US509906A - Mail-pouch lifter - Google Patents

Description

{No Model.)

R. J. HUNT.

MAIL POUCH LIFTER.

Patented Dec. 5, 1893.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RATHBUN J. HUNT, OF TRUMANSBURG, NEIV YORK.

MAIL-POUCH LIFTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 509,906, dated December 5, 1893.

Application filed January 25, 1893. Serial No. 459.701- (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, RATHBUN "J. HUNT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Trumansburg, in the county of Tompkins and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Mail Pouch and Sack Lifter, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to mail pouch and sack lifters, and has for its object to conveniently raise a pouch or sack over a distributing table or other place for the purpose of dumping the mail thereon, and is especially usefulin connection with sacks of any description where it is desired to have the contents thereof emptied upon suitable surfaces or into receptacles.

With this object in view, the invention consists of the construction and arrangement of the parts as will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings:Figure 1 is a perspective view of a mail distributing table and theimproved device mounted thereover and shown as holding a sack in elevated position and emptying the mail upon the said table. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail perspective of the elevating device proper detached and showing a pulley at the head thereof. Fig. 8 is a similar view of the elevating device proper, showing an eye at the head thereof. Fig. 4 is adetail view, in elevation, showing a double form of the device.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates the main frame, which is of substantially U shaped form in inverted position,

and has one leg, 2, thereof slightly shorter than the opposite leg, and its inner side curved or flared outwardly, as at 3. The opposite leg 4 has its lower end bifurcated, as at 5, in which is pivotally mounted the flange-extension 6, of a cam-lever 7, the latter having its outer end formed asahook 8. The outwardly curved or flared inner surface 3 of the leg 2 is of considerable width, and the inner portion of the cam-lever that is adapted to contact with the said outwardly curved or flared surface is similarly broadened, and by this means a firm biting effectis produced between the two surfaces. The said cam-lever is pivoted at such a point, and the inner end thereof is bent upwardly in such a manner, as to cause a direct transverse pressure between the engaging surface of the said inner end of the cam-lever and the outwardly curved or flared portion 3 of the leg 2, the said contacting point of the said parts beinglocated above the pivotal point of the said cam-lever, to thereby produce a locking effect and a rigid binding.

As shown in Fig. 1, the material of the sack, at the end thereof opposite to the mouth of the same, is passed between the inner end of the cam-lever and the outwardly curved or flared inner surface 3 of the leg 2, while the sack is lying in a horizontal position on the distributing table. As soon as the lifting or gripping device proper is elevated, the weight of the sack will draw the cam-lever downwardly against the portion of said sack held or passed between the inner end of the cainlever and the adjacent engaging surface of the leg 2, and thereby cause a tight grip to be sustained upon the sack, and making it convenient to empty the contents thereof upon the distributing table. The hook S of the cam-lever is intended to engage the loop or cross-strap at the bottom of pouches, and the latter is in a similar manner elevated for the same purpose. In removing the sack from engagement with the cam-lever and the adjacent surface of the leg 2, it is only necessary to pull the hook 8 outwardly from the frame 1, when the device will be in condition to again be applied to another sack, and so on indefinitely. In removing the pouch from the hook 8, it is merely slipped off therefrom and the device, after being sufficiently lowered, can be readily attached to another pouch in the same manner as heretofore set forth.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2,a pulley 9 is connected to the upper central portion of the frame 1, and therethrough is passed an elevating cord, rope, or cable 10, having its one free end secured to the bottom of asheave or pulley 11, that is secured to the ceiling or beam overhead, or other supporting surface, and through said sheave is passed the 0ppo site end of the cord, rope or cable, the latter then being brought down in a convenient position to the distributing table. By this means it will be seen that the sack or pouch may be readily and conveniently elevated bya double fall, but as shown in Fig. 3, a single fall may be equally well used by passing the cord, rope, or cable through an eye 12, formed at the head of the frame 1. In this latter form of the device also it will be observed that the inner end of the cam-lever is serrated or roughened to facilitate the gripping action thereof and prevent slipping or disconnection of the sack therefrom.

The device may be as well employed for other uses, in other places and in other arts, wherever it is desired to conveniently elevate and empty large sacks or bags of material, and the size thereof can be varied as found necessary for different uses. Among others may be mentioned loading and unloading vessels or cars and transferring heavy sacks or analogous bodies from one part of a Warehouse tovanother, or in loading or unloading wagons for the purpose of transportation or storage.

Changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any-of the advantages of this inventio'n.

In Fig. 4: a slight modification or adaptation of the improved device is shown. A yoke 12 of triangular form is provided, having hooks 13 at the opposite ends thereof and an eye 14: at the apex of the same, that is. engaged by a hook 15, of a pulley 16, having a suitable elevating-cord l7 engaging the same. One of the lifting devices is applied to each of the hooks 13, as shown, and is adapted for the purpose of lifting very heavy sacks or pouches, it being seen that the arrangement in this form will provide for two points of attachment and will also keep the sack or pouch spread while emptying the contents therefrom. This arrangement of the device will be found very useful in many instances, and reinforces each of the lifting devices in elevating very heavy objects.

Having described the invention, Whatis claimed as new is 1. Inadevice for the purposes specified, the combination with a frame having oppositely situated legs and a lower opening or entrance the of a cam lever pivoted to the lower endof one of the legs and having itscam portion extending upwardly between said legs above the point of pivot, and adapted to bind at its outer side or face against the companion leg of the frame above said pivot, substantially as speci- I of the frame above said pivot, said lever being extended at its outer end beyond its pivot in the form of a hook, substantially as specified.

3. Ina device forthe purposesspecified, the combination with an inverted U shaped frame having one leg thereof outwardly curved and flared, of a cam lever pivoted between its ends eccentrically with relation to its cam surface to the lower end of the remaining leg, and having its inner cam end ex, tending above its point of pivot to engage the said flared leg of the frame, said lever having its outer end extended beyond its pivot to form a hook, a pulley at the upper end of the frame, a suspension cord, rope or cable ongaging said pulley, and a second pulley with which said cord, rope or cable also engages whereby the device may be raised or lowered, substantially as specified.

4. In a device for the purposes specified, the combination with a triangular frame terminating at its opposite ends in hooks, and at its upper angle provided with an eye, of a pulley connected to the eye, opposite inverted U shaped frames connected to the hooks, and cam levers pivoted to one of the lower ends of each of the frames and having their cam ends extending above their points of pivot and adapted to bind against the opposite terminals thereof, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

RATHBUN .I. HUNT. Witnesses.

J OHN H. SIGGERS, GEo. O. SHOEMAKER.

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