US633208A - Clasp for burial apparatus. - Google Patents

Description

No. 633,208. Patented Sept. I9, I899. J. 'D. MOORE.

CLASP FOR BURIAL APPARATUS.

(Application filed Oct. 14, 1897.;

(No Model.)

W11 DVJi-SUSJSS'; v S Q UNITED STATES PATENT Fries.

JAMES D. MOORE, OF ATLANTIC, IOWA.

CLASP FOR BURIAL APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 633,208, dated September 19, 1899.

Application filed October 14, 1897." Serial No. 655,200. N0 model-J To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JAMES D. MOORE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Atlantic, in the county of Cass and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clasps; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, suchas will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

This invention relates to clasps, and more especially to that type embodying a pivoted latch; and the object of the same is to produce a catch so constructed as to be capable of operation from a remote point to open the latch and throw out the strap held by the catch.

While the device is capable of use in a variety of places, -I have illustrated and described it herein as applied to or used in connection with a Windlass such as is commonly employed forlowering a casket into the grave.

It is a harrowing sight to friends and relatives to see bungling work on the part of the cemetery attendants, and one of the most distressing accidents that can occur is when the lowering-straps catch upon or beneath the easket and partially or entirely overturn it or, at least, necessitate one of the attendants jumping down onto the coffin of the dear one and pulling out the straps. At least it, is highly desirable that when the casket has been lowered to its long resting-place the mechanical paraphernalia be removed quickly and without hitching, so that the clergyman can perform his services and the shock of accident be avoided.

To this end, as well as to other ends not necessary to enumerate herein, the invention consists in a clasp composed of two hinged parts, a latch or pin for locking them closed, so as to engage a strap, a sliding throw-off in one part, and a tripping device for u nlatching the parts and moving the throw-oit' quickly and surely.

The detailed construction of parts is described in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein c Figure 1 is a general perspective view of the framework and Windlass of a coffin-lowering device, showing the use of my improved clasp. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the clasp open. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same in closed position.

The casket-lowering device A may be constructed as desired, but as herein shown is as follows:

a bare two end pieces having inortises Z Z,-

receiving legs m m, adjustable therein by means of pins n n, and said end pieces are connected by two side pieces 0 d, which are in turn connected by a central cross-piece 76. Within this framework is located the windlass proper, which consists of a shaft g, journaled in the end and cross pieces and having a longitudinal groove 70 and two drums t'j splined thereon at opposite sides of the crosspiece 71, and from these drums depend the straps B, hereinafter mentioned, from which it will be seen that by sliding the drums to proper points on the shaft the straps maybe adjusted to caskets of various lengths. shaft may be rotated in any suitable manner; but in the present instance I have shown a gear N, meshing with another gear P on a crank-shaft R, and a pivoted pawl 9" may en gage one gear to prevent movement of the Windlass when not desired.

Coming now more particularly to the present invention,tl1e clasp D (best seen in Figs. 2 and 3) consists of a body E, having a longitudinal channel 0, th rough which the strap B passes and within which it is secured by a headed pin g and two projecting pins F. At one side of this channel the body projects in a rigid flange G, having a series of perforations a, and to the other edge of the body E is hinged a wing H, having a series of struckup loops 0 so located as to pass through these perforations when the wing is closed and also having holes I) registering with the pins F. \Vhen the wing is closed, a latch consisting of a pin L is passed down through the loops 0 at the farther side of the flange G, and thus locks the wing in position until the latch is again removed. For this purpose a cord K isused, as seen in Fig. 2. The body of the strap continuing downward below this catch, its end is brought upward again and provided with holes to pass over the pins F, as will be This clear, and the closing of the wing and engaging of the holes I) over these pinsand against the strap hold the latter in place.

7t designates a throw-off consisting of a strap of metal having a longitudinal slotf', sliding under the head of the pin g, astride the two pins F, and over the body of the strap, which is secured within the channel 0, and the lower end of this throw-01f is enlarged or wedge'shaped, as best seen at k in Fig. 3. To the upper end of the throw-off is attached a cord 11 for operating the same, and in the present instance I have shown this cord as t connected, as at 12?, with the latclrcord K in such manner that a pull on the latter first withdraws thelatch and then moves the t browoff upward.

\Vith this construction of parts each strap is carried down below the clasp to form a loop sufliciently large to take in the casket C, as shown in Fig. l, and its extremity is returned and clasped under the wing [I,which islatched in closed position by the pin L. After the casket has been lowered into the grave a sudden pull upon the cord Ii trips the catch and throws out the end of the strap, and the latter is then drawn up by hand and the entire framework immediately carried out of sight.

I do not confine myself to the exact sizes, shapes, proportions, and materials of parts, as considerable change can be made therein without departing from the spirit of my ininvention, and especially do I wish not to be confined to the use of this clasp for any partieular purpose, though it is well adapted to the means set forth above.

What is claimed as new is 1. A clasp consisting of a body having a longitudinal channel wherein are projecting pins, a rigid flange at one side of the channel provided with perforations, a wing hinged to the body at the other side of the channel and having loops adapted to pass through said perforations and holes adapted to pass over said pins when the wing is closed, and a pin removably engaging said loops at the farther side of the flange, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a clasp, the combination with a channeled body having a flange, projecting pins standing in the channel, a wing hinged to the body at the edge opposite the flange, interlocking loops and perforations in said wing and flange, and a pin removably engaging the loops; ofa throw-off moving in said groove astride said pins, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a clasp, the combination with a channeled body having a headed pin and a plu rality of projecting pins within its channel, a wing hinged at one edge of the body and provided with holes adapted to engage the points of said pins, and a detachable latch for holding said wing closed; of a throw-off consisting of a metallic strap with a wedgeshaped lower end projecting below the catch, its body sliding within said groove and having a slot passing under said headed pin and astride the other pins, as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In aclasp, the combination with the body in two members one of which is channeled, a hinge connecting the members at one edge, and a latch detach-ably connecting them at the other edge; of pins within said channel, a throw-off consisting of a metallic strap having a wedge-shaped lower end projecting normally below the clasp and a slotted body moving in the channel astride said pins, and means for operating the throw-off, as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In aclasp, the combination with the body consisting of two members hinged together at one edge and having interlocking perforations and loops at their other edge, a latch-pin engaging the loops when the members are closed, and pins projecting from one member toward the other; of a throw-01f adapted to slide longitudinally between said members when they are closed and having an enlarged and wedge-shaped lower end projecting normally below them, an operating-cord attached to the upper end of said locking-pin, and an extension of the cord beyond such pin of attachment to and connected with said throwotf, as and for the purpose set forth.

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

JAMES D. MOORE.

Witnesses:

J. E. GILLESPIE, J. L. FRANKLIN.

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