US1005427A - Mail-bag catcher. - Google Patents

Description

A. P. HARMAN.

I MAIL BAG GATGHER. APPLICATION IILED'IEB.25, 1911.

1,005,427. Patented Oct. 10,1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

W1 T/VESSES [AWE/Wok,

Affomey.

, A. P. HARMAN.

MAIL BAG GATOHEB.

APPLICATION 211.111) FEB. 25, 1911.

1,005,427. Patented 0111. 10,1911.

8 SHEETSBHEET 2.

W1 TNESSES INVENTOR,

coLummA PLANOORAPH co..wAsHlNu'mN, n.c.

UNTTED TATES PATENT @FFTCE.

ALBERT P. HARMAN, OF RADFORD, VIRGINIA.

MAIL-BAG CATCI-IER.

oosaav.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT P. HARMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Radford, in the county of Montgomery and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Bag Catchers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in mail bag catchers, and I hereby declare that the following is a clear, full, and exact description thereof.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple, economical and eflicient mail bag catcher, which closes and locks automatically as the mail bag enters the catch, thereby insuring speedy and positive retention of the bag and eliminating the danger of its loss.

The invention therefore consists in certain peculiarities of construction and combination of parts as herein set forth and shown by the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a plan View of the device in an open or extended position, with the jaw spring in section showing the housing method. Fig. 2 is a similar view in a closed position.

Similar figures refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring specifically to the drawings, 1 indicates an ordinary supporting bar which may be adjusted in-the eyes or staples secured to the car door frame, and to which is rigidly secured the base plate 2, by ordinary bolts, as at 33. A handle A is suitably attached to the supporting bar, for the purpose of moving the device or shifting its position,

The mail bag catching rod, 5, is provided with a curve 5, adjacent to the point of attachment to the base plate 2, to which it is suitably secured by ordinary bolts, as at 66.

Pivotally attached to the base plate 2, at 7 and 8, are clutch members, consisting of a straight jaw 9, pivoted to the base plate at 8, and the jaw 10, having a straight portion 11, and a curved portion 12, and pivoted to the base plate at 7. These two jaws form the mail bag clutch, holding the same firmly as it enters the catch, as hereinafter described. They are connected at their base by the plate 13 pivoted thereto, as at 1e and 15, and on which they operate as a hinge in opening and closing in the use of the device.

A resilient clasp or clutch member, 16, is secured by ordinary rivets to the hinged end of the jaw 10, and extends at right angles Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 25, 1911.

Patented Oct. 10, 1911. Serial No. 610,875.

thereto. This clasp or clutch is provided to engage the notched or ratchet plate and retain or look the jaws rigidly in closed relation when a mail bag strikes the lower jaw 9, as hereafter described. A small lug, 17 secured to the base plate 2, is for the purpose of preventing the jaw 9 from dropping too far and holding the same in open position as forced bv the spring, as hereinafter set forth.

The lever 18 is pivoted to the base plate 2, at 19, and in the end thereof is provided a slot, 20, in which is adapted to operate a lug, 21, attached to the plate 22, which is conveniently secured to the notched or ratchet plate 23, which is movable up or down to release or retain the mail bag in the jaws 9 and 10. A spring, 24, is suitably secured to the plate 2 to coact with the lever 18 in forcing the notched or ratchet plat-e 23 into engagement or disengagement with the clasp or clutch member 16. An ordinary resilient spring, 25, is suitably housed, as at 26, and is adapted to throw the jaw 9 back into open position when the two jaws are released from the notched or ratchet plate 23, as herein described.

Having described the various parts and construction of my device, its operation is obviously as follows: After the device is properly adjusted to the car door, and the jaws 9 and 10 set in open position, as shown in Fig. 1, a mail bag striking the catcher and falling with suiiicient force will force the jaw 9 down below the plane of the curve 5 of the rod 5, and by means of the pivotally connected plate 13, causes the jaw 10 to close down upon the other jaw 9, as shown in Fig. 2. This action of the jaw 10 causes the clasp or clutch member 16 attached thereto, to strike the notched or ratchet plate 23, the end thereof remaining firmly therein, thus locking the jaws 9 and 10, holding the mail bag firmly until released by the operator, as no jostling or jerking will force the bag from these jaws without his aid. In order to release the bag the operator simply presses the lever 18, which withdraws the notched or ratchet plate 23 from engagement with the clasp or clutch member, 16, releasing the same, upon which movement the spring 25 forces the jaw 9 back into open position and against the lug 17, and the jaw 10 coacts therewith by means of the plate 13, at the same time the spring 24 forces the lever 18 back into normal position to be ready to receive the clasp or clutch member 16 on the jaw 10 in the next similar operation in closing.

The main features of my invention are its simplicity, economy and absolute security with respect to the mail bag which falls into it.

Having described my invention I claim:

1. A device of the character described, consisting of a base plate, a curved rod secured thereto, a pair of coacting jaws and a slotted lever pivotally attached to the said base plate, and a plate having a lug thereon adapted to pass through said slot and operate therein, a notched or ratchet plate secured to said plate, and means for retaining said jaws in closed relation and spring means for forcingthe same into open position, all as set forth.

2. A mail bag catcher, consisting of a base plate, a curved rod secured thereto, coacting jaws pivotally attached to the said plate and joined at their bases by a pivotally secured plate, a slotted lever pivotally attached to said base plate having a plate thereon and anotched or ratchet plate secured thereto, means for retaining the jaws in closed relation and means for forcing the jaws into open position and holding the same therein, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT P. HARMAN. lVitnesses G. D. TYSAR, JOHN P. MAGINNIS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. C.

Images