Improvements in or Additions to Hasps and other Fastenings for Doors, Shutters, Boxes, Baskets, and other articles.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Mar., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 7th Dec., 1892-Accepted, 14th Jan., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or Additions to Hasps and other Fastenings for
Doors, Shutters, Boxes, Baskets, and other articles.
I FRANCIS EDGAR MARTINEAU, of the firm of F. E. Martineau and Company
of Newtown Row, Birmingham in the County of Warwick, Manufacturers do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention consists principally in adding to or combining with hasps, an
automatic catch or fastening constructed substantially in the ways hereinafter
described for holding down the flap or hinge part of the hasp. My invention
consists further of the modified fastening hereinafter described to be used in
combination with my improved catch for fastening baskets, hampers boxes and
other articles.
My improved catch, which is either fixed to that part of the article on which
the hasp shuts down or to the hasp itself, consists essentially of a spring arm or
two nearly parallel spring arms which either engage with or close upon the hinge
flap of the hasp or with the staple plate of the hasp, when the said flap is shut
down and thereby securely hold the closed flap in its place as hereinafter
particularly described.
In applying my invention to hasp flaps made of wire, I make the catch of a
trough shaped piece of hardened and tempered sheet steel or other hard and elastic
metal or alloy the sides of the said trough constituting nearly parallel spring arms
between which the hasp flap engages when shut down. The inner faces of the said
spring arms of the catch and near their upper edges, are provided with convex
projections made by pressing inwards the metal of the arms at those parts; or the
spring arms may be made slightly convex inwards so as to contract the opening
between the said arms. When the wire hasp flap, is shut or turned down it bears
against the convex projections on or against the convex inner sides of the spring
arms of the catch and slightly separates the said arms and when the hasp flap has
been, fully shut down the said projections on or the convex sides of the spring
arms close or snap upon the said flap and securely hold it in its place. By lifting
the hasp flap with considerable force the spring arms of the catch are separated
and the hasp flap released; the hasp flap is thus automatically fastened on
shutting it down and released by upward or outward pressure upon it.
For the purpose of locking the hasp flap by a padlock the spring arms of the
catch may be provided with eyes through which the hook or loop of the padlock
passes.
The self-acting spring catch described may be combined with the staple plate of
the hasp instead of making it an independent part of the hasp. In this case the
spring catch may either be applied to the front or to the sides of the staple plate;
in the former case the wire shank of the hasp flap engages with the front catch
and in the latter case the loop of the hasp, which passes over the staple engages
with the side catch. The catch in either of the arrangements described may be
single or double; that is, it may either consist of one spring arm or two nearly
parallel spring arms.
In applying my invention to hasps having plate flaps, the spring arm or spring
arms of the catch is or are situated on the underside of the flap plate and on one
or on both sides of the opening in the plate which passes over the staple. The
staple plate of the hasp is furnished with an opening under the staple for the
spring catch to pass into and engage with or snap upon undercut parts in the article
to which the staple plate is affixed.
Instead of releasing the hasp flap from the catch by pressure upon the flap it

page_text: may be released by pressure upon a spring arm. This modified catch is constructed
as follows. To the article to which the hasp is to be fastened, I fix a rigid or
inelastic trough plate for receiving, when shut down, the hinged hasp flap and on
one of the sides of the trough plate I apply a spring arm having at its free end
and at right angles thereto a bevilled catch or bolt which projects into the trough,
the bevilled side of the catch being situated outwards. When the hasp is turned
into the trough plate it bears against the bevilled side of the spring catch or bolt
and presses the latter outwards. When the hasp flap has fully entered the trough
plate the bolt or catch springs inwards and partly crossing the hasp flap holds it
securely in its place. To release the hasp flap it is necessary to pull outwards
the spring arm by means of a handle upon it so as to withdraw the bevilled catch
or bolt from over the hasp flap when the latter may be lifted or turned out of the
trough plate.
In fastening baskets, hampers, boxes and the like I use my improved catch with
a fastening constructed as follows. The said fastening consists of a strong wire
constituting a bolt one end of which is cranked or bent at right angles to the
other part the straight or unbent part takes into eyes or loops on the body of the
basket hamper or box the said eyes passing through slots in the lid of the hamper
or box and the bent or cranked part of the bolt engages by a side motion with a
spring catch of either of the kinds hereinbefore described fixed on the lid or
cover of the basket, hamper or box. In fastening the closed lid or cover the
straight part of the bolt is passed through the loops or eyes described and the said
bolt turned aside through a small angle its bent or cranked end is thereby made
to pass into the said catch on the lid so as to fasten the said bolt as hereinbefore
described with respect to the jointed flaps of hasps.
