Improvements in Bags and Pouches.
Year: 1892

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bags and Pouches.
I, WILLIAM JAMES CUSSEN, a Citizen of the United States residing at
Richmond, in the County of Henrico and State of Virginia, Manufacturer, 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:
Figure 1 represents a perspective view of the pouch open;
Fig. 2, a view shewing another way of securing the string to the mouth of the
pouch;
Fig. 3 a detail view of the draw-string;
Figs. 4 and 5, perspective views of pouches embodying my invention.
The present invention has relation to certain new and useful improvements in
draw-string attachments for tobacco bags and pouches; and it has for its object
to provide the pouch with a single string which will not only serve to close the
pouch, but which will also serve as a ready means of opening it, thereby avoiding
the necessity of having to pry the pouch open with the fingers every time it is
desired to gain access to its contents, as more fully appears hereinafter.
b
In the drawings, a designates the bag, which is provided around its mouth with a
hem of the usual construction. The draw-string passes through this hem and is
carried one and a half times around the bag, its ends leaving the hem at the side
edges of the bag, at 6' b In this manner it will be observed the two parts of the
string intersect or pass each other within the hem along one (preferably the front)
side of the bag. The free parts or ends of the string are formed into loops 111
upon opposite sides of the bag, by having their extremities turned back and secured
to the hem at a point adjacent to the exit-point . The ends of the string are
preferably secured by being passed through the hem and provided with knots on
the interior of the bag to prevent withdrawal; but they may be secured in any
other convenient manner without departing from the invention in the least.
As shown in Fig. 2, the string need not be inclosed in the hem, but may with
equal advantage, be stitched or interlaced around the upper edge of the bag without
departing from the invention, as I regard this manner of securing the string the
equivalent of passing it through the hem or tube. This construction is preferred
in making the cheaper grade of bags, as the string is easier to insert and a saving
of material effected.
Pouches and bags provided with any of the old-style draw-strings after having
been closed tightly can only be opened by inserting the fingers in the mouth and
spreading the same, which is often a task of some difficulty as is well known. The
present invention does away with this difficulty, the construction and arrangement
of the string being such that it may serve both as a means of closing and as a means
of opening the pouch. To close the pouch it is simply necessary to draw outwardly
upon those portions of the strings which lie side by side along one side of the bag,
whereupon the mouth will be gathered and close tightly. The long loops thus

page_text: formed may be tied in a bow-knot on top of the pouch if desired. In opening the
pouch the other side of the loops (the parts having the knots on their ends) are
drawn upon, whereupon the mouth is readily and quickly opened, no matter how
tight it may have been closed. Thus a single string is made to do duty both as a
closing and an opening medium. It is evident that this closing and opening
device may be employed for other purposes than tobacco pouches and bags without
departing from the invention.
As shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the side loops may be provided with knots c, which
will assist and guide the operator in opening the pouch--that is, will indicate to
the touch which string to pull in opening. These knots may be so located as to
be at the ends of the loops when the bag is opened, as shown in Fig. 2, or they may
be so located as to be near the pouch when the same is closed, (see Fig. 4,) as the
exigencies of the case may require. As shown in Fig. 2, small finger-loops c¹ c¹
may be formed beyond the knots to assist the operator in pulling the pouch open,
these loops being particularly advantageous in opening a tightly-closed pouch.
In lieu of knots, small metallic balls or clamps may be attached to the loops,
as shown in Fig. 3.
As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, a knot d may be formed in the main string at one
side (preferably the back) of the pouch outside the hem, to form a stop to prevent
the string pulling more in one direction than in the other, thus keeping the loops
always the same length. As shown in Fig. 5, instead of securing the ends of the
main string directly to the bag short pieces of string may connect the strings to the
bag, these short strings being preferably a different color from the main string in
order to indicate to the operator which one to pull in opening.
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 :
1. The combination of the pouch or bag and the draw-string passed around and
secured to the mouth thereof, the string passing around the mouth approximately
one and a half times and having its ends turned back and secured to the pouch,
forming loops whereby the same string may be used to open and close the pouch,
substantially as described.
2. The combination of a pouch provided with a hem around its mouth, and a
draw-string passed around through said hem and having its ends leave the hem at
opposite sides of the pouch, said ends being turned back and secured to the pouch
at or near the points of exit from the hem, substantially as described.
3. The pouch or bag provided with a draw-string looped around its mouth the
ends of the string being formed into loops on opposite sides of the mouth by
having their ends turned back and attached to the pouch whereby a single
string may be employed to both open and close the pouch, substantially as
described.
4. The combination of a pouch, a draw-string passed loosely around and secured
to the mouth of the pouch, this string being formed into loops on opposite sides of
the mouth by having its ends turned back and secured to the pouch, a stop d being
formed in the main string at one side of the pouch to prevent the string being
pulled more in one direction than the other, substantially as described.
5. The combination of a pouch provided with a hem and a draw-string passed
around through the hem and having its ends formed into loops 6" on opposite sides
of the pouch by being turned back and secured to the pouch, said loops 611
being provided with finger-loops c¹ c' and with knots c c, as and for the purpose
described.
Dhoond 1 of L
1000
W. J. CUSSEN,
By L. W., per F. B.