Improvements in Fastening Devices for the Straps of Trunks and other Articles.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Aug.,
1897
Complete Specification Left, 6th June, 1898-Accepted, 6th Aug., 1898
[Communicated from abroad by GEORGE MAYNARD DORRANCE, of 30, Cortlandt
Street, in the City, County, and State of New York, United States of
America.]
Improvements in Fastening Devices for the Straps of Trunks and
other Articles.
I, JOHN WILLIAM MACKENZIE, of the Firm of Wheatley & Mackenzie,
of 40, Chancery Lane, in the County of London, Engineers & Patent Agents, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to straps for trunks and other articles, and particularly
to fastening and tightening devices therefor; and the object thereof is to provide
an improved device of this class by means of which the ends of a trunk or other
strap may be quickly and easily connected, and by which the strap when placed
upon the trunk or other article, and the ends thereof connected, may be drawn
tight, and may be secured in position; and with this and other objects in view the
invention consists in the device constructed as hereinafter described.
In the practice of my invention I provide a main link which is preferably
substantially rectangular in form, and which is provided at one end with a down-
wardly and outwardly directed shank to which is secured or on which is formed a
cross head, and adjacent to the end of the main link, with which the shank is
connected, is a cross bar.
The cross head of the main link, is provided at each end with upwardly directed
jaws, and I also provide a supplemental link which is similar in form to the
main link, but which is slightly wider than said main link, and which is provided
at the end thereof adjacent to the main link with outwardly inclined arms which
are pivoted between the upwardly directed jaws, on the cross head of the main
link.
The supplemental link is provided adjacent to the said arms thereof with a cross
bar which is provided at each end with an annular shoulder or head, and I also
provide a clamp which comprises a cross head provided with arms which are curved
upwardly and inwardly, and the outer ends of which are mounted on the said cross
rod of the supplemental link, and the said cross head of the supplemental link
is provided at each end with upwardly directed jaws in which is mounted a rod
with which is pivotally connected a clamping plate or lever which is provided at its
opposite ends with upwardly directed shoulders or projections, through which
said rod passes, and the clamping plate or lever is provided at its rear edge with a
downwardly directed extension which is preferably provided on its lower edge with
serrations or teeth.
Formed in the ends of the sides of the main link opposite the shank thereof, are
deep notches or recesses, and the said sides are carried upwardly and outwardly,
and the cross bar at the outer end of said main link is much higher than the
horizontal plane of the body portion of the link and when the supplemental link
is folded over the main link, the outer cross bar of said supplemental link will
rest in said notches or recesses.
The said clamp is free to swing in the supplemental link, and in practice, one

page_text: end of the strap is secured to the inner cross rod of the main link, and the other
end after being passed around the trunk or other article, is passed under the
outer cross rod of the supplemental link, and beneath the clamping plate or lever,
and in this operation, said supplemental link is extended, and the clamping plate
or lever is then turned downwardly, so as to securely hold the end of the strap, and
said strap is pulled tight by hand, after which the supplemental link is folded
over the main link, and in this operation, the strap is drawn tight, and the body
portion of the main link passes within the sides of the supplemental link, and the
outer cross bar of the supplemental link rests in the notches or recesses in the sides
of the main link, and the free end of the strap or the end which is passed through
the clamp is then passed through the opening between the outer cross bar of the
main link, and the outer cross bar of the supplemental link, and by means of this
arrangement the supplemental link is securely held in place, and the accidental
tripping thereof, and the consequent loosening of the strap is avoided.
This device is simple in construction and operation, and is prefectly adapted to
accomplish the result for which it is intended, while being also comparatively
inexpensive, and the chief feature thereof, consists in the employment of the
supplemental link provided with the clamping plate or lever, and the means for
holding said supplemental link in the folded position as hereinbefore described.
Dated this 5th day of August 1897
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fastening Devices for the Straps of Trunks and
other Articles.
-
I, JOHN WILLIAM MACKENZIE, of the Firm of Wheatley & Mackenzie,
Engineers and Patent Agents, of 40, Chancery Lane, London, 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 relates to fastening devices for ropes, cords or lines and particu-
larly to devices of this class which are designed for use in connection with ropes
or cords which are employed as trunk straps and for similar purposes; and the
object of the invention is to provide an improved device of this class by means of
which the separate ends of a rope or cord when used as a trunk strap, or for a
similar purpose may be quickly and easily connected and tightened on the trunk or
other article; and with these and other objects in view, the invention consists in
the fastening device hereinafter described and claimed.
The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the
accompanying drawing forms a part in which like numerals of reference designate
the same parts throughout the several views; and in which:
Fig. 1, is a plan view of the fastening device which I employ, and showing
also the method of the operation thereof;
Fig. 2, a side view thereof;
Fig. 3, a side view of the fastening device proper which is composed of two
separate parts which are pivotally connected, these parts being shown extended in
said figure;
Fig. 4, a side view of another device which I employ in connection with the
fastening devices proper, and which is designed for use in forming a loop in one
end of the cord or rope so as to connect the same with the fastening device proper:
Fig. 5, an end view thereof, looking in the direction of the arrow a, of
Tic 4

page_text: Fig. 6, a section on the line 6, 6, of Fig. 5; and,
Fig. 7, a sectional plan view of a modified form of device which I may employ
instead of that shown in Fig. 4.
