that the bottom edges of such structure rest upon the flat bottom wall I3 with the flange I4 bearing against the exterior portions of the wall structure.

The top I is also formed of durable and corrosion resistant material and includes a flat top wall 3| and a flange 32 extending about the boundary of said top wall and dependingly secured to the latter wall. The top wall M is adapted to rest upon the top edges of the structure H with the flange 32 bearing against the exterior adjacent portions of said structure.

The top Wall 3| of the top is provided with upwardly extending ridge formations 34, 35, 36 and 31, the formations 34 and 35 being disposed along one longitudinal center line of the top wall BI and extending inwardly from the adjacent edges of the top wall and the formations 36 and 31 being disposed along a center line of the top wall perpendicular to the center line along which the formations 34 and 35 are disposed and extending inwardly from the adjacent edges of the top wall. These ridge formations provide supports for a bottom superimposed on the top It so that an air space will be provided between the bottom wall of the superimposed bottom and the top Wall 3I of the corresponding top to insure adequate ventilation of the receptacle. The top Wall 3I of the top I0 is also provided with ventilating openings 38 arranged along the edges of the top wall 3I and between the inner ends of the ridge formations 34 to 31 inclusive.

In the use of the improved receptacle, at the shipping point a bottom I2 is placed on a suitable supporting bench or table and a sheet I of creped paper of the same size as the bottom wall I3 is placed in the bottom. A side Wall and partition structure I I in squared or rectangular condition is then placed within the flange I4 of the bottom and baby chicks are placed in the compartment provided by the partition pieces and H. A cover I0 is then placed on the upper side of the structure II, the structure II having a height such that the bottom edge of the cover flange 32 is spaced from the top edge of the flange I4 of the bottom, with the ventilation openings in the side wall bodies of the structure II disposed between the adjacent edges of the bottom flange and the top flange, as is clearly illustrated in Figure 2. If several receptacles are to be carried to the same delivery location they may now be stacked one on top of the other to a height of two or three receptacles and the stacked receptacles are then tied so that the bottom I2 at the bottom of the stack and the top It! at the top of the stack will be maintained in place on the corresponding wall and partition structures I! or, each receptacle may be separately tied, if desired. The provision of the separate bottoms I2 is not a disadvantage since the receptacles have to be tied in any case to retain the tops on the receptacles against accidental displacement during transportation.

At the delivery location the receptacles are placed on a suitable support and the ties released. The cover is then removed from each receptacle and the corresponding wall and partition structure I I then removed by simply lifting it out of the associated bottom leaving the chicks on the disposable bottom. This leaves the chicks in an undisturbed condition on the bottom on which they were already supported and avoids the necessity of having to dump or pour the baby chicks from the receptacle around a brooder stove or other brooder structure thus avoiding injury to the chicks and greatly increasing their livability.

After the tops and the wall and partition structures have been removed from the bottoms the tops are stacked together in nesting condition and the wall and partition structures are folded to a substantially flat condition, as illustrated in Figure 5 thereby materially reducing the bulk of these parts of the receptacles. The wall and partition structures and the tops are then returned to the shipper Where they are cleaned and sterilized and used over again for another delivery of chicks. These Wall and partition structures and tops, while originally more expensive than the cardboard cartons or receptacles now in general use for the delivery of baby chicks, are so durable and may be used so many times that the cost of the transportation of the receptacles is reduced to an insignificant figure, the main cost becoming that of the disposable bottoms Which is relatively insignificant when compared with the cost of an entire cardboard receptacle.

Besides reducing the cost of delivering the chicks the improved receptacle of the present invention greatly increases the protection given to the chicks during transportation'and avoids any injury to or disturbance of the chicks to an extent suflicient to affect their livability.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms Without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims, are, therefore, intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is:

1. In a transporting receptacle for baby chicks,

, van upstanding wall and partition structure fabricated wholly of durable and corrosion resistant material and comprising a pair of side Walls arranged in parallel spaced relation, a first end wall extending transversely between said side walls adjacent one of the complemental ends of the latter walls and having one of its ends hingedly connected to one of the complemental ends of said side Walls and having the other of its ends hingedly connected to the other of the complemental ends of said side walls, a second end wall extending transversely between said side walls adjacent the other of the complemental ends of the latter walls and having one of its ends hingedly connected to one of the complemental ends of said side walls and having the other of its ends hingedly connected to the other of the complementa1 ends of said side Walls, said side and end Walls having spaced apertures therein, a pair of partition pieces arranged in criss-cross intersecting relation positioned within said wall structure,

one of said partition pieces having one end hingedly connected to one of the end Walls intermediate its ends and having the other end hingedly connected to the other of the end walls intermediate its ends, the other of said partition pieces having one end hingedly connected to one of the side walls intermediate its ends and having the other end hingedly connected to the other of the side walls intermediate its ends, said partition pieces being connected at the criss-cross intersecting point for hinged movement, a cover alsowholly fabricated of durable and corrosion resistant material and comprising a fiat top wall, and a flange extending about the boundary of said top wall and dependingly secured to the latter wall, the top wall of said cover resting upon the top edges of said wall structure with its flange bearing against the exterior adjacent portions of said wall structure and a bottom fabricated wholly of disposable material, the bottom wall receiving the bottom edges of the wall structure, the free edge of the flange of the cover and the bounding edge of the bottom being spaced from each other and providing an unobstructed space therebetween for egress of air through the adjacent apertures.

2. A transporting receptacle for baby chicks including an upstanding wall and partition structure fabricated wholly of durable and corrosion resistant material and comprising a pair of side walls arranged in parallel spaced relation, a first end wall extending transversely between said side walls adjacent one of the complemental ends of the latter walls and having one of its ends hingedly connected to one of the complemental ends of said side walls and having the other of its end hingedly connected to the other of the complemental ends of said side walls, a second end Wall extending transversely between said side walls adjacent the other of the complemental ends of the latter walls and having one of its ends hingedly connected to one of the complemental ends of said side walls and having the other of its ends hingedly connected to the other of the complemental ends of said side walls, said side and end walls having spaced apertures therein, a pair of partition pieces arranged in criss-cross intersecting relation positioned within said wall structure, one of said partition pieces having one end hingedly connected to one of the end walls intermediate its ends and having the other end hingedly connected to the other of the end walls intermediate its ends, the other of said partition piece; having one end hingedly connected to one of the side walls intermediate its ends and having the other end hingedly connected to the other of the side walls intermediate its ends, said partition pieces being connected at the criss-cross intersecting point for hinged movement, a cover also wholly fabricated of durable and corrosion resistant material and comprising a flat top wall, and a flange extending about the boundary of said top wall and dependingly secured to the latter Wall, the top wall of said cover resting upon the top edges of said wall structure with its flange bearing against the exterior adjacent portions of said wall structure, and a bottom fabricated Wholly of disposable material and comprising a fiat bottom wall and an upstanding flange extendin about the boundary of said bottom wall, the bottom wall receiving the bottom edges of the wall structure with its flange bearing against the exterior adjacent portions of said Wall structure the flanges of the cover and bottom unobstructing the apertures in the side and end walls to provide an egress of air through said apertures.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 875,011 Swift Dec. 31, 1907 1,465,145 Park Aug. 14, 1923 1,874,708 Palubiak Aug. 30, 1932 2,065,923 Jessen Dec. 29, 1936 2,328,689 Shafer Sept. 7, 1943 2,345,000 Newsom Mar. 28, 1944

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