US3315835A - Collapsible stacking crate - Google Patents

Description

April 25, 1967 F. KATZMAN COLLAPSIBLE STACKING CRATE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 25, 1963 INVENTOR. FREDERICKKATZMAN HIS ATTORNEYS A ril 25, 1967 F. KATZMAN 3,315,335

I COLLAPSIBLE STACKING CRATE v v Filed Feb. 25, 1963 4Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. FREDERICK KATZMAN I jg W4 //4 izdzaw HIS ATTORNEYS April 1967 F. KATZMAN COLLAPSIBLE STACKING CRATE Filed Feb. 25, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR FREDERICK KATZMAN HIS ATTORNEYS April 25, 1967 F. KATZMAN COLLAPSIBLE STACKING CRATE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 v Filed Feb. 25, 1963 FIG."

//72 II J INVENTOR. FREDERICK KATZMAN BY jg y 4 7% FlG.i 4 33/ HIS. .AIIORNEXS United States Patent O 3,315,835 COLLAPSIBLE STACKING CRATE Frederick Katzman, Henrico County, Va., assignor to Reynolds Metals Company, Richmond, Va., a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 25, 1963, Ser. No. 260,619 7 Claims. (Cl. 220-6) This invention relates to a collapsible stacking crate.

One of the features of this invention is that the weight of the contents of the lowermost crate goes to the bottom member upon which the contents are placed, then to straps which support the bottom member, then to the bottom rails, then to the floor on which said bottom rails rest. When a second crate is stacked on top of the lowermost crate, the weight of the contents of the second crate goes to the bottom member of the second crate, then to its supporting straps, then to its bottom rails, then to the four corner post constructions. The entire weight of the second or uppermost crate is then transferred to the four corner post constructions of the lowermost crate, then to the floor upon which the last-named post constructions rest.

' The corner posts are also used as hinges for folding the crates, and for aligning the crates one upon the other. Other features of this invention are apparent from this description, and/ or the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of one of the crates, with certain parts in exploded view condition.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged vertical cross section along the lines 2-2 of FIGURES 1 and 4.

FIGURE 3 is a top view, in reduced scale, of a completely assembled crate.

FIGURE 4 is a side view of two crates of the character shown in this application, with an upper crate stacked upon a lower crate.

FIGURE 5 is a side view of a crate in folded condition.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged view along the line 6-6 of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged, horizontal, upward view along the line 7-7 of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged and broken side view of one of the bottom rails, when taken along thelines 88 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE '9 is a plan view of a blank used in producing the bottom rail of FIGURE 8.

FIGURE 10 is a broken, enlarged inside elevation of one of the top rails.

FIGURE 11 is a plan view of a blank used to produce the rail of FIGURE 10.

FIGURE 12 is an inside elevation of another top rail.

FIGURE 13 is a top view of a blank used in making the rail of FIGURE 12.

FIGURE 14 is a side elevation of one end of another bottom rail.

FIGURE 15 is a plan view of a blank used to produce the rail of FIGURE 14.

FIGURE 16 is an enlarged top view of one end of the rail shown in FIGURE 8, and taken from the line 1616 of FIGURE 8.

FIGURE 17 is an elevation of a zigzag rod construction used to produce one of the side walls of the crate.

FIGURE 18 is a diagrammatic cross section of a press for initially bending a plurality of rods eventually to form a zigzag construction, such as shown in FIGURE 17.

FIGURE 19 is a diagrammatic cross section taken along the line 19-19 of FIGURE 18.

FIGURE 20 is a diagrammatic view, somewhat similar to FIGURE 18, but showing a press for producing a subsequent step in the formation of a zigzag construction as shown in FIGURE 17.

3,315,835 Patented Apr. 25, 1967 FIGURE 21 is a diagrammatic cross section of another press for forming a step subsequent to that shown in FIGURE 20.

FIGURE 22 is a diagrammatic cross section of another press for performing a step subsequent to that shown in FIGURE 21.

FIGURE 23 is a broken vertical view, partly in elevation, and partly in cross section, showing a corner post construction of the type that does not have an interlocking upward pin extending past the top.

FIGURE 24 is a top view of a corner post construction with the interlocking pin extending from the top.

