Improvements in or connected with Bags applicable for the Transportation of Mails and other Matter.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Mar., 1892 Accepted, 30th Apr., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Bags applicable for the
Transportation of Mails and other Matter.
I SAMUEL GEORGE BAKER COOK of 98, Queen's Gate South Kensington,
Middlesex, Gentleman, 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 object of this invention is to provide a bag, the mouth of which may be
locked when closed, preventing the entrance of water, moisture, etc., and the
abstraction of its contents, and it has for a further object to provide a locking
mechanism for such a bag, of sufficient strength to prevent the forcing thereof,
and if desired the locking mechanism can be so constructed as to permit the
detection of the unauthorized unlocking of the bag,
In carrying out this invention, the top of the bag is provided with a series of
stiffening straps, in which and in the bag elongated apertures are formed, through
which apertures a block having an enlarged head is adapted to be inserted, a barrel
being partly contained in the said block and having a crosshead upon its projecting
end, whereby, when the said block is inserted in the apertures and the crosshead
turned to lie across the shorter diameters of the apertures the several straps of the
bag will be prevented from becoming separated and thus the bag from opening,
suitable locking mechanism being provided to prevent the barrel from turning
within the block. In order to detect any successful tampering with the lock a
register is provided to record each unlocking motion thereof.
In the drawings:
Figure 1, is a horizontal sectional view, showing my lock as contained within
a bag.
Figure 2, is a perspective view thereof, the bag being shown open.
Figure 3, is a transverse section on line x-x of Figure 1.
Figure 4, is a perspective view of the lock detached.
Figure 5, is a detail of one of the registering dials and engaging-wheel.
Figure 6, is a perspective view of the registering mechanism.
The lock proper consists of the face plate A, and rear conical extension B, the
two being united by webs C, diametrically placed at the junction of the said parts.
A central cylindrical bore D, is formed within the said extension, and is continued
through the face plate, as shown. A hollow shell E, elliptical in cross section, and
having front and rear walls E' and E2, provided with apertures E³, in alignment
with and corresponding to the bore D, is secured to the front of the face plate by
screws or bolts D' passed from the rear of the latter through the said rear wall, in
which position the heads of the screws or bolts will be covered while the bag is
locked, by the outer folds thereof.
A cylindrical shaft F, passes through the said apertures E' and the bore D, the
rear of the shaft terminating in a neck F¹ which carries a crosshead F³ formed
integral therewith, the greater length of the said crosshead being by preference
the same as the diameter of the shaft. The shaft is held in place with its forward
end flush with the front wall of the shell by a pin F³ projecting from its circum-
ference and contained in a depression E formed in the rear wall E' of the shell
around the aperture E³ therein, the pin thus also bearing on the front of the face
plate. The shaft has its forward end slotted as at F to permit the entrance of a
key, and has laterally movable pins & therein, the pins when moved inward lying
partly within the slot, from which they may be shoved by the entrance of the key,
corresponding spring actuated pins G¹ being contained in one of the webs, and
being adapted, when the shaft is in a position to lock the bag, to partly enter the

page_text: holes occupied by the pins G, thus locking the shaft against rotation, the said
pins G¹ being forced from the said holes when the key is inserted by the outward
movement of the pins G, thus liberating the barrel.
Within the shell E is placed a registering mechanism adapted to record the
rotations of the shaft, the dials of the said mechanism showing through a glazed
aperture E³ in the shell, and being thrown on the movement of the shaft from a
position locking the bag to a position unlocking the bag, the said movement being
equal to an arc of two hundred and seventy degrees in a forward direction. The
registering mechanism which it is preferred to use is constructed as follows :—
Upon the shaft F are journalled a number of disks H, each of which is provided
with ten radial notches H¹ that are arranged at equidistant points around its
periphery. A second and smaller disk I, is secured to one side of said disk H,
and is separated therefrom, near its outer edge, by a space somewhat wider than
the thickness of said disk I.
The disk I, is provided with one radial notch I' which coincides with one of the
notches H¹ of the disk H, while at a point midway between said notch I' and the
next forward notch H' of said disk H is placed a pin 1' that extends between and
has its ends secured within said disks.
