Improvements in Fastenings for Travelling Trunks.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd May, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 19th Feb., 1891-Accepted, 21st Mar., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fastenings for Travelling Trunks.
I, EDWARD BATES, of 9 and 10, Ablow Street, Wolverhampton, in the County
of Stafford, Lock Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
This invention has for its object a very simple and convenient method of
fastening, by means of a horizontal bar, a pair of hasps of which the hasps are
hinged one on each side of the centre of the trunk.
According to this invention, the hasps are hinged to the lid and are closed down
for fastening so as to bring the loops which they carry into hollow mountings
fixed to the body of the trunk. A horizontal bar is carried in openings or bearings
formed through the inner sides of the mountings, and may be moved endways in
either direction until its end is stopped against the outer side of one of the
mountings. The hasps are fastened by passing the ends of the bar, respectively,
through the loops of the hasps when within the mountings; and the bar is locked
in its central position, so as to retain the hasps fastened, by means of a central
hasp hinged to the lid and locked in the usual manner of such hasps or in other
convenient manner. The bar has a projection at its middle, and an opening corre-
sponding to such projection is formed through the central hasp, and when the
central hasp is closed down the opening therethrough closes over the projection of
the bar and thus securely prevents the bar from moving endways. It is not
essential to employ the central hasp hinged to the lid (though it is very much
preferred to do so) as the bar itself may be provided with a hasp by which to lock
it in its central position. The bar is of such length that it cannot be drawn out of
either of the mountings in which it is carried.
To fasten the outer hasps, the bar must be out of its middle position in one
direction to admit of one of the hasps being closed down, and when this has been
done the bar is moved endways sufficiently to pass one end through the loop of
such hasp and to allow of the other hasp being closed down.
It may, for such
purpose, be moved into its extreme position, that is until its end is stopped by the
outer side of the mounting. After the second hasp has been closed down the bar
is moved back to its middle position, the loop of the second hasp being thus
engaged; and the whole fastening may then be locked by locking the central
hasp.
Dated this 1st dox of M 1800
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton, Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fastenings for Travelling Trunks.
I, EDWARD BATES, of 9 and 10, Ablow Street, Wolverhampton, in the County
of Stafford, Lock 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 has for its object a very simple and convenient method of
fastening, by means of a horizontal bar, a pair of hasps which are hinged one on
each side of the centre of the trunk.
In order that the invention may be clearly understood, I will proceed to describe
it with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which

page_text: Figure 1 is a front elevation of a fastening, constructed according to this inven-
tion, mounted upon a travelling trunk of which only sufficient is shewn for the
purpose of the illustration.
Figure 2 is a section taken on linear of Figure 1;
Figure 3 a section taken on line of Figure 1; and
Figure 4 a detached transverse sectional elevation through the locking bar.
The hasps A are hinged to the lid B of the trunk, and are closed down for
fastening so as to bring the links or loops a which they carry into hollow
mountings C fixed to the body D of the trunk. In Figure 1 the left-hand hasp A
is shewn in a raised-up position, and the corresponding hollow mounting C is shewn
as if the front or outer plate thereof were cut away, so as to expose the interior.
A continuous horizontal locking bar E is carried in openings or bearings formed
through the inner sides of the hollow mountings C. The bar E is of such length
that, when in its central position endways, its ends project sufficiently within the
mountings C to pass through the links a carried by the hasps A and thus retain
the hasps in their closed position; and each mounting C is of such width that its
outer side will form a stop against the adjacent end of the bar E, as the latter is
moved in a direction towards it, before the opposite end of such bar reaches the
inner side of the other mounting, and consequently the bar cannot be drawn out of
either mounting as it is moved endways in fastening and unfastening the hasps.
The mountings C are, of course, of such width that the bar may be moved in either
direction sufficiently to be clear of the link of either hasp A. as the hasp is
closed in.
A central hasp F is hinged to the trunk lid, and closes down into a lock G in
the usual manner of such hasps, or in other convenient manner.
The locking
bar E has a projection e at its middle, and an opening corresponding to such pro-
jection is formed through the central hasp F, and when the central hasp is closed
down the opening therethrough closes over the projection c of the bar and thus
securely prevents the bar from moving endways.
To fasten the outer hasps A, the bar E must be out of its middle position in one
direction to admit of one of such hasps being closed down, and when this has been
done the bar is moved endways sufficiently to pass one end through the link of
such hasp and to allow of the other outer hasp being closed in. After the second
hasp has been closed in the bar is moved back to its middle position, the link of the
second hasp being thus also engaged; and the whole fastening may then be locked
by closing in and locking the central hasp.
It is preferred that the locking bar E be of oval or other section having a major
and minor axis, so that it will have no tendency to turn axially; and it is preferred
to make it somewhat thin compared with its depth, so as to avoid unnecessary
projection of the mountings C.
It is not, of course, essential to employ the central hasp hinged to the lid (though
it is very much preferred to do so), as the locking bar E may itself be provided
with a hasp by which to lock it in its central position; and such hasp may be
pivoted or hinged to the bar, if the latter is of an oval or other section as above
indicated; or if a round bar is employed the hasp may be formed therewith, or
rigidly fixed thereto, the bar itself turning as the hasp is raised up and closed
down.
The projection c of the locking bar may be formed with a hole d therethrough
(see Figure 4) for receiving a padlock shackle.
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 I
claim is :-
1. In a fastening, for a travelling trunk, in which a pair of hasps are fastened
by means of a continuous longitudinal bar of which the ends are passed, respec-
tively, through links carried by the hasps, carrying such bar within suitable

page_text: mountings having portions which form stops, in either direction, to the endway
movement thereof, substantially as described for the purpose set forth.
2. In a fastening, for a travelling trunk, in which a pair of hasps are fastened
by means of a continuous longitudinal bar of which the ends are passed, respec-
tively, through links carried by the hasps, carrying such bar through the inner
sides of suitable hollow mountings which receive the links of the hasps as the same
are closed in and the outer sides of which form stops, in either direction, to the
end way movement of such bar, substantially as described for the purpose
set forth.
3. The combination and arrangements of parts forming a travelling trunk
fastening, substantially as described and shewn by the drawings herewith, whether
having a central hasp hinged to the trunk lid, as shewn, or a central hasp hinged,
or pivoted, or rigidly fixed, to the locking bar, as described.
1
C
1901
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton, Agent for the Applicant.