A crate construction according to this invention may have a plurality of rectangularly arranged bottom rails, such as the fourrails 30, 31, 32, and 33, which may. be used in producing a crate according to this invention. For convenience in description, the side of the crate which has therail 30 may be called the front side, the side of the crate which has thebottom rail 31 may be called the back of the crate, and the sides of the crate which have thebottom rails 32 and 33 may be called the side of the crate, and if necessary, the side which has therail 32 may be called the left side, and the side which has therail 33 may be called the right side. However, it is understood that this nomenclature is used merely for the sake of brevity in description, and hence the various sides may have an entirely different description, if the person viewing the crate happens to stand in a different position than the position herein implied.

Each of the bottom rails 30-33 may have a main upwardly directed channel shapedbody 34 with twosides 36 and 38 and an upwardly directedbottom 40. These reference numerals have been applied to the bottom rails shown in FIGURE 2, but this description is also applicable to therails 32 and 33.

The bottom rails 30-33 may each have curled end forming members which are designated as 42 in the case of thebottom rails 30 and 31 and as 44 in the case of thebottom rails 32 and 33.Pairs 42, 44, of said hinge forming members are aligned at each corner of the crate to form composite corner tubular hinge rod receiving members.

A plurality, such as four, rectangularly arrangedtop rails 48, 49, 50 and 51 may be parallel to and above re spective ones of saidbottom rails 30, 31, 32, and 33.

Each of the top rails 4851 may have downwardly directed channel shapedbodies 52 with twosides 54 and 56 and with an inverted, downwardly directedbottom 57.

Thetop rails 48 and 49 may be provided with curled endhinge forming members 58. Thetop rails 50 and 51 may be provided with endhinge forming members 60.Pairs 58, 60, of said hinge forming members may be aligned to form composite corner tubular hingerod receiving members 62.

Hingerod constructions 64 and 66 may extend through the corner hingerod receiving members 46 and 62. Thesehinge rod constructions 64 and 66 may havefiat end pieces 68 at their ends.

Side walls for the crate may be formed byzigzag rod constructions 70 and 72 which may extend between the respective ones of the bottom and top rails withreturn ends 74 andbends 76 pinched at 78 between therail sides 36, 38, 54 and 56.

Thezigzag rod constructions 70 and 72 provide substantially straight spacing andbracing rods 80 which space the top and bottom rails and brace them to form rigid sidewall constructions for the crate.

A substantially flat, rectangular,bottom member 82, which may be made of relatively rigid material, such as that known as Masonite may, if desired be provided withperforations 84. Thisbottom member 82 may be supported on a plurality ofmetal straps 86. Thebottom member 82 may have itsedegs 88 and 90 adjacent to and inside theinner sides 38 of thebottom rails 30, 31, 32, and 33. Thestraps 86 may extend under thebottom member 82, and may be parallel to each other, if desired. Thestraps 86 may be secured to thebottom member 82 byrivets 92 or the like. Theends 94 and 96 of thestraps 86 may extend upwardly. Theends 94 may extend upwardly from oneside 88 of thebottom member 82 and may be hingedly curled at 98 intoslits 100 in thesides 38 of thebottom rail 30. The other ends of thestraps 96 of thestraps 86 may extend upwardly from theopposite side 88 of thebottom member 82 and may hook at 102 over theinner side 38 of thebottom rail 31.

Thebottom member 82 may be provided with anotch 104 which provides a hand hold, so that thebottom member 82 may be pulled upwardly as it hinges about the end hingemembers 98, so thebottom member 82 may be folded upwardly against the front side of the crate. The sides of the crate may then be folded as they hinge about thehinge rod constructions 64 and 66, so that all of the sides of the crate may be substantially parallel to each other, as indicated in FIGURE 5. FIGURE is a rear view of the folded crate, as is obvious.

Thenotch 104 in thebottom member 82 also permits the crate to be folded without interference from theflat end piece 68 of therod 64 which folds adjacent thenotch 104, as shown in FIGURE 5.

The bottom 82, when made of Masonite material may be /8 inch thick and may be adhesively covered on both sides with tempered aluminous foil to prevent juices from the contents of the crate from penetrating into the Masonite unduly.

Theperforations 84 in thebottom member 82 may be /a inch in diameter with spacing which may be staggered if desired. The spacing may be 1 inch from center to center of the perforations.

Details of the corner or hinge rod constructions are shown in FIGURES 1, 6, 23, and 24.

