US374844A - lighthouse - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

Jf o. LIGHTHOUSE.

MAIL BAG.

N0.374844. PatentedDec.13yl887;

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N. Pains. rnmmlwmpnaf. www nu (No Moldel.) 2 Sheets-Sheet '2; J. C. LIGHTHOUSE.

Patented Deo. 13, .1887'.

.MAI-L BAG.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN O. LIGHTHOUSE, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

MAlL-BAG.

SPECIFICATION forming' part of 'Letters Patent No. a'14,a44,datea December 1 3, 1887,

Application tiled September 19, 1887. Serial No. 250,134. (No model.)

To @.ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J orrN C. LienrnoUsE, of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New IYork, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Mail-Bags; and I do hereby declare that'the following is a full, clear, and exact description ofthe same, reference being had to the drawings accompanying this application.

My improvement relates to that class of mail bags and pouches in which the mouth is composed of metallic bars jointed or hinged at the quarters, so asto be opened in square form. Such devices are already known, and I do not claim the same, broadly.

My invention "rhonsists in the combination, with such a device, of two locking-straps hinged together and applied to the front bars, and so arranged, as hereinafter described, that when drawn endwise to lock the bag the hinge of thelocking-straps comes on one side of the hinge of the mouthvbars, as hereinafter more fully described. y

.ln the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the mouth of a mail-bag in the lockedposition, exhibiting my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same unlocked and partially opened. Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation ot' a portion ofthe same. Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-section in line x x of Fig. 3. Fig 5 is a plan View of the mouth fully opened. Fig. 6 is a vertical cross-section similar to Fig. 4, but showing a modification. Figs. 7 and 8 are ele- Vations of the hinged locking-straps, showing modifications in the means for fastening the mouth of the bag.

A indicates the leather bag, which is lof i usual form and construction.

My improvement is as follows:

B B and BB are four side straps or plates, which constitute the mouth of the bag. The bag is secured Ito the bottom edge of these straps by ordinary rivets, a a,the lower edges of the straps being offset or shouldered, as shown atd d, so as to give room for the leather inside when the mouth is closed. The side straps are pivoted or hinged atthe four quarters, as shown at c c c c, two of the hinges coming at the edges and two in the center of the width of the bag. By this means the mouth of the bag can be closed tightly in dat condition to close the bag, or can be extended wide-open, as shown in Fig. 5, for assorting mail. When so opened, the side straps constitute a square. open. The straps B B on two sides of the bag have right-angled flanges b b at the top, which cover the edges of the other two straps, B B,when the bag is closed, thereby preventing the entrance of any instrument for opening the bag.

O C are two sliding lockingstraps hinged together centrally at j', and Y lying latWise against the two front side straps B B', being held to place by rivets g g, that pass through slots h h of the locking-straps. By this means the locking-straps have end. movement to -a limited degree. The locking-straps have rightangled open slots i t' and projecting tongues k 7c, and the two rear side straps B B have staplesZ Z, that coincide with the slots. When the bag is closed, the staples Z Z pass through Vopenings in the front side straps B B and through the slots Z i of the locking-straps, and then by sliding the lockingstraps to the left the tongues k la pass through the staples and lock the parts firmly together. Vhen the straps are so thrownto lock the bag, the hinge fof the locking-straps comes to one side of and out of line with the hinge c of the side straps, thereby stiftening the mouth of the bag and removing a portion of the strain from the fastenings. When the sliding straps are thrown back to unlock the bag, the hinge f coincides with the hinge c of the side straps, and the bag can then be opened without trouble. v p

Instead of the'open slots i fi of the lockingstraps, closed slots such as shown in Figs. 7 and 8 may be used, and instead of the staples ZZT-headed nails such asshown in Figs. 6 and 7 may be employed.

D is the tag or label holder, the Same consisting of a plate hinged orjointed to the end of one of the locking-straps C, its outer end passing over a staple, m, reaching through the front side straps and secured by a suitable lock, n. This holds the locking-straps in the locked position, and they can be moved back only by removing the lock.

p p are straps or loops by which the bag can be hungup while being filled.

Fig. 2 shows the bag partially t IOC The mail-bag above described is more convenient and effective in use than common mail-bags, as the mouth is held wide open when assorting. It can be closed and locked quicker than can be done by the common leather strap, and when locked it is more secure, as there are no leather straps that can be cut.

Having described my invention, I do not claim,simply and broadly/,hinged bars or plates forming the mouth of a mail-bag; nor do I claim, broadly, a sliding lockingstrap.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Let ters Patent, is-

In a mail-bag, the combination of the side

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