CERTAIN IMPROVE- MENTS IN MEANS TO BE EMPLOYED FOR SECURING THE ENDS OF BANDS IN PACKING BALE GOODS,' AND IN MACHINERY FOR MANUFACTURING HOLDFASTS' TO BE EMPLOYED FOR THE PURPOSE
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Edward Van Hees, of Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, Merchant, for the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MEANS TO BE EMPLOYED FOR SECURING THE ENDS OF BANDS IN
PACKING BALE GOODS,' AND IN MACHINERY FOR MANUFACTURING HOLDFASTS'
TO BE EMPLOYED FOR THE PURPOSE."
Sealed the 23rd February 1864, and dated the 23rd December 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Edward Van
Hees at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 23rd December 1863.
I, RICHARD EDWARD VAN HEES, of Manchester, in the County of Lan-
caster, Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS TO BE EMPLOYED FOR SECURING THE ENDS OF
BANDS IN PACKING 'BALE GOODS,' AND IN MACHINERY FOR MANUFACTURING 'HOLD-
PASTS' TO BE EMPLOYED FOR THE PURPOSE," to be as follows:-
The Invention relates to the securing or fastening together of the ends of
the metallic hoops or bands which are employed to confine "bale goods" when
packed into less than ordinary dimensions either by hydraulic or other power.
Such attachment has hitherto been effected by passing a single-headed rivet
through two circular holes punched in each end of the band, and hammering
such rivet out to form the other head, which is in many ways inconvenient.
My improvements consist in the novel employment and use of a clasp or
"holdfast" constructed in the form of a small bar or open link, having its
extremities or ends turned inwards equal to the depth or thickness of the

page_text: hoops, so that when the hoops or bands embracing the bale are ready for
securing, the bent ends of the aforesaid link or bar are inserted longitudinally
in small square holes perforated and suitably situated in the ends of the hoops
overlapping each other, as seen in the Diagram
And, secondly, my improvements consist in making such links or holdfasts
from a bar of metal, one end of which is placed in a recess and cut off at the
required length by means of a cutter actuated by an eccentric, after which the
ends are turned by moveable clamps into the form required.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Richard Edward Van Hees in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 19th May 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, RICHARD
EDWARD VAN HEES, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Merchant,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-seventh year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Richard Edward Van Hees, Her special license that I, the said
Richard Edward Van Hees, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Richard Edward Van Hees, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time
to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should
and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Inven-
tion for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS TO BE EMPLOYED FOR SECURING THE
ENDS OF BANDS IN PACKING BALE GOODS,' AND IN MACHINERY FOR MANUFACTURING
HOLDFASTS' TO BE EMPLOYED FOR THE PURPOSE," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Richard Edward Van Hees, my executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands
and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the
same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months
next and immediately. after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Richard Edward Van Hees, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to

page_text: be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement and accompanying Drawing (that is to say):
The Invention relates to the securing or fastening together of the ends of
the metallic hoops or bands which are employed to confine "bale goods"
when packed in less than ordinary dimensions either by hydraulic or other
power. Such attachment has hitherto been effected by passing two single-
beaded rivets through two circular holes punched in each end of the band,
and hammering such rivet out to form the other head, which is in many ways
inconvenient.
My improvements consist in the novel employment and use of a clasp or
boldfast constructed in the form of a small bar or open link, having its
extremities or ends turned inwards, so that when the hoops or bands embracing
the bale are ready for securing, the bent ends of the afore-mentioned link or
bar is inserted longitudinally in small square or elongated holes perforated and
suitably situated in the ends of the hoops overlaping each other.
And, secondly, my improvements consist in making such links or holdfasts
from a bar of metal, one end of which is placed in a recess, and cut off at the
required length by means of a cutter actuated by an eccentric, after which
the ends are turned by moveable clamps into the form required.
In order that the Invention may be better understood and explained in
detail, I have hereunto attached a Sheet of Drawings made about full size.
Fig. I represents the ends of the hoops or bands punched or perforated
with my improved elongated hole with semicircular ends; this view is shewn
as having two such perforations, the band being in position to receive the
double holdfast. Fig. 2 is a similar view to the last, having but one hole or
perforation through the hoop or band; in this instance I use a single hold-
fast. Figs. 3 is a side view and plan of the double holdfast, and Figs. 4 a side
view and plan of the single holdfast. Figs. 5 and 6 represent a side view of
the hoops or bands with the double and single holdfast receiving and retaining
the ends of such bands when the bale is released from the press.
a, a, is the hoop or band employed for securing bale goods, the ends of
which are perforated or punched, as shewn; b is the double holdfast or link
supplied with the projection c, which are inserted through the holes in the
ends of the hoop or band a; d, d, are taper recesses or grooves formed in the
projection c, so that when the expansion of the bale takes place the inner end
of the band or hoop embracing the projection c slide into or are received by
these taper recesses, thereby locking and firmly securing the ends of the hoops
binding the bale.
I would remark, that since the filing of the Provisional Specification for

page_text: my said Invention, I have ascertained that the second part of my Invention,
as therein described, is not of such utility as I then considered it to be, and
I therefore hereby disclaim that portion of the Invention.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, together with
the method of carrying the same into practical effect, I wish it to be distinctly
understood that I claim the employment and use of the double or single
metallic holdfast, the form, construction, and application of which have been
herein-before described and fully set forth in this Specification and Drawings
attached.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Edward Van Hees, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of May, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
RICHP. E. VAN HEES. (L.S.)