For convenience in stacking, three of the rod constructions indicated at 64, are provided with dovetailing constructions so that therod constructions 64 of a lower crate may dovetail with therod construction 64 of an upper crate, to lock the same against sidewise movement with respect to each other. Thefourth rod construction 66 may be made so that it does not dovetail with the fourth corner rod construction of an upper or lower crate with which it is stacked. The purpose of the lack of dovetailing construction on thefourth rod 66 is that there may be a slight variation in dimensions of the two crates which are stacked with respect to each other, and thefourth rod construction 66 allows misalignment for such variation without the necessity of its being dovetailed.

The stacking feature of this invention is illustrated in FIGURES 4, 6, and 25, while the corner rod constructions are also illustrated in FIGURES l, 23, and 24.

Therod construction 64 is shown in exploded view at the upper corner of FIGURE 1, while the assembled ends of therod construction 64 are shown in FIGURE 6.

Therod construction 64 may include amain rod 106. Therod 106 may have a lower reduceddiameter end portion 108 with agroove 110. Therod 106 may also have a reducedupper end portion 112 which may be provided with agroove 114 and a further reduceddiameter pin 116. An end cap orbushing 118 may, if desired, be made of such shape that it may be used at both ends of the corner rod orpost 106. Thisbushing 118 may have asleeve 120, the circularflat end piece 68, and anopening 122 which may be aligned with the inner cylindrical cavity of thesleeve 120. The length of thesleeve 120 may be such that it may be telescoped over theupper portion 112 of thepin 116. Thelower end 124 of thesleeve 120 abuts theshoulder 126 which is produced between therod 106 and its reduceddiameter extension 112. When the sleeve 4 has been fully telescoped over the upper end of therod 106, FIGURE 24, theupper surface 128 of the flatend end pice 68 may be substantially aligned with theshoulder 130 which is between theend portion 112 and thepin 116.

This same cap orbushing 118 maybe used as the lower end construction of allconstructions 64. The assembly of thebushing 118 with the lower end ofrod 106 is shown in FIGURE 6 wherein thesleeve 120 telescopes over thelower end 108 of therod 106, so that thesleeve end 124 abuts against theshoulder 132 of the lower end ofrod 106.

When thebushings 118 have been respectively telescoped over the upper and lower ends of therod 106, these bushings may be secured in place by a number of stakingindentations 134. These indentations may be two or more in number and may be substantially 180 degrees apart more or less. Alternatively, a continuous groove may be formed in thesleeve 120 around thegroove 110 and the same is true with regard to thegroove 114, all as shown in FIGURE 6.

When eachbushing 118, FIGURE 6, of the four corners of the crate, is telescoped over thelower end 108 of arod 106, its fiat end piece orflange 6 8 is slightly above the upwardly curved or upwardly directedbottoms 40 of the lower rails 30-33. When thebushing 118 is telescoped over theupper end 112 of therod 106, itsflat end piece 68 may be above the downwardly directed or inverted bottom 57 and also slightly above the upwardly directed bottom 40. The twoend pieces 68 at this point contact each other, as shown in FIGURE 6, so that the weight of the upper crate is transferred along therod members 106 from one stacked crate to another.

Thefourth rod construction 66, which is shown in FIG- URES l and 23, is substantially the same as that disclosed with respect to therod 64, except that themain rod 136 does not have thepin 116 of therod construction 112, but is cut off to form aflat end 138.

It is thus to be seen that when alower crate 140, FIG- URE 4, has anupper crate 142 stacked on it there will be threecorner rod constructions 64 on each crate which are dovetailed and a fourthcorner rod construction 66 which is not dovetailed.

Theupper pins 116 of therods 106 will telescope or dovetail into theopenings 122 of thelower bushings 118 at the bottom of therods 106 of theupper crate 142.

On the other hand, theflat end 138 of therod 136 will not telescope into the lowerflat piece 68 of theupper crate 142 and need not be absolutely aligned therewith, because of the lack of this telescoping condition. This will compensate for any slight dilference in horizontal dimensions of the stacked crates.

When theupper crate 142 is stacked over thelower crate 140, substantially all of the weight of the contents which are placed on theflat bottom member 82 of theupper crate 142 is transferred by thestraps 86 to thelower rails 30 and 31, as previously described. The weight from the upper crate,lower rails 30 and 31 is transferred to the lower flat end pieces orflanges 68 ofbushings 118 of theupper crate 142 through the medium of thehinge forming members 42, as shown in FIGURE 6. This weight then is transferred to upper flat end pieces orflanges 68 and to theupper bushings 118 of thelower crate 140. Frombushings 118 the weight of the upper crate is transferred through flanges 126 (and 126A) to the corner rods 106 (and 136) of the lower crate 140'. These corner rods 106 (and 136) then transfer the weight to thelower bushings 118 of the lower crate, and to the lower flat end pieces orflanges 68 of the lower crate. A slight sliding action bet-ween these last-namedbushings 118 and the lowerhinge forming members 42 and 44 permit the last-namedlower flanges 68 to be supported on the floor upon which thelower crate 140 rests.

