US676354A - Egg-carrying case. - Google Patents

Description

Nn. 676,354. y l Patented lune Il, |9ol. w. c-BAmE..

EGG CARRYING CASE.

(Application med my, 22, 19pm) (No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT EEICE.

WILLIAM CHAINE, OF BROOKFIELD, NEV YORK.

EGG-CARRYING CSE.

SPEGIFIGATIGN forming' part of Letters Patent No. 676,354, dated June 11 1901.

l Application filed November 22, 1900. Serial No. 37.392. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM CRAINE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Brookfield, in the county of Madison and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Egg-Carrying Case, of which the following is a specilication.

This invention relates to a packing-case for eggs, and has special reference to an improved case of this character designed for use as an egg-carrier for the convenient handling or carrying about of eggs for sale or other purposes.

To this end the invention contemplates a simple and practical construction of egg-carrying case having means for securely packing eggs within the usual holders or cells irrespective of the quantity of eggs within the case. In the accomplishment of this object the invention provides for always holding a tier of eggs arranged for access at the top of the case, while at the same time permitting of the convenient filling or partial filling of the case from the bottom thereof.

With these and other objects in view,which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated, and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of an egg-carrying case embodying the improvements contemplated by the present invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view thereof, showing a single cellularegg-holder filled with eggs and held contiguous to the top of thecase by the adjustable followerbottom, the view also illustrating in dotted lines the manner of swinging over the top cover. Fig. 3 is a detail in perspective of the adjustable follower-bottom and the locking-catches carried thereby.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in the 'several figures of the drawings.

In carrying out the invention the improvements are preferably associated with an eggholding or carrying case essentially consisting of a rectangular box l, open at the top andV bottom and provided at the top edge thereof with an annular rabbeted cover-seat 2, which is adapted to receive therein the flushseating top cover 3, which serves as a top closure for the box.

The top cover 3 is designed to have a permanent connection with the body of the box l, while at the same time being capable of being thrown entirely to one side of the case or box, so as to fully uncover the top thereof and expose the eggs or other contents of the same. The preferred expedient for accomplishing this result consists in the elnployment of a pair of swinging supportinglinks 4, which are pivotally connected, re` spectively,'with the sides of the box l and the outer side of the top cover3. The saidlinks are arranged', respectively, at diametrically opposite sides of the box and have one end thereof permanently pivoted, as at 5, to the pivot brackets or plates 6, fitted to the sides of the box-body l and disposed at one side of the vertical transverse center of the box to permit of the head 3 being swung entirely over the top of the box down upon one side thereof, as may be seen from the dotted position indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

The ends of the supporting-links 4, opposite their pivotal connection with the brackets or plates 6, are provided with angled pintle portions 7, adapted to extend inwardly over the top edge of the box-body. and loosely engage with the pivot eyes or staples 8, secured in the outer sides of the box-cover,and

at this point Vit is to be observed that when i the top cover 3 is in position within the seatV therefor the supporting-links 4 extend obliquely or at an inclination from their pivotal brackets or plates 6 in a direction toward the transverse center of the box, so that the pintle portions 7 will have'a pivotal connection approximately at or contiguous to the plane of the transverse center of the cover 3 in order to permit the saine to be swung to the position referred to. When the cover 3 is closed over the open top of the box-body l, the same may be conveniently fastened by any suitable fastening device located at the opposite side of the center of the box from the links 4. Aconvenient and ecient form of fastening consists of a simple fasteninghook 9,1oosely connected at 10 with the outer side of the cover 3 and adapted to engage over the contiguous edge of the box-body and preferably within a keeper 1l at this IOO point. At a point upon the cover 3 diametrically opposite the fastening-hook 9 the said cover is preferably provided with a fingernotch 12, which is engaged by the finger When the fastening-hook 9 is released,so that a simple drawing upon the cover will provide for swinging the same upwardly and laterally from the open top of the box. To facilitate this opening of the cover, the same is preferably provided contiguous to the notch 12 with an undercut beveled edge 13.

The specified manner of connecting the cover with the box-body permits the cover after being elevated or slid out of its rabbeted seat to be moved laterally and slid downward upon the outside of the box, so that its lower edge will rest in approximately the same plane with the bottom of the box and its body portion will rest against the side of the box. This will be found of special advantage in egg-crates, as it is often necessary to arrange many of them close together, side by side, and under such arrangement the use of a hinged cover would be very undesirable, as in opening one box the cover thereof would extend across the top of vanother box and interfere with the removal of the contents thereof. .By the construction described the lids or covers of the boxes may be slid downward between the several boxes grouped together in a manner that will be readily understood. Y

Whilethe case might be utilized in carrying d ierent kinds of articles therein, still it is preferably designed for use as a carrier foreggs and is therefore designed to accommodate therein one or any number ofthe usual cellular eggholders 14, whose individual cells are designed to hold the eggs in the usual manner. These cellular egg-holders 14 are designed to be held firmly packed within the body of the box 1 through the medium of an adjustable follower-bottom 15, which is of a shape conforming to the crosssectional shape of the box-body and is of a size loosely registering therein, so as to be freely adjustable, so as to accommodate itself -to the number of cellular egg holders 14 within the case. To provide for holding the adjustable follower-bottom 15 at any point of adjustment within the box-bodyl, the said bottom is provided at the outer side thereof with a pair of oppositely-arranged lockingcatches 16, which are adapted to respectively engage the diametrically opposite inner sides of the box-body, and thus provide for evenly holding the follower-bottom in position.

