US374300A - Alvin s - Google Patents

Description

(No Mod-e1.) sheets-sheer 1. A. S. HAINES 8E W. BREIDENBACH.

MAIL BAG.

No. 374,300. Patented Dec. 6, 1887.

No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. A. S. HAINES & W. BRBIDBNBAGH.

MAIL BAG. No. 374,300. Patented Deo. 6.1887.

WITN ESSES:

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Nv PETERS. Phawu nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn a .UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALVIN S. HAINES, OF SLATINGTON, vAND WILLIAM BREIDENBACH, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA; SAID BREIDENBAGH ASSIGNOR TO SAID HAINES.

VlAlL-BAG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 374,300, dated December 6. 1887.

Application filed November 4, 18,87. Serial No. 254,301. (No model.)

To all whom may concern:

Beit known that we, ALVIN S. HAINES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Slatington, in the county of Lehigh and State of Pennsylvania, and WILLIAM BREIDENBACH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, inthe county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Bags, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a mailbag which can be opened and closed with great speed and facility, which will be light and flexible, and which will aiford security to its contents.

The invention relates to a mail-bag the 1 vided with a sliding strap which projects at opposite sides' of the bag, in connection with mechanism, as hereinafter claimed, whereby the engagement of the bolts with the staples and the automatic locking thereof may be effected by a simplejerk or pull with one hand at one end of the strap, and whereby, after the key has been turned in the lock, the bolts may be released from the staples by a similar jerk at the other end of the strap.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the upper portion of a mailbag constructed in accordance with this invention, showing the fastening devices in locked position. Fig. 2 is a vertical section, on an enlarged scale, through the upper portion of the mail-bag and through the lock thereof. Fig. 3 is a front view, partly in section, of a portion of the upper part of this improved mail-bag, showing the bolts of the sliding strap withdrawn from the staples, leaving the bag free to be opened. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the sliding strap provided with the bolts for engaging the staples and with the catch for engaging the tumblers of the lock. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section of a portion of the bag, showing the label-frame and the guard therefor on the sliding strap, the strap being in locked position. a similar view to Fig. 5, the strap being in unlocked position.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different iigures.

The body of this improved mail bag or pouch, compris-ing the frontlO andthe back 11, is constructed of suitable flexible material, preferably of leather, in any desired size and shape. The closing-flap 12 is attached to and preferably integral with the back 11, and is adapted to fold over the front to close the mouth of the bag. The body of the bag and the flap may be re-enforced and riveted in the usual manner. Staples 13, at ,suitable distances apart, are attached to the back of the bag, said back at this point being composed of two layers.

VThe staples are respectively provided at their heels with metallic plates 14., which are placed between the layers of the back and riveted thereto. Any equivalent means may be adopted for fastening the staples to the bag. The front 10 is provided with slots 15 oppo site the staples. The flap 12 is composedof two layers of material, forming a pocket, both layers being provided with slots 16, registering with the slots 15 of the front of the bag. The inner layer of the Hap is preferably integral with the outer layer, being folded thereon. The edges of the slots in the body or Iiap, or both, may be re-enforced by sheet-metal eyes 17. Re-enforcing strips 18, of flexible material or thick leather, are inserted between the layers of the flap at-the upper and lower edges of the pocket. This pocket has openings 40 in its opposite ends. A fasteningstrap, 19, is disposed and slides within the pocket of the flap and projects through the openings 40 Vat opposite ends thereof, said strap being preferably provided at its ends with metal rings 20 and 21, respectively. 'Ihis strap is constructed of exible material, preferably leather, and provided with a seriesv of bolts, 22, which project laterally from the strap. The upper edge of this strap rests against the upper reenforcing strip 18, which latter serves as a guide for the strap. 4

The bolts 22 are preferably constructed as Fig. 6 is shown in Letters Patent of the United States eted to the sliding strap by'ineans of rivets which pass through the attaching-plate thereof and through the strap. Each bolt in said patent is recessed to receive the staples, the inner edge of the recess being iiush with the lower edge of the strap. As thus constructed, the strap is solid throughout, excepting the small perforations for the rivets, and consequently.

is strong and durable. In caseabolt gets broken it can be readily replaced by another of. similar construction.

Vhen the bolts are constructed as described, they can be arranged near together on the strap, so that a comparatively large number of locking staples and bolts can be used on a single bag, thus increasing the security of the pouch.

' A lock, 23, is attached to the folding flap 12, preferably near the upper left-hand corner thereof, being fastened thereto in any suitable manner-for instance, by rivets or bolts 24, passing through the case of the lock and through the outer layer of said nap, and at the upper edge of the case through both layers thereof and through the upper re enforcing strip 18.