A slight movement of the upper rails 48-51 of thelower crate 140, due to the slight give in the side walls of thelower crate 140, permits the sliding action of thebushings 118 described in the preceding paragraph.

The same type'of weight transfer may take place from a third stacked crate, not shown, which might be placed on thecrate 142 of FIGURE 4. Further and higher crates, if any, likewise may transfer their weights through the corner post constructions.

If desired, instead of thezigzag members 70 and 72, the side wall members of the crates may be made of metal sheet of any kind, or other material. They may be made of expanded extrusions, or expanded metal, which may be inserted into the downwardly directed channel-shaped bodies 'between thesides 36 and 38, and the lower rails, and may also be inserted into the lower rails, between thesides 36 and 38. Such materials may be pinched in a manner somewhat similar as disclosed in connection with the pinchingaction 78. For this purpose, suitable indentations or openings may be provided in such sheets, expanded extrusions, or expanded metal constructions.

Therail constructions 30, 31, 32 and 33 and 48, 49, 50 and 51 may be made as indicated in FIGURES 8 through 16.

Considering first FIGURES 8 and 9, which show the method of construction of the front and back rails 30 and 31, fiat blanks of metal, such as indicated at 141, FIGURE 9, may first be produced in any desired manner. For example, theseblanks 141 may be blanked out of a sheet of metal with very little loss of material. For ex ample, they maybe blanked out from a sheet of 606l-T6 x .063 inch foil stock of aluminum alloy.

Any procedure and method may be used to produce the blank 141, for example, of the shape shown in FIG- URE 9. If desired, certain portions of the sheet may be first notched out on a press, so that the blank may then be cut out from the sheet. A plurality of blanks may be made from the same sheet, with blanks of proper width serially cut, as is obvious.

v For example, portions may be notched out at 143, 144, 1 46, and 148. Themain body 150 is shown with thetongues 152 being available to produce the curledmembers 42 shown in FIGURE 8. A plurality of holes 153 may be cut for the purpose of producing drain holes in the bottom 40 of the finished product. Theslits 100 may also be cut to receive the curl-ed hinge member 98 of thebottom member 82. These slits may be omitted or they may be included in the blanks for therail 31, although if they are included, they may not have any function, unless it is desired permanently to secure thebottom member 82 to the crate and to prevent the crate from being foldable. After the blank 141 has been formed it may be bent into the shape shown in FIGURE 8 with thecurved portrons 154 producing thehigher portion 156 at each end of the rail. The portions of the blank between thelines 158 and 160, at each end of the blank may be bent to form anend wall 162, FIGURE 16, and then thetongues 152 may be curled to produce the curledend member 42. I Theextra depth 156 at the ends of theside 36 of the ra1ls30 and 31, as shown in FIGURE 8, permits the formation of binge curls 42 of extra width with the use of substantially no extra waste of stock material from the original sheet. The same is true of the similar extra depth portions at 156A, 156B, and 156C shown in FIG- URES 10, 12, and 14.

If desired, thetongues 152 may be curled into the curledend members 42 before theblanks 141 are cut from the sheet, and they may be so curled in aligned condition while on the sheet.

Substantially the same procedure may be followed in the formation of the blank 164 of FIGURE 11 to produce thetop rails 48 and 49 at the front and back of the crate. f Thetongues 166 may be formed into the endhinge forming members 58 substantially in the same manner that was followed in connection with FIGURES 8 and 9.

The same material may be used for the blank 164, all of the blanks in FIGURES 9, 11, 13, and 15. Perliminary cutouts may be notched out on a press, in all of these blanks, in the same manner as was done with regard to FIGURE 9. It is believed unnecessary here to repeat in detail the procedures. It is to be understood thatend walls 168 may be bent in the same manner as thewalls 162 were bent in FIGURES 8, 9, and 16.

