An Improved Combination Buckle and Fastener, especially applicable for Fastening Mail Bags and for similar purposes.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 27th May, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Dec., 1896-Accepted, 13th Feb., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Combination Buckle and Fastener, especially applicable
for Fastening Mail Bags and for similar purposes.
I, LOUISA LAWSON, of 402 George Street Sydney in the Colony of New South
Wales, Printer and Publisher do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The object of my invention is, to provide a combination buckle and fastener that
will be especially useful for, fastening, sealing and securing mail bags and the like,
and to abolish the use of string, and to lessen the quantity of sealing wax used in
the sealing.
My combination buckle and fastener, may be constructed of any suitable metal,
and consists of an oblong metal rim joined in the centre by a metal bar to carry
the tongue.
On one end of the metal rim is hinged a covering plate of such a size as to
completely cover the rim. At the other end of the metal rim a piece of metal wire
is hinged. When the covering plate is lowered, so as to cover the rim, the piece of
metal wire may be pressed down on to the covering plate and rests in a groove which is
provided therein longitudinally.
A round or oval flange stands on the covering plate. The space between the flange
is slightly corrugated.
The groove before mentioned runs right across this corrugated space.
To seal the bag, after fastening the strap in the usual manner, and lowering the
covering plate, and then the metal wire across it, the strap is securely locked, a little
sealing wax placed between the flanges on the corrugated surface is all that is
required.
An Improved Combination Buckle and Fastener, especially applicable
for Fastening Mail Bags and for similar purposes.
1, LOUISA LAWSON of 166 Vickery's Chambers Pitt Street Sydney (late of
402 George Street Sydney) in the Colony of New South Wales, Printer and
Publisher, 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 is to provide a hackle or fastener, more especially

page_text: applicable to the fastening of and securing mail-bags, the use of which will give
greater security and economy in sealing material used.
Hitherto, it has been customary, in the fastening and sealing of mail-bags, to so
arrange, a piece of string through two, or more, of the tongue holes provided in the
strap, that the ends, (of the string) will be, one on either side of the buckle or
wooden block, the string ends are then tied across, the buckle or block, and covered
with sealing wax, in which the official stamp is impressed. To open the bag it is
necessary to knock the sealing wax off the buckle, or block, and cut the string or
else to cut the string, only at the sides, but if the latter mode is employed, the lump
of sealing wax on the buckle or block, has to be removed, before the bag is sealed the
second time, therefore there is a considerable waste of sealing wax, and string,
together with the danger of the string being accidentally broken whilst the bag is in
transit.
Now this invention provides a buckle or fastener, that dispenses with the use of
string, also a large quantity of the sealing wax, at present used, and gives greater
security and removes the danger of the seal being accidentally broken.
My invention consists essentially of an oblong or square metal rim, provided on
two sides with a downward projection or cheek, secured to which is a metal bar
carrying the buckle tongue. To one end of the metal rim is hinged a covering plate
provided with a groove longitudinally, to receive a metal bar or clasp, which is hinged
to the other end of the metal rim.
But in order that this invention may be more fully understood, reference will now
be made to the accompanying sheet of drawings, which form a part of this
specification and in which;-
Figure 1 is a view of this improved buckle or fastener fully closed.
Figure 2 is a view of this improved buckle or fastener with the bar or clasp raised.
Figure 3 is a view of this improved buckle or fastener, with the covering plate and
bar or clasp raised.
A is a metal rim with the downward projections, or cheeks B,, to which is
secured the metal bar C. The covering plate D is hinged to the metal rim at E,
and is provided with an upward turned round or oval flange F, through which an
opening is left G, at each end. In the covering plate D, is provided a groove H.
A metal bar or clasp I one end J of which is loosely turned on the metal rim A,
the other end K being turned, as shewn in the drawings. This bar or clasp when
the buckle or fastener is closed as shewn in Figure 1, lies in the groove H,
provided in the covering plate D. The buckle tongue L is fastened in the usual
manner to the bar C. To this bar is also secured one end of the strap M.
To operate this invention, it is necessary to pass the unsecured end of the strap M,
through the buckle as shewn in Figure 3, when this is done the covering plate D, is
lowered, and the buckle assumes the position shewn in Figure 2. The metal bar or
clasp I is then lowered into the groove H provided in the covering plate D, the buckle
or fastener will then assume the position shewn in Figure 1. Into the space
between the upward flanges F on the covering plate D, is placed some molten sealing
wax, which will cover the bar or clasp I, the official seal may be then impressed in
the wax, and the bag is secure. The space between the upward flanges F, may be
plain or corrugated, or the top of the upward turned flanges F, may be made to slightly
overhang on the inside, as shewn in the drawings, to form a holding place for the
sealing wax.
To open the buckle or fastener, and gain access to the contents of the bag, all that
is necessary is to force the bar or clasp I upwards when it will assume the position
shewn in Figure 2. The covering plate D, may then be raised into the position
shewn in Figure 3, the strap undone and the bag opened.
It will be obvious that by the use of. this invention for fastening mail-bags or the
like, that there will be a great economy in the sealing materials used, while greater
security will be obtained."
I propose to construct my invention, of various sizes, and designs, to suit the

page_text: different uses to which it may be applied. I therefore do not confine myself to any
particular size, shape, or design.
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 ;-
1st. In buckles, or fasteners for securing mail-bags or the like, a metal rim such
as A, provided with a hinged covering plate and a metal bar or clasp such as I,
substantially as herein described, explained, and illustrated and for the purposes
set forth.
2nd. In buckles, or fasteners for securing mail-bags or the like, a metal rim such
as A, with cheeks such as B, bar such as C, tongue such as L, covering plate such as D,
groove such as H, upwards turned flanges such as F, a bar or clasp such as I,
substantially as herein described, explained, and illustrated, and for the purposes set
forth.
3rd. The combination and arrangement of the various parts herein described,
explained, and illustrated, all together forming the improved combination buckle and
fastener especially applicable for fastening mail-bags and for other similar purposes,
substantially and for the purposes set forth.
1000
Bated this 29md day of December 1906.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.