In the practice of my invention, I provide a fastening device 10, which consists
of a bar 11, and a lever 12, which are pivotally connected at 13, as shown in
Fig. 3, and the bar 11, is provided with a circular head 14, and the lever 12,
with two circular jaws 15, between which the circular head 14, of the bar 11, is
pivoted.
Formed on the upper side of the bar 11, adjacent to the head 14, thereof, is a
lug or projection 16, and the outer end thereof, is provided with two circular
transverse openings 17, and 18, and between the inner circular opening 18, and
the upwardly directed lug or projection 16, is a deep semi-circular transverse notch
or recess 19.
The lever 12, is provided adjacent to the circular jaws 15, with a deep semi-
circular notch or recess 20, which corresponds with the notch or recess 19, in the
bar 11, and outside thereof, is a circular opening 21, which corresponds with the
circular opening 18, in the bar or lever 11, and the lever 12, is also provided with a
projecting arm 22, and said lever is provided with an oblong slot 23, which
extends from the transverse notch or recess 20, almost to the end of the arm 22.
In Figs. 1, and 2, of the drawing, I have shown at 9, one end of the rope or cord,
and at 24, the other end, and in practice, I pass one end of the rope or cord, the
end 9, as shown in the drawing through the opening 17, in the lever 11, and fold
it back as shown at 25, and connect the separate parts of the rope or cord at the
end of the lever 11 by means of a double tubular band 26 or in any desired manner,
and in place of using the double tubular band 26 through which both
branches of the end 9, of the rope or cord are passed, I may connect said branches
at this point by means of a tightly wrapped wire or in any desired manner, and in
connecting the end 9, of the rope or cord with the lever, I provide an extension 27,
thereof, and in connecting the rope or cord with the trunk, I form in the end 24,
thereof, a loop 28, and this loop 28, is placed in the transverse notch or recess 20,
of the lever 22, and said lever is then swung over into the position shown in
Figs. 1 and 2.
It will be understood that the rope or cord is drawn taut when the loop 28,
is placed in the notch or recess 20 of the lever 12, and when said lever is swung over
into the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the said rope or cord is drawn as tight as
it will be possible to draw it and when the lever 12, is swung into the position
shown in Figs. 1, and 2, the notches or recesses 19, and 20, form together a trans-
verse circular opening through which the loop 28, of the end 24, of the rope or cord
pass, and the upper side of the bar 11, passes through the oblong slot 23, in the
lever 12, and the transverse opening 18, in the bar 11, registers with the transverse
opening 21 in the lever, and the extension 27 of the end 9, of the rope or cord is
then passed through these transverse openings 18, and 21, and the lever 12, is
securely keyed or locked to the bar 11.
Instead of employing the extension 27 of the end 9 of the rope or cord for keying
or locking the lever 12, to the bar 11, I may employ an ordinary spring plug or key
plug or any other equivalent or similar device, my invention being not limited to
the use of the extension 27 of the end 9, of the rope or cord for this purpose.
In forming the loop 28, in the end 24, of the rope or cord, I prefer to employ the
clamp 29, shown in connection with the rope or cord in Figs. 1, and 2, and in detail
Figs. 4, 5, and 6, and this clamp consists of an oblong head 30, which is semi-
circular in cross section on its lower side, and which is provided at each end with
two upwardly directed jaws 31, through which are formed circular openings 32,
through which the end of the rope or cord is adapted to be passed as clearly shown
in Fig. 1, and formed longitudinally of the head of the clamp between the bases
of said jaws is a bore or passage 33, in which is mounted a cylinder 34, to which is
secured centrally thereof, a lever 35, which is provided at its outer end with a cross

page_text: head 36, in the upper side of which are formed at each end two semi-circular
notches or recesses 37.
The end of the lever 35, adjacent to the cylinder 34, is reduced in size as shown
at 38, and said reduced portion 38, of the lever 35, is adapted to swing between the
jaws 31, which are formed at each end of the head 30, and said reduced portion is
also adapted to pass longitudinally of the head through the space 39, between said
jaws 31, and the cylinder 34, is provided on its under side directly beneath the
transverse circular openings 32, in the jaws 31, with semicircular notches or
recesses 40, one of which is shown in full lines in Fig. 6, and both of which are
shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5.
The cylinder 34, is adapted to turn in the head 30, and in this operation the
lever 35 śwings between the jaws 31, in the transverse space 41, and when the
lever 35, is in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4, the end 24, of the rope
or cord may be passed through one pair of the shoulders 31, and back through
the other pair, and after this operation, the lever is swung into the position shown
in full lines in Fig. 4, and in Figs. 1, and 2, and in this position of the lever, the
cylinder 34 will be turned so that the notches of recesses 40 will be turned down-
wardly, and both branches of the end 24, of the rope or cord will be securely
clamped in the jaws 31, by said cylinder.
