Year: 1885

page_text: We, GEORGE HARDING SELLMAN, and THOMAS HENRY HILL, both of Talbot
Works, Stewart Street, Wolverhampton in the County of Stafford, trunk makers
and japanners, 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, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and
the letters of reference marked thereon (that is, to say):-
The chief object of this invention is to strengthen and protect the corners of
sheet metal travelling trunks which are most liable to be injured by pressure or
concussion, that is to say, the top and bottom longitudinal corners; but the
invention refers also to strengthening and protecting the bottom end corners, and
any of the other corners, if such is desired.
According to this invention, the top and bottom longitudinal corners of a sheet
metal travelling trunk have the sheet metal thereof slanted or splayed off (or
otherwise conveniently shaped as hereinafter explained), and strips of wood, one to
each corner, are fixed against the slanting parts by means of metal straps and
shoes, or in any convenient manner. These strips are, preferably, rounded on their
outer faces so as to give the usual shape to the contour of the trunk. The strips of
wood afford great support to the sheet metal, and also protect it by acting as
fenders to any object pressing or striking against the corners of the trunk. The
lower edges of the bottom strips stand down somewhat below the bottom of the
trunk, so as to take the bearing and prevent the sheet metal bottom from receiving
injury; and, as some protection to the lower edges of the bottom strips, and also to
strengthen and protect the bottom transverse sheet metal corners of the trunk,
transverse strips of wood are fixed under the ends of the trunk, with their ends
butting against the inner edges of the bottom longitudinal strips and with their
bottoms level with the bottom edges of the longitudinal strips.
This invention will be clearly understood on reference to the accompanying
drawings, of which figure 1 is a front elevation of a sheet metal trunk having
corners strengthened according to this invention. Figure 2 is an end elevation of
the trunk; figure 3 a plan of the top thereof; figure 4 a plan of the trunk inverted
so as to shew the bottom; figure 5 a transverse section through the centre; and
figure 6 a longitudinal section through the centre, but with one end of the trunk
shewn as if broken away, for convenience of illustration. The same letters of .
reference occurring upon two or more of the views indicate corresponding parts.
The sheet metal is slanted off along the whole length of the longitudinal corners,
as shewn at a abb (figures 5 and 6). ä¹ a¹ and 61 6¹ are strips of wood formed to

page_text: lie against the slanting parts a a and b b, respectively, as shewn, and rounded,
preferably, on their outer faces to give the usual contour to the trunk. These strips
are held to the sheet metal by means of the straps oc etc. and c¹¹ etc., and
shoes d d etc. and dd etc. riveted to the trunk. e e etc. are wood screws by which
the straps and shoes are fixed also to the strips, as an additional security. The
lower edges of the strips 61 61 project somewhat below the bottom of the trunk, as
shewn. ff are strips of wood under the end corners of the trunk, and the bottoms
of these strips are level with the lower edges of the strips 61 61. These strips ff do
not, of course, strengthen and protect the end corners, to the extent to which the
strips b¹ b¹ strengthen and protect the longitudinal corners, but they not only afford
some strength and give some protection against the injury which might otherwise
be caused by concussion, but they also, by taking a bearing upon the ground or
other part on which the trunk is rested, tend to protect the bottom edges of the
strips 661 from undue abrasion. The strips ff are held in place by means of the
shoes dd etc. and also by means of the rivets g g etc. and washers g¹ g¹ etc.
If the trunk is rested on a perfectly even surface the bearing is, of course, taken
by the shoes, straps, and washers, (or rivet heads), but the shoes, straps, and
washers, may be sunk into the strips, if desired, so as to allow the bearing to be
taken by the wood.
The sheet metal longitudinal corners of the trunk have been described as slanted
or splayed off for the reception of the wooden strips, but they may be formed as a
hollow curve or V-shape in transverse section, or of any shape convenient for the
reception of the strips.
The vertical corners of the trunk, and also the transverse corners top and
bottom, may be strengthened and protected, if desired, in a similar manner to the
longitudinal corners. When the bottom transverse corners are so treated the
strips ff are, of course, not required.
We are aware that previously to this invention wooden strips have been
employed for strengthening and protecting sheet metal travelling trunks; but such
strips have been employed only for what are usually the flat or approximately flat
portions of the trunks, and not for the purpose of strengthening and protecting the
corners.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is
1. A sheet metal travelling trunk having the corners strengthened and protected
with strips of wood, substantially as described and shewn.
2. With a sheet metal travelling trunk, the strips a¹ a' and b¹ 61, substantially as
described and shewn and for the purpose set forth.
3. A sheet metal travelling trunk having the corners (but especially the
longitudinal corners) of the sheet metal slanted or splayed off, or formed to a
hollow curve or V-shape in transverse section, substantially as described, and shewn
(as slanted or splayed), and for the purpose set forth.
4. With a sheet metal travelling trunk, the strips fƒ ƒ, substantially as described
and shewn, and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this fourth day of November 1885
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton,
Agent for the Applicants.