US602806A - William f - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

W. F. JOHNSTON.

DEVICE FOR ATTAGHING STAMPS, SEALING LETTERS, &c. No. 602,806. Patented Apr. 19, 1898.

UNITED STATES Fries.

ATENT WILLIAM F. JOHNSTON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSlGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO ROSOOE WALTON, OF SAME PLACE.

DEVICE FOR ATTACHING' STAMPS, SEALlNG LETTERS, ac.

SPEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 602,806, dated April 19, 1898. Application filed June 5, 1897. Serial No. 639,621. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM F. JOHNSTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Devices for Attaching Stamps, Sealing Letters, and the Like, of which the following isa specification.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in devices for attaching stamps, sealing letters, and the like, and has for its object to provide a simple, cheap, and effective device by means of which moisture may 1 5 be applied to stamps and the same forced into contact with the surfaces to which they are to be attached, and also to apply moisture to the sealing-flap of an envelop and hold the same in firm contact with the remainder of the envelop until it has become thoroughly sealed thereto.

With these ends in view this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth, and

2 5 then specifically designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may understand how to make and use the same, the construction and operation will now be described in 0 detail, referring to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improvement, illustrating the use thereof; Fig. 2, a

central vertical section of the device in its normal condition; Fig. 3, an enlarged end view of the moistening-tube when removed from the case; Fig. 4, a section of the moistener in active position, and Fig. 5 a bottom 0 view of the completed device.

In carrying out my invention as here embodied I provide a presser-lock A,which may be of any convenient or desired shape, preferably having fiat surfaces B thereon for the easy grasping by the hand, as shown in Fig. 1, and this block is hollow and has a slot C in its otherwise closed end. The reservoirtube D is adapted to fit within the block and slide vertically therein and is held against retraction and rotation by the screws E, which pass through the block and project within the grooves F, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. Coil-springs G are interposed between the bottom of the block and the lower end of the tube, thus normally holding said tube in an elevated position, and these springs are prevented from displacement by means of the lugs H and I.

Formed in the lower end of the reservoirtube is a passageway J, which is rectangular in cross-section, and within this is fitted the moistener K, which consists of a conveyer L, having a spring-plate M projecting upward therefrom and to a considerable distance Withinthe passage J, the upper end of said plate being inturned, as clearly shown, so as to bear against one wall of this passage. Within the conveyer are secured the feed-strips N, of any suitable fabric, and between these strips is placed a sponge or other absorbent material O, the lower end of the feed-strips projecting beyond the lower end of the conveyer and thus forming the flexible foot P, by means of which the moisture fed downward to this point may be applied to the desired surface. The lower end of the passage-way has one of its walls inturned, as indicated at Q, the object being to normally prevent the downward How of water by the action of the spring-plate M, which will hold the conveyer tightly against this int-urned portion Q, thus compressing the feed-strips at this point and preventing the passage of the moisture.

A rubber tube R is stretched around the nioistener and extends upward upon the walls of the passageway, as clearly shown, the object of which is to prevent leakage and also to avoid transmitting moisture to the hands or other objects that may come in contact with the sides of the moistener, and this tube 0 will also assist in holding the moistener in its normal position, as shown in Fig. 2, and this tube will prevent the deflecting of the moistener when in use.

WVhen the moistener is in its normal posi- 5 tion, the water will readily flow down through the passage-way to the point Q, when it will be prevented from further downward flow until the moistener is deflected, as shown in Fig. 4, when an opening will be formed at this point and permit the water to gain access to the sponge O or other absorbent material 10- cated between the feed-strips,by which means the moisture will be conveyed downward to the foot P automatically at every operation of the device, as will be readily understood.

The reservoir D is adapted to-be filled and closed by a screw-threaded cap S run upon the upper end of the reservoir-tube, which is there threaded for that purpose.

In practice the device is grasped with the hand in such manner that the block A is held firm, while the forefinger is placed upon the upper end of the reservoir-tube, after which it will be seen that the moistener may be freely applied to the surface in either direction, after the manner of a brush, by simply forcing the tube downward until said moistener extends through the slot C, and after this has been accomplished the release of pressure upon the upper end of the tube will permit it to be forced upward by the springs G, and then the bottom surface of the block may be utilized as a presser to affix the stamps or seal the flap of the envelop or any otherlike purpose. From this it is obvious that stamps may be moistened and applied without removing the device from the hand, thereby greatly facilitating its operation as also the operation of sealing envelops, and when the device is not in use it may be laid upon the desk Without fear of its injuring or interfering with other objects, since the moistener is normally retracted within the block, as shown in Fig. 2.

My improvement maybe made of any suitable material as well as of any design or size to suit the fancy of the manufacturer or user, and its cost is small, while its utility is exceedingly great.

As shown in Fig. 5, the flat surfaces 13 upon the sides of the presser-block provide straight edges, which will facilitate the severing of stamps and the like by simply placing the presser-block upon one stamp of a series, so that the straight edge lies upon the dividingline, and then drawing away the remainder.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and useful is- 1. In a device of the character described, a

reservoir-tube having a passage-way leading therefrom, an inturned edge formed by one wall of the passage-way, a conveyer flexibly secured to the tube, a spring-plate formed with the conveyer and'projecting into the passage-way, and an absorbent material secured in the conveyer, substantially as set forth.

2. In a device of the character described, a reservoir -tube, a conveyer, a springplate formed thereon and projecting upward through a passage leading from the reservoir, feedstrips running through the conveyer, an absorbent material confined between the strips, and means for holding the conveyer in place, substantially as described.

3. The herein-described combination of the presser-block A, a reservoir-tube fitted therein, means for forcing said tube upward, means for preventing the complete withdrawal of the tube from the block, a moistener consisting of a conveyer, a spring-plate projecting therefrom within a passage-wayleading from the reservoir, feed-strips of fabric secured within the conveyer and projecting into the reservoir, an absorbent material arranged between the feed-strips, a foot formed by said strips, and a rubber tube stretched around the moistener, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In combination with a device of the character described, a moistener consisting of a conveyer, a spring-plate formed with said conveyerand projecting upwardwithin a passage-way leading from the reservoir, an inturned edge formed by one wall of the passage-way, feed-strips running through the conveyer and projecting into the reservoir,absorbent material confined between the strips, and a rubber tube stretched around the moistener, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

IVILLIAM F. JOHNSTON.

Witnesses:

S. S. WILLIAMSON, SAMUEL L. TAYLOR.

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