Improvements in Lead Seals and Presses therefor.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd July, 1889-Accepted, 3rd Aug.. 1889
COMPLETE SIECIFICATION,
Improvements in Lead Seals and Presses therefor.
I, THEODORE SAUNDERS, residing at Crosby Street, in the City of Danbury,
County of Fairfield, in the State of Connecticut, one of the United States of
Aunerica, Machinist, 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:
The first part of my invention has for its object the simple and cheap construction
of the lead seal, while the second feature of my improvement has reference to the
providing of an effective press whereby the seal may be imprinted and the wires
extending therethrough so displaced as to afford a safeguard against tampering.
In the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1, is a perspective showing one form of my improved seal with the wires
in proper position relative thereto.
Figure 2, a section showing the position assumed by the wire when displaced by
the press.
Figure 3, a section showing my preferred construction of the seal with a short strip
of the wire extending therethrough.
Figure 4, a view similar to Figure 3, but showing the wire clamped by the displaced
stock of the seal, and
Figure 5, an elevation partly in section illustrating my improved press for operating
to imprint the seal and clamp the wires.
A, is the seal made of lead and having an opening, B, extending therethrough
for the insertion of the wire, C.
At the front and rear face of the seal and at right angles to the opening, B,
recesses or depressions, D, are formed which may extend through to the said opening,
as shown at Figures 1 and 2, or said depressions may be of such a depth as to leave
a thin partition of the lead between the bottoms of said depressions and the said
opening as shown at Figures 3 and 4.
The object of said recesses or depressions is to afford a ready entrance for the horn
of the press, whereby said horn may operate to displace the wires as will be presently
explained.
This press is composed primarily of two handles, E, F. The handle, E, has an
extension arm, H, depending therefrom, and to the outer end of this arm the
handle, F, is pivoted as seen at, G.
I, J, are the two dies by means of which the seal is impressed with the letters or
prints desired. The die, I, is secured to and carried by the forward end of the
handle E, and has an opening, K, central thereof, while the die, J, is pivoted at the
heel end to the upper part of the arm H, and carries a horn, L, which is inserted
through the said die, J, from the back and projects upward from the face thereof.
In normal position, this die and horn are supported by the handle, F, and when
said handle is elevated the dies, I, J, will be brought together and the horn, L, carried
within the opening, K. A spring, M, between said handles serves to throw them
apart when released.
The operation of my above described hand-press in connection with my improved
seal is as follows:
The seal is placed upon the die, J, so that the horn L, extends within one of the
recesses or depressions, D, and by compressing the handles said horn is forced against
the wire, C, thereby crowding the latter through the opposite recess, while at the
same time the face of said seal is imprinted by the compression of the dies.
By crowding the wire between laterally displaced partitions of the lead, the wire is
so securely clamped that it is impossible to tamper with the seal without discovery.

page_text: A strap, N, pivoted to the die, J, and embracing the handle, F, connects said die
and handle in such manner that the depression of the latter will cause the former to
be readily extracted from the lead seal.
Having thus described the nature of my improvements and the manner of per-
forming or carrying the same into practice, I would remark that I do not limit
myself to the exact details set forth of the construction of the hand-press, and at the
same time it should be clearly understood that I desire to lay no claim generically
'to a lead seal, since I am aware that such seals are well known, and my aim is to
cover only the particular construction of seal shown in the drawings and hereinbefore
described.
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 herein described lead seal having extending therethrough an opening for
the wire, and recesses or depression's formed on the opposite faces of said seal,
substantially as set forth.
2. A punch for imprinting lead seals and clamping the wires, the same consisting
of two handles pivoted together, a die carried by the upper handle, and an intermediate
pivoted die adapted to be operated by the lower handle.
3. The combination of the handle, E, carrying the die, I, provided with the
opening, K, of the handle, F, pivoted at the forward end to the extremity of an
arm, H, depending from the handle, E, and the die, J, pivoted to the upper part of
said arm and carrying the horn, L, substantially as shown and described.
4. In combination with the die, J, and the handle, F, the straps, N, pivoted to said
die and embracing said handle, substantially as set forth..
.
+
Dated this 2nd day of Jule 1880
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.