Improvements in Mail Bags for service
Year: 1889

page_text: We THOMAS CANBY CHAPPELL Lawyer and EVERETT DAZETTA MOORE Gentleman
of Baltimore City, State of Maryland, United States of America do hereby declare
the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This Invention relates to Improvements in Mail Bags for marine service, satchels,
travelling bags &c. which are so constructed that they are first water tight; second,
will float in case they are cast overboard; third made of material that is water proof,
and fourth, special construction of the opening by which it can be rendered water
tight secured and sealed, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1-is a cross section through the bag, showing the same opened.
Figure 2: a cross section showing the bag closed.
Figure 3-a front elevation.
Figure 4-an enlarged cross section of the frame in detail showing the clamping
screws.
Figure 5-an enlarged cross section of the frame in detail showing the sealing
device.
Figure
:-a front elevation of a portion of the frame showing the sealing device.
Figure 7-a sectional view through the hinge:
Figure 8-a sectional view through the hinge at right angles to figure 7.
Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.
The letter A designates the body or bag which is made in any desired shape or size.
and it consists of oiled canvas, rubber covered canvas or any suitable material that
is water proof, by which the mails contained therein are prevented from getting
destroyed or damaged by being in contact with any water which the bag may he
subject to either from shipwreck or otherwise.
The mouth or opening of the bag A is provided with the frame.f and f' hinged
at f. The canvas or body of the said bag A is secured to the frame 1 by means of
the binding plates CC; the said binding plates being tightly rivetted to the frame f
and by means of the rivet c, with the material of the body of the bag there
between, thus making a water tight joint between the said frames f and f¹ and the
body of the Bag A.

page_text: The frame is provided with a slot to hold the gasket f3 which is made of rubber
or some suitable elastic material and extends the full length of the frame from hinge
to hinge. The said gasket f³ is made sufficiently thick to project beyond the surface
of the frame and forms a seal for the frame f¹. The frame is provided with holes
that are threaded to suit the clamping screws which work freely in the frame f¹
whereby the said frames may be drawn together. The frame pressing upon the
gasket 3, and thus forming a water tight joint. In order that an uniform pressure
might be brought upon all parts of the gasket f3 by the frames fand f¹ the hinges f
are constructed with their longer or central parts slotted, as represented in figures
7 and 8, thus permitting the said hinges to accomodate themselves to any thickness
of the gasket.
The hinges are recessed at f in order that a broad surface
may be brought to hear upon the gasket f3 at this point.
To guard against leakage about the hinges f2 the hinges are encased within the
pockets; the said pockets being sewed to the body of the bag A and securely
clamped to the frames fand f.
To the top of the frames are rivetted the binders D in which turn the clamps d,
with their arms d' slightly inclined and extended on either side of the frame f, which
when the clamps are down, as shown in figure 5, draws the frames fand f' together
and prevents their separation. In one of the arms d', of the clamps d, are fixed the
eyelets d² through which is passed the chain d³, the said chain d³ being secured at one
side of the frame by means of the staple dª and at the other side of the frame by the
lock do, thus when the clamps d are drawn and the chains d³ passed through the
eyelets d² and secured by the lock d³, the bag is securely locked and can only be
opened by the removal or slackening of the chain, which will permit the clamps d to
be lifted and the bag unsealed.
To the bag or body A are sewed the pockets a which are packed with cork a¹ or
some material of sufficiently light specific gravity to render the bag buoyant under all
circumstances. At certain intervals in the pockets a occur the breaks a² which
permit the bag to be folded and closely stored, without injury to the said cork or
pocket. By this construction the bag in case of shipwreck may be cast overboard
and float the mails contained therein, which may then be recovered by a passing
vessel or by being washed ashore; and further by means of their having sufficient
buoyancy serve as life preservers to the shipwrecked passengers and crew.
In using the said bag when the mails are placed in, the opening is closed by
bringing the frame together and drawing its two parts together by the clamps d,
after which the screws f* are screwed up which tightly binds the said parts of the
frame together and makes the opening water tight; the chain d³ is then placed in the
eyelets, d² and tightly drawn across the frame, and locked thereto, which prevents
the bag from being opened by any one except the proper person-The bag is then
ready for shipment.
Although our Invention is hereinbefore described with reference to mail bags it is
evident that the improvements are also applicable to travelling bags for containing
personal effects or apparel to satchels and other like bags.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1st: In a bag for the transportation of the mails in a travelling bag, satchel or
the like, a bag made of water-proof material, combined with independent pockets,
containing cork or other similar material which are so located as to permit of the bag
being folded, said bag combined with mechanism for hermetically sealing the mouth
of the bag, substantially as described.
2nd: In a bag for transportation of mails in a travelling bag, satchel or the like,
a bag made of water-proof material, combined with independent pockets containing
cork or other similar material which are so located as to permit of the bag being
folded.
3rd-In a bag for the transportation of mails, in a travelling bag, satchel or the

page_text: like, the combination of a water-proof sack the mouth of said sack formed by two
frames hinged one to the other; the joint forming the hinge of said frames provided
with a slot to admit of self adjustment; a gasket placed between the said frames ;
wings extended from the said frames at the joints thereof for bearing surfaces of said
gasket ; and screws for drawing the said frames together for the purpose set forth.
4th In a bag for the transportation of mails, in a travelling bag satchel or the
like the combination of a water-proof sack; the mouth of said sack formed by two
frames hinged one to the other, the joint forming the hinge of said frames provided
with a slot for self adjustment; a gasket placed between the said frames, wings
extended from the said frames at the joints thereof for bearing surfaces of said
gasket, screws for drawing said frames together, binders pivoted to said frame for
securing the said frames in the closed position, and means for locking the said binders
in the closed position for the purpose set forth.
5th-In a bag for the transportation of mails, in a travelling bag, satchel or the
like, the combination of a water-proof sack provided with pockets around the sides
thereof in which is placed cork or some like buoyant substance, the mouth of said
sack formed by two frames binged one to the other the joint forming the hinges of
said frames provided with a slot for self adjustment, a gasket placed between the said
frames at the joints thereof for bearing surfaces of said gasket, screws for drawing
said frames together, binders pivotted to said frames for securing the said frames in
the closed position, and a cord or chain for locking said binders in the closed position
substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.
m
ԹՐԻԼ Jane of Hahnuary 1980
CRUIKSHANK & FAIRWEATHER,
62, Saint Vincent Street, Glasgow,
Agents.