IMPROVED MEANS OF CLOSING AND SECURING GRAIN OR OTHER BAGS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the.
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVED MEANS
OF CLOSING AND SECURING GRAIN OR OTHER BAGS." A communication from
abroad by Andrew Mitchell Underhill, of the City, County, and State of New
York. United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th June 1877.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent. "IMPROVED MEANS OF CLOSING AND SECURING GRAIN OR OTHER
BAGS." A communication from abroad by Andrew Mitchell Underhill, of the City,
County, and State of New York, United States of America.
The object of this Invention is to furnish bag fasteners constructed in such a way
that the contents of the bags may be discharged readily and quickly, and which,
when tied, will prevent any leakage of the contents.
According to this Invention, in the mouth of a bag, at a little distance from the
edges and beneath the hem, is permanently sewed the inner edges of one or two
flaps or aprons. When two such flaps are employed they are sewed upon opposite
sides of the bag and are entirely separate from each other. When the bag with
one flap is filled, the flap is pressed loosely into the mouth of the bag and tucked
down close to the opposite side of the bag; but when a bag with two flaps has
been filled, the outer edges of the two flaps are brought together, and the said flaps
are rolled together within the mouth of the bag; or the said flaps may be pressed
loosely into the mouth of the bag if desired. The mouth of the bag is then drawn
together over the flap or flaps by the cords or strings, whose ends are secured to the
edges of the mouth of the bag upon the opposite sides of and at a little distance
from its centre. The strings are then passed over the mouth of the bag, in through
its other side, along the edge, and out at a little distance from the ends of the said
edge. The strings should have knots formed upon their outer ends to prevent them

page_text: being drawn in. After the strings have been drawn tight over the flap or flaps
their ends are passed around the corners of the bag and tied so as to secure them,
and at the same time form projections for convenience in handling the bags.
With this construction, by loosening the strings, the bag may be emptied with as
much facility as if there were no flaps attached to its mouth, the said flaps offering
no obstruction to the outflow of the contents of the bags.
SPECIFICATION.. in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters .Patent filed by
the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 5th
November 1877.
...i.
"
..
ALEXANDER, MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent.
IMPROVED MEANS OF CLOSING AND SECURING GRAIN OR OTHER
BAGS." A communication from abroad by Andrew Mitchell Underhill, of the City,
County, and State of New York, United States of America
a
The object of this Invention is to furnish bag fasteners constructed in such a way
that the contents of the bag may be discharged readily and quickly, and which,
when tied, will prevent any leakage of the contents.
The Invention will first be described in connection with the accompanying
Drawing, in which,―
t .
I
Figure 1 is a top perspective of the upper part of a bag with a single flap or
apron. Figure 2 is a section of the same, taken transversely to the flap.
Figure 3 is a top perspective view of the upper part of a bag with two flaps or
aprons. Figure 4 is a side view of the same with the bag closed, and one of its
strings tied and the other, loose.
Figure 5 is a sectional view of the upper part of a bag having two flaps, the
section being taken transversely to the flaps.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
A represents the body of the bag, in the mouth of which, at a little distance from
the edges and beneath the hem a, is permanently sewed the inner edges of one or
two flaps or aprons B. When two such flaps are employed they are sewed upon
opposite sides of the bag, and are entirely separate from each other. When the bag
with one flap is filled, the flap is pressed loosely into the mouth of the bag and
tucked down close to the opposite side, as in Figure 2-; but when a bag with two
flaps has been filled, the outer edges of the two flaps B are brought together, and
the said flaps are rolled together within the mouth of the bag, as shown in Figure 5,
or the said flaps may be pressed loosely into the mouth, if desired. The mouth of
the bag is then drawn together over the flap or flaps B by the cords or strings C,
whose ends are secured to the edges of the mouth upon the opposite sides of and at
a little distance from its centre. The strings Care then passed over the mouth of
the bag, in through its other side, along the edge, and out at a little distance from
the ends of said edge. The strings C should have knots formed upon their outer
ends to prevent them from being drawn in. After the strings C have been drawn'
tight over the flap or flaps B, their ends are passed around the corners of the bag
and tied so as to secure them, and at the same time form projections a¹, Figure 4,
for convenience in handling the bags.
With this construction, by loosening the strings C the bag may be emptied
with as much facility as if there were no flaps attached to its mouth, the said flaps
offering no obstruction to the outflow of the contents of the bag.
}
Having described the nature of the said Invention and the manner of performing
the same, I would observe that I am aware that it is not new to use on one side of
a bag an inturned flap secured by a double hook, but that what I claim as the
Invention to be secured by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, a grain
bag provided with an apertured hem a, 'folding apron B, and running cords C,'the

page_text: apron being fastened on the inside near the inner edge of the hem, while the cord
runs parallel to the hem, as shown and described, to allow the bag to be fastened
quickly without sewing and opened without cutting.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fifth day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
A. M. CLARK. (LS.)