US179288A - Improvement in mail-bags - Google Patents

Description

F.J.FE1NTHEL.

MAIL-BAG.

Paiented June 27, 1876.

UNITED S'ra'rns;

FREDERIC J. FEINTHEL, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN MAIL-BAGS.

Specication forming part of Letters Patent No. [79,2SS, dated June 27, 1876; application liled May 22, 1876. v

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERIC J. FEINTHEL, of Cincinnati, Hamilton county, Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Bags, of which the following is a speciication:

My invention consists in applying to the open end or mouth of a mail-bag a metallic frame, whose peculiar construction enables the bag to be opened with the greatest facility after the padlock has been detached; but when the latter is engaged with an appropriate staple, the aforesaid frame efectually prevents the mouth of the bag being sprung or opened, and, consequently, the mail-matter cannot be either lost or stolen. This frame consists essentially of two distinct and unconnected parts or members, of which the principal or flanged member is secured to the back ot' the bag, and extends the full width of the same. The flanged member is provided with a down-turned lip, rib, or Valance, so as to alord Va socket or pocket to receive the upper edge ofthe other member of the frame. This other member is simply a tlat plate or extended tongue, secured to the front of the bag, and of such width as to readily enter the aforesaid pocket when the pouchis closed.

After being t-hus closed, a staple or link is passed through a slot in the flanged part ot' the frame and also through a slot in the tongue, which slots are in the same plane when said tongue is inserted in the pocket. A padlock being now engaged with the rear or projecting' end ot' said staple, the act of closure is completed. The aforesaid staple, link, or loop projects from a scutcheon or shield, that is iiexibly connected to the front of the bag, with a strap or otherwise, and, if preferred, this shield may bc so arranged as to have applied to it a tag or label, suitably inscribed, for designating the destination of the mail-bag.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved mail-bag in its opened condition. Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the closed bag. Figs. 3 and 4 are vertical sections of the locking devices in their open and closed conditions, respectively, said illustrations being drawn on an enlarged scale.

A represents the front and B 'the rear side of a mailbag, which bag may be composed of leather, canvas, or any other suitable material, as the construction of said pouch or receptacle constitutes no part ot' my invention. Riveted at b or otherwise securely attached to the upper end of back B is alight but rigid metallic frame, C, of anyv suitable shape, and provided at its midlength with a horizontal slot X. This frame is furnished at top with a plate, D, whose ends d d incline downwardly and away from said plate. Depending from the front of this plate is a liange, lip, or valance, E, of any appropriate depth, which flange is not carried down as far as the slot X, previously alluded to.

By thus constructing the metallic frame, a pocket, F, is afforded between flange E and plate C, which pocket is comparatively narrow when measured from front to back, while its length nearly equals the width ofthe bag'.

vRiveted to the front A, as' at d, is an extended tongue, G, of such shape as to allow its upper or exposed edge to readily enter the groove or socket F. This tongue is pierced with a longitudinal slot, Z. The upper corners of the tongue are cut off obliquely, as at g g', which construction enables said tongue to lit snugly under the plate D d d', as shown in Fig. 2. This tongue is not pivoted, or hinged, or otherwise coupled to the frame C D E, but it is simply secured by rivets to the pouch, in the manner shown, said pouch or bag thereby acting as a flexible joint to allow the tongue being shifted far enough to slip into or to be disengaged from the pocket F. Attached to the front of the bag, with a strap, H, or other flexible connection, is a shield or scutcheon, I, having a rearwardly -projecting staple, I, adapted to traverse the slots X and Z, and receive the bow of' a padlock, K, as seen in Fig. 4. When the bag is opened, as represented in Figs. l and 3, an ample and unobstructed mouth is afforded for conveniently filling the bag, which act having been accomplished, the tongue G is tucked into the pocket-F, thereby closing the open end of the receptacle.

The shield I is then lifted up and its staple VJ passed through the slots X and Z, which latter are now in the same horizontal plane,

and, in this condition of the bag, said staple prevents the tongue G being shifted or allowed to drop down from pocket F, so as to expose an opening or crevice of any kind at the top ot' said tongue. Finally, the padlock K is engaged with' said staple and the bag is then securely closed.

As the tongue G extends from side to side ofthe bag, and as its free edges'arecompletely housed within the frame G D E, it is evident. the latter completely closes the upper end of the bag, so asto prevent an-y access thereto.

It is also evident that the ange E prevents the introduction of any implement at the top ofthe tongue G, for the purpose of springing the latter aside, so as to allow the mail-matter to be stolen.

In this specification, the words front A and back B are -mere relative terms, and have been employed simply for convenience of description; but it is evident that the frame C D E may he applied to the front of thevbag, and the tongue G to the back of the same.

A modification ot my invention may be made by substituting a series of downwardlyprojecting pins or lugs for the rib E. Furthermore, the shield or scntcheon I may be coupled either to the fralne G D E or else to the tongue G.

I am aware. that it is not new to apply metallic frames to the mouths of mail-bags,

carpet-bags, satchels, and similar receptacles, but such frames have heretofore been made ot' two parts hinged together, which construction prevents the upper edge of the shit'table member of the frame being housed within the cavityor groove `or pocket of the other inember.

I claim as my invention- A mail-bag fastening, consisting of the metallic frame C D E, provided with a pocket,

F, into which latter the upper edge of tongue G is inserted and securely1 retained therein by the locking device I J, whose staple J trav-

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