US537407A - chesney - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 2 Sheta-Sheet 1 -O.M.CHES NEY. LOCKING MECHANISM FOR MAIL 'POUGHBS 0R BAGS.

No. 537,407. Patented Apr. 9, 1895.

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0. M; OHESNEY. LOOKING MECHANISM FOR MAIL POUGHES 0R BAGS. No. 537,407.

Patented Apr. 9, 1895.

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PATENT FFlCEt OLIVER M. OI'IESNEY, OF TOPEKA, KANSAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO ASBURY F. CHESNEY, OF SAME PLACE.

LOCKING MECHANISM FOR MAIL POUCHES OR BAGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 537,407, dated April 9, 1895. Application filed September 1 1894:. Serial No. 521.938. (N0 model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, OLIVER M. OHESNEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at T0- peka, in the county of Shawnee and State of Kansas, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Locking Mechanism for Mail Pouches or Bags; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to locking mechanism for mail pouches or bags, and is intended as an improvement upon the invention set forth in an application for Letters Patent filed by me May 18, 1894:, Serial No. 511,664.

In the invention disclosed in said application there is employed a series of auxiliary locks located near the upper edge of the pouch or bag, with which engages a series of pins or studs on the flap of the bag or pouch when the flap is closed, a chain or chains being connected with said locks and with a master look, by which said auxiliarylocks are locked and unlocked.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved construction which shall possess superior advantages with respect to efficiency in operation.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1, is

a perspective view of the upper part of a mail bag or pouch with my improvements applied thereto, the flap being opened. Fig. 2, is a view looking from-the inner side of the bag or pouch, showing the master and auxiliary locks, the cap or cover of one of said auxiliary locks being removed. Fig. 3, is a horizontal sectional view of one ofthe auxiliary locks. Fig. 4, is a vertical central section through the master lock and a portion of the bag, showing the lock in its locked position. Fig. 5, is a horizontal central section through i the main and master lock and a portion of the bag, also showing the lock in its locked position. Fig. 6, is a perspective View of the rotatable spindle or barrel of the main lock. Fig. 7, is a similar view of the casing of the main lock showing the central boss. Fig. 8,

is a perspective view of one of the auxiliary locks the rear plate of same being removed. Fig. 9, is a perspective view of a portion of the key on an enlarged scale; Fig. 10, a perspective View of the rear casing or cap of the auxiliary lock.

In'the said drawings, the reference numeral 1 designates a mail bag or pouch, having a closing flap 2 which folds over the mouth thereof and overlaps the edge of the pouch, and is provided with a rectangular plate 3, having a circular opening therein, formed with two diametrically opposite notches 4.. This plate fits over the barrel of the master lock hereinafter described.

Secured to the inner side of the flap at suitable points areanumber of rectangular plates 5, provided with staples 6,which are adapted to engage with the auxiliary locks hereinafter described.

Secured to the inside of the pouch near the upper edge thereof is a master lock,comprising a plate 7, riveted to the pouch,a rotatable barrel 8, and a casing or cap 9, secured to the plate 7. This cap or casing is formed with an inwardly extending boss or hub 10, having a central bore or recess and two diametrically opposite horizontal slots 12, intersecting said bore or recess. The barrel 8 consists of a short cylindrical metal block having its inner end formed with an annular recess in which the boss or hub 10, seats, said boss forming a bearing upon which the barrel rotates. At its inner end the barrel is formed with two diametrically opposite longitudinal slots 13, which when the barrel is locked coincide or register with the slots in the boss or hub. Secured to the interior of said barrel are two springs 14, the free ends of which are formed with heads 15. Near their fixed ends these springs are formed with bends 16. The outer end of the barrel is formed with a central aperture 17, and two grooves 18, for the insertion of a key 19, providedwith bits 20,

which when the key is inserted in the barrel and turned a one quarter revolution is then pushed inwardly so as to engage with the bends or offsets 16, and disengage the springs from the slots in the barrel, as hereinafter described. The bits 20 are formed with grooves 21, which engage with ribs 23, in the boss or hub, the object of which is to preventthe insertion of anything but the key made for the lock being inserted therein. A coiled spring 24 is secured to the barrel for returning the barrel to normal position when unlocked. This spring is also secured to an annular flange 25, on the outer side of plate 7. The barrel is provided with a washer or circular plate 25 held therein by two lugs 25 which washer or plate abuts against the outer face of said flange 25.