Dated this 23rd day of March 1892.
W. T. WHITEMAN,
Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or Additions to Hasps and other Fastenings for
Doors, Shutters, Boxes, Baskets, and other articles.
1 FRANCIS EDGAR MARTINEAU, of the firm of F. E. Martineau and
Company of Newtown Row, Birmingham in the County of Warwick Manu-
facturers do hereby declare the nature of my invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
My invention consists principally in adding to or combining with hasps, an
automatic catch or fastening constructed substantially in the ways hereinafter
described for holding down the flap or hinge part of the hasp. My invention
consists further of the modified fastening hereinafter described to be used in
combination with my improved catch for fastening baskets, hampers, boxes and
other articles.
My improved catch, which is either fixed to that part of the article on which
the hasp shuts down or to the hasp itself, consists essentially of a spring arm
or two nearly parallel spring arms which either engage with or close upon the
hinge flap of the hasp or with the staple plate of the hasp, when the said flap.
is shut down and thereby securely hold the closed flap in its place as hereinafter
particularly described.
In applying my invention to hasp flaps made of wire I make the catch of a
trough shaped piece of hardened and tempered sheet steel or other hard and
elastic metal or alloy, the sides of the said trough constituting nearly parallel
spring arms between which the hasp flap engages when shut down. The inuer
faces of the said spring arms of the catch and near their upper edges, are
provided with convex projections made by pressing inwards the metal of the

page_text: arms at those parts; or the spring arms may be made slightly convex inwards
so as to contract the opening between the said arms. When the wire hasp flap,
is shut or turned down, it bears against the convex projections on or against
the convex inner sides of the spring arms of the catch and slightly separates
the said arms and when the hasp flap has been fully shut down the said pro-
jections on or the convex sides of the spring arms close or snap upon the said
flap and securely hold it in its place. By lifting the hasp flap with considerable
force the spring arms of the catch are separated and the hasp flap released;
the hasp. flap is thus automatically fastened on shutting it down and released
by upward or outward pressure upon it.
For the purpose of locking the hasp flap by a padlock the spring arms of
the catch may be provided with eyes through which the shackle or loop of the
padlock passes.
The self acting spring catch described may be combined with the staple plate
of the hasp instead of making it an independent part of the hasp. In this case
the spring catch may either be applied to the front or to the sides of the
staple plate in the former case the wire shank of the hasp flap engages with
the front catch and in the latter case the loop of the hasp, which passes over
the staple, engages with the side catch. The catch in either of the arrange-
ments described may be single or double; that is, it may either consist of one
spring arm or two nearly parallel spring arms.
Instead of releasing the hasp flap from the catch by pressure upon the flap
it may be released by pressure upon a spring arm. This modified catch is
constructed as follows. To the article to which the hasp is to be fastened, I
fix a rigid or inelastic trough plate for receiving, when shut down, the hinged
hasp flap and on one of the sides of the trough plate I apply a spring arm
having at its free end and at right angles thereto a bevilled catch or bolt which
projects into the trough the bevilled side of the catch being situated outwards.
When the hasp is turned into the trough plate it bears against the bevilled
side of the spring catch or bolt and presses the latter outwards. When the
hasp flap has fully entered the trough plate the bolt or catch springs inwards
and partly crossing the hasp flap holds it securely in its place. To release the hasp
flap it is necessary to pull outwards the spring arm by means of a handle upon
it so as to withdraw the bevilled catch or bolt from over the hasp flap, when
the latter may be lifted or turned out of the trough plate.
In fastening baskets, hampers, boxes and the like I use my improved catch
with a fastening constructed as follows;-The said fastening consists of a strong
wire constituting a bolt one end of which is cranked or bent at right angles to
the other part; the straight or unbent part takes into eyes or loops on the
body of the basket, hamper or box, the said eyes passing through slots in the
lid of the hamper or box and the bent or cranked part of the bolt engages by
a side motion with a spring catch of either of the kinds hereinbefore described
fixed on the lid or cover or side of the basket hamper or box. In fastening
the closed lid or cover the straight part of the bolt is passed through the loops
or eyes described and the said bolt turned aside through a small angle; its bent
or cranked end is thereby made to pass into the said catch on the lid so as to
fasten the said bolt as herein before described with respect to the jointed flaps
of hasps.
I will now proceed to describe with reference to the accompanying drawings the
manner in which my invention is to be performed.
