A New or Improved Apparatus for Holding the Mouths of Sacks Open.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Nov., 1892-Accepted, 17th Dec., 1892
A New or Improved Apparatus for Holding the Mouths of
Sacks Open.
I, WILLIAM HUTCHESON MCDOWALL of Ivy Cottage Kirkcowan N.B.
Seed Merchant 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 a new or improved apparatus for holding open the
mouths of sacks whilst filling, which can be adjusted to various sizes of sacks.
In carrying out this invention I use a rectangular frame, preferably of wood, to
the inner sides of which the sack holding device is attached. This device consists
of two metal bars, each having a number of notches at regular intervals on one
side. One of these is fixed to each side of the frame by means of pins at the ends,
and is provided with a transverse bar, having a hole at the centre large enough
to allow of it sliding up and down the vertical bar. This cross piece has a socket
at each end through which passes a small iron bar having a hook at one end. This
hook is held in the cross piece by means of a thumb screw, and can be adjusted
to any desired position. The cross piece is held at the required height on the
vertical bar by means of a pivotted piece, the end of which rests in one of the
above mentioned notches, being held in place by a spring.
The mouth of the sack is hung on the four hooks, adjusted to the required height
and distance apart, thus being held securely open, small pivotted catches on the
bar carrying the hooks being provided to cover the ends and prevent the sack
coming off or any injury to the hands or clothes of persons filling the sack. The
cross pieces incline a little downwards to the front so that the front part of the
mouth of the sack will be lower than the back, in order that it may be fille: more
easily.
In order that my invention may be more clearly understood reference is had to
the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings in which Fig. 1 is a front and
Fig. 2 a side elevation of my improved apparatus and Fig. 3 a detail view.
A is the rectangular frame fixed to the ground or standing on a substantial base,
having the vertical bars B attached by the pins B' at each end. These bars are
provided with the notches B³ on one side extending for the greater part of their
length. C is the cross piece loosely held on the bar B and capable of sliding up
and down, carrying the adjustable hooks D passing through the holes at its ends
and fixed in position by the thumb screws D¹. D is a small pivotted piece at the
inner end of the hook which can be turned over it protecting the sharp point. The
cross piece C is held in position on the bar by the pivotted catch E one end of
which rests in a notch B², the other arm being provided with the spring F.
It will be seen that with this arrangement the apparatus can be adjusted to
various sizes of sacks, as the cross pieces can be moved up or down and the hooks
moved to any required distance apart within certain limits. In order to raise the
cross piece it is simply pulled up to the required height, the catch preventing it
falling back, and to lower it, it is only necessary to grasp the front end and the
projecting arm of the catch releasing the catch from the notches as long as it
is held.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what [
claim is :-
(1) A sack holder consisting of a rectangular vertical frame to which are fixed
two notched bars provided with cross pieces, carrying suitable hooks, substantially

page_text: (2) In a sack holder the combination of a frame A, vertical bars B fixed to the
frame and provided with notches B³, a cross piece C on the bars carrying adjustable
hooks D, and a catch E actuated by a spring F, substantially as described and
shown and for the purposes specified.
Dated this 14th day of November 1892.
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.