The preferable construction of lockingcatches 16 is shown in the drawings,each of the said catches essentially consisting of an open spring-wire frame bent into a crescent form and having at its terminals the engaging horns 17, normally projecting beyond the contiguous edge of the bottom 15, so as to have an active engagement with the paired keepernotches 18, formed in the inner sides of the box-body. These keeper-notches are ,paired in spaced relation corresponding to the spaced relation of the terminal engaging horns 17 of the spring-wire catches 16 and are formed in all of the sides of the box-body, so that the follower-bottom need not be turned to a special position in the insertion thereof through the open bottom of the box-body.

The terminal engaging Vhorns 17 of the spring-wire frames 16 loosely engage with the holding-guides 19, preferably in the form of staples or eyes fitted in the outer side of the follower-bottom, and intermediate the horns 17 each spring-wire frame 1.6 has the outer side portion 2O thereof coiled to form an eye 2l, loosely engaging a suitable fastening 22, secured in the bottom and constituting a fulcrum-point which permits the engaging horns 17 to be drawn back within the plane of the bottom and then to spring forward again into engagement with the keeper-notches 18 when brought into alinement therewith. The inner side portion 23 ofeach spring-wire catch or frame 16 is provided with a grip 24, and the grips of the separate catches or frames 16 are arranged in opposing relation, so that by grasping both grips at the same time between the fingers and drawing the same toward each other the engaging horns of both catches will be drawn inward within the plane of the bottom, thus permitting the follower to be freely moved within the box-body to any desired position. Upon releasing the inward pressure upon the frames or catches 16 the horns 17 thereofwill again spring out into any of the notches- 1S with which they may be brought in alinement. Y

To carry out the purpose of the invention, a swinging handle-bail 25 `is pivotally connected with the top portion of the box-body,

whereby the same may be conveniently carried.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction, operation, and many advantages of the herein-described egg-carrying case will be readily apparent to those familiar with the art without further description, and it will be understood that various changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

l. A case of the class described, comprising a box-body open at the top and bottom, a top arranged to cover and uncover the open top of the box-body, a follower-bottom adjustable within the body, and box-engaging catches mounted on said bottom and operable from the lower side thereof, substantially as described.

2. A case of the class described comprising a box open at top and bottom and having the top rabbeted to receive a Hush-seating cover, a follower-bottom adjustable within the body, a cover adapted to be received in the rab- IOO IIO

beted top and having one edge undercut on a bevel for the purpose specified, and swinging supporting-links pivotally connected at their opposite ends to the box and cover for allowing the cover to slide downward and rest against the outside of the box, substantially as described. l

3. A case of the class described comprising a box open at top and bottom and having the top rabbeted to receive a flush-seating cover, a follower-bottom adjustable Withi n the body, a cover adapted to be received in the rabbeted top and having one edge undercut on a bevel for the purpose specified, swinging supporting-links pivotally connected at their opposite ends to the box and cover, for allowing the cover to slide downward and rest against the outside of the box, a finger-hold adjacent to the beveled edge of the cover, and a fastening at the opposite edge of the cover adapted to engage the box-body,snbstantially as described.

4. In a case of the class described, a boxbody, a follower-bottom adjustable within the box-body, and oppositely-disposed locking-catches mounted on thc lower side of the adjustable follower-bottom and adapted by their own resiliency to engage the box-body, and also having oppositely-arranged disconnected gripping portions for simultaneous engagement by the fingers, substantially as described. i

5. In a case of the class described, a boxbody, an adjustable follower-bottom adjustable therein',and spring-wire catches arranged in opposite relation upon the lower side of the follower-bottom and adapted by their own resiliency to engage the box-body, and provided with oppositely located gripping portions which extend inwardly from the box-engaging portions and are disposed in proximal relation for simultaneous engagement by the fingers.

G. In a case of the class described, the boxbody provided at the inner sides thereof with keeper-notches, an adjustable fo1lower-bottoni Working within the box-body, and oppositely-arran ged lookin g-catohes mounted upon the under side of the bottom, each of the said catches consisting of an approximately crescent-shaped spring-Wire'frame having a plurality of integral terminal engaginghorns normally projecting beyond the contiguous edge of the bottom and having their outer side portions connected with a xed point of attachment upon the bottom each spring-wire frame being further provided at its inner side portion with a grip, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afxed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD E. WHITFORD, EMELINE B. WHITFORD.

Images