US22866A - Mail-bag fastening - Google Patents

Description

JOHN C. GARLAND, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MAIL-BAG FASTENING.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 22,866, dated February 8, 1859.

vTo all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, JOHN C. GARLAND, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Fastenings fo-r Mail-Bags; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this speciiication, in which- Figure l, is a front view of a mail-bag with my improvement applied to it. This view shows the fastening in operation. Fig. 2, is a similar view of the same, showing the fastening out of operation, and Fig. 3, is a horizontal section of the invention as in operation.

Similar letters of reference, in each -of the several gures, indicate corresponding parts.

Before stating my invent-ion, I deem it proper to remark that I am aware that a sliding mail bag strap, formed of a series of links hinged together and furnished with oblong slots, which terminate in circular recesses, was patented by Alonzo D. Perry in 1848, but for some cause it has not come into public use, whereas my improvement, which will be presently described, is highly approved of by the department at Washington and doubtless will be adopted.

The nature of my invention consists in the employment of a slot-ted sliding strap when made of a single steel spring and used in combination with a series of narrow stationary iron guides attached to the perforated flap of the bag, and with a steel spring having headed stop pins, fitted between the front portion of the binding and the upper edge of the mail bag.

By my invention, all the facilities and conveniences aorded for opening and closing the mail bag at the post office, in the invention patented by Perry, are obtained, and in addition thereto, the advantage derived from a fastening' whose tendency to always remain in operative position, secured, andV yet the capability of the bag folding or contracting-in width not at all interfered With, for the spring strap and the spring stop plate allow the bag perfect freedom to contract in Width, but in such a manner that the headed stop pins always occupy a safe relation to the oblong portions of the slots in the spring strap as soon as the pressure which causes it to change its form is withdrawn, said spring plate and spring strap cause the bag to take its original shape and the stop pins to occupy a place at the extremity of the oblong portion of the slots, which is not the case with the hinged flexible strap of Perry, owing to its want of elasticity. My invention is likewise cheaper and more firm and solid in its construction, and in fact is pronounced by those skilled in postal affairs just the thing so long needed for mail bags.

To enable others, skilled in the art, to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

A, represents the mail bag; it is of ordinary construction excepting that a flat spring B, is secured between its upper front edges and the binding. This plate serves to give stiness to the mail bag and keeping it extended in proper shape, but does not interfere with its bending and contracting when its two side edges are pressed toward each other. This plate serves also as a holdfast for the round headed or other suitably shaped stop pins C, C, as shown and thus relieves the leather of all strain which would cause it to tear out.

. D, is the flap of the mail bag. `This flap is perforated with holes a, a, to allow the heads of the stop pins to pass through it as shown in Fig. 3. It also is furnished with a series of narrow iron guides E, E, which are riveted to it, as shown.

F, is the thin steel spring strap. This .strap passes through the guides and attaches by one end to a curved hasp b, which lits over a staple c, and has its other end (Z, curved or bent so as to pass around the upper side edge of the iap and mail bag, and enter a guide e, as shown. The curved hasp and curved end o, render the strap capable of securing the flap at its front and side edges effectually, as will be evident from the drawings.

The strap is provided with a series of oblong slots f, f, which terminate in circular openings g, g, said slots and openings corresponding to the neck and head of the stop pins. By thus perforating the strap, the

head of the stop pins can be readily passed Fig. 2, pulling the strap along until the necks of the pins strike the termination of the oblong slots and the heads of the bolts overhang the metal forming the sides of said slots as shown in Fig. l. lVhen the strap is thus adjusted and the hasp looked over the staple it is impossible for the bag to be opened, but by simply unlocking the hasp and adjusting it and then slipping the strap as shown in F ig. 2, the bag oanbe readily opened by simply raising the flap. The flap by being made of a thin steel spring or strip allows the bag to bend and contract as necessity may require, but as this spring is used in connection with the spring B, the stop pins in said spring B, adjust themselves with the strap and spring and thus a liability of the pins getting in line with the round openings g, g, of the slots of the straps is avoided and as soon as pressure is removed from the sides of the bag, the springs and bag assume their original position.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The employment of a slotted sliding strap E, when made of a single steel spring, and used in combination with a series of narrow stationary iron guides E, attached to the perforated flap of the bag, and with a steel spring B, having headed stop pins C, fitted between the front portion of the binding and the upper edge of the mail bag, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

The above specification of my improvement in mail bags, signed by me this 14th day of January 1859.

JOHN C. GARLAND.

Witnesses:

Gr. YORKE ATLEE, H. H. YOUNG.

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