US846093A - Spring lock-seal. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED MAR. 5, 1907.

J. G. DAVIS.

I SPRING LOOK SEAL.

APPLIGA'IION FILED MAY 31, 1906.

TOM

[NI/ENTOR A TTORNE Y5 THE NORRIS PETERS c0. wAsHmoroN. n. c,

JOHN CLAYTON DAVIS, OF HASTINGS, MICHIGAN.

SPRING LOCK-SEAL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 5, 1907.

Application filed May 31, 1906. Serial No. 319,625.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN CLAYTON DAVIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hastings, in the county of Barryand State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Spring Lock-Seal, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to devices for sealing cars, trunks, mail-pouches, and other mail-containing receptacles, and has for 1ts object to provide a comparatively simple and inexpensive device of this character by means of which any attempt to open the receptacle by an unauthorized person may be readily detected.

A further object of the invention is to provide a seal in the form of a strap or ribbon adapted to be threaded through the hasp or similar fastening device on the receptacle and provided with interlocking ends.

A further object is to form one end of the strap or ribbon with a lateral enlargement adapted to engage a similar enlargement on the spring locking member, whereby when the enlargements are crimped or otherw1se secured together they form a casing or housing for the interlocked ends of the strap.

A further object of the invention is to provide a spring locking-tongue adapted to enter a recess in the adjacent end of the strap, and, further, to provide a yieldable auxiliary locking member adapted to engage the tongue for preventing the withdrawal of the perforated end of the strap.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, itbeing under stood that various changes in form, proportions, and minor details of construction may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure is a perpective view of a seal constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 1s a longitudinal sectional view of the same, showing the perforated end of the strap partially insei ted in the housing. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the ends of the strap interlocked. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectlonal view taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 ]S a top plan view of Fig. 2 with a portion of a housing or casing removed to expose the spring looking- I l l tongues. Fig. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a modified form of the invention. Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a similar view showing the seal illustrated in Fig. 6 in locked position.

Similar numeras of reference indicate corresponding parts in all of the figures of the drawings.

The improved device comprises a strap or ribbon 5, rormed of metal or other suitable material and having its opposite longitudinal edges at one end thereoI bent downwardly at 6 and thence laterally at 7 to form the upper wall of a casing or housing 8 for the reception of the locking device. The locking device is preferably stamped from a single piece of material bent to form a pair of spaced parallel arms 9 and 10, the lower arm 10 being bent upon itself, as indcated at 11, and thence extended below and in parallel relation with the arm 10 to form a plate 12, the transverse and longitudinal edges of which are bent upwardly into engagement with the flange 7, and serves to secure the locking device within the housing 8 and prevent accidental displacement of the same.

The plate or extension 12 forms the lower wall of the housing 8, while the adjacent end of the strap forms the upper wall of the housing, there being a vertical wall or oflset 12 formed in the strap at the open end of the housing, thus completely inclosing the looking device and effectually preventing an unauthorized person from introducing a nail or similar tool in an attempt to open the seal.

The lower arm 10 of the locking member is formed with up-struck locking tongues 13 and 14, the bills of which extend in the path of movement of the adjacent end of the ribbon or strap and are adapted to enter recesses 15 and 16, formed therein. The recessed end of the strap 5 is formed with a longitudinal depression 17, defining a rib or projection 18, which intersects the openings 15 and 16 and is adapted to engage and depress the locking- tongues 13 and 14 when the free end of the strap is introduced within the housing. Formed in the upper arm 9 of the locking member is a yieldable auxiliary looking member, preferably in the form of a spring-tongue 19, which normally extends above and is disposed in spaced relation to the bill of the tongue 13, as best shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, said auxiliary locking member being adapted to engage the lower face of the bill 13 when the parts are in locked position, as illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

in operation the perforated end of the strap 5 is threaded through the hasp or similar fastening device on the car, trunk, mailpouch, or other receptacle and then inserted in the casing or housing. As the perforated end of the strap is moved longitudinally of the housing the rib 18 engages and depresses the bills of the tongues 13 and 14, so as to p erlnit the strap to move longitudinally until the openings 15 and 16 register with said tongues, when the latter will enter the openings, and thus automatically lock the free end of the strap. A rearward pull is then exerted on the perforated end of the strap, which causes the tongue 13 to engage and elevate the auxiliary locking device 19,and thus permit the bill of the tongue 13 to clear the adjacent end of the locking member 19, and in which position the tongue 13 will overlap the adjacent end of the tongue 19, as best shown in Fig. 3, and thus lock the several parts together and effectually prevent the withdrawal of the perforated end of the strap.