In this operation, the sides of the loop 28, are extended so that the cross head 36,
of said lever will pass between the same, and then the sides are contracted, and
pass into the semi-circular notches or recesses, 37, in the upper side of said cross
head, after which the loop 28, is connected with the lever 12, of the fastening
device 10, as hereinbefore described.
The clamp 29, for forming the loop 28, in the end 24, of the rope or cord, is not
however, absolutely essential and any suitable device may be employed for forming
said loop, and in place thereof, I may employ an ordinary block 42, which is
shown in Fig. 7, and in which are formed two transverse openings 43, through
which the end 24, of the rope or cord may be passed in forming the loop 28,
and in this case, the loop 28, will be connected with the lever 12, as herein before
described, and the transverse openings 43, in the block 42, are formed at an angle
as shown in Fig. 7, so that the strain is thrown on the end 24, of the rope or cord
by the lever 12, and said block will be turned into a position almost parallel with
the main portion of said end 24, and the extreme end 44, thereof, will be prevented
from slipping through the block.
The holes 43, in the block 42, however, may be formed at any desired angle or
may be formed parallel, the strain on the block being sufficient to turn it
longitudinally or nearly longitudinally with the part 24, of the rope or cord and
thus prevent the slipping thereof.
I prefer however, to employ the clamp hereinbefore described, and it will be
apparent that other changes in, and modifications of the construction herein
described may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention or
sacrificing its advantages.
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. The herein described fastening and tightening device for ropes or cords for
use as straps for trunks and other articles, consisting of a bar to one end of which
is pivoted a lever, said bar being provided adjacent to said pivotal connection with
the lever, with a semi-circular notch or recess in its upper side, and in the outer
end thereof, with
which
opening through
one end of
the cord от rope is passed, and said lever being provided in the
upper side thereof, adjacent to its pivotal connection with the bar,
with a semi-circular notch or recess which corresponds with the semi-circular
notch or recess formed in the bar, said lever and said bar being adapted to be folded
a
transverse

page_text: together, and to be keyed or locked in said position, substantially as shown and
described.
2. The herein described fastening and tightening device for ropes or cords for
use as straps for trunks and other articles, consisting of a bar to one end of
which is pivoted a lever, said bar being provided adjacent to said pivotal cou-
nection with the lever, with a semi-circular notch or recess in its upper side, and
in the outer end thereof, with a transverse opening through which one end of the
cord or rope is passed and said lever being provided in the upper side thereof,
adjacent to its pivotal connection with the bar, with a semi-circular notch or recess
which corresponds with the semi-circular notch or recess formed in the bar, said
lever and said bar being adapted to be folded together, and to be keyed or locked in
said position, and said lever being provided with an oblong slot through which the
body portion of the bar passes when so folded, and each of said parts being
provided with a transverse opening, said opening being adapted to register when
said parts are folded together, substantially as shown and described.
3. The herein described fastening and tightening device for ropes or cords for
use as straps for trunks and other articles, consisting of a bar to one end of which
is pivoted a lever, said bar being provided adjacent to said pivotal connection with
the lever, with a semi-circular notch or recess in its upper side, and in the
outer end thereof, with a transverse opening through which one end of the rope or
cord is passed and said lever being provided in the upper side thereof adjacent to
its pivotal connection with the bar, with a semi-circular notch or recess which corre-
sponds with the semi-circular notch or recess formed in the bar, said lever and said
bar being adapted to be folded together, and to be keyed or locked in said position,
and said lever being provided with an oblong slot through which the body portion
of the bar passes when so folded, and each of said parts being provided with a
transverse opening, said opening being adapted to register when said parts are
folded together, and said lever being provided with a projecting arm by which it
is manipulated, substantially as shown and described.
4. The herein described fastening and tightening.device for ropes or cords for
use on straps for trunks and other articles, said device consisting of a bar to one
end of which is pivoted a lever, said bar being provided adjacent to said pivotal
connection with a notch or recess in its upper side, and in the outer end thereof.
with a transverse opening through which one end of the rope or cord is passed, and
said lever being provided in the upper side thereof, with a notch or recess which
corresponds with that formed in the top of said bar, and said lever and said bar
being adapted to be folded and secured together, substantially as shown and
described.
5. The combination with a fastening device for the purpose herein described,
consisting of a bar or lever pivotally connected therewith, said bar and said lever
being provided with transverse holes or openings and with transverse notches or
recesses, of a clamp consisting of a cross head, which is provided longitudinally
with a bore above which is formed at each end of the cross head, two projecting.
jaws provided with similar transverse openings, the jaws at each end being
separated by a transverse opening or slot, and the jaws of each pair being separated
by a longitudinal opening or slot, which communicates with the longitudinal
bore, and a cylinder mounted in said longitudinal bore and provided with a pro-
jecting arm or lever, at the end of which is a cross head, in the upper side of which
are formed two transverse semi-circular notches or recesses, substantially as shown
and described.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.