Improvements in Hand and like Bags.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Mar., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 5th Dec.. 1896-Accepte1, 15th Jan., 1897
Improvements in Hand and like Bags.
I, PATRICK ALPHONSUS MARTIN of the Firm of Martin and Martins, of
Granville Street, in the City of Birmingham, Manufacturer, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to hand and other like travelling bags, and consists in one
part, in a new bag or a new form of bag, and in the second part, in detail
improvements in parts of bags.
According to the first part of my improvements, I combine two types of bag in
one article, that is, the features of a Gladstone bag with some of the features of a
kit bag, by taking the usual Gladstone longitudinal sections, and adding to each
section, a half kit top, thereby producing a new type of bag having all the advantages
of a Gladstone and a kit bag. The top corners of the foundation frame of this new
bag are square, alike as in a kit bag.
In carrying out my detail improvements in connection with bags, which constitutes
the second part of my invention, I provide the caps of the frames of the bags already
described, with ears, extending beyond the edges of the frames and adapted to cover
up or overhang the square corners of the inner frame.
Another detail improvement, applicable to bags generally, consists in strengthening
the webs of the caps or the webs of the sides of the frame by rivetted angle pieces
or brackets, so as to give special strength to the frames and prevent them springing.
Such strengthening angle pieces or brackets are secured to the outer web by a
headed rivet, which connects the bracket and the leather to the frame whilst its head
forms a defence against the leather at the ends of bag being rubbed.
A further detail improvement consists in the usual U-shaped turn over clips at
the top end corners and employing in lieu thereof, turn down box ends, made of
metal faced with leather and connected to the frame by a spring-hinged double
strap, one half of which is screwed to the frame and the other to the top of the box
and which admits of the box ends being turned down or up to admit of the box
sides embracing or leaving the overlapping meeting edges of the top of the bag
frame. The outer ends of these box clips have button holed tabs for aiding the
removal of the box ends from their clipping positions and for preventing them from
rising by the button holes taking over headed studs or buttons on the ends of the
bag frame.
A further part of my invention consists in a new form of foundation frame for
preventing the bag being knocked out of shape by rough usage. Thus it commonly
happens that a porter in putting the bag down gives the corner a blow which is
communicated by the centre bar of bags as now nsually constructed to the other
end of the bag and the frame is consequently distorted. Now the object of this
part of my invention is to counteract the effects of such blows by more evenly
distributing the concussion over the whole of the frame, and this I accomplish by
dispensing with the centre bar and extending the lower ends of the sides of the
frame into supplementary angle bars directed transversely or in the shorter
direction of the bottom of the bag. These angle frames are jointed or coupled
together at their meeting corners, whilst their outer ends are united by tie
wires or rods running along the inside of the longer direction of the bag, thus

page_text: forming a rectangular bottom frame, whose halves are jointed at the middles of
the two ends.
As a modification, the tie wires or rods may be dispensed with altogether, and
the outer ends of the horizontal parts of the angle frames may be spread out into
corner plates or angle shoes, which are rivetted to the leather of the bag at the
corners and give strength thereto..
When required, I may employ the ordinary centre bar in connection with either
of the aforesaid frames.
As a further modification in order to break the force of a blow on the end of a
bag, I propose forming a loop spring out of the metal of the centre rod, which
springs preferably lie in the same plane as the bottom of the bag.
As a still further modification, the middle part of the centre bar may be mide
tubular, into which short headed rods or pegs carried by the bag ends telescope,
coiled springs encircle these pegs with their ends respectively abutting against the
heads of the pegs and the ends of the tubular part of the middle bar, hence a spring
bar for breaking the force of blows on the end of the bag.
Another detail improvement consists in a new form of bottom shoe, having
a vertical end languet or strap-like leaf, with a pair of jointed or hinged-
together right-angled bottom plates, one of which is disposed excentric to the
vertical languet or is cranked so as to lie upon one side of the joint running along
the middle of the bag bottom, whilst the other plate lies on the other side of
the joint. The outer end edges of these plates extend slightly so as to protect the
leather.
Dated this 5th day of March 1896.
Improvements in Hand and like Bags.
