Improvements in or Additions to Hinges or Centre Joints for the Frames of Leather Bags, and for other Analogous Uses.
Year: 1886

page_text: Improvements in or Additions to Hinges or Centre Joints for the
Frames of Leather Bags, and for other Analogous Uses..
I ROBERT FRANK BRITTAIN of Stockton on Tees do hereby declare the nature
of this invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN OR ADDITIONS TO HINGES OR CENTRE
JOINTS FOR THE FRAMES OF LEATHER BAGS AND FOR OTHER ANALOGOUS USES
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 hinges or centre joints especially those of the kind
employed for the frames of bags or other receptacles formed of leather or other
flexible material opened and closed by means of a rigid frame forming with the
flexible material two similar flaps connected together by means of such hinges or
centre joints on which they turn. These hinges or centre joints are at present
constructed so that the frames or flaps of the bag or receptacle can move freely
from the position in which they close the bag or receptacle by fitting into each
other to any other position required for setting the bag open but these hinges or
centre joints are incapable of retaining the said flaps in any particular position or
to resist their tendency to close together.
The object of my Invention is to overcome this defect by attaching to the frame of
the flap a catch projection or pawl actuated by a spring so that the catch projection
or pawl automatically enters a recess or slot provided in the hinge socket when the
hinge turns round to a certain position corresponding to the position in which the
flaps are intended to be held. The hinge is disengaged when required from the pawl
or catch by means of a tappet or presser or other analogous means. If it should be
desirable for any purpose that the flaps should be capable of being fixed or locked
in more than one position as for instance when both jaws are opened out flat for
one position and when only one is opened out flat for another position I effect this
by providing slots or recesses in the hinge socket corresponding to these positions
in which the flaps are to be locked.
And in order that my Invention may be fully understood I will describe the
same with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate my Invention
as applied to an ordinary leather bag.
Figure 1 is a sectional view of the bag taken on the line X X of Figure 2 which
illustrates the bag in plan the bag being shewn in each of the figures 1 and 2. with
the flaps wide open and the hinge engaged with the pawl or catch so that the flaps

page_text: are locked in position. Figure 3 illustrates the hinge in detail with the mode of
connecting the spring pawl or catch to the frame the hinge socket or single eye
being provided with a slot or recess so as to interlock with the pawl or catch when
the flaps are opened out flat. Figure 4 also illustrates the combination of the
hinge and pawl in detail with the socket or single eye recessed or slotted in two
places so that the flaps become locked in two positions.
A¹ A are the hinges of the frames B1 B2 which are connected to the flexible
material of the bag or other receptacle so as to form two similar flaps fitting into
each other in the usual way these flaps B and B being capable of closing together
or opening out by turning on the hinges A' and A. In bags as usually constructed
these hinges are both alike each consisting of a single eye C¹ extending from the
end of one frame and fitting into the double eye C³ ³ extending from the end of
the other eye so as to work on a pin d as shewn in hinge A* such a hinge simply
holding the frames B¹ and B' together whilst allowing them to turn upon it as a
centre joint. In constructing a hinge so as to apply my Invention I make one of
the eyes (preferably the centre eye C¹ extending from frame B¹ as a hinge A¹) of
sufficient width to admit of a slot or recess e being formed or cut into it corre-
sponding to the line of rotation of this slot or recess e I provide a pall or catch f
or its equivalent projecting from the end of the spring g by which it is connected
to the opposite frame B2 so that the single eye c' containing the slot or recess
extends from the end of one frame and the spring and pawl from the corresponding
end of the opposite frame As these two frames B B turn round on the pin d the
slot or recesse is presented to the pawl or catch f which enters it by the action of
the spring g and locks the hinge.
In order to disengage the pawl or catch fand release the hinge I provide a
tappet or other equivalent contrivance whereby pressure may be applied to the
spring g and the pawl or catch f be withdrawn from recess or slot e.
Where two slots or recesses e² e are provided in the single eye as illustrated in
figure 4 the pawl or catch f will interlock with the hinge in two positions the
tappet being applied in each case to again release the spring-It is obvious that
the mechanical details by which I carry out my Invention can be modified without
departing from the nature of my Invention as for instance the pawl or catch could
be affixed to the single eye c¹ and the slot or recess be cut into the spring g the
end of the spring being curved downwards to allow the pawl to pass over it.
It is also obvious that the application of an interlocking centre joint as
herein before described can be applied to other similar purposes as well as to
the ordinary leather bag illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 without departing from the
nature of my Invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same may be carried into effect I declare that
what I claim is :-
The combination of parts forming an interlocking hinge or centre joint sub-
stantially as and for the purpose herein before described with reference to the
accompanying drawings.