US632598A - Mail-pouch lock. - Google Patents

Description

Patented Sept. 5, 1399.

J; E. TINGLE;

MAIL POUCH LOCK. (Application md Aug. 12, 1899.)

2 Sheets-finest I.

(No Model.)

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WITNESSES Patented Sept. 5-, I399.

J. E. TINGLE.

MAIL POUCH LOCK.

QAppLication filed Aug. 12, 1899.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2,

(No model.

' Altornej/ WITNESSES m: scams PETER$ co, vumaumm WASHIHGYON, n cy UNITED STATES I PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN E. TINGLE, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

MAIL-POUCH LOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 632,598, dated September 5, 1899.

Application filed August 12, 1899. Serial No. 727,037. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J OHN E. TINGLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Mail- Pouch Look, of which the following is a speci fication.

My invention relates to an improvement in mail-pouch locks, the objects being not only to provide a secure, quick-acting, and effectual fastening, but also one which will meet all the requirements of lightness, flexibility, and strength.

With the foregoing objects in view my invention consists of certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts,which will be more fully described hereinafter and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front view showing the flap up. Fig. 1 is a detail showing one way of locking the chain against movement. Fig. 2 is a vertical seetional view. Fig. 3 is an interior view of one of the locks. Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional View of the same with the front plate in place thereon, and Fig. 5 is a View showing the chain 13 bent around the edge of the pouch with the hasp 15 over a staple 16 in lieu of the construction shown in Fig. 1

A represents the pouch, and 1 is the usual flap for closing its open end. The flap is provided on its inner face with a row of projections 2 2, say six altogether, although any number may be employed in place of the staples commonly used in mail-pouches of the presentday. The pouch has a corresponding number of slots front and rear to receive these projections when the pouch is closed.

On the back of the pouch inside, outside, or in the lining is located the locking mechanism. There is a single separate lock for each projection and its corresponding slots. These locks are all precisely alike, and hence but one will be described in detail. This lock is composed of two plates 3 and 4, preferably rectangular in form. Plate 3 is perfectly flat except where it is transversely crimped across its upper portion, as at 5. The other plate 4 is in the main similar in form, except that it is offset throughout a considerable portion of its length from the crimped portion 6 to a point near its lower end and flanged at its edges, as at 7 7. In this way when the plates are together a shallow flat chamber Sis formed between them. The plates are each provided with a slot 9 to correspond in position and shape with the slots in the front and back of the pouch and for the same purpose-.to wit, to receive eacha projection on the flap when the latter is closed.

In the chamber 8 is pivotally secured the tumbler 10. This tumbler reaches nearly the length of the chamber and preferably comes to a point at its upper end opposite the grooves 5 and 6 and is much wider at the lower end, in which portion it is provided with a keyholeslot 11, one end of which corresponds in shape with the shape of'the slots 9 9 and is adapted to register with the latter when the tumbler is'swung its extreme distance in one direction and the other end is restricted and curvedin the are of a circle, the center of which is the pivot 12 of the tumbler. The object of this restricted and curved portion is to enter the notched sides of-the projections and thus effect afastening. In either extreme throw of the tumbler an edge strikes one or the other of the flanges 7 approximately throughout its length, which flange constitutes a stop for the tumbler.

The two crimped portions 5 and 6 of the companion plates lie face to face and constitute complements of each other, forming a channel, and through the latter a chain or other flexible connection 13 passes from one tumbler to the next, whereby they are all connected together and operated simultaneously to lock or unlock the bag or pouch across its entire end. The several locks may be fastened to the pouch by means of rivets at the corners or in any other convenient manner. A ring 14 at each end afiords a convenient means for pulling and manipulating the chain, the pulling from one end being employed to lock and from the other to unlock. The hasp 15 at one end is thrown over a staple 16 or equivalent means, where it may be held in the accustomed manner by a padlock 17.

It will be readily appreciated that the fastening when thus constructed is light, easy to operate, perfectly secure, and as flexible as the pouch itself. Likewise, it can be made at a slight cost, which is an item of importance.

It is evident that slight changes might be made in the form and arrangement of my invention without departing from the spirit and scope of my device, and hence I do not wish to limit myself to the precise details herein set forth; but,

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. A mail-pouch having a pair of plates secured together thereupon so as to form a chamber and a way between the plates, said plates having slots therein, and a tumbler located wholly within the chamber and eccentrically pivoted therein, said tumbler having a registering closed slot restricted at one end, the movements of the tumbler defined by the edges or sides of the chamber, of a flap having a projection adapted to enter said slots in the plates and be engaged and locked by the restricted portion of the slot in the tumbler, and means extending into the way for operating the tumbler.

2. The combination with a series of fastening devices comprising crimped, slotted plates with chambers formed between and by them, of tumblers pivotally mounted in each chamber and having closed slots which register with the slots in the plates, said slots having a restricted inlet to cross the slots in the plates, a flexible device extending through the crimped portion of the plates connecting the several tumblers together for operating them'simultaneously, and means for locking the connection whereby the several tumblers are held inposition.

3. The combination with a mail-pouch having slots and a flap, the flap having projections corresponding in number with the slots and adapted to enter said slots, of a series of locking devices, each consisting of two plates having registering slots to receive said projections, said plates secured together so as to form a chamber and a way between them, a tumbler pivoted eccentrically between said plates, and located wholly within said chamher and its movement defined by the edges thereof, each tumbler provided with a closed slot, one end of which corresponds in shape with the slots in the plates and the other end restricted or smaller than said slots, whereby to engage the sides of the projections, and

flexible devices connecting the several tumblers together through the wayfor operating them simultaneously.

4E. The combination With a mail-pouch having slots and a flap, said flap having projections corresponding in number with and adapted to enter the slots, of locking devices, each consisting of a pair of plates having slots therein to receive said projections, one plate offset and flanged at the edges and the two secured together to form a chamber between the offset portion and the flanges, said plates also crimped across the upper ends and forming when together, a channel, tumblers pivoted in the chamber formed between the plates, said tumblers each having a closed slot formed therein, one end corresponding in shape and registering with the slots in the plates, when in one throw and the other end restricted and curved in the arc of a circle whose center is the pivot-pin, the flanges at the edges constituting stops for the tumbler, and a flexible connection extendingfrom tumbler to tumbler through the channels formed between the plates for operating the tumblers simultaneously, and means for locking said connection.

JOHN E. TINGLE.

In presence of SAMUEL J. WILsoN, CHARLES E. HALLowAY.

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