I, PATRICK ALPHONSUS MARTIN of the Firm of Martin and Martins, of
Granville Street, in the City of Birmingham, Manufacturer, 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 hand and other like travelling bags, and consists in one
part, in a new bag or a new form of bag, and in the second part, in detail improvements
in parts of bags.
According to the first part of my improvements, I combine two types of bag in
one article, that is, the features of a Gladstone bag with some of the features of a
kit bag, by taking the usual Gladstone longitudinal sections, and adding to each
section, a half kit top, thereby producing a new type of bag having all the advantages
of a Gladstone and a kit bag. The top corners of the foundation frame of this new
bag are square, alike as in a kit bag.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents an end elevation of such a
hand bag as above referred to, shown open.
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same.
Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section of Figure 2 upon the dotted line ¹.
a, a¹ are the sides of the bag, each composed of a half kit top al, and Gladstone
half bodies a, said sides being joined together at a, and having handles a, inner
flaps a, and with the end flanges a', of the half-frame a, taking over the end
flanges a, of the other half frame aº.

page_text: In carrying out one of my detail improvements in connection with bags,
which constitutes the second part of my invention, I provide the caps of the
frames of the bags already described with ears, extending beyond the end edges
of the frame and adapted to cover up or overhang the square corners of the said
frame.
Figure 4 represents a longitudinal vertical section of one corner of the bag
frame Figure 1 upon the dotted line 3, showing an ear overhanging the cap.
b is the frame, b¹ the cap and 6 the overhanging ear covering up the corner of the
satne. c is the clip for keeping the ends of the bag frame closed, turning on a
pin c', mounted upon a corner fitting &².
A further detail improvement relates to the usual U-shaped turn-over clips
at the top end corners of the bag and consists in employing in lieu thereof, turn
down box ends, made of metal faced with leather and connected to the frame by a
spring-hinged double strap, one half of which is screwed to the frame and the other
to the top of the box and which admits of the box ends being turned down or up to
allow the box sides to embrace or leave the overlapping meeting edges of the top
of the bag frames. The outer ends of these box clips have button holed tabs for
aiding the removal of the box ends from their clipping positions and for preventing
them from rising by the button holes taking over headed studs or buttons on the
ends of the bag frame.
Figure 5 represents in plan a part of a bag provided with my improvel corner
clip.
Figure 6 is a side elevation of Figure 5 and Figure 7 an end view thereof.
In Figures 6, 7 and 8, d is a turn-down corner clip, of a boxed construction, and
preferably made of leather covered or faced metal, and d' is the spring or other
hinged strap by which the clip is connected to the bag frame, the one half d being
screwed to the said frame, whilst the other half is secured in like manner
to the top of the clip. d is the fastening tab, the button hole d³, of which passes
over the button or stud d, on the end of the outer frame to prevent the clip from
rising when not required.
Such a clip as described may be hinged to the end, equally as well as to the top
of a frame and may, if required, have a tab to button over a stud on the said frame
top or cap.
A further part of my invention consists in a new form of foundation frame for
preventing a bag from being knocked out of shape by rough usage. Thus it
commonly happens that a porter in putting the bag down gives the corner a blow
which is communicated by the centre bar of bags as now usually constructed to the
other end of the bag and the frame is consequently distorted. Now the object of
this part of my invention is to counteract the effects of such blows by more evenly
distributing the concussion over the whole of the frame, and this I accomplish by
dispensing with the centre bar and extending the lower ends of the sides of the
frame into supplementary angle bars directed transversely or in the shorter
direction of the bottom of the bag. These angle frames are jointed or coupled
together at their meeting corners, whilst their outer ends are united by tie
wires or rods running along the inside of the longer direction of the bag, thus
ng a rectangular bottom frame, whose halves are jointed at the middles of the
gure represents a perspective view of a part of a bag framing having a
bottom or foundation constructed according to this last part of my invention.
Figure 9 shows a modified form of joint for such a framing.
e, e are the ends of a bag framing, each made up of two angle frames e³, jointed
together at their meeting corners e, either by link plates et (as in Figure 8) or by
overlapping and rivetted together ears e (as in Figure 9), whilst the outer ends e,
of the bottom or transverse parts e of the said frame sections are stayed, tied or
braced together by tie rods or stout wires f,/.
