Improvements in Mail Pouches or Bags.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 19th June, 1899-Accepted, 14th Mar., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Mail Pouches or Bags.
I, BUTLER EDGAR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sunbury, in the
County of Northumberland, and State of Pennsylvania, United States of America,
Real Estate Agent, do hereby declare the nature of my invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
The object of my invention is to produce mail-pouches simple in construction,
durable in use, easily and readily opened by whoever has the right, and as near as
can be, impossible to be entered without violence by those who have not the right,
flexible, yet firm, and in every respect thoroughly adapted to the purpose for which
they are made and used.
The nature of my invention is set forth in the Specification and Claims.
Figure 1 is a front view of the pouch as locked when in use, showing the
staple D, the lock which fastens it, and the tag which contains the directions
and its connections.
Figure 2 is a rear view of the upper section of the pouch, showing its mouth,
partially closed by insertion of the apron G (Fig. 3A) under the apron A¹ on the
interior flap B, the staple D, and the exterior flap C, folded back on the line of
contact yy where it is attached to the wall of the pouch.
Figure 3 is a cross-section on the liner of Fig. 1.
Figure 3 is a rear view of the pouch when fully open to receive its contents,
showing the interior flap B, exterior flap C, aprons A' and G, and segments H, I,
and J and their connections.
Figure 4 is a view of the blank or skeleton for manufacturing the pouch.
Figures 5, 6, and 7 are details of flaps B and C--that is, showing the segments
and aprons.
Figure 8 is a perspective view of the tag-holder E, containing the directions.
A, Fig. 1, denotes a mail-pouch of the ordinary size made of heavy durable leather,
canvas, or the two combined.
With the exception of certain parts hereinafter described in detail, the pouch
may be cut, in its entirety or in sections, from the material of which it is made
and firmly riveted together along one side and on the bottom.
B, Fig. 2, is an interior flap, part of the main pouch extending above the line of
its mouth from three to four inches, according to the size and capacity desired, and
carried out with the square corners a little more than flush with its sides when the
pouch is closed. This flap B, may be made integral with or attached to the body
of the pouch. The purpose in so extending the extremities of the flap a little more
than flush with the sides of the pouch is a protection against the mouth of the pouch
springing open by rough handling and a general security against entering it by any
means which does not result in its destruction. This flap folds down evenly and
closely over the mouth of the pouch, and when the pouch is closed for use is firmly
held in its place by the staple D, and flap C, and, as stated, is designed to prevent
egress out of or ingress into the pouch. This flap, when folded into position over
the mouth of the pouch, reaches down to and is in complete contact with the flap C,
where the latter is riveted to the wall of the pouch. Attached to the face of this
flap B, by riveting to its upper edge and partially down its ends is an apron A',
Figs. 34 and 7, made of heavy leather corresponding in length to the length of
the flap or width of the pouch and covering the flap down to the mouth of the
ponch. The lower side of this apron is not fastened. The open ends of the staple
pass through the upper or riveted side of the apron, and by means of an immovable
cap or plate may be firmly fastened to it and to the flap B.

page_text: H, I, and J, Figs. 2, 3, and 4, are segments of the flap B, and are designed to
strengthen the mouth and to give and preserve the form and firmness of the upper
part of the pouch. Two of these segments H. and J are extensions and may be
made integral parts of this flap. Connected with it and extending therefrom they
are folded around, equally in extent, the sides of the pouch and are riveted to the
rear of the pouch immediately below its mouth. The segment I is detached-that
is, not an integral part of the flap B-and of the same width as the segments Hand J,
and occupies the full space between them and the same position in relation to the
mouth of the pouch, and like those just described is firmly riveted to the rear of
the pouch immediately below its mouth.
G, Figs. 3 and 6 is an apron of about the same size as that of the apron A',
above described, and may be said to be a companion piece to it. It is riveted
to the rear wall and within the mouth of the pouch on the side opposite the flap B,
which flap is a part of or secured to the front of the pouch. This apron G, is fastened
within the mouth of the pouch sufficiently down from its edge to insure complete
firmness and extends sufficiently far above the line of its mouth to correspond to
the unfastened portion of the apron A. The length of this apron G corresponds
to the width of the pouch measured on its inside. When the pouch is closed for
use, the apron G, slips under the apron A¹ between it and the flap B, thus absolutely
sealing the mouth of the pouch.
