Improvements in Mail-bag Fasteners.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Mar., 1894-Accepted, 14th Apr., 1894
Improvements in Mail-bag Fasteners.
I, LEWIS WILLIAMS, of the City of Belleville, County of St. Clair, State of
Illinois, United States of America, Gentleman, 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 :-
In the accompanying drawings, which form part of this Specification,
Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a mail-bag provided with my fastener
in its closed position;
Figure 2 is a similar view, showing the fastener opened and the flap of the bag
thrown back;
Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view, through the flap and bag, showing in detail the
operation of the cam-hooks, and
Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view, through the hasp.
My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in mail-bag fasteners, and
consists in mounting upon the upper end of the bag a series of staples which are
adapted to register with, and pass through, openings in the flap, which staples
receive in their protruding end cam-hooks, which pass therethrough, tightly binding
the parts together and preventing the flap from being raised. Another feature of
invention resides in mounting these cam-hooks upon a sectional rod, which rod also
affords means of support for the hasp, which acts as a handle therefor to operate
the cam hooks, and, at the same time, affording a medium for locking this sectional
rod and its carried cam hooks in their operative position in the staples.
In the drawings, A indicates the bag proper, provided with the usual flap B.
Riveted or otherwise secured to the upper face of the bag beneath the space
occupied by the flap when the same is in a closed position, are a series of staples C,
which, as shown, are horizontally-disposed. These staples are also mounted, for
purposes of rigidity, upon a frame C, which, upon one side of the bag, is extended
down, and has mounted in its lower end another staple D.
Secured to the outside of the flap, are plates E and E', which are formed with
openings registering with the staples C. One of these plates E is preferably
extended down or toward the outer end of the flap similar to the plate C, and has
formed in its outer end an opening e, which registers with the staple D, which is
adapted to pass therethrough when the flap is closed.
F indicates a rod mounted transversely to the flap, its ends being preferably
received in bearings f, formed on the plates E and E'. This rod F is preferably
formed in two or more sections, in order that the same may be broken to permit
the mouth of the bag to present an opening such as shown in Figure 2. This I
accomplish by forming two eyes in the rod, which interlock with each other,
forming substantially a universal joint, permitting the rod to assume different
positions necessary to meet the requirements in opening the mouth of the bag, but
which, at the same time, are so closely fitted that lost play in the rotation of the
rod is not present. To support the rod F at its center, and, at the same time,
prevent lateral play or displacement when the flap is made to assume a position
as shown in Figure 2, I form a reduced portion on each side of the eyes and
spring thereover a split bearing, as indicated at G.
Mounted along the length of this rod F, in alignment with the staple openings
In the plates E and E', are cam-shaped hooks H, which, when the flap is down,
are adapted to enter the staples C, and, by turning the hasp toward the bag, will
bear against the plates E and E', respectively, drawing the staples therethrough
until the flap is forced closely against the upper front edge of the bag, at which

page_text: time the noses of the hooks will have so far passed the staples as to prevent any
possible displacement.
I indicates the hasp before referred to, which, as stated, performs the dual
function of a handle for the rod F and a medium for locking said rod against
rotation. The outer end of this hasp is provided with an opening i, which registers
with the staple-opening e in the plate E and with the staple D, which is adapted
to pass through both of these openings when the flap is down and the hasp so
turned as to force the cam-hooks through the staples C, when the staple D is ready
to receive a suitable lock, as indicated at J.
The hasp I is preferably formed with flanges along its sides, near the rod F,
under which is received a destination card, indicated at K. It will be seen that
when the parts are in their locked position, this destination card, being held
from lateral displacement, by the side flanges, will, also, be held against
longitudinal displacement on the one end by the rod F, and, on the other, by the
staple D.
I am aware that many minor changes in the construction, arrangement, and
combination of the several parts of my device can be made and substituted for
those herein shown and described without in the least departing from the nature
and principle of my invention.
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 mail-bag fastener, the combination with the mail-bag and its flap, of a
series of staples secured to the upper edge of the bag, a rod mounted on the flap
and cam-hooks mounted on the rod, which are adapted to be received by the
staples, substantially as described.
2. In a mail-bag fastener, the combination with the staples C of the flap
through which said staples are adapted to pass, a rod mounted on the flap,
provided with cam-hooks which are adapted to co-operate with the staple, and a
hasp on the rod for operating and locking the same, substantially as described.
3. The combination with the staples C, which are adapted to pass through the
flap of a mail-bag, of plates secured to said flap, and provided with openings
registering with the staples, u rod mounted on said flap, cam-hooks mounted
on the rod, and a hasp in the form of a handle for locking the rod, substantially as
described.
4. The combination with the staple C, of a flap formed with openings which
are adapted to register with said staples, a rod mounted on the flap and provided
with cam-hooks for engaging the staple, said rod being formed with a universal
joint, and means for locking the rod, substantially as described.
5. In a mail-bag fastener, the combination with the bag aud its flap, of the
staples C and D mounted on said bag, and adapted to pass through the flap, of a
rod provided with cam-hooks for engaging the staples, and locking the flap in place,
and a hasp on the rod formed with flanges for the reception of a destination card,
which hasp is adapted to be turned down over the staple D to retain the cam-hooks
in-a locked position, substantially as described.
6. The combination with the staple C, of a rod F, provided with cam-hooks H,
hasp I, staple D, and lock J, substantially as described.
Dated Fifth day of March 1894.
LEWIS WILLIAMS.