Improvements in Tobacco Pouches.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 22nd Feb., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Feb., 1892-Accepted, 9th July, 1802
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Tobacco Pouches.
I, WILLIAM JAMES CUSSEN, of the City of Richmond, County of Henrico,
nd State of Virginia, United States of America, Manufacturer, do hereby
eclare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
erformed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
tatement:-
1333
pouch;
Figs. 4 and 5 similar views of empty pouches the draw-strings being secured
around the mouth thereof in a slightly different manner from the other views, as
will presently appear;
Fig. 6 a diagramatical view showing the arrangement of the draw-string, and
Fig. 7 a perspective view showing a slight modification of the arrangement of
the draw-string.
This invention has relation generally to that class of tobacco pouches provided
with means for closing and folding the upper part of the pouch tightly over the
tobacco remaining in it after a portion of its contents has been removed by the user;
and it has special relation to that particular class of pouches wherein the draw-
string is not only employed to close and tie the mouth of the pouch when it is
originally packed and put on the market, but is also used to secure the upper
portion of the pouch down over the remaining tobacco when a portion of its
contents has been removed by the consumer, whereby the tobacco remaining in the
bottom of the pouch is kept firm and solid and in prime condition until entirely
used, as will more fully hereinafter appear.
In the drawings, a designates an ordinary pouch of suitable size, provided with a
hem around its mouth through which the draw-string is passed. The draw-string
passes around the mouth of the pouch about one and a half times and its free
ends b b extend out through holes at the ends and are provided with knots 6" 6"
or other stops, on their ends to prevent them being drawn entirely into the hem.
An extra string or extension b¹ is secured to or formed integral with a portion of the
string exposed on the rear side of the pouch, this extension hanging loosely down
the rear side of the pouch when not in use and serving to furnish the necessary
length of string required to pass around the pouch from end to end, as will
presently appear.
In originally closing the pouch, the ends of the string are pulled out in opposite
directions, which gathers in the mouth and closes it tightly upon the contents, after
which the ends of the string are tied in a bow-knot, as usual. In originally closing

page_text: the pouch the extension 61 may be folded in the pouch if desired. In opening the
pouch, the bow is untied and the mouth spread in the usual manner.
After a
portion of the tobacco is used from the pouch, and it is desired to keep the
remaining tobacco firm and prime, the ends b are drawn into the hem, as far as
their stop-knots will permit, by drawing the string out at the rear side of the pouch
as shown in Fig. 3. The mouth may then be closed by continuing to draw upon
the string at the side; the upper part of the pouch is then folded down close upon
the contents and the draw-string and its extension are passed around the pouch,
lengthwise and secured in any suitable manner. In this way the string is made to
do duty as a draw-string to originally close the pouch and serve, also, as a binding
cord to pass around it lengthwise to keep the unused tobacco in prime condition.
The advantages of the present arrangement over my former device are obvious.
The string in the present arrangement is made shorter by doing away with the
end-loop and only passing it around the hem one and a half-times, or less; the
friction of the string in the hem is necessarily reduced, thereby materially facilitating
the opening and closing of the pouch, and its insertion in the hem during the
manufacture of the pouch is rendered easier and less troublesome.
The extension or extra string is preferably formed of a separate string and
connected by knotting to the main-string as at 63, but it may be formed from the
same string, if desired, without difficulty, it being simply necessary to provide a
knot or other stop outside the hem to prevent it being drawn into the same when
the ends b are drawn upon.
In the construction shown in Fig. 4, the draw-string is not passed through a hem
but is simply stitched or interlaced around the same. This construction, I regard
as equivalent to the hem inasmuch as it is common to insert draw-strings by
stitching, in this manner. It is especially used on cheap pouches where the
expense of forming a hem and passing the string through it is to be avoided.
The end of the string need not be carried entirely to the ends of the mouth
before leaving the hem, as it is simply necessary to carry them beyond the point
where they intersect each other, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4, and in full
lines in Fig. 7. I therefore do not wish to be confined in this respect although I
prefer that the strings leave the hem at the ends, as in Figs. 2 and 3.
As shown in Fig. 5, the ends b may be turned back and secured to the bag so as
to form loops on the opposite sides of the same. In this way, the draw-string may
not only serve as a means of closing but also as a means of opening the pouch. To
close the pouch with these loops, it is simply necessary to draw outwardly upon
those portions of the strings which lie side by side along one side of the pouch,
whereupon the mouth will be gathered and closed tightly. In opening the pouch,
the outer sides of the loops (the parts secured to the pouch by the knots 611) are
drawn upon, whereupon the mouth is quickly opened no matter how tightly it may
have been closed.
The arrangement shown in Fig. 7 may be employed without departing from the
invention in the least. In this view, the ends of the main string leave the hem at
one side of the bag just beyond the point of their intersection within the hem, and
if desired their ends (instead of being knotted separately) may be tied together, as
shown. The extension 61, in this construction, is connected to the main-string on
the opposite side of the bag as shown. This arrangement is advantageous in that
the extension and the connected ends of the draw-string may be readily tied in a
bow-knot across the top of the pouch when originally closed thereby avoiding the
necessity of having to enclose the extension within the pouch during the original
packing and tieing of the same.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. The combination of a pouch, a draw-string looped around its mouth, and
having its ends free and provided with stops to prevent withdrawal and an
1

page_text: extension b¹ connected to the loop in the draw-string at one side of the pouch,
substantially as described.
2. The combination of a pouch a draw-string looped around the mouth thereof
within the hem and having its ends extending from the hem at suitable points
beyond their intersection, and provided with stops to prevent withdrawal and an
extra string 6' connected to the draw-string at a point between its ends, substan-
tially as described.
3. The combination of a pouch, a draw-string passed loosely around and secured
to the mouth of the same, the ends of this string intersecting each other on one
side of the pouch and remaining free and provided with stops on their ends,
substantially as described.
W. J. CUSSEN,
By L. W., per F. B.