US1241844A - Folding box. - Google Patents

Description

L. GOTTSCHALL.

FOLDING BOX. APPLICA TIO N FILED MAY HI I917- Patented Oct. 2, 1917.

LIONEL GOTTSGHALL, 0F DAYTON, O I

FOLDING BOX.

Specification of Letters latent.

Patented Oct. 2, 1917.

Application filed May 14, 1917. Serial No. 168,532.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LIONEL Go'r'rspHALL, citizen of the United States, residlng at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and Stateof Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to collapsible or folding receptacles.

The object of the invention is to improve the structure as well as the means and mode of operation of such devices whereby they will not only be cheapened in constructlon, but will be more eflicient in use, positlve 1n operation, secure and safe, and unlikely to get out of repair. .1

One of the primary objects of the invention is to provide a container or box which may be folded or collapsed to a compact and convenient form for storage when not in use, or for shipping when empty.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved means for interlocking the yielding or relatively movable sections to secure the structure in upright or erected position.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved form of locking means for the movable bottom section which will insure the maintenance of the structure in upright or erected position so long as the top or cover is closed, and to further provide interlocking joints between the bottom, top and the side sections, tending to maintain such parts in adjusted position, and to further arrange the side portions that they may readily enter the interlocking joints orgrooves of the top and bottom sections.

With the above primary and other incidental objects in view as will more fully appear in the specification, the invention consists of the, features of construction the parts, and combinations thereof, and the mode of operation or their equivalents, as hereinafter described and set forth in the claims. I

eferring to the drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of the assembled container or box withthe top or lid open and one side partly broken away to disclose the internal locking features of the bottom section. Fig.

2 is a perspective view of the box or container partly collapsed. Figs. 3 and 4 are detail views of the interlocking joints between the side sections and the top and bottom sections. Fig. '5 is a detail side elevation. a I

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the several views.

The collapsible container or box forming the subject matter hereof is particularly adapted for use as a ballot box. The collapsible feature enables it to be stored in small space during the periods of non-use. Also it may be used as a shipping box or container which may be folded compactly into a small compass for return shipment, but which when erected will be sufficiently durable and strong to withstand hard usage incident to freight and express shipment. It will be understood that the box or recepticle may be formed in any desired size or proportion.

Referring to the drawings the collapsible receptacle forming the subject matter hereof comprises front and rear wall sections 1 and 9 to which are hinged at each vertical edge side sections, by hinge joints 6 and 7. Each side comprises iiwo sections or leaves 3 and 4 hinged one to the other by a medially disposed vertical hinged joint 5. The vertical hinge joints 6 and 7 connecting the side portions or leaves 3 and 4 with thefront and rear wall sections 1 and 2 respectively are so arranged that the leaves or portions 3 and 4 are foldable inward, as indicated in Fig. 2, to parallelism one with the other, and with the front and rear Wall sections 1 and 2. The top section 8 is joined to the upper horizontal edge of the rear wall section 2,'by a hinged joint 9 while the bottom section is similarly. joined to the lower horizontal edge of the front wall section'l by ahinge joint 11 The hinge joints 9 and 11 are so constructed and arranged that the top and bottom sections are foldable outwardly to parallelism with the wallsections 1 and 2 and against the outer sides thereof. Both the top and bottom sec tions 8 and 10 are provide about their marginal free edges with par llel flanges 12 i and 13 forming a groove or channel 14 in- "uniform appearance, the double-flanged I single sheets of material.

.marg'insrare preferably formed integrally .Withthe icover iandbottom sectlons from i To perform the several bending operations in the sequence .in Jvhich. they occur is ,a 5 somewhat difficult :mechanical -,-f.eat. fllhere :is illustrated Fig. 4 a very simple and convenient method of" storming the .double flanged marginal '[construction With minimum operations, and which Will result in uniform production. Togthis end ,the marginal portion of the coyeror bottom section .indicated at S is over-lapped vupon itself to parallelism a dis- .tance e qlual v to the combined .height of the tivo flanges and the vWidth of :intervenmg space. {Ihesinner or freeedge 15 is then bentupwardperpendicular to the plane of the section by us'eofatinners break or other tool performing like operations, thereby forming the inner .marginal .fla'n-g'e 13. The outer doubled edge orbight 16 1s thenbentin like manneralong ailine spaced from the inner upper edge or flange .13 by aljke operation, to form the outer vmarginal flange12.

