US875720A

US875720A - Means for fastening mail-bags, &c.

Info

Publication number: US875720A
Authority: US
Inventors: Vincenzo Mazzatenta
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1905-12-14
Filing date: 1905-12-14
Publication date: 1908-01-07
Anticipated expiration: 1925-01-07

Description

, No. 875,720. PATENTED JAN. 7, 1908.

V. MAZZATENTA.

MEANS FOR FASTENING MAIL BAGS, 6w.-

APPLICATION FILED DEC.14.1905.

' lljb'g /nasads: Ina/anion" UNITED STATES VINCENZO MAZZATENTA, OF TURIN, ITALY.

MEANS FOR FASTENING MAIL-BAGS, &c.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. '7, 1908.

Application filed December 14. 1905- Serial No. 291.794.

T 0 all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, VINoENZo MAZZA- TENTA, a subject of the King of Italy, residing at Turin, in the Province of Turin, Italy, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Means for Fastening Mail- Bags, (920., of which the following is a specification.

It is known that in the postal service the mailing matters and values are usually inclosed in bags or other receptacles, together with a letter of shipment, and then sealed by means of sealing wax or other means.

The present invention has for its object improvements by which the closure of the bags or packages offers more security and is easier and quicker than by the usual means. The invention includes an improved lock adapted to be applied to the bag or package.

In the drawings which illustrate my i11- vention,*Figure 1 is a perspective view of a part of the lock provided by my invention.

Flg. 2 is a perspective view of a strap or similar device to which is attached the remaining parts of the lock. Fig. 3 is a perspective View of a detail. Fig. 4 is an end view of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the strap and lock complete.

Referring to the drawings,24 indicates a part adapted to close a bag, shown as a belt or strap having at its two ends means which, in combination with the plate device illustrated in Fig. 1, are adapted to connect the ends of said belt or strap. Upon the right-hand end of the belt or strap 2 1 a stud 27 is mounted, such stud being provided with a groove 29 and a head 28. Upon the opposite end of the strap a metallic piece 19 is mounted, such piece having a projection formed with an opening 20 and a slot 21. At its u per side the piece 19 is formed with a cylind iical hole 22.

The member 10 is made ol two plates 10 having room between them for a spring 16, the free end of which is tapered, and projects into an opening 11 of substantially the same size as the head 28. The plates 10 are pro vided with openings 12 substantially equal in size to the opening 20, a cut or slot 13, and a pivot 14. The plates 10 are firmly held together by means of a frame or border 15. When it is desired to close a bag, the member 10 and the piece 19 are set together by sliding the lower corner of the member into the slot 21, and the pivot or rejection 14 into the hole 22. The cut or s 0t 13 receives the left hand side of the projecting portion of the piece 19. When in this position the openings 12 and 20 coincide, and the ends of the wire of a suitable metallic seal is let through the coinciding openings, and said seal squashed in any convenient manner to seal the ends of the wire. Any other type of sealing member may be used. In Fig. 5 the wire of the seal is indicated at 7, and the head of the seal at 3. The strap or belt 24 is then wound around the mouth of the bag, and the pivot stud 27 is pressed through the opening 11 in the member 10 so that the tapered end 18 of the spring 16 enters the groove 29 under the head 28. I/Vith the parts in this position it is not possible to open the strap, for the reason that no external means can push back the end 18 of the spring 16 so as to free the head 28. In order to open the strap it is necessary to cut the cord or wire 7; it then becomes possible to slide upward the member 1O and free it from the piece 19. When. this is done the two ends of the strap become detached, and the bag may be opened. To remove the member 10" from the strap it is only necessary to turn it around the pivot stud 27 so as to force the end 18 of the spring 16 out of the groove 29, so that it bears against the flat surface of the head 28, whereupon the member l0 is easily removed and the parts are then in their initial conditions.

The opening 11 and the pivot stud 27 are shown in the drawings as of rectangular shape, but they can be given a cylindrical or other form, provided that there is a projection in the pivot 27 acting against spring 18 in the normal position of the member 10, and having no action upon it when the same is turned to a certain angle about the pivot.

The frames or borders of the members 10 10 are preferably formed as guides so as to retain a tag or address plate bearing the usual shipping information.

The tag is preferably so constructed that it will be locked in position when the lock is sealed. This is clearly illustrated in Fig. 5, wherein the head 28 passes through a hole made in the tag.

It will be seen that by my invention I provide an extremely secure and efficient means for locking mail bags or the like, and for attaching the shipping directions thereto.

It will be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the details of construction here shown, since the same can be varied widely Without departing from the invention.

I claim as my invention:- 1. A fastening for mail bags, including means for closing the bag, and a lock having means for separably connecting it to both I ends of said bag closing means.

2. A fastening for mail bags, including means for closing the bag, and a lock having a catch adapted to engage one end of said bag closing means, and means for separably engaging the other end of said bag closing means.

3. A fastening for mail bags, including means for closing the bag, and a lock having a catch adapted to engage one end of said bag closing means, means for disengaging said catch when said lock and end are turned relatively, and said lock having means for engaging the other end of said bag closing means, means for holding said parts in engagement, and means for preventing the disengagement of said catch while said holding means are operative.

4. A fastening for mail bags, etc., including a strap, a part adapted to be fastened to one end thereof, a spring catch for fastening the part to the other end of said strap, and

opening coinciding with that of the strap,,,

whereby a seal may be passed therethrough to hold the parts united, and means carried by said plate for engaging such projection.

6. The combination of a strap having at one end an opening or eye, and at the other end a projection, with a plate having an opening coinciding with that of the strap, whereby a seal may be passed therethrough to hold the parts united when in their normal positions, and means carried by said plate for engaging such projection, and preventing release of the parts while the seal is intact, said means being adapted to permit such release when the seal is broken and the parts are turned relatively to each other.

7. The combination of a strap having at one end a projection, and at the other end an opening 20, with a plate having an opening 12 and a catch 18.

8. The combination of a strap having at one end a projection, and at the other end an opening 20 and a recess 22, with a plate having an opening 12, a pin 14 and a catch 18.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing means for preventing the release of such witnesses.

catch.

5. The combination of a strap having at one end an opening or eye, and at the other end a projection, with a plate having an VINCENZO MAZZATENTA Vitnesses:

MARIO OArnocio, GoT'r. C. PIRONL