Improvements in and relating to Hand Bags and similar Articles.
Year: 1888

page_text: [Communicated from abroad by William ROEMER, of Newark, New Jersey,
United States of America, Bag and Satchel Manufacturer.j
Improvements in and relating to Hand Bags and similar Articles.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex 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 :-
The object of this invention is to enable a bag to be opened without producing any
unsightly folds or creases in the bag material at the hinge joint; to provide a certain
spring action in the frame which allows the bag to give, under pressure, and causes it
to return to a normal position; to obtain a more durable construction and to facilitate
the operation of assembling the parts.
The invention consists in the improved frame for bags, satchels, etc., having the
arrangements and combinations of parts thereof, substantially as will be hereinafter set
forth and finally embodied in the clauses of the claim.
Referring to the accompanying drawings in which like letters of reference indicate
corresponding parts in each of the several figures, Figure 1 is an end view of a bag or
satchel embodying my improvement showing the catch or fastener open and the outer
jaw of the frame thrown back; Figure 2 is an end view of the frame detached from
the bag and showing one of the jaws closed, with the over-lapping top pieces; Figure 3
is a top plan view of the bag-frame; Figure 4 is a detail side view showing a hinge
and coupling; Figure 5 is a front elevation of a clasp; Figure 6 is an enlarged
vertical section of the clasp and one of the jaws of the frame when closed or locked
together; Figure 7 is a section through line x, Figure 2, and Figure 8 is a section
through line y, Figure 3.
In said drawings a a are end pieces, preferably in the form of flat straps or rods
and having an angular shape, shown more clearly in Figure 2, so that the longitudinal
centre of the top of the bag will be raised somewhat above the side edges when the
iaws are closed.

page_text: To the ends of said end pieces are secured by rivets or other appropriato means
hinge pieces b, b, shown in detail in Figure 4. Said hinge pieces are provided with
arms e adapted to lie against and be secured to the end pieces a, and with arms d
which lie approximately parallel with the arms c, or when the end pieces a are angular,
as in Figure 2, at an angle thereto to receive the ends of side pieces e, e. Said side
pieces extend longitudinally at the opposite side of the bag or satchel and have their
opposite ends bent, as indicated at f, Figure 3, so that they will lie against and be
secured to the hinge-piece-arins d.
The hinge-pieces thus serve as a coupling piece to unite the ends of the pieces a,
to form a continuous quadrangular frame. They are also provided with hinge-
projections g upon which the jaws, are secured by means of hinge-pins i, i.
These jaws h, h² are preferably formed of flat straps or bars and adapted to lay
one over the other at their ends when closed, as shown in Figure 8, and their
sides to overlap the end pieces a, as shown in Figures 2, 6 and 7.
The slots or recesses m in the hinge pieces between the arms c, d, allow the rows
of stitching which secure the bag body to the end pieces to be extended to near the
extremities of said end pieces, as will be understood.
To the body of the bag and on its ends are secured cases k by means of rivets or
other suitable means in flanges k¹, on the sides of said spring cases, as shown in
Figures 1 and 5; s is a flat metallic spring within the case and secured to the
underside of the case at m¹. n is a flat hasp or arm with lateral pins n², n' adapted to
turn in tubes or sockets o, o, formed in or on the outer face-plate of the case & so as to
form a pivotal connection with said case; the lower end of said hasp n extends down
into said case through an opening in the said face-plate and is provided with an
excentric bearing n' which engages the springs, as shown in Figure 6.
is
The upper end of the hasp n has an opening n³ to allow it to pass readily over a
stud or pin r secured to the overlapping portion of the jaw h. This stud or pin
made concavo-convex, so that when the bag is closed and the end of the basp n is
pressed over the stud, it will rest in the concavity of the stud, as shown in Figure 6.
In Figure 1 of the drawings I have shown the hasp on the bag thrown back and
the outer jaw of the frame also thrown back. When it is desired to close the bag the
jaws are brought together and the end of the hasp is passed over the stud on the outer
jaw and held there in position, as shown in Figure 6.
I do not intend to limit myself to the specific construction of the parts herein
shown, as various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of my
invention.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The improved frame for bags or satchels which consists of end-pieces a, a and
sido piecos e, e united at their ends by hinged pieces b, b, and jaws h, h', pivotally
connected to said hinge-pieces, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
2. The improved frame combining end pieces and side pieces, and hinge pieces
connecting said side and end pieces, said hinge pieces having an upward extension g
and jaws pivoted upon said extensions, substantially as and for the purposes set
forth.
3. The improved bag-frame combining end and side pieces, and hinge pieces
‚having arms c, d, against which said end pieces and side pieces are riveted, substantially
as and for the purposes set forth.
4. The improved bag-frame combining end and side pieces, and hinge-picces provided
with extensions g and arms c, d, against which said end and side pieces are riveted,
the latter being bent as at f to lie against said arms, and jaws h and pivots
connecting said jaws with said hingo pieces, substantially as and for the purposes set
forth.
5. A frame having end and side pieces e, e, extensions g, and jaws hinged upon said
extensions, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

page_text: 6. The combination with the jaws h, h³, of a bag or satchel frame, of a case secured
to the body of the bag and containing a spring, a hasp pivoted to said case, and a.
stud secured to the outer jaw of the said frame for receiving the slotted end of said
hasp, all arranged and adapted to operate. as and for the purposes set forth.
7. The combination with the frame of a bag or satchel, of a spring case provided
with a spring within said case and pivoted thereto, a locking hasp pivotally
connected with said case and provided at its outer end with an opening n³, and a stud
secured to said frame over which one end of the hasp passes securing the parts of the
bag-frame together, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
8. The combination of a spring secured to said case, tubes or sockets o, o on said
case, a locking hasp having one end resting on said spring, pins n³, n¹ on the side
of said hasp adapted to reciprocate in said tubes, and stud r secured to the bag and
adapted to enter an opening in the outer end of the locking hasp, substantially as
described and for the purposes set forth.
9. In combination, a bag or satchel body having jaws h, h¹ one of which overlaps
the other, studs secured on the outer of said jaws at the opposite depending ends
thereof, hasp n pivotally secured to said body and adapted to enter into engagement
with the pins or studs to hold both of said jaws down to said body, substantially as and
for the purposes set forth.
Dated this with d
1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London,
Agents for the Applicant.