US658729A - Mail-bag. - Google Patents

Description

UNirn TATES Aernst IFFICE.

SMON P. STEELE, OF AUBURN, NEBRASKA.

NIAlL-BAG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 658,729, dated September 25, 1900.

Application tiled April Z4, 1900 Serial No. 14,16 8. No model T0 a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SIMON P. STEELE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Auburn, in the county of Nemaha and State of Nebraska, 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 apperta-ins to make and use the same.

The object is to present a simple, durable, and el'iicient form of mouth or closure for mail-bags which in operation will not only afford a secure article for the purpose, but will at the same time prevent the possibility nf accidental escape from the bag of mailmatter when the mouth is closed. Furthermore, to present a closure which will when unlocked be readily opened either by automatic means or by handin the latter instance with but slight exertion of power.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts of a mailbag closure, as will be hereinafter fully'described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts, I'have illustrated a form of Aembodiment of my invention, together with a modification thereof, it being understood that other forms of embodiment thereof may be employed Without departing from the spirit of the same, and in the drawings- Figure 1 is a view in perspective, exhibiting a bag-mouth closure embodying my in-V vention, the bag being broken away. Fig.

2 is a view in plan, showing the closure in its shut position. Fig. 3 is a view in perspective, displaying a modified form of closure, th'e bag being omitted. Fig. 4 is a view in transverse section, taken on the line 4 4, Fig. 2, and looking in the direction of the arrow thereon.

The parts of the bag mouth or closure A are constructed, preferably, of metal and. comprise two side pieces a and two end pieces a2, the former being the longer. These pieces are each provided at each end with appurtenances for constituting a hinge a3, prefer ably by forming one part with a single tenon and the other with a double tenon, the space mor-lise iits.

between the two tenons of the latter forming 'a mortise in which the first tenon fits, thus forming an ordinary box-hinge, the parts of which are held assembled by the usual butt or pivot a4.

Referring to the form of closure shown in Figs. 1 and 2, oneside and one end are formed with a tenou a5 to engage when the parts are closed, as shown in Fig. 2, with a mortise on the other side of the other end', the mortise, as shown in Fig. 4, being formed by two parallel strips or iianges a6, between which the As shown in Fig. 2,the tenons are tapered from toward the center of the closure or to one side thereof outward to each end, so that when the closure is shut, as shown in the above figure, one side and one end will -form a straight line and the other side and other end will form an angle, this arrangement providing for keeping the closure partly open, whereby, asA before referred to, to facilitate opening of the bag, as it will be ob- Vious that by reason of the coaction between the mortises andthe tenons the two sides and two ends can never occupy parallel planes, or, in other words, the side and end presenting the angle can never be folded in toward the opposite side and end a sufcient distance to 'pass the dead-center of the pivotal point in the center or approximately the center of these two latter parts, thereby effectually ob- Viating the presentation of any obstruction to the opening of the month of the bag.

As shown in Fig. 1, the tenon on the side of the bag carries a staple a7 to engage with a lock cts, permanently carried by the opposite side of the bag, the construction of the lock to be of any style preferred. Adjacent to the lock will be secured an ordinary'labelholder er to indicate whence the mail-.matter contained in the bag is sent.

The bag B, which may be of any suitable material, is secured to the frame or closure by plates am, the bag being first placed against the sides and ends of the closure, the plates d10 being then placed in position and rivets a passing through the plates am, the bag and the sides and ends of the closure serving to hold the parts firmly assembled. At the junc- IOO two semicircular casings a, carried, respectively, by one side and one end, a pivot am being provided, around which the spring is coiled, and each side and each end aforesaid on each edge being provided with a plate (L15, in which the pivot a is secured. rlhe two terminals of the spring pass between one of the casings cl3 and the side and the end of the closure, as shown, and the tension of this spring is in the direction to cause the mouth normally to remain open, so that upon unlocking the lock a8 the closure will open, thus to facilitate entire opening of the same. At

each end of the closure and secured thereto by any suitable means is a ring al, by which the bag may be suspended when being filled with mail, and on one side is a handhold (L17, by which to facilitate handling ot' the mail.

In Fig. 3 the same general construction of frame or closure is shown as that exhibited in Figs. l and 2, with the exception that the spring at the corner of the side and end is omitted.

While I have described only one spring in connection with the structure shown in Fig. l, it is to be understood that I may employ two at opposite corners or may employ a spring at each corner; but under ordinary conditions one spring will be found to perform the function desired.

Having thus fully described rnyinvention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. A mail-bag mouth or closure, comprising four members hinged together, two of which, when the bag is closed, are adapted to lie in a straight line, and the other two atan angle thereto, substantially as described.

2. A mail-bag mou th or closure, comprising four members hinged together, two of which, when the bag is closed, are adapted to lie in a straight line, and the other two at an angle thereto, tenons carried by one side and one end, and mortises provided in the other side and other end, with which the said tenons engage, substantially as described.

3. A mail-bag mouth or closure, comprising four members hinged together, two of which, when the bag is closed, are adapted to lie in a straight line, and the other two at an angle thereto, tenons carried by one side and one end, morlises provided on the other side and other end, with which the tenons enga-ge, a staple carried by one side of the bag, and a lock permanently attached to the other side, with which the staple engages, substantially as described.

4. A mail-bag mouth or closure comprising four members hinged together, two of which, when the bag is closed, are adapted to lie in a straight line and the other two at an angle thereto, and a coiled spring held in place by the hinge-pivot at one corner of the closure, said spring operating to cause the mouth normally to remain open, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

SIMON P. STEELE.

Witnesses:

EDMUND H. PARRY, R. M. ELLIOTT.

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