US238919A - Signal-man s belt - Google Patents

Description

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS M. KING, OF PITTSBUBG, PENNSYLVANIA.

SlGNAL-MANS BELT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 238,919, dated March 15, 1881. Application filed February 7, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, THOMAS M. KING, of Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Sign al-Mens Belts; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

Railroad signal-men are required to carry a signal-flag and torpedoes for signaling trains. The torpedo is of flat, round form, and provided with a strap of soft metal, such as lead, soldered to it, by which it is fastened upon the face of the rail by bending the ends around the head of the rail. The flag is ordinarily carried in the hand, which is in convenient, as it prevents the free use of the hands for other purposes when the signal-man is not actually engaged in using the flag, and renders loss more liable, as the flag is often laid aside when the signal-man is otherwise occupied, and may be forgotten. The torpedoes are usually carried in the pocket, and are often difficult to get at when most needed, which is in cold weather, when the signal-men are impeded by extra clothing and wraps.

My invention consists of a signal-mans belt, suitable for strapping around outside of the clothing, having a holster for containing the flag, and means of the general character here-' inafter specified for carrying and protecting the torpedoes, so that they shall be easily accessible for use.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will now describe it by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved belt. Fig. 2 is a rear view; and Fig. 3 is a cross-section.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in each.

.The belt a is made of leather or other suitable material, and is provided with a buckle, b, for adjusting it to the proper length, and a fastening-buckle, 0, both of a known and suitable construction,

At one side of the belt I provide a holster, d, for containing the flag, and at the back, or, if preferred, at the opposite side, I rivet or otherwise fasten a flat suspension-strip, 6, pre ferably cut out at its lower edge to the shap' of the torpedoes, as at e.

Fastened to the belt, along the upper edge of the strip e, is a protecting flap or cover, which is designed to hang over and protect the torpedoes from the weather and from becom ing accidently displaced.

The end of the soft metallic strap g of thi torpedo g is inserted back of the strip 6, be tween the rivets h, and bent over, and thus sus pends the torpedo in the belt. The strip 0 ma; be made of sufficient thickness to hold the torpedo in the concavity e from lateral oscilla tion. The strip c,however, maybemadewide1 and the torpedo slipped in behind it, in the com partments formed by the rivets, which may also extend along the lower edge.

As before specified, the flat suspension-strip e for the torpedoes may be placed at either the back or side of the belt; but it is recommended that it be placed at the back, for the reasor that if the torpedoes are carried at the side danger may arise from the explosion of a torpedo while coupling cars, the operators side being toward the bumpers at such times.

My invention is cheap in construction, and convenient and easy of use. The flag and torpedoes are carried with the signal-man, and are always readily accessible, and the latte] are not liable to become useless by exposure, or lost or accidentally exploded.

This manner of securing the torpedoes does not increase the bulk or thickness of the bell to an objectionable extent, and as it separates them reduces the liability of accidental explosion when the brakeman or other person wearing the belt is employed between the cars, or other place where he is liable to have the bumper-head or other hard object strike the belt. It is important as one of the details which go to make a perfect and safe system 01 railroad management.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a signal-mans belt, the combination, with the body-belt, of a flat suspension-strip arranged in loops along its upper half, adapted, as shown, to afford attachment for the cartridge-strap, and a pendent flap to cover and protect the cartridge against blows or friction, substantially as specified.

2. In a signal-mans belt, the combination of the body-belt, the flat suspension-strip, having the scalloped lower edge to receive the cartridge, and the pendent protecting-flap, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. A signal-mans belt and flag-carrier, consisting' of the flexible body-belt a, having a cartridge suspension-strip, 6, arranged at the back of the belt, a pendent protecting-flap, f, to cover the same, and a flag-holster, d, attached to the side of the belt, the several parts relatively arranged and combined substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

THUS. M. KING. Witnesses:

T. B. KERR, L. G. FITLER.

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