The numeral 26 designates the auxiliary locks, three of which are shown in the present instance, two on one side and one on the other of the master lock, although the number may be increased or diminished if desired. Each of these locks consists of a rectangular plate riveted or otherwise secured to the inside of the pouch or bag near the upper edge thereof and formed with a central rectangular opening 27 which registers with a similar opening 28 in the bag or pouch. At one side of the opening in said plate is a rib 29. This plate is provided with a cap or cover 30, thus forming a housing within which is located a slide 31 having an opening 32, therein, and a pin 34, which pin is adapted to engage with and lock the staple 6, when the flap is closed and the staple inserted through the opening 27. At its opposite end the slide is provided with a pin 35, provided with a coiled spring 36, which abuts against the end of the slide and against the rib 29. Chains, or other flexible connections 37 are secured to the said slides and also to the barrel of the master lock.

The operation is as follows: When the flap is opened and the locks are unlocked, the chains 37 are Wound upon the barrel of the master lock and the spring connected with the barrel uncoiled. In this position the slots in the hub or boss are at right angles with those of the barrel. To look the bag or pouch the flap is closed, the staples entering the openings in the pouch and the plates of the auxiliary locks. By now giving the barrel of the master look a quarter turn, the chains will be unwound, allowing the pins 34: of the auxiliary looks, through the medium of the coiled springs 36, to be forced through the staples 6. At the same time the spring of the barrel will be wound up and the slots in the barrel will register with the slots in the hub or boss, the springs 14 engaging with the slots in the hub and preventing the barrel from rotating. To unlock the bag or pouch, the key 38 is inserted in the opening in the barrel and given a quarter turn, when the bits will re ister with the slots in the hub or boss. By now pushing the key straight in its bits will engage with the springs 14, pressing them outward so that the spring 24, will rotate the barrel, winding the chains 37 thereon which will actuate the slides and throw the pins 34.- out of engagement with the staples and release the flap.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. A master lock for mail bags or pouches comprising in combination the hub or boss formed with a central bore and diametrically opposite slots, the rotatable barrel formed with diametrically opposite slots, the springs having bends or offsets, secured to said barrel and adapted to engage with the slots in the hub: substantially as described.

2. A master lock for mail bags or pouches comprising in combination, the hub or boss formed with a central bore, intersecting slots and a rib or ribs, the rotatable barrel having a central bore and slots, and springs formed with bends or offsets, adapted to engage with the slots in said hub, substantially as described.

3. The combination in a mail bagor pouch, of the flap, the staples connected therewith, the auxiliary locks comprising the plates having openings therein,the rib, the slide having an opening, a pin adapted to engage with said staples, a pin at the opposite end, the coiled spring, the chains secured to said slides and the master lock to which said chains are also secured, substantially as described.

4. In a mail bag or pouch the combination with the master lock comprising the hub having a central bore and intersecting slots, the rotatable barrel havingacentral bore and intersecting slots, the springs secured to said barrel and engaging with the slots in the hub, and the coiled spring secured to said barrel, of the auxiliary locks comprising the plate having an opening therein, and with a rib, the slides formed with an opening and provided with inwardly projecting pins, and the coiled spring, the chains secured to said slides and barrel and the staples secured to the flap of the bag or pouch, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature inpresence of two witnesses.

OLIVER M. OHESNEY.

\Vitnesses:

A. F. OHEsNnY, O. E. OHEsNEY.

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