Bag Manufac
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 30th July, 1887
Complete Left, 30th Apr., 1888
Complete Accepted, 1st June, 1888
We, JOSEPH ADAM MILLS and WILLIAM BOWEN CHRISTOPHER, both of 87 Admiral
Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Sack and Bag Manufacturers, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in the form and construction of bags and
sacks, said improvements being made more especially in connection with coal sacks,
though some of them are equally applicable to all kinds of bags and sacks.
The improvements consist 1st, in forming and constructing the sacks with a square
or rectangular bottom, so that there shall be no vacant corners left when the sacks are
filled; and 2nd, (in the case of coal and other similar sacks) in adding, besides the
usual two handles at the top edge, a third handle on the bottom of the sack for
convenience in emptying.
In carrying out our invention we preferably construct the bottom of the bag or
sack as follows. As an illustration we will take an ordinary sack to commence work
upon, and construct it with a square bottom. We will suppose that (as is often the
case) the said sack is seamed up the two edges and simply folded at the bottom so
that the fabric is continuous in the two sides and bottom. Laying the sack flat with
the seams on the outer edges we now make a longitudinal slit through both sides from
the bottom towards the top, in length equal to about a quarter the width of the sack,
and at about the same distance from one of the outer edges. A similar slit is made
at the same distance from the other outer edge. From each of these slits to the outer
edge the bottom is ripped up leaving the centre piece equal in length to about half
the width of the sack, continuous as before. The sack being now opened out, the
centre piece forms a square bottom which is open on the two opposite edges
adjacent to the outer edges of the original sack, but forms one piece with the sides at
the other two edges. The side pieces, formed by the longitudinal and transverse slit
aforesaid, are now either folded over the continuous bottom on the outside, or tucked
into the sack and laid on the bottom on the inside, being stitched, or otherwise
secured in this position. For sacks with rectangular bottoms the positions and length
of the slits would be different.

page_text: For
Though this way of forming the square or rectangular bottom appears to us at
present to be the best, it must not be understood that it is the only way.
instance, a strip of material could be taken about the width of the sack required, and
of sufficient length to make two sides and a bottom, a similar strip being placed at
right angles over this in the form of a cross with equal arms. When these strips are
properly joined together they form a sack having a square bottom of double thickness
and a seam at the juncture of each of the four sides. Or two separate side pieces
could be stitched to the aforesaid long piece so as to produce a sack with a bottom of
single thickness. Or the sides and bottom could all be separate pieces. Or other
methods might be devised with the same object.
When the sacks are intended more especially to carry coal or other heavy material,
we prefer to attach a small loop or handle to the bottom in addition to the two at the
top so that the emptying of the sacks may be facilitated.
Dated this Twentyninth day of July 1887
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool,
Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: We, JOSEPH ADAM MILLS and WILLIAM BOWEN CHRISTOPHER both of 87 Admiral
Street, Liverpool in the County of Lancaster, Sack and Bag Manufacturers 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 the form and construction of bags and
sacks, said improvements being made more especially in connection with coal sacks,
though some of them are equally applicable to other kinds of bags and sacks.
The improvements consist, 1st, in forming and constructing the sacks with a square
or rectangular bottom, so that there shall be no vacant corners left when the sacks are
filled, and so that they may be more readily stood upon end; and 2nd, (in the case of
coal and other similar sacks) in adding, besides the usual two handles at the top
edge, a third handle on the bottom of the sack, for convenience in emptying.
Referring to the accompanying drawings:
Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, illustrate one of our improved sacks in various stages of
construction, Figure 3 being a plan (from below) of Figure 2.
Figures 6 and 7 alternative modes of construction: and Figure 8 a perspective
view of a finished coal sack.
) is
In carrying out our invention, we preferably construct the bottom of the bag or
sack as follows: As an illustration, we will take an ordinary sack to commence work
upon, and construct it with a square bottom. We will suppose that (as is often the
case) the piece A forming the said sack or the said sack itself, (see Figure
seamed up the two edges a, a¹, and simply folded at the bottom B, so that the fabric
is continuous in the two sides and bottom. Laying the sack flat with the seams on
the outer edges, we now make a longitudinal slit through both sides from the
bottom B towards the top, in length equal to about a quarter the width of the sack
(when a square bottomed sack is required), and at about the same distance from one
of the outer edges a. A similar slit C is made at the same distance from the other
outer edge a'. From each of these slits C, C¹, to the outer edges a, a', the bottom
is ripped up as at b, b, leaving the centre piece B, B', .equal in length to about
half the width of the sack, continuous as before. The sack being now opened out
(see Figures 2 and 3), the centre piece forms a square-bottom, which is open on
the two opposite edges 62 adjacent to the outer edges of the original sack, but
forms one piece with the sides at the other two edges. The side pieces c, c, formed
by the longitudinal and transverse slits aforesaid, are now either folded over the
continuous bottom B on the outside, as shown at Figure 4, or tucked into the
sack, and laid on the bottom in the inside, as in Figure 6, in either case being
stitched, or otherwise secured in this position. For sacks with rectangular bottoms,
the position and length of the slits would be different.

page_text: It will be evident that in forming a sack of this shape, it is not necessary to sew
the seams (a, a Figure 1) before cutting the slits, and folding the bottom, as the
sewing of the completely cut sack, might be done afterwards. If the entire piece
forming the sack be opened out, as shown in Figure 5, the slits C, C₁ b, b₁, will
present the appearance of a T-shaped slit, at two opposite edges of the piece. These
slits might be cut at one operation, while the piece (or several superposed pieces) was
lying in its extended position as in Figure 5.
Though this way of forming the square or rectangular bottom appears to us at
present to be the best, it must not be understood that it is the only way. For
instance, referring to Figure 7, a strip of material such as D, could be taken
about the width of the sack required, and of sufficient length to make two sides and
a bottom, a similar strip D₁ being placed at right angles over this in the form of a
cross, with equal arms. When these strips are properly joined together they form a
sack having a square bottom of double thickness, and a soam at the juncture of each
of the four sides. Or two separate side pieces could be stitched to the aforesaid long
piece, so as to produce a sack with a bottom of single thickness. Or the sides and
bottom could all be separate pieces. Or other methods might be devised with the
same object.
When the sacks are intended more especially to carry coal or other heavy material,
we prefer to attach a small loop or handle, as at E, (see Figure 8) to the bottom (or
near the bottom) in addition to the two at the top, so that the emptying of the sacks
may be facilitated.
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
a
1. As a new article of manufacture, a bag or sack of textile material, having
square or rectangular bottom, formed of a single or double layer of said material,
substantially as and for the purposes described.
2. In the construction of a bag or sack with a square or rectangular double bottom,
the cutting or slitting of the strip of material for forming said bag or sack, in such a
manner that when extended it shall have a T-shaped slit at each of two opposite
edges, whereby there is formed a continuous centre piece, such as B, constituting one
layer of said bottom and side pieces such as c, c, which (when laid upon the said
piece B) together make up the other layer thereof, substantially as described and
shown.
3. A bag or sack with a square or rectangular bottom (either single or double),
made by uniting two or more pieces of material in the form of a rectangular cross
with equal arms, and by afterwards joining the contiguous edges of said arnis,
substantially as described and shown.
4. In a coal or similar sack, the combination with the top handle or handles and
the bottom thereof, of an auxiliary handle attached to the said sack at or near the
bottom thereof, substantially as and for the purposes described.
Dated thin 98th day of A: 1000
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool,
Patent Agents for the Applicants.