Improvements in and relating to Flexible Covers for Closed Receptacles for Containing Various Articles.
Year: 1888

page_text: Improvements in and relating to Flexible Covers for Closed
Receptacles for Containing Various Articles.
I, THOMAS BLAND of Messrs. Thomas Bland & Sons, 430, Strand, Gun and Riflė
Manufacturers, 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 :-
Many kinds of receptacles are in use, for containing various articles, which have a
flap cover of some flexible material. This cover, especially when the receptacle is
carried by, or upon, the person using it, is generally intended to preserve the contents
of the receptacle from injurious atmospheric exposure; or to retain them in position
or both. The flexible cover is usually of one piece with the receptacle or part thereof,
but sometimes is of a separate piece, secured in its position by sewing or otherwise ;
and it is adapted to be turned or doubled over the top or opening, and secured by a
button, strap, or anologous fastening. The leather pouches used by soldiers and
sportsmen, hand or gaine bags, the truncheon cases worn by policemen, trays or
divisions in portmanteaus, valises, or the like; are examples of the kinds of receptacles
alluded to. In all these, and in other cases, it is desirable that the contents should be
extracted with ease and celerity; and in respect to military, naval, or sporting
accoutrements, it may be a matter of the highest importance.
The leather and other kinds of flaps or covers, usually employed, are often impedi-
ments to the rapid extraction of ammunition, or of other articles contained in the
receptacle; and it is the object of this invention to remove the difficulty herein
described.
By this invention, the flexible cover employed is not sewn or attached to the
receptacle in the ordinary manner, but is formed as a separate piece, and held in
position by one or more studs, guides, bands, slots, or a combination thereof, in a
manner explained in detail hereinafter. The flap or cover is sometimes made with an
extension, of one piece, or attached to the flap; whereby, when the latter is unfastened;
it may be pushed or pulled out of the way so as to leave the opening of the' receptacle

page_text: clear. Sometimes, one or more elastic bands or springs connect the flap and the
receptacle in such a manner, that when unfastened, the flap slides or pivots out of the
way, automatically.
The cover may be made to slide behind, or by the side of the pouch or other
receptacle; or be pivoted upon a stud, and by a movement of rotation, caused to free
the opening. This latter arrangement can be applied to the holsters of rifles, revolvers,
or certain kinds of saddle bags. The guide for a sliding cover may be formed by the
belt upon which a pouch, for example, is carried. Two slots may be formed in or upon
the extension of the cover, and two corresponding studs secured to the pouch behind,
will keep the sliding cover in its required position. In this case, the extension of the
cover should be continued downward a little below the bottom of the pouch, so that
when the cover is unfastened the extension piece and cover can be pulled down behind
the pouch, leaving the top free and unencumbered; ammunition can then be extracted
with great rapidity.
When an automatic action is required, the elastic bands or springs are arranged to
pull upon the cover and remove the same from the opening as soon as unfastened;
and this can be done whether the movement of the cover be a sliding or pivotal one.
In either case, the hand or bands are stretched in fastening the cover so that the
tension withdraws the cover as soon as the latter is released. The extension of the
cover need not be so great as in those cases where the automatic action is dispensed
with. The forms and arrangements for various kinds of receptacles and their covers
will necessarily vary according to the purposes required; but while the receptacles
may either be of flexible or rigid material, or a combination of both; the covers or
flaps will in all cases be of some flexible material capable of bending over the opening
when the latter is closed, and of being straightened out in the act of withdrawal.
I am aware that screens over openings have been so arranged that when released a
coiled spring or springs, or a weight, have drawn them out of the way in the manner
of spring window-blinds; and this plan has been adopted with both rigid and flexible
covers for various kinds of apparatus. Such arrangements however, differ from inine
inasmuch as when of flexible material the screen or cover is adapted to be wound up
upon a roller, which latter works upon pivots or journals running in hearings; while
the rigid covers I do not use. Moreover, they have not been adapted to the purpose
I have in view, nor would they be so simple, convenient, or applicable as the method
herein described.
In the annexed drawings, the reference letter a denotes the receptacle, b the movable
cover, and the belt or other means employed for carrying the receptacle. Fig. 1
represents two ammunition pouches; one opened, the other closed. The cover b,
when closed, is secured by a strap and buckle, or stud d, in any convenient manner.
The cover b, is a separato piece of material in all cases, and is usually made with an
extension piece e sufficiently long to pass behind and below the receptacle so that it
may be pulled down within the space between a double thickness of the belt c,
(as shown in Fig. 5), when unfastened at d. This is shown in the left hand part of
Figs. 1 and 2, the cover b being pulled down behind the belt c, so as to leave the top
of the receptacle entirely free, in order to facilitate the extraction of its contents. In
Figs. 1 and 2, however, the belt c, is of a single thickness only, the cover b and its
extension e being guided by studs g working in slots h. An elastic band, i, (shown by
dotted lines in Fig. 1) is secured to the back of the receptacle a, and the cover b, in
such a manner as to put tension upon the band i when the cover is drawn over the
top. When the cover is unfastened the tension of the band i automatically draws the
cover 6 out of the way, so that no time is lost in extracting the contents. Fig. 2
represents a portion of a cartridge bandoleer, one section being closed and the other
open, in the manner shown by Fig. 1.
Fig. 3, is a revolver holster, in which the cover bis pivoted upon a stud g and is
drawn aside in the manner indicated by the dotted lines. The upper circularly shaped
figure in dotted lines, indicates the cover when first released at d; it is then rotated
in the direction of the arrow to the lower position shown by dotted lines, An elastic

page_text: band or other form of spring may also be used in this case to withdraw the cover
automatically when unfastened; as before.
Fig. 4, is a sportsman's bag as ordinarily made, the cover b being continuous with
the bag. By making this cover of a separate piece and with an extension as previously
described, the bag is adapted for the object in view. The extension is passed through
the space ff, of the double belt c, c, (shown by plan in Fig. 5) and is secured by
elastic bands to the receptacle b, in the same manner as indicated by Fig. 1.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A cover of flexible material adapted to bend over or cover the opening of a
receptacle, with an extension beyond, whereby it may be pushed or pulled in a sliding
or pivotal manner substantially as described.
2. A cover of flexible material adapted to bend over or cover the opening of a
receptacle, and to slide or pivot automatically out of the way when released, sub-
stantially as described.
3. A receptacle formed in the first place without a cover but adapted to receive one
capable of sliding or pivoting upon one of the outer surfaces of the said receptacle,
and provided with a stud or studs or a slot or slots for the said sliding or pivotal
movement, substantially as described.
4. A receptacle provided with one or more guides or studs adapted to receive one
or more separately formed flexible covers adapted to retain or preserve the contents
of the said receptacle and which covers are moveable within or upon the said guides
or studs, substantially as and for the purpose described.
5. The combination of a receptacle such as described, with a flexible cover, and one
or more elastic bands or springs, whereby the cover is adapted to automatically slide
or pivot away from the opening of the receptacle when released, substantially as
described.
6. The combination of a receptacle such as described with one or more flexible
covers and with one or more guides, slots, studs or pivots, the said cover or covers
having an extension or extensions whereby, when released, it or they can be pulled or
moved out of the way, substantially as described.
7. Accoutrements for warlike or sporting purposes, provided with one or more
sliding or pivotal moving covers, whereby the contents thereof may be extracted with
ease and celerity; substantially as described.
Dated this 23rd day of February 1888.