US428335A - Coffin-fastener - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) I

. .PORSHAY.

0 PIN FASTENER. I

No. 428,335. Patented May 20, 1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY C. FORSHAY, OF NElN YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO JOHN S. CLARK &

00., OF NEIVARK, NENV JERSEY.

COFFlN-FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 428,335, dated May 20, 1890.

Application filed June 18, 1889.

To alt whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY C. FoRsHAY, of New York city, county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fasteners for Casket-Covers, &c., of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention relates to fastening devices especially intended for securing covers upon coffins or burial-caskets, but which may be applied in other situations where like security and facility of attachment and removal are desired.

The object of my invention is to supply a simple, cheap, durable, and efficient fastener for securing the cover, which shall be concealed, which is not exposed to damage by accident, with which the cover may be i11- stantly and easily detached by one person or applied in like manner, of which the parts are few and simple and capable of being rapidly applied or mounted, and which is applicable for all styles and forms of coffin or casket covers.

To accomplish all of this and to secure other and further advantages in the matters of construction, operation, application, and use my improvements involve certain new and useful arrangements or combinations of parts, details of construction, and principles of operation, as will be herein first fully described, and then pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, I have shown at Figu re 1 a fragment of one sideof a coffin or casket, partly in elevation and partly in section, the cover being held in place by my improved device; and at Fig. 2, a cross-section through one of the holding-plates. Fig. 3 is a side view, and Fig. 4 a cross-section,of the springlatch portion detached and on a larger scale than in previous figures. Fig. 5 is a top view of a fragment of the side of a coffin or casket,

showing the recess therein and the holdingplate and staple in place. Fig. 6 is a perspective of one of the holding-plates detached. Fig. 7 is a cross-section showing one manner of securing the push-pin in place.

In all the figures like letters of reference, Wherever they occur, indicate corresponding parts.

- A is one side wall of any coffin or casket, and B the removable top or cover. The cover is intended to be fastened by application of like means to both sides or edges, though only one side is represented, which is sufficient for the purposes of this'description.

O is a hook-shaped dowel of ample strength, secured upon a plate D, which is screwed to the under side of the cover. The bearing face of this dowel is inclined, so that it may be wedged to final position and hold the cover without rattling.

Upon the upper side of plate D is hinged a tongue or latch to upon an axis 19 and held in closed position by a spring, as c. The cover is recessed sufficiently to accommodate the movements of the spring-actuated tongue.

Vithin the side wall is a holding-plate E, which is made of peculiar fashion in order that it may be easily and securely applied. It is perforated, as at d, to receive the dowel or hook O, and is made of flat metal bent at 7 5 right angles, as shown, and having a part below the perforation d inclined or cut away. To apply this holding-plate to the vertical wall of the coffin, &o., a simple saw-cut from the inside toward the outside is all the prep- 8o aration that is necessary, the wall having a well or cavity sufficient to receive the hooks. Into this saw-cut the plate is inserted and there secured by a screw or screws, which pass through the plate and into the inner face of the vertical wall. This construction is very simple and strong and the mode of application such as to obviate all difficult fitting and cutting of the material of the coffin.

At 6 is a push-pin, which bears upon the end of the arm carrying the tongue ct. This pin passes through a perforation made for it in the cover.

WVhen the casket is covered, as with cloth, (indicated at f f,) the top of the push-pin is also 5 covered, the upper portion of the perforation through the cover being reamed out so that the pin may be pushed down by pressure of the thumb or finger. The cloth cover holds the pin from accidental displacement.

When the covering is not employed, an eyelet, as g, Fig. 7, may be inserted in the material of the cover, the same being a trifle larger at bottom than at top, and the pin is also made larger at bottom than at top, and when inserted from below and the latch secured the pin will not become displaced. In this last form the pin projects a trifle above the top of the cover.

At any point or points in advance of the spring latch or lock are located other dowels or hooks, as F, which engage with holdingplates E, but which are without springlatches or tongues.

The fasteners being arranged on each side of the coffin or case by placing the cover on and pushing it forward or along, the latches a will ride over the top edges of plates E, the hooks O and F enter perforations d, and when moved far enough the latches a will automatically spring back and lock the hooks 0 against Withdrawal from plates E. Without some provision against it, by pulling back upon the cover with suffioi ent force the latches could be crowded up, and thus the hooks C be left free to be withdrawn. I therefore curve the inner faces of latches a, and in advance of plates E insert simple staples, as h, over which the latches are compelled to ride. \Vhen the latches spring down past these staples, any sliding or drawing back of the cover will crowd the points of the latches farther under the tops of the staples, and thus prevent the latches from being elevated. So the'cover is locked.

To release the cover after it is locked, it is only necessary to place the thumbs on the cover and the fingers under the edge of the cover, slide the hands along until the pushpins are felt under the thumbs, then push the pins down, draw the cover back slightly, and lift it up and off.

The fastening device is easily and quickly applied upon any cofiin or casket. The plate E-can easily be raised or lowered, so that the fastener may be used in cases Where any thickness of covering material is employed.

The fastener may be applied at either end, and in the event that the case or casket becomes warped the top may be turned end for end, it being only necessary to remove the staples h and insert them in advance of the other set ofholding-plates.

Having now fully described my invention, whatI claim as new herein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a fastener for casket-covers, &c., the angular holding plate perforated, as ex plained, to receive the hooked dowel, said plate being mounted in a cut in the vertical wall of the casket and secured upon the inner face of said wall, and combined with alockinglatch, substantially as shown and described.

2. A casket-fastening consisting of the perforated keeper-plate, the staple adjacent to said plate, the plate having a perforation and a dowel adapted to engage the keeperplate, and the spring-actuated lever pivoted on said plate and having a tongue passing through the perforation therein, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. In a casket-fastening, the combination of the keeper-plate, the plate having a dowel depending therefrom, adapted to engage the keeper-plate, and ears or lugs rising therefrom, and the lever fulcrumed on said ears and having a locking-tongue at one end, as and for the purpose described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

HARRY C. FORSHAY.

Witnesses:

J AOOB H, FORSHAY, WORTH Oseoon.

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