US228368A - Edwin a - Google Patents

Description

E. A. 'MGALPIN. Method. of Sealing Packages.

No. 228,368. Patented June 1,1880.

Zl/ilhess es:

N.PETER8, PHOTO-LITNOGRAFHER, WASHINGTON, o C.

llNiTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWIN A. MGA'LPIN, OF NEIV YORK, N. Y.

METHOD OF SEALING PACKAGES.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 228,368, dated, June 1, 1880.

Application filed January 31, 1880.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN A. MGALPIN, of the city and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Mode of Sealing Packages of Tobacco, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to the sealing of the wrapper or envelope used on packages of tobacco and similar articles, the object being to secure the wrapping in such manner as to guard against the package being opened before it reaches the hands of the consumer.

As is well known, the material most commonly used as a wrapper for the finer grades of smoking and chewing tobacco is tin-foil. The nature of this is such that it cannot be effectually and readily sealed by the ordinary modes of sealing paper wrappers, and consequently the usual practice adopted is sim; ply to fold up the ends of the wrapper closely, the natural rigidity of the material being relied upon to hold the folds in place. This, however, leaves the package in such condition that any person through whose hands it passes on its way to the consumer can readily, if he be so disposed, open it, change its contents, and refold the wrapper, so that it will show no signs of having been tampered with. This affords an easy means of fraud by enabling persons to sell as the genuine product of a manufacturer of established reputation a spurious and inferior article, to the detriment both of such manufacturer and of the consumer; also, when the wrapper is thus insecurely fastened, it is liable to be come partially opened in the ordinary handling of the package in the course of trade, and the consequent exposure of the contents to the action of the air injures them, and not infrequently a portion of the contents is lost.

By the present invention this defect in the present mode of putting up tobacco is entirely obviated.

It consists in folding over the ends of the wrapper sufficiently to protect the contents of the package, and then securing the folds in the relative position thus attained by means of a rivet, preferably of the eyelet form. By passing the rivet entirely through the folds of the wrapper and heading it down securely upon each side of the folds it will be rendered impossible to open the package, either accidentally or designedly, so as to permit the contents to be tampered with, or to expose them to the air, without tearing the wrapper.

In carrying out the invention various methods of folding the wrapper may be adopted. It is only necessary that the folds be made in such manner that when the rivetis inserted it will hold them together securely, so as to accomplish the object above stated.

In the accompanying drawings the invention is fully illustrated.

Figures 1, 3, and 5 show three different modes of folding the end of the wrapper before the rivet is introduced. The end not shown should be secured in a corresponding manner. Any one of these modes will effectually secure the wrapper, so that if opened before it reaches the consumer it will be impossible to restore it to its normal condition and appearance. Figs. 2, 4, and 6 show the complete folding of the wrapper after the insertion of the rivet.

I am aware that prior to the present inven- 'tion it has been proposed to close the end of a sample-box by means of a metal clip passed through the folds of such end; but the package was not thereby secured against opening by an unauthorized person. as the mode of using the clip, and the very object in using it, was such as to give facility for opening and closing the package at pleasure.

I am also aware that prior to the present invention it has been proposed to use rivets of the eyelet form to secure the flaps of fiat envelopes, such rivets beingpassed through the flaps and the body of the envelope; but the present invention differs therefrom in that the rivets as now used are passed through the folded ends of the envelope or wrapper, and

do not enter the body of the same. As a consequence, the entire interior space of the wrapper is available for the reception of the tobacco, and a package can readily be formed which, instead of being flat and thin,

selves and insertingapermanentrivet through such folded ends, substantially as and for the purpose described.

like an ordinary letter-envelope, will be of a thick, W6ll-d6fil16d, rectangular, and prismatic form.

What is claimed as new is EDWIN A. MOALPIN. 5 The hereinbefore-described mode of seal- Witnesses:

ing packages of tobacco, which consists in fold- BENJ. A. SMITH, ing the ends of the Wrapper over upon them- ROBERT H. DUNCAN.

Images