IMPROVEMENTS IN MAIL BAGS AND FASTENINGS THEREFOR."
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MAIL BAGS AND FASTENINGS THEREFOR." A communication from abroad by
Theodore Augustus Dennis and Charles Bried, both of Newark, in the County
of Essex, State of New Jersey, and Augustus Klemm, of the City, County, and
State of New York, both in the United States of America.
.COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Alexander Melville Clark at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd September 1879.
:
"
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent. IMPROVEMENTS IN MAIL BAGS AND FASTENINGS THEREefor." A
communication from abroad by Theodor Augustus Dennis and Charles Bried, both
of Newark, in the County of Essex, State of New Jersey, and Augustus Klemm, of
the City, County, and State of New York, both in the United States of America.
This Invention relates to mail bags or pouches for land and ocean service, and
the nature of the Invention consists, first, in a bag or pouch made of waterproof
material, constructed with air chambers or cells to sustain the bag in water; and,
2ndly, in fastenings whereby the bag may be closed water tight. These features
will be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying Drawing,
wherein Figure 1 is a section of the bag with one form of air chamber; Figure 2 is
a section shewing the air chamber as differently placed; Figure 3 is a side elevation,
and Figure 4 is a top view of the fastenings adapted for closing the mouth of the
bag to a flat form. The other Figures show other forms of fastenings, which will
be referred to hereafter.
The bag A is made of canvas, heavy duck, or other woven material, with an outer
coating of vulcanised rubber and without seam, the process of manufacture being
similar to that used in the production of indiarubber fabrics. The woven material
is first stretched tightly on a form, the side and bottom seams covered by strips of
rubber, and then the outer surface covered by a sheet of rubber, which is to be at-
tached by cement or by means of pressure applied in any desired manner, after which
the rubber is vulcanised in the usual manner. This construction gives a durable and
substantial pouch or bag which is also impervious to water. In this form, with
suitable fastenings, the bag is adapted to land service, but for river or ocean service
the bag is formed with an inner partition which forms an air chamber. In Figure 1
Price 4dl

page_text: the air chamber is formed by an inner bag a of the same material or any suitable
material, attached tightly and permanently around the upper edge of the bag A, so
that the air chamber extends at the bottom and sides of the inner bag; the inner
bag a will be the receptacle for the mail matter. In Figure 2 the air chamber is
formed at the lower end of the bag by a partition b that is attached permanently
by cement or rivets. These air chambers serve to float the bags when they are of
necessity thrown overboard- or are lost, so that there will be every chance for their
recovery.
The open ends of the bag is fitted with fastenings of a suitable character for
closing the same watertight. The fastenings shown in Figures 3 and 4 are adapted
for closing the mouth to a flat form, and consist of four flat strips & hinged together,
rivetted, or otherwise attached around the mouth of the bag, and fitted with
clamping tongues e, e. The tongues e are each pivoted at the inner side of one
clamping strip e, and when the bag is closed pass through slots in the bag and
the opposite strip d, so that they may be turned to the centre to fasten the bag,
and the ends of the two tongues secured by passing a padlock through the eyes
formed thereon. Upon the strip. d are inclined lugs g, over, which the tongues e
travel when they are turned to close the bag, and thereby the adjoining edges of
the bag are clamped tightly together. A packing strip of rubber will be applied to.
the inner side of the bag to ensure a tight joint. In place of the four strips d, two
hinged strips may be used, attached at their hinged portion to the bag, and provided
with loops at the swinging ends for a padlock. In the side of one strip d is formed
a mortise h, open at the front side and upper edge; and formed with undercut sides
to retain a card in place; the top of the mortise h will be covered, when the bag is
closed, by a flange i that projects from the upper edge of the opposite strip d; the
other strip d is also formed with a flange i to render the parts alike in appearance.
This mortice is used for a name card having upon it the destination of the bag..
In Figure 5, the fastening consists of a screw ring k attached to the inner or
outer side of the mouth of bag A, and into which a screw cap is screwed, with a
rubber or leather washer interposed to render the joint tight. In Figures 6 and 7
similar fastenings are shown, with the exception that instead of a screw the cap
will be held by inclined lugs m which engage with a flat ring & that is formed with
notches for the lugs m to pass through.
Having described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letterà
Patent is,-
1st. A mail bag or pouch formed of india rubber fabric, substantially as described
and shown, and with or without the inner bag or partition to form an air chamber,
substantially as specified.
2nd. In combination with a mail bag, the fastening device formed of the hinged
istrips d, provided with the swinging tongues e, inclined lugs g, and slots f, substan-
tially as and for the purposes set forth.
. 3rd.. The fastening strips & formed with the mortice and flange i, as and for
the purposes specified.
4th. In combination with a mail bag, the fastening devices, consisting of ring k
and cap, engaging by a screw thread or by means of inclined lug, substantially as
described and shown.
In witness whereof, I, the 'said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Third day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.