A series of tumblers, 25, are pivoted within the case of the lock on the .stud 26, and a series of springs, 27, attached at one end to said tumblers, resting against the upper side of the case, and bearing at their opposite ends upon said tuinblers, tend to hold the latter in normal locked position. Each of these tuniblers is provided with a longitudinal slot, 28, and with a notch, 29, at the inner end of said slot. Each of these tumblersis also preferably provided with a notch, 29, at the inner end of said slot opposite the notch 29.

The bottom plate, 30, of the lockcase isprovided with a longitudinal slot, 31, and with interior guide-Hanges, 32, adjacent to said slot.

The sliding strap 19 is provided with a block, 33, attached thereto, and with a plate, 34, on said block and integral therewith, if preferred. The block 33 slides in the slot 31 of the bottom plate, and the plate 34 slides on the interior of the case between the guide-fianges 32. A stud, 35, projects from the plate 34 and moves in the slots 28 of the tumblers and engages the notches 29 therein, serving as a catch for locking the sliding strap. The notches 29 are of different depths in the several tumblers,which latter are interchangeable and constitute a permutation-lock. rlhe key 36 is provided with wards of different height, which engage the tuinblers and lift each a sufficient distance to relieve the stud 35 from its notch 29. The notches 29L help to guard the lock against picking. The plate 34 is shorter than the lockease, and the opposite ends thereof abut against the ends of the case and serve as stops for the strap when the latter is pulled in either direction. The attaching-plates of those bolts 22 which are located beneath the lock are preferably integral, as shown in Fig. 4.

A label-holder, 36, is attached to the closing-flap 12 opposite the sliding strap 19, and preferably at the right-hand end of said flap. The label-holder is open at its outer end, through which the label 37 is inserted.

A guard, 38, for closing the open end of the label-holder is attached to the sliding strap 19. As shown, this guard comprises an attachingplate riveted to the strap and an outwardlyprojecting angular liange,which shuts over the open end of the labelliolder when the strap is closed and locked.

The operation is as follows: To close the bag, the postal clerk, after placing the addresslabel in the label-holder, simply swings the closing-flap 12 into closed position against the front of the bag and gives a jerk or pull on the ring 20 at the left-hand end of the sliding strap 19. By this simple jerk, which can be effected with one hand, the bolts are thrust into the staples, the strap locked in position, and the open end of the label-holder closed. To open the bag,the clerk inserts the key in the lock, turns it a half-revolution, and gives a jerk or pull on the ring 21 at the right-hand end of the strap. This pull of the strap simultaneously retracts the bolts from the staples and opens thelabcl-holder for a change of the address-label.

Ve claim- 1. The combination, with a bag-body, of a series of staples attached thereto, a closinglap provided with slots for said staples and with openings at its opposite ends, a sliding strap extending within said tlap and projecting through said openings at opposite sides of the bag, a series of bolts attached to said strap for engaging said staples, a eat-ch connected to said strap, and alocking mechanism for engaging said catch, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with a bag-body, of a series of staples attached thereto, a closingiiap provided with slots for said staples and with openingsat its opposite ends, a sliding strap extending within said ap and projecting through said openings at opposite sides of the bag, a series of bolts attached to said strap for engaging said staples, a catch connected to said strap, and a lock having a series of pivoted tumblers provided with slots and notches for engaging said catch, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with a bag-body, of a series of staples attached thereto, a closinglap provided with slots for said staples and with openings at its opposite ends, a sliding strap extending within said flap and projecting through said openings at opposite sides of the bag, a series of bolts attached to said strap IOO for engaging said staples, a lock-case attached to said flap and provided With a slot in its bottoni, a catch connected to said strap and projecting into said case, and a locking mechanism within said case for engaging said catch, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, with a bag-body, of a series of staples attached thereto, a closingap provided with slots for said staples and with openings -at its opposite ends, a sliding strap extending Within said flap and projecting through said openings at opposite sides of the bag, a series of bolts attached to said strap for engaging said staples, a lock-case attached to said a-p and provided with a slot in its bottom, a block on said sliding strap Within said slot, a plate attached to said block and sliding Within said case, a stud attached to said plate, and locking mechanism for engaging said stud, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination, with the closing-flap, of a loclccase provided with a longitudinal slot inits bottom plate and With guide-flanges adjacent to said slot, a locking-strap Within said ap, a plate connected to said strap and sliding Within said case between said flanges, a catch connected to said plate, and locking mechanism for engaging said catch, substantially as described.

ALVIN S. HAINES. VILLIAM` BREIDENBACH.

Witnesses for Haines:

EDWARD F. SOHERTZINGER, JAMES O. HAINEs. Witnesses for Breidenbach: HENRY A. KooNs, MARTIN KooNs.

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