As a modification, the tie wires or rods may be dispensed with altogether, and
the outer ends of the horizontal or transverse bottom parts of the angle frames may

page_text: be spread out into corner plates or angle shoes, which are rivetted to the leather
of the bag at the corners and give strength thereto, as represented in the perspective
view Figure 10, in which g, g', are the bag frame sections, g the bottom parts thereof
and the angular shoes or strengthening corners formed at (or attached to) the outer
ends of the same.
When required, I may employ the ordinary centre bar in connection with either
of the last-described forms of framing.
As a further modification in order to break the force of a blow on the
end of a bag, I propose forming a bow or loop spring or springs out of the metal
of the ceutre rod, which springs preferably lie in the same plane as the bottoin of
the bag.
Figure 11 represents a plan of one form of such centre bar, which is marked j,
and the springs, which are preferably formed integrally therewith, are marked.
As a still further modification the middle part of the centre bar, may be made
tubular, into which short headed rods or pegs carried by the bag ends telescope.
Coiled springs encircle these pegs with their ends respectively abutting against
the heads or shoulders of the pegs and the ends of the tubular part of the
middle bar, hence a spring bar for breaking the force of blows on the end of
the bag.
Figure 12 represents partly in longitudinal section and partly in plan, such a
spring centre rod or bar.
k is the tubular middle part, und k², kare the telescoping end pegs carried by
the bag framing k³. kare the coiled springs encircling said pegs and k³, k², are
the collars on the pegs and ends of middle part respectively, forming abutments
for the springs.
Another detail improvement consists in a new form of bottom shoe, having a
vertical end languet or strap-like leaf, with a pair of jointed or hinged-together
right-angled bottom plates, one of which is disposed excentric to the vertical
languet or is cranked so as to lie upon one side of the joint running along the
middle of the bag bottom, whilst the other plate lies on the other side of the
joint. The outer end edges of these plates extend slightly so as to protect
the leather.
Figure 13 is an underside plan of the improved bottom shoe and Figure 14 is au
end elevation of the same.
m, m' are the hinged together half plates, disposed one on either side of the joint
running along the bottom of the bag o, and m² is vertical languet, for protecting the
corner or end, and formed integrally with the half plate m.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
First. A new bag, divided into two longitudinal parts, alike unto a Gladstone
bag, each half or part having a half-kit top and a half-Gladstone bottom.
Secondly. A new bag, divided into two longitudinal parts, alike unto a Gladstone
bag, each half having a square frame, a half-kit top and a half Gladstone bottom,
substantially as described and set forth.
Thirdly. Providing the square frames of the new type of bag referred to in the
preceding claims with overhanging ears at the end corners, substantially as and for
the purpose described and set forth in Figure 4.
Fourthly. The improved form of clip, consisting of a hinged box end, provided
with a fastening tab, substantially as and for the purpose described and set forth
in Figures 5, 6 and 7.
.
Fifthly. A hand bag frame each end consisting of two jointed together right angled
framings or sections, with the transverse or horizontal parts of the framings of each
side tied or braced together by longitudinal tie rods, substantially as and for the
purpose described and set forth in Figures 8 and 9.
Sixthly. Providing the outer ends of right-angled framing sections of hand bags

page_text: such as referred to in the preceding claim, with plate or boxed ends or corners to
which the leather is rivetted, substantially as and for the purpose described and in
Figure 10.
Seventhly. A centre bar for bag framings, having or being provided with a loop
or coiled spring or springs, substantially as and for the purpose described and set
forth in Figure 11.
Eighthly. A centre bar for bag frames consisting of a tubular or equivalent
middle part, into the ends of which pegs or equivalents carried by the bag frame
and surrounded by coiled springs take, substantially as described and set forth in
Figure 12.
Ninthly. The improved form of bottom shoe for bags, substantially as described
and represented in Figures 13 and 14.
Dated this 4th day of December 1896
PATRICK ALPHONSUS MARTIN,
By Henry Skerrett,
24 Temple Row, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.