The same material and procedures may also be followed in connection withblanks 170 and 172 to form the top rails andbottom rails 50 and 51 and 32 and 33. It is believed unnecessary to repeat the description as to the procedure, since it is substantially the same, including notching out certain portions before cutting of the blanks, as shown in dotted lines, the making of end walls similar to endwalls 162, FIGURE 16, and of forming the end of pin-receivingmembers 60 and 44. It is to be noted that the bottom rails 32 and 33 may have'drainholes 174, similar to the drain holes 153. Theseholes 153 and 174 will eventually be produced along the bottoms such as the bottom 40 of the same character as shown in FIGURE 2.

It is to be noted that the curledmembers 42, 44, 58, and 60 may be homogeneous with their respective rail members if desired. Also, it is to be noted that the curledend members 42, 44, 58, and 60 are so formed on the rails, that the pairs of curled members may be aligned with each other. For example, themember 42 may be under themember 44 and themember 60 may be under themember 58. This is accomplished by properly positioning thetongues 152, etc., from which these members are made, so that when the blanks are bent into channelshaped bodies, these curled members will be properly positioned vertically.

FIGURES 17 through 22 illustrate apparatus and method for producing zigzag crate forming sides of the character indicated at 70 and 72. The specific illustration in FIGURES 17-22 is shown in connection with themembers 70, although the same procedure may be used for producing themember 72, with the exception that possibly a less number of the return bends may be provided for the member '72 as compared to the number for themember 70.

A plurality of rods of proper length and in straight condition may be placed in proper lengthwise relative position on thedie members 176, FIGURES 18 and 19, which may haveside railings 178 and which are spaced apart a sufiicient distance to receive desired number ofrods 180.

These rods are laid between therailings 178 originally in straight condition and then thepunch member 182 may be moved down simultaneously to form thefirst return bend 74A at the central portions of the rods. Thereafter, thebent rod 183 of FIGURE 18 may be placed in adie 184 which is shown in inverted condition but which actually may have the bottom 186 placed at the lower part of the die. Thedie 184 is illustrated upside down in FIGURE 20, so that the procedure may be compared with the large illustration of themember 70 in FIGURE 17. Thebent rods 183 from the crest of FIGURE 18 may be placed in thereturn bend 74A at 188, and with the remaining straight parts of therod 190 of FIGURE 18 extending laterally over theparts 192 of FIGURE 20. Then thepunches 194 may be simultaneously brought into thedie 184 simultaneously to produce further return bends 74B and 74C. The procedure can then be continued in the dies 198 and 200 to produce further return bends simultaneously outwardly beyond the central reverse bends 74A, 74B, and 74C, in a manner which is now apparent and need not be described. The remaining end ofpieces 202 may then be individually bent in a known curling machine to produce the end bends 76 shown in FIGURE 17.

The press construction shown in FIGURES 18 to 22 may be separate presses, or if desired, may be a single press structure. However, if desired, each of the rods can be individually bent in any desired manner.

Any procedure of assembly for the crates may be used. For example, thelower bushings 118 and therods 106 and 136 may first be assembled together to form rod constructions orassemblies 66 and 64, and thelower bushings 118 may be slightly elevated off the floor on blocks or spacers. The front and back rails 30, 31, and 48, 49 may be assembled with thezigzag wire constructions 70 or other sidewall forming members and with the pinchingaction 78 to produce the front and back sides of the crate.

In a like manner, side rails 32, 33, 50, and 51 may be assembled together with thezigzag constructions 72 or other sidewall forming members between them, to form side walls of the crate. These front and back walls and side walls may then be threaded over theupstanding rods 106 and 136 with the curledportions 42, 44, 60, and 58 sliding downwardly around therods 106 and 136. Thereafter, theupper bushings 118 may be inserted through thecurved portions 58 and 60 untillower portions 124 of the bushings engage theshoulders 126 of therods 106 and theshoulders 126A of therods 136. Then theupper sleeves 120 may be staked or grooved at 134 to secure the upper bushings to theirrespective rods 106 and 136. Then the bot-tom member 82 may be secured by curling theportions 98 through theslots 100 inrail 30. If the crate is to be assembled in open position, then thehooked portions 102 may be placed over theside 38 of theback bottom rail 31, so that the crate is ready for receiving its contents, such as oranges in bags and the like. Anothercrate 142 may be stacked on top of thefirst crate 140, as shown in FIGURE 4, or the crates may be assembled in folded condition as shown in FIGURE 5, to be shipped to the place of use.

