Improvements in Devices for Tying Packages of Mail.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd June, 1896-Accepted, 4th July, 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Devices for Tying Packages of Mail.
We, CHARLES AUGUSTUS BURR, Postmaster, HERBERT EWELL, Physician, GEORGE
MATHEWS FLUMERFELT, Fruit-grower, and ALBERT GEORGE GRIGGS, Fruit-
grower, all of Rochester, County of Oakland, State of Michigan, United States of
America, 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 relates to a device for tying packages of mail, and is especially
designed for securing packages of letters in transit, and consists in a certain con-
struction and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully set forth and pointed out
particularly in the claims.
The object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive device in which
the arrangement is such as to enable the operator to quickly tie and secure a package
of letters in such manner as to firmly retain them in the package and to enable them
to be readily united when desired, obviating the necessity of cutting the string
which confines the package, and enabling the same string to be used many times,
thereby effecting a great saving in the cost of string and providing for more quickly
and securely retaining the package of letters.
This object is attained by the device illustrated in the accompanying drawings,
in which,
Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a package of letters secured by our improved
device;
Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the string-retaining button in horizontal section, and
by stipple lines the position of the string when secured or tied ;
Fig. 3 is a transverse section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;
Fig. 4 is a like section on line 4-4 of Fig. 2;
Fig. 5 is an inverted perspective of the button detached from the base plate.
Referring to the letters of reference, A designates a circular plate preferally of
thin metal, which is slightly concavo-convex to cause the edges thereof to lie closely
to the surface of the package. Attached in an aperture a near the edge of said plate
is a cord B of suitable quality and of such length as to pass around the package of
letters to retain them in place.
Mounted upon the plate A, at or near the geometric center thereof, is a button C
having a stem provided with an extended pin or rivet c which passes through an
aperture in said plate A and is riveted therein, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, to secure
the button to said plate.
Formed in the end of the stem of said button, on opposite sides of the pin c, are
two grooves e in which the ends of the looped spring D are secured. The erds of
said spring extend parallel for some distance, but at d are provided with a return
bend from whence they extend forward on each side of the button and unite at the
looped point which is bent slightly upward to enable the cord to be more readily
drawn therethrough. This form of spring affords great strength and resiliency,
and provides a greater length of action, as the bearing, when the point of
the spring is raised, is brought at the bends d which causes the spring to stand at a
lesser angle when the cord is drawn thereunder, and obviates the raising of the
point thereof too high.
In the employment of this improved device, the plate A is placed upon the package
of letters to be tied, and the cord B first passed around said package endwise, thence
partly around the button, and transversely around the package when the cord is

page_text: passed once around the button and drawn under the looped end f of the spring D, as
clearly shown by solid and stipple lines in Fig. 2, thus firmly securing the string
around the package and in such manner as to enable it to be readily removed there-
from by simply withdrawing the free end of the cord from under the spring D and
unwinding it from the button as will be rea-lily understood.
By means of this improved device, a package of letters may be more quickly and
firmly tied than in the ordinary practice, enabling, as well, the package to be readily
untied without cutting the cord which may be used many times, thereby effecting a
great saving in the cost thereof.
This device also enables a package of a few letters to be more easily and perfectly
tied, as the area of the plate A, bearing upon the package, tends to stiffen it, enabling
the string to be more readily passed around said package.
In practice, to enable the plate to be readily retained in place while passing the
string around the package of letters, the operator may place his thumb over the
aperture E in said plate, which aperture is also adapted to receive a pin upon which
said plates may be strung when not in use.
While we have shown and described this improved device as serving to tie packages
of mail, we do not wish to be limited to this use of it alone, as it is evident that it
may be used for tying any and all packages that are secured by a confining cord or
string.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is ;-
1. In a device for the purpose set forth, the combination of the plate, the button
mounted thereon, the spring also mounted on the stem of said button and having a
free end, the cord attached at one end to the margin of said plate and adapted to be
passed around a package and around said button, its end being drawn under the free
end of said spring to retain it in place.
2. In the device for the purpose set forth, the combination of the plate, the button
thereon, the cord attached at one end to the margin of said plate and adapted to be
passed around said button, the looped spring secured at the base of said button and
extending on opposite sides thereof having a projecting end under which the cord
may be drawn.
3. In a device for tying packages of mail, the combination of the base-plate, a
button having a flaring head secured centrally to said plate, the cord attached at one
end to said plate and adapted to be passed under the head of said button, the looped
spring having its ends secured in the stem of said button and extending rearwardly
therefrom thence by return end passing forward on each side of said button and
uniting in the loop f, as set forth.
Dated this 2nd day of June 1896.
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicants.