US235059A - Mail-bag - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet, 1. S. S TR A U S S.

, Mail Bag. No. 235,059. Patented Nov. 30,1880.

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rLPETEKs. PHOTO-UTHOGRAPMER. WASHINGTON. D CA (No Model.) 2Sheets'-Sheet 2.

S. S T R A U S S.

Mail Bag.

No. 235,059. Patented Nov. 3o, 1880.

N.PETERS, PHOTO-LITHOGHAPHER, WASNXNBTON` D C- NTTnD STATES PATENT Fries.,

SAMUEL STRAUSS, OF CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE.

MAIL-BAG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 235,059, dated November 30, 1880.

Application filed October 6, 1880.

To alt whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL S'rRAUss, a citizen ot' theUnited States, residing at Chattanooga, Hamilton county, Tennessee, have invented new and useful Improvements in h/Iail-Bags, of which the following is a specitication.

My invention relates to certain new and use-v t'nl improvements in mail-bags, with special reference to closingand securely fastening the open or mouth end.

Prior to my invention very many ways have been devised and suggested for closing the ordinary leather and canvas bags for transportation; but I believe that the most practical device, and the one in most general use by the Government, consists of a bag having one half of its .body or sides extending` slightly above or beyond the other, to form a tlap designed lo turn over and upon the shorter side, and there secured in position to close the bag by providing the long side with a series of metallic staples, and the short side with a corresponding number otl eyes, which are preferably metallic bound, and passing a strap from one Afixed .point through the staples and securing the end over another staple on the same side by a suitable mail-lock, as will be readily understood by those familiar with the postal service and the construction of pouches therefor. While this construction is, perhaps, the most reliable now known or in use, it involves expensive construction, and greatly increases the weight of the pouch. Another and perhaps more serious objection to the bags of this class, in View of the necessity for rapid handling of mail-matter under the present postal requirements', is the time involved in threading the securing-strap through so many staples and adjusting and locking the end in place.

The object of my invention is to overcome all of these disadvantages and provide a mailbag economical of construction, light, and adapted to be closed and locked with great celerity; and with these ends in View my 1nvention consists of a mail bag or pouch composed of suitable flexible material, and hav ing its open or mouth end adapted to be closed by folding the corners thereof over at an angle tothe sides, and so as to slightly overlap at a point about central of the sides or walls, and

(No model.)

to be then folded longitudinally about centrally of the angle made in folding the corners, the corners and central top portion being' provided with eyes or holes,and the whole secured in position by a single staple and lock, as will be hereinafter and in detail set forth.

ln order that. those skilled in the art to which my invention appertains may fully understand how to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe the construction and the system ot' folding necessary to accomphsh the result desired, referring by letters to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of a bag embracing my invention in one form, and attened at its open end preparatory to closing the same; Fig. 2, a similar view with one corner turned over into position; Fig. 3, a similar view with both corners turned over; Fig 4, a similar view showing the upper end turned over horizontally and over the previously-folded corners, and secured by a single staple and lock; Fig. 5, al vertical central section taken at the line x x of Fig. 4;, Fig. 6, a perspective view similar to Fig. l, but with the mouth slightly distended, and showing the staple secured on the inside and near the top edge ot' the back portion of the bag; Fig'. 7, a section similar to Fig. 5 of the folded and locked bag when the staple is arranged as seen in Fig. 6; Fig. 8, a plan view of a modiiied form of bag with the two corners turned over; Figs. 9 and 10, plan views ot' two other modifications; and Fig. l1, a similar view showing the horizontal flap (seen at Fig. l0) turned over preparatory to folding, as is done in the other forms; and Fig. l2 is a similar view of a bag the mouth of which is straight, and with the corners turned over somewhat farther than in the other forms, so as to oveilap; and Fig. 13, a similar view of the form of bag shown atFig. 12, with the final horizontal fold made and secured by a staple and lock.

I have taken pains to illustrate allot' the modilications, in order that the gist of my invention may be more fully comprehended and not confounded with or limited by any particular configuration of the edges of the mouth, and in order that it may be understood that it is immaterial, so far as the scope of my invention is concerned, whether the staple is riveted to the back or front of the bag, as it may project through and be riveted to the front, as shown at Fig. l, or to the back and project forward, as shown at Fig. 6, or in any other manner which will adapt it to use in the desired manner.

Where the staple is secured as shown at Fig. l the upper corners of the bag are provided with eyelets or holes a, cut horizontally and coincident when thebag is attened, as shown, and the front and back areprovided with similar eyelets or holes b near the upper edge, cut vertically, so that when the corners are turned over, as shown at Figs. 2 and 3, the eyelets a a will pass freely over the staple c, and when the end is turned over on the dotted line d d, Fig. 3, and into the position shown at Fig. 4, the eyelets b will also freely pass over the same staple, so that they may be all secured by a single lock, c.

In Figs. l to 5 the upper edge of the bag is iattened and cut on a curve, so that the corners will project, as clearly shown, and enable them to freely overlap when turned over at an angle to the sides, as shown more particularly at Figs. 2 and 3. When the staple is secured as shown at Fig. 6 the upper, central, and vertical eyelet, b, at that point on the back of the bag is of course dispensed with, and additional Vertical eyelets f are provided at the point occupied by the staple, as shown at Fig. 1, so that when folded over from each side and horizontally, as explained before, the staple c will pass through all the eyelets from front to rear, and be fastened by a lock on the back, as shown at Fig. 7.

At Fig. S I have shown the material cut away slightly, as seen at g, which serves to avoid one thickness of material at the point Where the staple passes through all the eyelets.

At Fig. 9 l have shown the front and back portions of the bag cut away centrally at the upper edge, as shown at h, the dotted lines showing the folds and top edges of the bag.

At Figs. 10 and 1l l have shown the ordinary iiap 'a' turned over horizontally', with horizontal and vertical eyelets so arranged that when the mouth is folded a single staple will secure them all.

From each and all of the constructions shown and described it will be seen that bythe two oblique side folds and the single horizontal fold the mouth of the bag :is eifectually closed, and that a single 4staple is all that is necessary, and that no threading or lacing strap is required, and the operation of closing and locking` the mouth may be expeditious, while at the same time all unnecessary' Weight is avoided and all unwarranted ingress to the bag absolutely guarded against.

When the bags are manufactured they should be folded or creased, as indicated by dotted lines in the several figures, to aid in determining where the folds should be made when using the bag; and it is obvious that continued use of the bag tends to facilitate the said folding operation as it becomes soft land limp at such localities.

It will also be observed that the necessary arrangement ofthe holes or eyelets is such that they occupy the proper relative positions to be used as the means for supporting thel oags upon the usual hooks employed for keeping them open while beinglled at post-oiices.

What l claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A mail-bag having its month end provided with horizontal and vertical eyelets, and a single centrally-arranged stapleand creased or adapted to be folded, as described, the eyelets and staple bearing such relation to each other that all the eyelets shall pass over the staple,

whereby the mouth may be secured in a closed condition with a single lock, and Without the employment of a lock-strap, as hereinbefore set forth.

In testimonywhereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

SAML. STRAUSS.

WVitnesses:

ALLEN U. BURNS, N. H. McQUAnE.

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