IMPROVEMENTS IN Reticules, TraveLLING BAGS, JEWEL CASES, DRESSING CASES, WORK BOXes, AND OTHER SIMILAR RECEPTACLES
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Hermann Van Dyk, of 12, West Smithfield, in
the City of London, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
Reticules, TraveLLING BAGS, JEWEL CASES, DRESSING CASES, WORK BOXes,
AND OTHER SIMILAR RECEPTACLES.”
Sealed the 10th March 1876, and dated the 14th September 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Hermann Van Dyk at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 14th September 1875.
I, HERMANN VAN DYK, of 12, West Smithfield, in the City of
London, do hereby declare the nature of the said. Invention for
" IMPROVEMENTS IN RETICULES, TRAVELLING BAGS, JEWEL CASES, DRESSING
CASES, WORK BOXES, AND OTHER SIMILAR RECEPTACLES," to be as follows:-
The object of my Invention is to provide reticules, jewel cases, dressing
cases, work boxes, and other similar receptacles in the shape and appear-
ance of a book, so as at first sight it shall not be seen that the said
article is a receptacle of any kind.

page_text: The Invention consists in forming a skeleton box, either of wood or
metal in the shape of a book; this box is cut in two halves. I cover
the two halves with leather, silk, velvet, fur, or any other woven leather
like or pliable material. This covering forms a hinge or hinges in the
back. I further line the inside with silk, leather, or any other material
suitable for the purpose, and after thus covering-the-outside-and.lining
the inside, I join the two halves by means of tassels made of leather,
silk, or other suitable materials, and in effecting this I have a receptacle
which when shut has the appearance of a book, and when open that of
a bag; and in order to further produce the resemblance of a book I ]
cover the edges of the said article in such a manner as to appear like
the edges of a book.
Many people, ladies in particular when out of doors, object to the use
of bags or reticules wherein to carry those things which are a necessity,
such as purse, card case, spectacles, pocket-handkerchief, smelling 1
bottles, keys, and various other like things, but they do not object to
carry a novel or any other book; for this reason I have invented a
receptacle which can contain all those things, and this receptacle to
resemble a book.
In order that the articles thus confided to the care of this book shall
not be able to drop out if the book is carried either bottom upwards, or
if the same should fall or be placed in such a position that if open the
articles contained therein could be seen or fall out, I have added to the
said Invention a catch, or lock, or fastener, the action of which is inside
and hidden. By pressing upon a certain place the book opens, and it g
can be-shut by simply pressing the two halves against each other; and
in order to further-produce-the resemblance of a book I have added
straps in appearance like book straps, which are independent of the
book-if-not-wanted, and serve as a handle-for-the-same, if necessary..
Another minor advantage in carrying a bag or receptacle under a s
disguised form is to be found in the fact that whereas a pickpocket or a
thief would avail himself at every opportunity to empty the contents of
a little bag or reticule, if not carrying it off bodily, he would never
dream a book to be anything else than a book, and perhaps containing
money and things of value, and has a novel or a book has no charms
for a pickpocket any person might carry large amounts of money and
valuable property in the shape of jewellery without fear of loosing any.

page_text: In consequence of the above constructions I have procured a bag or
a receptacle, totally hidden its purpose, but substantially looking like a
book.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Hermann Van Dyk in the Great Scal Patent Office
on the 14th March 1876.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HERMAN
VAN DYK, of No. 12, West Smithfield, in the City of London, Manu-
facturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of September, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the
thirty-eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Herman Van Dyk, Her special
licence that I, the said Herman Van Dyk, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Herman Van Dyk, my executors,
administrators, 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 Invention for " IMPROVEMENTS IN
RETICULES, TRAVELLING BAGS, JEWEL CASES, DRESSING CASES, WORK BOXES, AND
OTHER SIMILAR RECEPTACLES," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said Herman Van Dyk, my executors or administrators, 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 Herman Van Dyk, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement thereof, reference being bad to the
Drawings hereunto annexed, that is to say :-

page_text: I, JOHOR QUEROS ; WULA KUats, viza Casua; pap
cases, medicine boxes, and similar receptacles in shape and appearance of
a book, so that at first sight it shall not appear that the said article is
a receptacle of any kind.
.
The Invention consists-in-forming-a-skeleton-box-made_of_wood,_
metal, or any other rigid substance in the shape of a book or volume, or
of more books or volumes, as shown in Fig. 1, which represents one
volume. This box is cut into two halves, as shown in Figures 2; the
hollow thus created measures from one half inch to five or more inches 1
in each half.
The Invention further consists in adding a secret lock or catch to this
skeleton box in such a manner that in pressing the one half on the
other it locks, the unlocking of which being effected by pressing on that
part of the box where the small metal box with the spring hook is fixed. 1
Fig. 2 shows the metal box containing the spring hook; Figure 2º
shows the fixed hook.
The Invention further consists in joining the two half boxes at the
back by means of metal hinges, or by means of leather, calico, or any
other material which will act as a hinge, and after the two halves are 2
thus joined the parts which have been cut in two are covered with gold
paper or with any other material, or are prepared in such a manner as to
resemble the ordinary book edging.
I
The Invention further consists in fixing two metal hooks or loops to
oach of the two halves of the box.
2
Fig. 3.represents the book or loop when disengaged; Fig. 4 shows the
hook or loop after it is applied to the box. These hooks or loops are
-moveable,-and-can-be-pushed-inwards so as to lie close to the edge, or
can be-drawn-out as far as necessary, when occasion requires. By means
of these hooks straps, which have the appearance of book straps, but 3
which serve as handles, are attached to the receptacle, the hooks or
loops being so arranged when drawn out to allow the straps to pass
through.
Fig. 5, ff, shows the hooks or loops drawn out, with the double
handle strap h, h, attached. After thus placing the hooks I cover 3
those parts which form the cover of a book with leather, silk, velvet,