A NEW AND USEFUL IMPROVEMENT IN TRUNKS OR PACKING CASES, OR OTHER ARTICLES OF LIKE CHARACTER.
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Strobridge Soule and John Sherriff, of the State
of Massachusetts, of the United States of America, for the Invention of "A NEW
AND USEFUL IMPROVEMENT IN TRUNKS OR PACKING CASES, OR OTHER ARTICLES
OF LIKE CHARACTER.'
"
Sealed the 26th May 1877, and dated the 6th April 1877.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Strobridge Soule and
John Sherriff at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th April
1877.
WILLIAM STROBRIDGE SOULE and JOHN SHERRIFF, of the State of Massachusetts,
of the United States of America. "A NEW AND USEFUL IMPROVEMENT IN TRUNKS
OR PACKING CASES, OR OTHER ARTICLES OF LIKE CHARACTER."
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a trunk of our improved kind, as open; Figure 2
is a transverse section; and Figure 3 is a longitudinal section of it, as closed.
Figure is a perspective view of one of the corner pieces to be herein-after
explained.
Figure 5 is a transverse section on an enlarged scale of the hinge connection of
the body and cover.
The first part of our Invention relates to or consists in a trunk or packing case
having its body or such and its cover made of raw or untanned hide, and
strengthened by corner caps, angle pieces, and corrugated or arched reinforcing strijs
of the same material arranged with and rivetted to such body or to it and its
cover.
The second part of our Invention relates to or consists in a trunk or packing case
having its body and cover made of raw or untanned hide, and reinforced or
strengthened by means as described, and connected by a metallic rod and by strips
of raw or untanned hide arranged therewith and together, and with the two next
adjacent side pieces of the body and cover, and rivetted to such pieces, all as set
forth.
The third part of our Invention relates to or consists in a trunk or packing case

page_text: reinforcing strip made of raw or untanned hide, and arched and flanged lengthwise
and widthwise, or as so made and strengthened by a bar or filling of wood arranged
within and fitted to the concavity of the arch, all as explained.
In the said Drawings the body S of the trunk is represented as composed of two
end pieces A, A, two side pieces B, B, and a botton piece R arranged relatively to
each other, as shewn, each being composed of one or more sheets or layers of "raw
hide" or untanned hide. They are united by vertical and horizontal angle pieces K
of raw hide arranged at the angles or junctions of the said side and end pieces and
bottom, and bent and lapped on the contiguous sheets and secured thereto by
rivets.
Extending lengthwise of each of the said side pieces and widthwise of each of
the said end pieces are two or more other suitable number of arched reinforcing
strips C of raw or untanned hide. Each of such strips is arched lengthwise and
widthwise, and flanged in manner as shown; it being secured in place by rivets
going through its flanges, and the part on which it is laid. The concavity of the
nrch of each strip C may be filled with a strip of wood a or other suitable material
arranged therein. Each of the strips C at its ends extends between its side or end
of the body and the two next adjacent angle pieces K, K, rivets of which go through
the strip C.
To each of the lower corners of the body there is applied a corner piece E
moulded or made of raw hide, and formed to lap under the bottom and on the
three next adjacent angle pieces K of the side and end at such corner.
To the upper edges or parts of the body, and also to the lower edges of the sides
and ends of the cover, strips D of raw hide are applied and arranged as represented;
they being suitably fastened in place.
The cover T is composed of a plate or plates of raw hide bent as shewn, and
strengthened by angle strips K, and by corner piecos E of raw hide, and by lapping
strips L of such material, all arranged in manner as represented, and held in place
by rivets. There is also applied to the upper surface of the cover a set of the
arched strips C arranged therewith, and with its angle strips K in manner as
represented.
Furthermore the cover and body are connected by strips or plates M, M', of raw
hide, slotted as shown in Figures 6 and 7. These plates at their middles arc folded
about a metallic rod P, and extend one within the slots of the other; one plato laps
on and embraces one of the side pieces of the body, while the other plate is similarly
applied to one of the side pieces of the cover, rivets b, b, being used to secure the
plates to the body and cover. To each rivet of the trunk we usually apply a
washer or perforated disc c before upsetting or beating down the rivet. A trunk or
packing case so made may have locking devices and cover stays, handles, and other
appliances, as is the case with trunks or packing cases as heretofore constructed.
"
By having a trunk or packing case manufactured of pieces of what is termed in
comninon parlance raw hide, arranged and connected by metallic rivets, an
extremely durable article is the result, one which will not only be of great strength,
but very light, comparatively speaking.
We claim as an improved manufacture, and as our Invention the following, viz :—
1. A trunk or packing case having its body or such, and its cover made of "raw
hide" or untanned hide, and strengthened by corner caps, angle pieces, and
corrugated or arched reinforcing strips of the same material, arranged with and
rivetted to such body, or to it and such cover, all being substantially as set forth.
2. A trunk or packing case having its body and cover made of raw or untanned
hide, and reinforced or strengthened by means as described, and connected by a
metallic rod, and by strips of raw or untanned hide arranged therewith and
together, and with the two next adjacent side pieces of the body and cover, and
rivetted to such pieces, all substantially as set forth.
3. A trunk or packing case reinforcing strip made of raw or untanned hide, and
arched and flanged lengthwise and widthwise, or as so made and strengthened by a

page_text: bar or filling of wood arranged within and fitted to the concavity of the arch, all as
explained.
In witness whereof, we, the said William Strobridge Soule and John Sherriff,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Nineteenth day of March, 1877.
WILLIAM STROBRIDGE SOULE. (L.S.)
דיח-גז