"In order ,thatthe edges of g-the side-seotio n fsinay readily enter and follow into the grooves orchannels 14,,of (the top and bottom sectionsj the ,terminal hinge knuckles of the joints ,5 and ,7 are integral .With the sideportio'ns ,or sections 3 and 4 respectively. this means the portion of the side' section 4 adjacentio the hinged joint jivhich Listhe portion first extended Within thelmarginal grooveor channel 10f .the top la id bet p as etionsii he rigidly i n ten i ente s i r ov Q IQQ S during i3 6 lQSi QmQYQH Mzq the over and botttm .sc ic nslfthe QPPQ i {edge o t sectipn ijorthat edgeadjacenttqthe medial hinge j 5 is Ebent laterally or accidentally t' royvnout oflinesucndeyiation is immateri z l iiiasrnuehlas the initial corner of the section having been rigidlyaheld ,aa n ed Within th gr Qv o han the g n gral l terminal hinge knuckle ,18, the re naini ng pgrtion ,of the side vjseet-ion Will be autematically into the channel e sev re aia wi h hin kmw l l ofits normal plane. construction comprising formmg the terminal hinge knuckle integral With the s de 7 formed integral with the side section at the end of the medial hinge joint 5, rig dly holds the initial corner of the slde section 3 in positionto enter Within the groove or channel of the cover or bottom sectlon, While the final corner of such side section Will be automatically led into the channel even'though it may be bent or deflected out lVhile this feature of sectionatthe initial corner in relation With the direction of engagement of the side secbeing gained through the bottom xvhenfthe 2 top section is locked there is provided a'lock- .mg lineans for thebotto'm' section so' constructed and arranged that it c'ann'otbeeome .disengagednor'be released solong as the top section is closed. -To lock'the'jbottom section inits adjusted position there is pro vided a bight or bail of wire 19 hinged at 20 to the inner side of the bottomseeti'onadja cent to its marginal flange. Thisbight or ball is adapted to be turned upivard'to a .position parallel With a'ndagainst' the inner side of the rear Wall section 2; Where it eX-" tends above a socket or keeper 21 attached to the inner side ofthe rear Wall section 2.

Reciprocating Within si i'itable "guides or keepers 22 secured to the inner 's'ide of the Wall section 2 is a reciprocatory bolt 23 't he lower or inner end of Which is adapted to extend over the bight' or bail19 and engage within-th'e keeper or socket portion 21, thereby locking-the bight orkeeperin itsadjusted position: The locking bolt 23 is of such length that when inits'depres'sed or locked position its upper end Will extend tiallylevel With the top of the boxorcontainer and when unlocked the bblt'f23 extends above the top of the container and into the path of thecov'er se'ctio'n l The construction "is such that thebolt or looking member 23 must I necessarily be depressed to locking position before the e ver sections may be-iclos'edi The releasing movement of the bolt 28 is prevented by the cover section 8 so long asthe coveris closed. This'in'sures thegproper interlocking of the-box orrec'ep- :t'acle bottom "in closed or adjusted position before ithe'top sec-tion Smaybe closed. It

thereby prevents oversight or accidental re? lease of the bottom. Likewise it prevents the intentional opening of the bottom section by unauthorized persons or those who have not the necessary key to unlock the top section.

The top or cover section 8 is adapted to be secured in its closed or locked position by any suitable or convenient form of lock.

IIowever in the drawings there has been shown a simple form of hasp 24, hinged to the top or cover section 8 at its forward or free edge and adapted to be engaged over loop or keeper 25 pivoted to the front section 1 of the box, in depression or recess 26. The loop or keeper 25 is so arranged that it may be folded flatly to a position well within the recess or depression, where it will in no way interfere with the folding of the bottom section and the front wall section 1 to parallelism. The cover may be secured by an ordinary form of padlock introduced through the loop or keeper 25 over the hasp 24. The mode of folding or collapsing the receptacle will be clear by an examination of Fig. 2. After disengaging the double flanged margins of the top and bottom sections from the sides, the side portions or leaves 3 and 4 are folded inward intermediate the front and rear wall sections 1 and 2. The cover section 8 is folded rearwardly and downwardly to parallelism with the rear wall 2, the hasp 24 having been first folded to a position parallel with the cover 8,

whereby it will extend intermediate the cover section 8 and the rear wall 2 when the box is in final collapsed position. The loop or keeper 25 is folded flatly into the recess or pocket 26 and the bight or bail 19 is folded about its hinge connections 20 to a position parallel with the inner side of the bottom section 10. The locking bolt or plunger 28 is pushed inward to avoid interference with external objects. Theupper end of the bolt 23 is offset or bent laterally as at 27 to form a limiting stop and also to facilitate the withdrawal of the bolt. Likewise a stop lug is provided to limit the outward movement of the locking bolt. When folded as heretofore described the structure presents no extension of parts projecting beyond the marginal lines of the folded body as the structure is thus contained within a compass or area substantially equal to a single side or cover section.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a collapsible box of the character described, top, bottom and side wall sections hinged one to another and foldable to parallelism, a locking bail carried by the bottom section and extendin within the structure when erected, a locking bolt carried by one of the side sections and adapted to be engaged with the bail to hold the bottom in adjusted position, said locking bolt being adapted to extend into the path of the top section when in disengaged position whereby said locking bolt must be moved to looking position before the top section may be closed and will be retained in locked position by said top section.

2. In a collapsible box of the character described, top, bottom and side sections hinged one to another and foldable to parallelism, a locking arm carried by the bottom section, and extending within the box when erected, a projection carried by one of the side sections engaged by the arm, and a detent within the box adapted to lock the arm in engagement with the projection, substantially as specified.

3. In a collapsible box of the character described, top, bottom and side sections hinged one to another and foldable to parallelism, double marginal flanges on the top and bottom sections intermediate which the edges of the side sections project, and an integral hinge knuckle at the corner of each side section which initially engages in the groove intermediate the marginal flanges of the top and bottom sections.

4. In a collapsible box, a plurality of side sections hinged one to another, a bottom sec tion. a flanged cover section, hinged to a side section, and integral hinge knuckles located at the corners of the side sections nearest to the hinge connection of the flanged cover.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 5th day of May A. D. 1917.

LIONEL GOTTSOHALL/ Witnesses:

D. F. GoT'rsoHALL, 1 i E. E. DUNCAN.

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

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