US375311A

US375311A - Mail-bag

Info

Publication number: US375311A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1887-12-20
Anticipated expiration: 1904-12-20

Description

- (No Model.)

J. A. BRIGGS.

MAIL BAG- No. 375,311. Patented Dec; 20, 1887;

WlTNEE-EES- INV-ENTEIFL JZQMU [B ST N, PETERS. Fhmoulhognflur, Washington. D. C-

.a metallic frame secured to the bag.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN A. BRIGGS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

MAIL-BAG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 375,311, dated December 20, 1887.

Application filed September 22, 1887. Serial No. 250,457. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that-I, JOHN A. BRIGGS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Bags; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My present invention relates to certain improvements in the mail-bag patented by me March 3, 1885, the object of which is to dispense with the supplementary flap covering the entire top of the bag and substituting there for a smaller flap of peculiar construction, whereby the lock and lock staple or link are more fully protected from injury, the bag is rendered less cumbersome, and at the same time provision is made for a card or label holder. v Y

My invention consists of a flap covering the month of the bag and provided with a slotted steel plate for the lock to rest upon and with an opening to display a card or label held in The smaller lock-flap above mentioned is riveted to the back of the bag and is' furnished with a strap and buckle for securing it in position, and also with rivets to prevent wear while in contact with the lock.

My invention further consists of a swiveljoint for attaching the safety-strap to the bag.

The accompanying drawings contain eight different viewsFigures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8-in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Fig. 1 is a front view of my mail-bag closed and flaps secured. Fig. 2 is a front View of same with bag closed and fastened and lockflap thrown back, exposing lock to view. Fig. 3 is also a front View showing safety-strap released and bag open. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view on line a b of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view on the line 0 d of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is asectional view of the swiveljoint by which the safetystrap is attached The flap A, covering the mouth of the bag B, is secured to the upper back edge of same, and is provided on the left and front part with a steel plate, 0, held in position by means of rivets, as shown in Fig. 2. The said plate 0 is furnished in the center with a slot, D, corresponding with slots D, D", and D", made through the flap and through the back and front sides ofthe bag, through which is passed the swivel-link E on the free end of the safetystrap F.

The steel frame G, Fig. 3, is secured by rivets in a vertical position on the upper edge of the bag, and contains a card or label, H, on which is inscribed the name of the place of destination. The said card or label is inserted at the upper edge of the frame G, which is made open for the purpose, and is held in position when the bag is closed by means of a rivet, e, in the flap A,which passes into a slot, f, as shown in Figs. 3 and 8. An opening, I, Fig. 3, of suitable dimensions is made in the flap A directly opposite the frame G, through which the card or label is visible when theflap is turned down to close the bag.

The lock-flap J, Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, is fastened with rivets to the back of and on the outside of the bag opposite the padlock K. It is of proper size to completely cover the look when turned down, and is furnished with projections i i, which extend on each side of the lock and bear against the bag, thus effectually shielding the lock and its'swivetlink. A securing-strap, L, Figs. 2, 3, and 4, is attached to or forms part of said lock-flap J, and is passed through an inclined slot, M, made through the front and back of the bag, and also through the flap J, in order to reach a buckle, N, secured to the back portion of the flap, by which means it (the flap) is secured in position. The object in forming the slot M in an inclined direction is to facilitate the introduction of the strap and cause the end to project upward toward the buckle.

. In order to prevent the lock-flap J from wearing away at the point where it is brought in contact with the padlock and the swivellink, a few rivets, k k k, are inserted in the flap, as shown in Fig. 2. On the end of the safetystrap F, which is attached to the back portion of the bag, are riveted two steel plates, 1? and P, as shown in Fig. 6, through each of which a circular opening, R, is formed to admit the steel button-head rivet S. The shank of this rivet is made with a shoulder which rests upon a washer, T, on the outside of the bag and passes through a similar washer, T, on the inside of the bag, at which point it is riveted fast. The strap F, with its steel plates 1? I? to prevent wear, is permitted to turn freely upon the rivet S, so that it may be more easily manipulated than if it were riveted fast.

The steel plate 0, Fig. 2, not only forms a metal bearing for the lock to rest upon to prevent wear of the leather, but it also clamps the end of the covering-flap A,when the strap L is securely fastened. closely against the bag to assist in securing the mouth. The strap L has but one hole, U, Figs. 2 and 3, in it, which is provided with a metal eyelet to prevent the tongue of the buckle from wearing the leather. The said eyelet can be renewed when needed.

The safety-strap slots D, D, and D, and also the card-slot I, are protected with rivets, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 of the drawings.

In closing and locking the bag the flap A is turned down, so that the slots D correspond with the slots D and D". The safety-strap is rove alternately through the slots until the swivel-link E projects through the slot D in the steel plate 0. The padlock is then secured and the lock-flap brought down and fastened to the buckle on the back of the bag.

\Vhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. The combination of the lock-flap J, secured to the back portion of the mail-bag 13, provided on the inner surface with side projections, i i, to rest upon the front part of flap A, securing-strap L, adapted to pass through the inclined slot M to connect with the buckle N, and swivel-link E, united to the safety-strap F, arranged to shield the padlock and link when the bag is closed, substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination of the card or label holder G, riveted in a vertical position to the front part of the bag B and provided with a, slot, f, in its upper end, flap A, having opening I I herethrough coinciding with label-holder G when the flap is closed, and furnished with rivet e at the bottom of the opening to engage with the slot in said label-holder and confine the tag when the bag is closed, substantially as set forth and shown.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN A BRIG GS.

Vitnesses:

A. H. MORGAN, EDWIN F. Lo'r'r.