US363337A - Benjamin f - Google Patents

Description

(N0 Model.)

B. F. JONES & J. F. MAINS.

BAG LOCK.

No. 363,337. Patented May 17, 1887.

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BENJAMIN F. JONES AND JOHN F. MAINS, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ASSIGNORS OF ONE-THIRD TO CHARLES C. CALDWELL, OF SAME JPLAOE.

BAG-LOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 363,337, dated May 17, 1887.

Application filed March 29, 1887. Serial No. 232,823. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, BENJAMIN F. JONES and J OIIN F. MAINS, of the city of Indianapolis, county of Marion, and State of Indiana,

3 have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bag-Locks, of which the following is a specification.

The object of our said invention is to provide a cheap and convenient lock or tie for bags, it being specially designed for use with mail-bags, as will be hereinafter more particularly set forth.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are made a part hereof, and on which I similar letters of reference indicate similar parts, Figure l is a perspective view of a portion of a mail-bag provided with one of our locking devices or ties, the bag being shown as half opened to thus more fully illustrate the use of our said invention; 'Fig. 2, a top or plan view of the locking device; Fig. 3, a 1ongitudinal section through the same on the dotted line 3 3, the parts being shown in the unlocked position and the rope indicated by 2 5 dotted lines; Fig. 4., a horizontal section, looking upwardly from the dotted line at 4: in Fig. 3; Fig. 5, a crosssection on the dotted line 5 5, Fig. 3; and Fig. 6, a view similar to Fig. 3, except the parts are shown in the position 0 they occupy when the bag is locked.

In said drawings,the portions marked A represent the bag; B, the cord or tie-rope; O, a clip secured to the bag; D, the base of theloeking device, and E the housing containing the 3 5 locking mechanism.

The clip 0 is any suitable plate riveted or otherwise securely fastened to the side of the mail-bag, just below the eyelet, through which the free ends of the cord extend, as shown in 0 Fig. 1. On its upper end it has formed a transverse bar, 0, which forms a half-hinge, and to which is connected the base-piece D.

The base-piece D of the locki ng device is preferably formed as a label-holder, and may be of 5 any suitable construction for this purpose. At its forward end it is formed to encircle the transverse bar 0 of the clip O, and thus hinge said two parts together, as shown. A shoulder, (l, is formed in the top face of said base beneath each of the locking cams, which will serve to assist the other mechanism in locking or clamping the cord and securing the bag, as will be presently more fully described.

The housing E is formed in a single piece, preferably of the semi-cylindrical form shown, and is mounted 011 top of the base D, being secured thereon by lugs formed on its lower edge, which project down through said base and are riveted on its under side. (See Fig. 5.)

In its forward portion are formed s1ots,through which the levers of the locking-cams project, and orifices are provided in both its front and rear to afford ways for the cord. Cams E are mounted on a transverse pivot, c, and are provided with projecting ends 6, which extend out through the slots in the forward part of thehousing, by means of which said cams are operated. On their rear faces are provided teeth or square shoulders c to engage with and secure the rope, and a spring, E, is arranged to bear against a projecting part on one side of said cams and force them down against the rope. Just in front of the teeth 0 said cams are formed hollowed out or concave, and thus when they are disengaged from the rope a free 7 5 space is immediately secured for the passage of the rope, and all friction entirely removed with only a very slight movement of the cams,

as will be readily understood. A washer, 0

is also mounted between the two cams, to insure their independent action and prevent the ropes from getting out of place.

The operation of our said invention is as follows: The locking device being secured in position on the bag, as shown in Fig. 1, and 8 the cord threaded through the same, the bag may be tied by simply pulling the cord through the locking device until the top of the bag is tightly gathered, when the spring E will antomatically act to force the teeth or notches of 0 the cam into the top of the rope and press it down, the sharp shoulders (I in the top face of the base-piece acting to engage with the other side of the rope and assist in locking it, (see Fig. 6,) thus holding the bag securely tied un- 9 5 til said cams are released. WVhen the bag is closed, the base D is turned down against the clip 0, and there held by the construction of the hinge, said hinge being formed with a positive and close action to hold the lock steady no and from any loose motion. Then it is de sired to open thc'bag,the basepiece D is seized by the hand, as shown in Fig. 1, the cams disengaged from the rope by simply bearing down on the projecting ends 6 of the cams with the thumb, when the bag is opened by simply pulling back the catch on the ropes B, the hinge-connection serving to hold one side of the bag with the catch, (which thus also serves as a handle with which to pull open the bag,) while the other corner is held by the other hand of the operator, and the bag thus quickly and readily opened by one motion, as will be readily understood.

We are familiar with the old-style lock which is provided with spring-cams, the projecting ends of. which extend up through the top of the housing, said housing being formed in two parts, and are also aware that locks have been connected to bags by a loose staple connection; but we do not regard these constructions as anticipating our construction herein shown and claimed, wherein the lock is hinged to the bag by a positive-acting hinge, the projecting ends of the cams are brought to a position in front of the housing, where they are convenient to be operated by the thumb in its natural position when the lock is seized, and the housing of which is formed in one piece, besides other detail improvements which render this invention much more convenient and effective.

Having thus fully described our said invention,what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A bag-tie consisting of a base, D, provided with the shoulders d, housing E, mounted thereon, the cams E, pivoted in said housing and provided with ends projecting out through slots in its forward part, and the spring E,arranged to press said cam down against the rope, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of the base D, provided with the shoulders 01, the housing E, the cams E, mounted on a pivot'therein, and provided with a serrated or toothed face, and being formed concave just in front of said teeth, the spring Eflarranged to force said cams into contact with the rope, and a washer, e, mounted between said cams, all substantially as shown and described.

3. The combination, with the bag A, of the clip 0, secured thereto and provided with the transverse bar 0, forming a half-hinge, the base D, hinged at its front end on said transverse bar 0, and the housing E, mounted on said base D and'inclosing the locking mechanism, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals, at Indianapolis, Indiana, this 24th day of March, A. D. 1887.

BENJAMIN F. JONES. L. s. JOHN F. MAINS. L. s.

In presence of E. W. BRADFORD, CHARLES L. THURBER.

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