US325347A - Trunk-catch - Google Patents

Description

J. E. LADD.

TRUNK GATGH.

(No Model.)

Patented Sept. 1, 1885.

, represented by the letter 13.

nrran STATES PATTNT Crrrcn.

JAMES E. LADD, OF BRISTOL, CONNECTICUT.

TRUNK-CATCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 325,347, dated September 1, 1885.

Application filed March 30, 1885. (N0 model.)

To all 21171 0712 it may concern/.-

Be it known that I, JAMES E. LADD, a citi zen of the United States, residing at Bristol, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trunk-Catches,of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying sheet of drawings.

My invention relates to an improvement in so-called trunk-catches" or trunk-fasteners, my immediate object being to provide at amoderate cost a catch which combines great strength with extreme simplicity, and which when once looked cannot by reason of accident become loosened and opened.

In the annexed drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved trunk-catch as it appears when in position on the trunk and is closed. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the parts as in the act of separation. Fig. 3 is a detached perspective view of the upper or tenon section; and Fig. i is a sectional view on line 0 a.- of Fig. 1, showing also in dotted lines the tenon Z) opened, as it about to be withdrawn from its mortise.

The letter A represents the upper half of the base-plate of my device, having secured to the side which engages the companion plate a tenon, b,which extends well downward, and is hinged orjointed at a point near its middle portion. The lower half of the base-plate is Said section B is mortised from the side which confronts the tenon Z), and is also provided, preferably,with side walls, which extend downward from said mortised portion, thus forming guides to direct the tenon as it is entered in the mortise, and also stifiening to a certain extent the plate I That portion of the tenon b which extends through the mortise is preferably reduced somewhat in thickness, and, as above stated, is jointed at a point near the center of the reduced portion, so that its outer portion may be folded back upon itself, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, in which position it will be seen that the end of the partt-hus folded, which is farthest from the joint or hinge, abuts against the inner wall of the mortised portion; and it will be understood that the two parts cannot be again separated until the engaging end of the jointed tenon shall have been disengaged from the inner wall of the mortised portion. This I do by turning the outer portion of the tenon back into the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

As a. convenient means for retaining the tenon in either an open ora closed position, as desired, I have arranged in a groove in the rear side of said tenon a spring, 0, which acts on the flattened inner end of the jointed section substantially as the back spring of a knife acts on a blade. I have also out under the free end of said jointed section and that portion of the mortise-wall which it engages when closed, for greater convenience in picking up the end of the jointed section.

On the lower end of plate B is a rib, e, cast integral with said plate, on which the tenon rests when opened, the object of said rib being to hold the tenon from close engagement with the plate B, so that said tenon may be easily picked up when it is desired to close the tenon to lock the parts together.

While Ihave for convenience of description referred to the tenon b as a hinged or jointed tenon, it should be observed that the portion of the tenon which, when the parts are brought together, rests within the mortise is of itself a rigid tenon, and in connection with the mortise-plate forms a dowel, while the outer or hinged portion of b constitutes aloclzing latch or device, which is hinged to the lower end of said rigid tenon, and is adapted to fasten the parts together by having that end which is farthest from its joint engage a stationary part of the mortise-plate-viz.,one of the walls of the mortise.

It should be also noticed that the joint, hinge, or pivot, whichever it may be called, of the tenon, by being located at the outer end of the rigid tenon, must necessarily pass through the mortise, and that it lies in such a position when the parts A and B are fastened together that all strain in a direction to separate said parts is exerted in a direction substantially lengthwise with the locking-latch or hinged portion, whereby I produce a trunkcatch having great strength.

I am aware that a prior patent shows a trunk-fastener containing the dowel system, and having a hooked latch pivoted o1 hinged to the same plate that bears the dowel-pin or rigid tenon at a point above the tenon proper,

' to be passed through said mortise and folded backward upon itself, substantially as herein described, and for the purpose specified.

2. In combination with a base-plate pro- Vided with both the stop-rib e and a mortise having extended side walls, a companion plate, having a jointed tenon adapted to be passed through said mortise and folded'back upon itself to prevent the withdrawal of said tenon, as described, and for the purpose specified.

In combination with a base-plate provided with a mortise and a companion plate having a jointed tenon adapted to be passed through said mortise and then folded backward upon itself to prevent the withdrawal of said tenon, a spring which, bearing onthe flattened hinged end of the folding section, acts to hold said section in either an opened or closed position, as desired, substantiallylas described.

4. In a trunk-catch, a base-plate provided with a mortise, in combination with a companion plate having a rigid tenon adapted to enter said mortise, the two forming a dowel, and a locking device hinged or jointed there- .to, said locking device and its joint being located on that part of the tenon which enters said mortise, substantially as described, and for the purpose specified.

JAMES E. LADD.

Witnesses:

EDDY N. SMITH, JOHN EDWARDs, Jr.

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