C, Fig. 2, is an exterior flap-that is, one designed to be folded over the interior
flap Band is made of heavy leather or other suitable material firmly riveted
to the rear wall of the pouch along the line. y and at such distance below its
mouth as to be just below the end of the flap 13, when the latter is folded down to
it place, as above described. The lower or fixed end of the flap covers the surface
of the pouch fully from side to side and sufficiently below the mouth of the pouch
to rivet it securely. This flap folds over the flap B, and over the work end of the
pouch in the direction of its length. From the point in this flap where it is riveted
to the pouch it is truncated equally on both sides towards its outer end to about
one-half its width, as may be necessary in use. The outer end, by means of the
slot u, slips over the staple D, and is there secured by the lock. (Shown in Fig. 1.)
Along the inside of this flap, riveted to each edge, from its outer end to the line
of attachment to the main body of the pouch, are two segments cc, Figs. 34 and 5,
about two inches wide, as use may require. Also there is attached to this flap, to
the inside of the outer end, for about one-third its length, the segment c', filling the
entire space between the segments ec. The segments c c are designed and are put
in their place to prevent the stretching and enlarging of the flap to which they are
attached, and the segments c¹ is designed to give firmness and strength to the flap
where it receives the staple D.
D, Figs. 1 and 3, is an iron staple of suitable length and strength, its open ends
securely riveted on to the front side of the flap B, and on to the opposite side of
the same flap by an immovable cap, if need be, near its centre measured laterally
and about one inch from its upper edge. When the pouch is closed for use, this
staple passes through both walls of the pouch and through the outer or movable
end of the flap C, and through one end of the tag E, and then receives
the lock.
1, Figs. 1 and 8, is an adjustable tag-holder, whose length and breadth are
regulated by use, made of two pieces of heavy leather of unequal lengths fi'.
The bottom or longer piece fexceeds the upper in length and projects at either
end sufficient to permit cutting in each end two parallel slots b. The upper or
shorter piece is riveted to the lower along their corresponding edges, except so
much of the end next the staple necessarily left open at f, Fig. 8, to introduce
the card containing the directions. This tag-holder lies across the pouch when it
is fastened at right angles to its length, and is kept in position at one end by a
metallic-capped button F, Fig. 1, inserted through the slot band riveted to the side
of the pouch, and the other end, by means of a similar slot, slips over the staple D.
These slots bare of sufficient length to give to the tag-holder a moderate freedom

page_text: of motion transversely to the axis of the pouch, which does not interfere with or
impair its flexibility or utility. The function of this tag-holder is to receive and
protect the mailing directions of the pouch inserted through the opening, in
the end next the staple and secured in its place by said staple if the space
between the upper and lower parts of the tag-holder is not a sufficient guard.
Here it may be remarked that ny device contemplates only one staple, which
closes and controls all and every egress and ingress of the pouch and renders
unnecessary straps and all appendages except the tag-holder and lock.
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. In a mail-pouch, the interior flap B, having the segments H, J, and I, and
the apron A', secured to said flap, in combination with the exterior flap C, having
the strengthening segments c and c', secured thereto, and the apron G, secured to the
rear wall of the pouch within its mouth and adapted to engage with the apron A¹
on the flap B, all substantially as described.
2. In a mail-pouch, the flap B, having the segments H and J folded around the
sides of the pouch and secured to its rear wall, the segment I, filling the space
between the segments I and J and likewise secured to the rear wall of the pouch,
and the apron A³, secured to the outer edge of the flap B, in combination with the
flap C, secured to the rear wall of the pouch and strengthened by the segments c
and c', the staple D, whose open ends are riveted to the front side of the flap B,
and the tag-holder E, secured to the front of the pouch by the button F, and adapted
to engage the said staple whereby the pouch is securely locked, all substantially
as and for the purposes set forth.
Dated this 19th day of June 1890
BUTLER EDGAR.
By Herbert & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C., Agents to Applicant.