US909659A - Mail-bag catcher. - Google Patents

Description

I. S. PEEK MAIL BAG OATGHER" APPLIOAI'ION FILED mu s, 1908.

909,659. I Patented Jan. 12, 1909.

JOSEPH S. PEEK, OF KERRVILLE, TEXAS.

MAIL-BAG CATCHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 8, 1908.

Patented Jan. 12, 1909.

Serial No. 431,592.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JosnrH S. PEEK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kerrville, in the county of Kerr and State of Texas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Mail-Bag Catchers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to mail bag catchers, the object of the invention being to provide a simple, cheap and practical catcher for the purpose described which may be folded into and out of the car door opening and which embodies means whereby, when the bag comes in contact with the catcher, the latter is dropped and the catcher arm holding the bag is caused to automatically swing the bag inward through the car door opening within reach of the operator.

With the above general object in View the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts herein fully described illustrated and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of the complete apparatus, showing the catcher about to engage a mail bag. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail horizontal section through the turn post and the adjacent parts, and Fig. 3 is a detail elevation of the lower portion of the same parts.

The catcher of this invention comprises essentially a turn post 1 which is journaled in its upper and lower ends in bearings 2 and 3 secured respectively to the car at points adjacent to the top and bottom of the car door opening at.

At a suitable point between the top and bottom of the turn post 1, a horizontally projecting arm 5 is secured thereto and to the outer end of said catcher arm 5 and extending in a forward direction therefrom are secured oppositely arranged spring jaws 6 and 7 adapted to engage, clasp, and hold the mail bag. One of the spring arms 6 is made of suflicient width to enable a longitudinal slot 8 to be formed therein, which slot is adapted to receive a part of the opposite spring arm 7 as shown in Fig. 1, whereby one of the spring arms is adapted to interfit and interlock with the other arm.

The body portions of the spring arms 6 and which the bag is received, the bag acting on the diverging extremities of said arms to spring the arms apart and obtain entrance to the space in rear of the inter-fitting and interlocking portions of said arms.

The turn post 1 is provided with a crank arm 11 extending outward therefrom and having attached thereto one end of a contractile spring 12- the opposite end of which is connected to the opposite side of the door frame at the point 13, the tension of said spring being exerted to swing the catcher arm 5 inward from the position shown in Fig. 1. In order to hold the catcher arm in the position shown in Fig. l, I employ a gravity latch l i which is pivotally mounted at 15 on a bracket 16 secured to the door frame, the latch being adapted to drop by gravity from the full line position shown in Figs. 1 and 3 to the dotted line position. shown in Fig. 3. lVhen in its holding position, the point of the latch is supported on a rest shoulder 17 on the turn post 1 and also bears against a stop shoulder 18 on the post, the said shoulders in connection with the latch 14: serving to hold the post locked in the position shown in Fig. 1 with the catcher arm 5 projecting outward in position to catch the bag. WVhen the bag strikes the catcher, the arm 5 is moved backward far enough to release the latch 1a which drops below the shoulder 17, and the spring 12 then acts to turn the post 1 and swing the catcher arm 5 and bag supported thereby inward through the door opening.

Any suitable stand or crane may be used for supporting the mail bag, the latter being illustrated at 19 as supported by a pair of bag holding arms 20 and 21 secured to a standard 22 supported by a suitable frame work such as legs or braces 23, the holder or crane serving to support the bag in proper position to be caught by the spring jaws 6 and 7 of the catcher device.

Having described the invention, I claim,

1. A mail bag catcher comprising a turn post mounted in the car door opening, a catcher arm projecting laterally therefrom, spring jaws on said arm for engaging the bag, a spring acting on the post to swing said arm inward, and means for locking the post to hold the catcher arm in its operative position.

2. A mail bag catcher comprising a turn post, a catcher arm projecting laterally therefrom, means for automatically swinging said i and adapted to move out of engagement arm, and spring bag catching jaws carried therewith and release the same as the bag is by said arm and having a yielding interfitcaught by the catcher arm, substantially as ting engagement with each other, substandescribed. 5 tially as described. In testimony whereof I affix my signature 15 3. A mail bag catcher comprising a turn 1 in presence of two witnesses.

post, a catcher arm projecting laterally from JOSEPH S. PEEK. said post, a spring exerting tension to turn \V1tnesse-s: said post and move the catcher arm inward, FREDERICK NYo,

10 and a gravity latch engaging the turn post W. T. KRIESEL.

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