US24648A - Tetiitk - Google Patents

Description

Paiemedluly 5. 1859.

Nl. LUDLUM.

Water Tight Trunk.

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MATTHIAS LUDLUM, or FMR HAVEN, vnaMoN'rf.

TRUNK.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 24,648', dated Sl'ulyA 5, 1859.

of a trunk constructed according to my improvement; Figs. 2 and 3 transverse sections of the same when in its open and closed conditions; and Fig. 1l a longitudinal section through its outer double lid.

The trunk shown in the accompanying drawing has its box or body part (A) made of wood or any other suitable material covered on the exterior with leather (a) and on the interior with a metallic lining (b) covered with cotton or other suitable material. Such construction however may be more or less varied, and the materials changed, so long as said box-part forms a shell that is impervious to water and in a measure or wholly precludes the penetration of damp. A metallic lining, for such purpose or purposes, to boXes of various kinds, has before been used. But, however secure against water and damp, the shell or boX part of the trunk may be made, it is of but little or no avail unless the lid or cover be equally secure. Thus, double lids have been employed and variously constructed or fitted to make the lid joint and covering portion equally tight, but seldom, if ever, has this been perfectly attained, or, if so, in au inconvenient or otherwise objectionable manner. A trunk or box of a self sealing character that shall be water and damp proof, or either, at its joints and in or atall its surroundings or parts, including alike the lid and the shell, mustever be a desideratum among travelers and others, and if of buoyant construction as well has its value increased by reason of its applicability to the preservation of valuable contents when the trunk is immersed or thrown into water, and by reason of its adaptability to act as a float for the protection of human life in cases of shipwreck or accident at sea.

My improvement accomplishes this desideratum in a manner more perfect than has heretofore been attained. Thus, I not only construct the boX part (A) as specied, but,

femploying a freely hung valvular lid or cover (B) within t-he main or outer lid I also make said valvular lid water and damp proof by facing it on the inside with a metallic lining (eZ) that may be covered with cotton (e), or otherwise suitably construct the same to give it the same or like water and damp proof character that the box part (A) of the trunk possesses. In other respects this valvular lid (B) need not differ from the valvular lid described in Letters Patent of the United States, issued to me on the fifth day of April, A. D. 1859; said lid being shown as arranged for inde7 pendent play on the .inside of the main or outer lid (C), and being acted upon by a spring (f) and faced or bordered on the inside by leather (g) or other suitable material, so that when the outer lid is shut to said valvular lid accommodates itself in an independent manner to form a water-tight joint to the opening portion of the box, by the leather facing to said valvular lid embedding itself in or on a ledge (It) surrounding the upper part of the shell of the boX, and by said valvular lid being forcibly held there by the spring (f) when the outer lid (C) is locked or closed, and, in case of the submersion of the trunk in water and water leaking through the joint or otherwise of the outer lid (C) to the back of the valvular lid, the pressure of the water serving to aid the spring in keeping the valvular lid tight to its fit against its ledge or bed Superior however in many respects as is the valvular lid (B) to a mere leather facing on the inside of the outer lid, a trunk so provided, and metallic lined or made water proof or water and damp proof throughout its boX part and valvular lid, would still be insecure and defective, as though the outer lid (C) would protect the valvular lid (B) from external interference or injury and, in the case of strainage or warping of the outer lid, the independently hung and spring borne valvular lid would still accommodate itself to make a close fit at its junction with its ledge or bed (h), yet said valvular lid would be liable to be thrust away from its bed or seat either by an over-packing of the contents in the box or by the weight of the contents resting on the valvular lid in case of the trunk being turned upside down-a likely position for it to assume both when throwing the trunk overboard from a vessel and in the use of it as a float and under a variety of eireumst-anes. Against such, the outer lid (C) offers no protection and however tightly it may be looked it can in yno Wise control on the in ,side the freely hung or independent valvular but the oflice of Which here is, in conjunction- Withthe outer lid, to secure to the valvular lid efficiency of action under every variety of circumstances. Such combination of an independent valvular lid with an inner as Well as outer lid is distinguishable from a mere arrangement of supplementary lids.

Asy the outer lid is provided with a lock or fastening, so the inner lid (D) should also provided with a hook, spring bolt, or other suitable fastening to secure it When closed.

In illustration of a previous remark that i the mere materials may be changed to give vto the trunk its Water proof character, I

Will only add, in conclusion, that, instead for instance of thernetallie lining (b and d) to the box part and valvular cover, a comT Vposition laid on With the brush may be used;

but such and other ehanges, not materially departing from my improvement as herein set forth, it will be obvious may or may not be adopted. t

I elalm- The combination, With aV Water-tight shell or body partV (A) to a trunk or box having ordinary or any other suitable inner and outer lids (C and D), of a valvular spring borne lid (B) of Water-tight construction and arranged to occupy an intermediate position in relation tothe inner and outer or ordinary lids (C and D), essentially as and` for the purpose or purposes herein set forth.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

MATTHIAS LUDLUM.

Witnesses: Y

APoLLos M. ELMER, JOHN O. WOODRUFF. Y

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