Figure 1 represents in plan; Figure 2 in end elevation, partly in section and
Figure 3 in side elevation, a hasp having a wire flap to which hasp, a catch
constructed according to one of the arrangements of my invention is applied.
a is the wire flap of the hasp, hinged at b to the plate e fixed to the door, shutter
or other article ; d is the loop of the hinged wire flap which loop when the said
flap is shut down passes over the staple e on the plate fixed to the door post or
other article. On opposite sides of the staple plate fare two nearly parallel spring

page_text: arms g, g constituting the catch. The shape of the spring arms of the catch is
best seen in Figure 2. By an examination of that figure it will be seen that the
upper edges of the spring arms of the catch are so bent as to form inward convex
projections, and contract the opening between the arms. When the wire hasp
Hap a, d is shut down or turned down upon the staple plate fits loop d bears against
the convex inner projections of the spring arms g, g and slightly separates the said
arms, and when the "hasp flap has passed the said convex projections and is fully
shut down, the spring arms close or snap upon the loop of the flap and securely
hold it in its place as represented in the drawing. In order to release the hasp flap
it is lifted with considerable force. The spring arms g, are thereby separated
and the hasp flap released. The hasp flap a, d is in this way autoinatically fastened
on shutting it down and released by upward or outward pressure upon it. The
hasp flap may be fastened by a padlock by passing the shackle or loop of the
padlock through the staple e in the ordinary way.
:
Figure 4 represents in plan; Figure 5 in end elevation and Figure 6 in side
elevation a hasp having a wire flap, in which hasp the catch part of the fastening
consists of a single spring arm g², the said spring arm g2 when the hasp flap is shut
down engaging with one side of the loop of the said flap as seen in Figure 5. The
single spring arm g³ is made somewhat broader than the spring, armis y, g
Figures 1, 2 and 3.
Figure 7 represents in plan; Figure in end elevation and Figure 9 in side
elevation a hasp in which the catch, consisting of two parallel spring arms I, J, is
made at the front of the staple plate instead of near the middle of the said staple
plate as in Figures 1, 2 and 3. In this modified catch the spring arms clip, or snap
upon the wire shank a of the hasp flap.
"
Figure 10 represents in plan; Figure 11 in side elevation and Figure 12 the
catch in section, a hasp the hinged wire flap of which is fastened down by a spring
catch independent of and used in place of the staple plate. This spring catch
consists of a trough shaped piece h, h, i of hardened and tempered, steel which is
fixed at its base by screws or otherwise to the article to which the hasp is to be
fastened. The sides h, h of the trough constitute nearly parallel spring arms the"
said sides being made slightly convex inwards (see Figure 12) so as to contract"
the opening between the said sides or arms. When the hasp flap is shut down its :
wire stem acting upon the convex immer sides of the arms h, h of the catch
separates the said sides or arms, which arms after the flap has been shut down close
upon the said stem as best seen in Figure 12. The spring arms of the catch are
provided with holes or eyes k, k through which the shackle or loop of a padlock
may be passed when it is wished to lock down the hasp flap a.
Instead of giving a convex figure inwards to the spring arms of the catch, the
front ends of the spring arms may be provided with convex projections made by
pressing inwards the Retal of the arms at those parts. This modification is
represented in plan in Figure 13; side elevation in Figure 14 and cross section of
the catch in Figure 15, where the convex projections are marked 1, 1. The action
of this modified catch is the same as that last described and corresponding parts
are marked with the same letters of reference.
'
Figure 16 represents in plan; Figure 17 in end elevation and Figure 18 in side
elevation a hasp having a plate flap which is fastened by a spring catch constructed
according to my invention. In this hasp the staple plate has made on its opposite'
edges spring arms g, g of the kind represented in Figures 1, 2 and 3 and the hinged
plate flap m has an opening m² which when the plate flap is shut down passes' over
the staple e.
The said plate flap has also made in its opposite edges, the notches
or recesses n, n for the spring arms g, g to snap into or engage with for fastening
down the hasp plate m.
.
Figure 19 represents in plan; and Figure 20 in cross section, a catch for a basp
flap (or other fastening) constructed according to my invention. In this arrange-
ment the hasp flap or other part to be fastened is released by pressure upon a
spring.arm or lever turning on the body of the fastening. -
.

page_text: In this arrangement I use a rigid or inelastic trough
down the hinged flap a of the hasp (or a rod or bolt) and to one side of the
for receiving, when shut
trough hinge at r an arm or lever g, the inner part or arm of the said lever
constituting a bevilled catch or bolt which is projected into the trough by the
strong plate spring pressing upon it. The bevilled catch g² works through an
opening at pin the side of the trough p as represented. When the hinged hasp
flap a is shut down or turned into the trough p it bears against the bevilled catch
and presses it outwards into the position indicated in dotted lines in Figure 20.