Without intending to be limited thereby, a crate of the character herein disclosed may have front and back sides 22.625 inches center to center from the center lines of thecorner rods 106 and 136. The shorter sides may measure 12.625 inches from the center lines of corner rods. The crates :may be 13.50 inches in height from upwardlycurved bottoms 40 to downwardlycurved bottoms 57. Other parts of the crate may be substantially in the proportions as shown in the drawings, although the exact pro-portions may not ordinarily be necessary.

Thebottom member 82 may be made of sufficient thickness to support the intended weight of the contents, and thestraps 86 likewise may be of strength to support the intended weight. For example, the straps may be made from 6061T6 stock .063 inch thick of aluminum alloy, and the Masonite or the like of the bottom 82 to be of sufficient thickness as elsewhere described or as may be recommended by the manufacturer thereof to support the expected weight.

Crates of the above size have been made and support a 200 pound man standing on the bottom 82 without damage.

It is thus to be seen that an extremely effective crate has been provided which may be easily made and which may be used singly or in superimposed arrangements. They may also be easily folded and unfolded as desired.

While the form of the invention now preferred has been disclosed as required by statute, other forms may be used, all coming within the scope of the claimed subject matter which follows.

What is claimed is:

1. A crate construction comprising: four continuous, :straight rectangularly arranged homogeneous sheet metal bottom rails each having a main upwardly directed channel shaped body with two continuous sides and an upwardly directed bottom, and homogeneous sheet metal curled end hinge forming members with pairs of said hinge forming members aligned to form composite corner tubular hinge rod receiving members; four continuous straight rectangularly arranged homogeneous sheet metal top rails each 'having a main downwardly directed channel shaped body with two continuous sides and an inverted downwardly directed bottom and homogeneous sheet metal curled end hinge forming members with pairs of said hinge forming members aligned to form composite corner tubular hinge rod receiving members; hinge rod constructions extending through said hinge rod receiving members and having fiat end pieces; zigzag rod constructions extending between the respective ones of said bottom and top rails with return bends pinched between the sides of said channel shaped bodies; a flat rectangular bottom members having its edges adjacent to and inside the inner sides of said bottom rails and having two supporting straps under said bottom member respectively parallel to two of said bottom rails with their ends extending upwardly from one side of said bottom member and bingedly curled and hooked into slits on the inner side of an adjacent bottom rail to form bottom member hinges, the other ends of said straps extending upwardly from the opposite side of said bottom member and hooked on and over the inner side of the adjacent bottom rail, said crate being foldable by swinging said bottom member upwardly about said bottom member hinges and then folding said top and bottom rails about said hinge rods until said rails are substantially parallel.

2. A crate construction according toclaim 1 in which three of the bottom ones of said flat pieces have openings therein and in which three of the top ones of said fiat pieces have pin extensions extending upwardly therefrom, and upon which crate a similar crate is mounted with the openings in its flat pieces receiving said pin extensions of said first named crate and in which the fourth of said fiat pieces does not have a pin extension.

3. A crate construction according toclaim 1 with said rectangular bottom member being made of relatively rigid material and with its edges being adjacent the inner sides of said bottom rails and below the upper edges of said inner sides of said bottom rails and with the ends of said supporting st-raps hooked on the inner sides of two opposite bottom rails rigidly to hold all four bottom rails of said crate construction in rectangular form.

4. A crate construction according toclaim 1 in which certain of said sides of said channels are formed with ends of extra width and said curled end forming members are formed from extensions of said ends of extra width.

5. A crate construction according toclaim 1 in which said bottom and top rails and their hinge forming members are each homogeneous and the outer sides of said rails are formed with ends of extra width and having tongues extending from said ends of extra width and portions of said ends of extra width are inwardly bent to form an end Wall and said tongues are curled to produce said curled end hinge forming members.

6. A crate construction comprising four straight rectangularly arranged, homogeneous, continuous and straight sheet metal bottom rails each having a main upwardly directed channel body with two homogeneous, continuous sides and an upwardly directed homogeneous bottom; homogeneous continuous and straight sheet metal top rails each having a main downwardly directed channel main body With two homogeneous and continuous sides and an inverted, downwardly homogeneous bottom; said top rails being above and parallel to respective ones of said bottom rails; crate side wall forming members extending between said respective parallel bottom and top rails; a flat bottom member with sides adjacent said bottom rails and sup-ported on certain of said bottom rails; circular hing-e forming members homogeneous with and at the ends of said rails with pairs of said circular hinge forming members being aligned at the corners of said crate; hinge rod constructions extending through said pairs of aligned circular hinge forming members with locking means on said hinge rod constructions, to prevent said hinge rod constructions from moving longitudinally out of said circular hinge forming members; in which said bottom member has hinge means hingedly curled and hooked into slits on the inner one of said sides of one of said bottom rails and is removably hooked on and over the inner one of said sides of the opposite bottom rail, said crate being foldable by upwardly swinging said bottom member on said hinge means and by folding said rails and side wall forming members about said hinge rod constructi-ons so said rails and side wall forming members are substantially parallel to each other.

