IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS FOR SECURING TRAVELLING AND OTHER BAGS PORTMANTEAUS AND THE LIKE
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Howard Ross of 83 Manor Street in the city and
county of Dublin Ireland for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS FOR
SECURING TRAVELLING AND OTHER BAGS PORTMANTEAUS AND THE LIKE
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION loft by the said John Howard' Ross at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th August 1883.
JOHN HOWARD Ross, of 83 Manor Street in the city and county of Dublin,
Ireland, "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS FOR SECURING TRAVELLING AND OTHER BAGS
PORTMANTEAUS AND THE LIKE
This invention has for its object the construction of a locking apparatus for
securing travelling and other bags, portmanteaus and the like and is designed to
provide a siniple and efficient means of securing both the top and sides of the bag
or portmanteau.
Attached to the lock bolt or other part vertically pressed down to open the bag
I place projections or studs.
At, each side of the lock and pivoted to the frame I place levers capable of
oscillation on such pivots or centres. The ends of the levers pass through slotted
brackets carried by or attached to the frame and are jointed to other levers shaped
like the corner and side of the portmanteau or like receptacle. The end of these
second levers pass through brackets or guides and are suitably bevelled.
The opposite sides of the frame carry brackets through which the bevelled ends
of these levers pass, and the top is furnished with bevelled books or catches to engage
with the oscillating levers, and with a catch for the lock.
Springs are fastened to the oscillating levers and to the brackets through which
they pass or to the frame so that the said levers are pressed into their catches when
the bag or portmanteau is shut.
When this is done the bag or portmanteau is locked when the lock bolt being
unable to be pressed down cannot oscillate the levers and free them from their
catches and so the bag cannot be opened till unlocked. To open the bag it is
unlocked.
When the bolt is pressed down, thus the levers are depressed by the projections
striking them and the levers freed from the catches on the other side of the frame.
Instead of a vertically sliding bolt the arrangements. might be varied to suit a
horizontally sliding or like movement. The invention is mainly applicable to what
is known as "Gladstone Bags" but may be applied to sample brief or cash bags or
cases portmanteaus, trunks and the like.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Howard Ross in the Patent Office on the 13th February
1884.
JOHN HOWARD Ross of 83 Manor Street in the City and County of Dublin,
Ireland "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS FOR SECURING TRAVELLING AND OTHER BAGS,
PORTMANTEAUS AND THE LIKE
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My said Invention has for its object the construction of a locking apparatus for
securing travelling and other bags, portmanteaus and the like, and is designed to
produce a simple and efficient means of securing both the top and the sides of such
bags or portmanteaus.
Attached to the lock-bolt or other part vertically pushed down for opening the
bag, I place projections or studs. At each side of the lock and pivoted to the frame,
I place levers capable of oscillation on such pivots or centres, the ends of the levers
pass through slotted brackets carried by or attached to the frame and are jointed
to other levers shaped like the corner and side of the bag, portmanteau or like
receptacle, the ends of these second levers pass through brackets or guides and are
suitably bevelled, the opposite sides of the frame carry-brackets through which the.
bevelled ends of these levers pass, and the top is furnished with bevelled hooks or
catches to engage with the oscillating levers and with.a catch for the lock.
Springs are fastened to the oscillating levers and to the brackets through which
they pass, or to the frame so that the said levers are pressed into their catches when
the bag or portinanteau is shut. When this is done, the bag or portmanteau is
locked, when the lock-bolt, being unable to be pressed down, cannot-oscillate the
levers and free them from their catches and so the bag cannot be opened till
unlocked.
To open the bag, it is unlocked, when the bolt is pressed down, thus the levers
are depressed by the projections striking them and the levers freed from the catches
on the other side of the frame.
Instead of a vertically sliding bolt the arrangements may be made to suit a
horizontally sliding or like movement.
This Invention is mainly applicable to what is known as "Gladstone Bags” but
may be applied to Sample, brief or cash bags or case, portmanteaus, trunks and
the like.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood, I now
proceed more particularly to set forth the system, mode or manner in or under
which the same is or may be used or practically carried into effect reference being
had to the accompanying drawing which represents a bag frame fitted with a lock
constructed according to my present Invention, and to the letters marked thereon.
In carrying out my present Improvements, I attach studs or, as represented on
the accompanying drawing, projections a, to the lock-bolt b, or other part which
is vertically pushed down for opening the bag. At each side of the lock c, and
pivoted at d, to the frame e, I place the levers f, capablo of oscillation on such
pivots or centres d, the ends of the levers, pass through the slotted brackets g,
carried by or attached to the frame e, and are jointed at h, to the levers or latches 2,
shaped like the corner and side of the bag, portmanteau or like receptacle. The
ends of these second levers or latches i, pass through the brackets or guides j, and
are suitably bevelled at their ends as represented at k, the side l, of the frame
opposite to that on which is fixed the lock c, and its attachments, carries at its
sides the brackets or catches m, through or with which the bevelled ends k, of the
levers or latches i, pass or engage, and the upper part of this side l, of the frame is

page_text: furnished with similar brackets, bevelled hooks or catches m, to engage with the
oscillating levers f, and with the catches n, for the lock c.
The springs o, or their equivalents may be fastened to the oscillating levers f,
and to the brackets g, through which the said levers f, pass, or the said springs o,
may (as represented on the accompanying drawing) be secured to the frame e, so
that the said levers f, and levers or latches i, are pressed into their catches m,
when the bag or portmanteau is shut. When this is done, the bag or portmanteau
is locked by any of the well-known means and the lock-bolt b, being thus unable
to operate the lovers f, and levers or latches i, and free them from their catches m,
the bag cannot be opened till again unlocked.
To open the bag or portmanteau, it is unlocked in the ordinary manner and the
bolt b, is pressed down, thereby operating the levers f, and levers or latches i, by the
studs or projections a, engaging with them and the said levers are thus freed from
the catches m, on the other side, of the frame.
Instead of the vertically sliding bolt b, the arrangement of mechanism herein-
before described may be adapted to suit a horizontally sliding or like movement
My present Improvements are mainly applicable to that class of bags known as
"Gladstone Bags" but they may be applied to Sample, brief or cash bags or caso,
portmanteaus, trunks and the like.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and the system, mode or manner in or under which the same is or may
be used or practically carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that I do
not limit myself to the precise form or detail hereinbefore set forth and shown on
the accompanying Drawing, but what I consider to be novel and original and
therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the heroinbefore in part recited
Letters Patent is :-
In locks for securing travelling and other bags, portmanteaus, and the like, the
mechanism essentially as herein before described and represented on the accom-
panying Drawing, consisting of the projections a, levers f, brackets g, and j, and
catches m, and their attachments or the mechanical equivalent of all or any of these
parts.
In Witness whereof I, the said John Howard Ross have hereunto set my hand
and seal this eleventh day of February in the year of Our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and eighty-four.