Improvements in Metal Trunk Straps.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Sept., 1898-Accepted, 12th Nov., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Metal Trunk Straps.
We, THOMAS BLUNT SMITH, CARL NILSSON, ALFRED THOMAS JONES, all of
Pocatello, County of Bannock, State of Idaho, United States of America, Manu-
facturers, 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 new and useful improvements in metal trunk straps
and consists in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully set
forth and pointed out particularly in the claims.
The object of the invention is to provide a metal trunk strap of joined sections
in which the arrangement is such as to permit of the adjustment of said sections
to accommodate various sizes of trunks, and a further arrangement whereby the
strap may be made to conform closely to the corners of the trunk, and the tighten-
ing lever of the strap is made simple and efficient in its operation. This object
is attained by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in
which-
Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing by stipple lines a trunk having our im-
proved strap placed thereon.
Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section of the meeting ends of the strap and
the device for locking same.
Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through one of the adjustable sections.
Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail of the locking lever and the strap section in which
it engages.
.
Fig. 5 is a perspective of the meeting ends of the parts forming one of the
adjustable sections of the strap.
Referring to the letters of reference, A designates a series of sections of the
strap formed of two separate straps a and b united at their overlapping ends by
means of a T-shaped tongue c on the end of strap a, which is adapted to enter
one of a series of key-hole shaped openings e in the end of strap b, the tongue c
being entered in said apertures with the strap a at right angles to the strap b
when the strap a is turned so as to stand parallel with strap b, causing the
T-extensions of the tongue c to engage the opposite sides of the opening e in the
strap section b in which said tongue is entered; by which arrangement the length
of any one of the strap sections A may be increased or decreased according to the
size of the trunk upon which the strap is placed. d designates the sliding collar
carried by the straps a and adapted to slip over the ends of the meeting straps b
as clearly shown in Fig. 1, to assist in retaining said straps in alignment when
properly adjusted. There are three of these adjustable sections A of the strap
proper, which are united at their ends by means of malleable links or rings B,
preferably of copper, which will shape themselves to the corners of the trunk
around which the strap is passed and permit the strap to lie closely thereto.
The locking section of the strap consists of a single section C united to one of
the sections Å by means of the link or ring B, said section C carrying upon its
free end a lever D which is provided with a staple f through which the end of

page_text: the section C is passed and folded onto itself to pivotally attach the lever thereto.
On the pivoted end of said lever are two engaging points or lugs h which are
adapted to engage in a series of apertures i formed in the upper portion of a
double strap section E which is looped through a link or ring B of one of the
sections A and overlaps the end of the section C, lying under said section C so as
to bring the aperture therein to register with the engaging points h on the
lever D, whereby, by raising the free end of the lever D to a
vertical position the engaging points h thereon may be caused to
engage the series of apertures in the loop section E in advance of the pivotal
point of said lever, when by drawing downward on the free end of said lever, the
overlapping ends of sections C and E are caused to slide past each other and
contract the strap proper tightly around the trunk as will be well understood.
In case it should require a number of operations of said lever to draw the strap
sufficiently tight around the trunk, there is employed a detent spring which is
secured to the under face of the section C, the free end of which is, adapted to
engage in the aperture in the section E as the section C is drawn forward by
the operation of the lever, and hold said section from backward movement while
said lever is again set ahead by a succeeding operation.
The lower portion of the double section E lies immediately below the aperture i
in the upper portion thereof and protects the trunk from the points h of said lever
which pass through said apertures.
}
2
To provide means for locking the strap when properly secured around the
trunk, there is employed a sliding collar L which is movably mounted upon the
upper portion of the section E of the strap and is adapted to slide over the extended
end o of said lever when in a horizontal position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and
retains said lever in this position, said collar being held in place by the bow M
of a padlock which is passed through an aperture s in the end of said lever back
of said collar, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2, whereby the strap proper is
securely retained in position around the trunk and can only be removed by un-
locking the padlock N.
A serious objection to metal trunk straps heretofore made has been due to the
inability to adjust the sections of said strap to the various sizes of trunks without
danger of weakening the strap by a continued bending and straightening thereof
so as to cause it to break when used but a few times.
By means of our improved construction as herein shown, the various sections
of the strap may be adjusted to the square of the trunk so as to always insure a
perfect fitting of the strap around the corners, and by means of malleable or yield-
ing links or rings connecting such adjustable sections the strap is always. caused
to lie closely to the trunk, enabling it to be drawn securely in place.
"
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is: 11
1. In combination with a trunk, a metal strap formed of sections united at
their ends by rings or links, each of said sections being adjustable in length at a
.point between its ends in which said links are permanently secured, and a locking
section united by links to the other sections for drawing said strap tightly around
the trunk.
2. A trunk strap consisting of three sections united by links permanently
secured in the ends thereof, each of said sections consisting of two overlapping
pieces adjustably united by a tongue and slot connection, and a locking section
consisting of two parts, one of which carrying an engaging locking lever and the
other part a series of apertures in which the points of said lever engage.
3. An article of manufacture consisting of a metal trunk strap comprising a
series of sections adjustable longitudinally and, united at their meeting ends by
flexible links, substantially as set forth.

page_text: 4. A trunk strap consisting of a series of adjustable sections flexibly united by
coupling links, a locking section consisting of one part having a spring detent
depending therefrom, a lever carrying a staple to which the free end of said part
is pivoted, said lever having lugs projecting therefrom below said point of pivot,
a complementary section consisting of a perforated part lying under said part
carrying the locking lever having a series of apertures on. opposite sides which
register with the lugs of the locking lever and adapted to be engaged by said
detent, and the lock for securing said lever when in horizontal position, substan-
tially as set forth.
Dated this 27th day of Santambor 1908