US961487A - Attachment for mail-bag forks. - Google Patents

Description

J. A. FALVEY.

ATTACHMENT FOR MAIL BAG FORKS.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV, 6, 1909.

951387., Patented June 14,1910.

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JOHN A. FALVEY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

ATTACHMENT FOR MAIL-BAG FORKS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 6, 1909.

Patented June 14, 1910.

Serial No. 526,521.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN A. FALvnY, a citizen of the United States, residing at No. 984: Fourth avenue, Detroit, in the county of WVayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Attachments for Mail-Bag Forks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an attachment for mail bag receiving forks to prevent a mail bag from bounding out of or falling from fork after it has been caught, and my object is to provide an attachment which may be readily and quickly adjusted to release jammed or wedged bag, and which is simple in construction, strong and unfailing in its action.

In the accompanying drawing, illustrating my invention, Figure 1 is a plan view of a mail bag receiving fork provided with my improved attachment. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of my improved attachment, removed, and, Fig. 3 is a similar view of the set screw removed.

The usual bag catching fork comprises a support-rock shaft A, a yoke B on said shaft adjacent one end, and to which is attached the handle C, and a fork arm D extending from said yoke, and flaring away from shaft A.

My improved attachment comprises, in the first place, a collar 10, adapted for sliding engagement upon the rock shaft A, and having a set-screw 11, by which it may be secured in the desired position. This set screw is provided with a head shaped as shown to exactly interfit the staple entrance of a mail pouch lock, and inasmuch as there is always a number of such locks in a mail car, means will always be at hand to loosen the collar 10 and slide the attachment away from the yoke B to enlarge the ammed space when a heavily loaded bag becomes jammed in the elbow of the fork, as it very frequently does. From the collar 10 extends a rigid arm 12, at an angle of substantially forty-five degrees, said arm having at its outer end apertured extensions 13 forming the half part of a self-contained hinge, and provided with shoulders 14. A swinging arm 15, curved in length, has at one end a reduced extension 16, fitting between the extensions 13 and forming the other half of a hinged connection of which a pin 17 projecting through the apertures of said extensions, is the pintle. The arm being thus mounted to swing, is provided with a shoulder 18 opposing shoulder 1 1 of the rigid arm 12, and it can, therefore, swing toward the yoke B, only.

In use the attachment is adjusted and fixed at a desired point on shaft A adjacent the yoke B, and thus a mail bag caught by the fork arm D, and in passing along said arm, strikes the movable arm 15 of the attachment which at once flexes and permits the bag to pass thereby. The arm 15 then returns to its normal position by reason of its rebound after cont-act with yoke B, and in a measure, by gravity.

I claim:

1. An attachment of the character described comprising a collar having a set screw, a rigid arm extending from said collar, a movable arm at the end of said rigid arm, a hinged connection between said arms to permit movement of the movable arm in one direction, and means to prevent movement thereof in the opposite direction.

2. The combination with a bag catching fork embodying a supporting rock shaft, of an attachment therefor embodying a collar for engagement upon said shaft, a one-way movable bag retaining arm, and a set-screw for securing said collar in desired adjustment having a head shaped to interfit the staple entrance of a bag lock.

3. The combination with a bag catching fork, of an attachment having means to adjustably secure the same upon said fork, and embodying a rigid arm, a movable arm at the end of said rigid arm for contact with, and rebound from, a portion of said fork, in its movement in one direction, said arms embodying, at their contiguous ends, a hinged connection and being oppositely shouldered to control their movement in the opposite direction.

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

JOHN A. FALVEY.

Witnesses:

KATE ROBERTSON, MAUDE E. HENsrEN.

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