When the hasp flap a has fully entered the trough p, the springs gives the return
motion to the catch q² and secures the hasp flap in the trough. To release the hasp
flap it is necessary to lift by hand the arm or lever . Its inner arm or catch *
is thereby withdrawn into the dotted position indicated in Figure 20 and the husp
flap is released and may be lifted from the trough p.
も
Figure 21 represents in plan and Figure 22 in end elevation a fastening for å
basket, hamper, box or the like constructed according to my invention; t, t' is a
strong wire or bolt, the part t of which works in eyes or loops, fixed on the
body of the basket hamper or box, the said eyes or loops passing through slots in
the shut down lid or cover or side of the basket, hamper or box. The end 2 of
the bolt is cranked or bent at right angles to the other part and the extreme end
of the cranked part is made into a loop ³; is my improved catch fixed to the
lid or cover of the basket, hamper or box and formed with the spring arms y, y
which engage with or snap upon the loop 13 of the cranked part of the rod
or bolt. The catch carries the staple which enters the loop of the bolt
when the cranked part of the bolt is turned down upon the catch. By means
of the staple the basket, hamper or box may be locked by a padlock when
required.
In fastening the hamper, basket or box, the bolt t is withdrawn by a sliding
motion from the eyes or loops u, u on the hamper or box and the lid or cover
carrying the catch x, y, y is shut down, the openings in the said lid or cover passing
over the eyes or loops u, u. By then introducing the bolt t into the eyes or loops
by a sliding motion and turning down the cranked part 2 of the bolt upon the
catch, whether fixed to the cover or side of the basket, the loop of the bolt
engages with the spring arms y, y of the catch and fastens the bolt in its place as
represented in the drawing. The bolt may then be fastened by a padlock if
required.
Figure 23 represents in plan and Figure 24 in end elevation a fastening similar
to that last described excepting that a single spring arm y' is used on the catch
instead of two arms.
Figure 25 represents in side elevation and Figure 26 in cross section a modified
fastening of the kinds last described. In this modification the cranked end t* of ·
the bolt is straight instead of being formed into a loop, and the catch of the
fastening consists of two parallel perforated spring arms y³, y³ of the kind represented
in Figures 10, 11 and 12. In this case the two parallel spring arms y³, y close or
snap upon the straight cranked part 2 of the bolt t and the bolt may be locked in
ts place by the loop of a padlock being passed through the perforated spring
irms y³, y³.
For fastening large hampers boxes and the like, the swivelling bolt t, t
ised with a catch of the kind represented in Figures 19 and 20 instead of with a
may be
atch having one or more spring arms as represented.
claim as
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my invention
nd the manner in which the same is to be performed I declare that
ay invention of "Improvements in or additions to hasps and other fastenings for
oors, shutters, boxes baskets and other articles
First The addition to or combination with the staple plates of hasps of an
utomatic catch or fastening consisting of a spring arm or two nearly parallel
pring arms which arm or arms on the closing or shutting down of the jointed or

page_text: hinged hasp flap snap upon or engage with the said flap and fasten it to the fixed
staple plate, substantially as herein before described and illustrated in Figures 1, 2,
3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 16, 17 and 18 of the accompanying drawings.
Secondly; The improved catches or fastenings hereinbefore described and
illustrated in Figures 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 of the accompanying drawings for
fastening the hinged flaps of hasps; that is to say, catches or fastenings consisting
of a trough shaped piece of hardened and tempered sheet steel or other hard and
elastic metal or alloy, the sides of the trough constituting nearly parallel spring
arms, either made slightly convex inwards or provided at their inner faces with
convex projections, the flap of the hasp being automatically fastened on shutting it
down into the trough by the closing or snapping of the said spring arms upon
the said flap substantially as described and illustrated.
;-
Thirdly The improved catch or fastening herein before described and illus-
trated in Figures 19 and 20 of the accompanying drawings for fastening the hinged
flaps of hasps and the lids or covers of baskets, hampers, boxes and other articles;
that is to say, a catch or fastening consisting of a rigid trough shaped plate pro-
vided. near its top with a bevilled spring catch or, bolt carried by an arm or lever,
the said catch or bolt projecting into the interior of the said trough and partly
crossing and holding in its place the hasp flap or rod or bolt in the said trough, the
hasp flap or rod or bolt being released by the lifting of the arm or lever carrying
the said bevilled spring catch or bolt substantially as described and illustrated.
Fourthly; The combination with the spring catches or fastenings referred to in
Claims 1 and 2 of a cranked and swivelling bolt or rod for fastening the lids or
covers of baskets, hampers boxes and like articles substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated in Figures 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 and 26 of the accompanying
drawings.
Dated the 25th day of November 1892.
i
FRANCIS EDGAR MARTINEAU.