In Figs. 6 and 8, inclusive, there is illus trated a modified form of the invention in which one of the spring-tongues is dispensed with, the free end of the strap or ribbon be ing formed with a single opening 20, adapted to engage the tongue 21, the parts being otherwise the same as illustrated in Fig. 1. If desired, however, the housing instead of being formed integral with the strap may be made separate and riveted, soldered, or otherwise rigidly secured to said strap, and the locking member may be also formed integral with one end of the strap, in which event a separate housing may be employed for pro tecting the locking mechanism.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. A seal comprising a strap, a locking device carried by one end of the strap and provided with main and auxiliary locking members adapted to engage the opposite end of the strap, and a sectional housing inclosing the interlocked ends of the strap, one section of the housing being integral with the locking device and an opposite section integral with the strap.

2. A seal comprising a strap having one end thereof provided with spaced locking-recesses, a locking device carried by the opposite end of the strap and provided with main and auxiliary locking members adapted to engage the recesses, and a housing inclosing the locking device, one wall of the housing being integral with the strap and the other integral with the locking device.

3. A seal comprising a strap having one end thereof provided with spaced recesses and having a longitudinal rib intersecting said recesses, and a locking device carried by the opposite end of the strap and provided with spring locking-tongues adapted to be depressed and enter the recesses by engagement with the longitudinal rib.

' 4.. A seal comprising a strap having one end thereof provided with spaced locking-recesses, spaced lockingtongues carried by the opposite end of the strap and adapted to engage the recesses in the strap, and a yieldable auxiliary locking member adapted to engage one of the tongues for preventing accidental withdrawal of the strap from the locking member. 1

5. A seal com rising a strap having one end thereof provided with locking-recesses, a sectional housing one section of which is formed integral with the opposite end of the strap, a locking-tongue formed integral with the adjacent section of the housing, and a yieldable locking member disposed above the tongue and adapted to engage and lock said tongue when the strap is partially withdrawn from the housing.

6. A seal comprising a strap having one end thereof provided with spaced recesses. a housing carried by the opposite end of the strap, a plurality of springtongues extending laterally from the housing and adapted to enter the recesses in the adjacent end of the strap, and a yieldable locking member adapted to engage one of the tongues for preventing withdrawal of the strap from the housing, there being a vertical wall formed in the strap at the open end of said housing and forming a partial closure for the latter.

7. A seal comprising a strap having one end thereof bent to form one wall of a housing, a locking member seated in said housing and adapted to engage the opposite end of the strap, and a plate carried by the locking member and forming the opposite wall of said housing.

8. A seal comprising a strap having one end thereof bent to form one wall of a housing and its opposite end formed with a locking-recess, a locking member forming the opposite wall of the housing and provided with a spring-tongue adapted to engage a recess in the adjacent end of the strap, and an auxiliary locking-tongue disposed above the adjacent end of the tongue and adapted to engage the latter when the perforated end of the strap is partially withdrawn from the housing.

9. A seal comprising a strap havin one end thereof bent to form one wall of 51%10118- ing, a locking member seated within the housing and adapted to engage the opposite end of the strap, said locking member being provided with an extension bent upon itself and extended in parallel relation with the locking member to form the opposite wall of said housing.

10. A seal comprising a strap having one end thereof bent downwardly and laterally to form one wall of a housing, and its oppogage the recess therein.

site end provided with a locking-recess, a In testimony that I claim the foregoing as looking member seated within the housing my own I have hereto affiXed my signature in and having one end thereof bent upon itself the presence of two Witnesses.

and provided with a marginal bead for enforated end of the strap and adapted to engagement with the adjacent wall of the hous- JOHN CLAYTON DAVIS ing, and a spring-tongue forming a part of WVitnesses: the locking member and having its bill dis- ROBERT R. DAWSON,

IO posed in the path of movement of the per- A. F. NORRIS.

Images