7. A crate construction according toclaim 6 in which said locking means are flat end pieces with certain of said upper end pieces having upper dovetailing constructions and with certain of said lower flat end pieces having lower dovetailing constructions to be dovetailed with upper dovetailing extensions of a similar lower stacked crate.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 548,420 10/1895 Bauer. 2,216,277 10/ 1940 Massey 2206 2,446,608 8/ 1948 Queitzsch 140-71 3,072,281 1/ 1963 Reilly 2206 3,104,685 9/1963 Gonia 14071 FOREIGN PATENTS 736,418 11/1932 France.

OTHER REFERENCES German printed application No. Z 4,125, October 1956.

' THERON E. COND ON, Primary Examiner.

GEORGE O. RALSTON, Examiner. G. E. LOWRANCE, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A CRATE CONSTRUCTION COMPRISING: FOUR CONTINUOUS, STRAIGHT RECTANGULARLY ARRANGED HOMOGENEOUS SHEET METAL BOTTOM RAILS EACH HAVING A MAIN UPWARDLY DIRECTED CHANNEL SHAPED BODY WITH TWO CONTINUOUS SIDES AND AN UPWARDLY DIRECTED BOTTOM, AND HOMOGENEOUS SHEET METAL CURLED END HINGE FORMING MEMBERS WITH PAIRS OF SAID HINGE FORMING MEMBERS ALIGNED TO FORM COMPOSITE CORNER TUBULAR HINGE ROD RECEIVING MEMBERS; FOUR CONTINUOUS STRAIGHT RECTANGULARLY ARRANGED HOMOGENEOUS SHEET METAL TOP RAILS EACH HAVING A MAIN DOWNWARDLY DIRECTED CHANNEL SHAPED BODY WITH TWO CONTINUOUS SIDES AND AN INVERTED DOWNWARDLY DIRECTED BOTTOM AND HOMOGENEOUS SHEET METAL CURLED END HINGE FORMING MEMBERS WITH PAIRS OF SAID HINGE FORMING MEMBERS ALIGNED TO FORM COMPOSITE CORNER TUBULAR HINGE ROD RECEIVING MEMBERS; HINGE ROD CONSTRUCTIONS EXTENDING THROUGH SAID HINGE ROD RECEIVING MEMBERS AND HAVING FLAT END PIECES; ZIGZAG ROD CONSTRUCTIONS EXTENDING BETWEEN THE RESPECTIVE ONES OF SAID BOTTOM AND TOP RAILS WITH RETURN BENDS PINCHED BETWEEN THE SIDES OF SAID CHANNEL SHAPED BODIES; A FLAT RECTANGULAR BOTTOM MEMBERS HAVING ITS EDGES ADJACENT TO AND INSIDE THE INNER SIDES OF SAID BOTTOM RAILS AND HAVING TWO SUPPORTING STRAPS UNDER SAID BOTTOM MEMBER RESPECTIVELY PARALLEL TO TWO OF SAID BOTTOM RAILS WITH THEIR ENDS EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM ONE SIDE OF SAID BOTTOM MEMBER AND HINGEDLY CURLED AND HOOKED INTO SLITS ON THE INNER SIDE OF AN ADJACENT BOTTOM RAIL TO FORM BOTTOM MEMBER HINGES, THE OTHER ENDS OF SAID STRAPS EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF SAID BOTTOM MEMBER AND HOOKED ON AND OVER THE INNER SIDE OF THE ADJACENT BOTTOM RAIL, SAID CRATE BEING FOLDABLE BY SWINGING SAID BOTTOM MEMBER UPWARDLY ABOUT SAID BOTTOM MEMBER HINGES AND THEN FOLDING SAID TOP AND BOTTOM RAILS ABOUT SAID HINGE RODS UNTIL SAID RAILS ARE SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL.

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