A bar K, extends from the front to the rear wall of the shell E, upon one side
of the forward end of the shaft F, the said bar having journalled thereon a series
of wheels L, which correspond in number to the number of the disks H, and have
their edges contained within the spaces between each pair of disks H and I. Each
of said wheels has six peripheral teeth L' that have a forward inclination, and
midway between each of said teeth is provided a stud L* that extends laterally
outward in a line with the.axis of said wheel.
The diameter of each wheel L is such as to cause its teeth to engage with the
pin I, while its studs L' are placed at such points, radially, as to cause two of
them to bear upon the periphery of one of the disks I, while their ends extend
into two of the notches H¹ of the disk H next in front, and thus lock said wheel
and disks in position.
:
Secured upon the outer end of the shaft F and rotating with the same is 8
disk M, which is in all respects like the disks I, but is not attached to a disk H.
If now the shaft F, is caused to rotate, at each revolution the pin I' of the
disk M, will engage with and move forward one tooth L' of the contiguous
wheel L, while at the same instant the notch I' is brought opposite to the rear
one of the studs L'which is resting upon the periphery of said disk, and permits
said wheel to turn freely until its next succeeding stud L is arrested by contact
with the solid portion of the periphery of said disk. This movement of said
wheel L, causes the first disk H, with which its studs L' are engaged to be moved
forward one-tenth of a revolution, such operation being repeated at each revolution
of said shaft F.
When the first disk H, has made a complete revolution, it moves the second
wheel L, forward one tooth, and, by such movement, causes the second disk H to
be rotated one-tenth of a revolution, said operation being repeated whenever the
first disk H, makes a complete revolution.
Each of the disks H, has ten peripheral numbers from 1 to 0, both inclusive,
and by means of the glazed opening the numbers in line therewith upon each disk
or dial can be seen.
The figures upon the first or lower disk indicate units, those of the second disk
tens, &c., so that the difference between the numbers shown before and after the
shaft has been revolved will correctly indicate the number of such revolutions.
The construction of the registering mechanism is such as to prevent motion in
a rearward direction, so that it is impossible to turn back and falsify the register,
while it is equally impossible that any of the indicator disks should be moved for-
ward out of its order, or with any greater relative speed than one revolution to ten
revolutions of the next preceding disk.
In order that the registering mechanism may not be operated beyond the

page_text: maximum number, the tenth notch H' is omitted from the last disk H, by which
means the further movement of said disk and the preceding disks is arrested one
number before the maximum, and no further motion in either direction is possible
without breakage until the lock has been taken apart and said mechanism
readjusted.
Although in the accompanying drawings but two disks are shown, it will be
obvious that their number may be increased to any desired extent after the con-
struction above described. While as above stated the registering mechanism will
prevent the backward rotation of the shaft in order to relieve the latter from
strain which might be put upon it by attempting to rotate it backwards, a series
of shoulders N, having square rear faces N¹ are formed upon the barrel, and are
adapted, upon the attempted rearward rotation of the latter, to bear against the
sides of the pins G. The face of the front wall of the shell and the front end of
the shaft have marks suitably placed thereon so when the said marks register it
may be known that the shaft is in a locked position (as shown by the letters "L"
in the drawing) or in a position to unlock the bag as shown by the letter "O."
The bag which is made entirely seamless, has a series of stiffening straps O,
secured to the upper edge thereof, the said straps and top of the bag being adapted
to fold together, as shown, all of the said straps except that one (O¹) which will
be the rear end one when the back is folded having circular eyes P, therein of
the proper size to receive the extension of the lock, while those of the straps O,
which will be towards the front of the bag when folded have offsets P¹ formed
on each side of the eye therein, the said offsets being adapted to receive the
wings C, whereby the extension B, and parts rigidly connected thereto are
prevented from turning.
It will be seen from an examination of Figure 1, that the eyes in the several
straps when the mouth of the bag is folded together register with each other, the
straps themselves lying close together so that the extension B, of the lock may
be inserted in the said eyes. Although the bag and lock may be entirely separate,
I prefer to connect them together by forming a longitudinal groove B¹ in the
forward end of the extension into which a pin O* projecting from the strap on the
front fold of the bag is contained, thus permitting the lock to have a limited
longitudinal motion in the eye in the said outer fold for the double purpose of
reducing to a minimum the obstruction of the mouth of the bag by the lock and
permitting the several straps to be folded in place. The strap O₁ upon the most
rearward of the several folds has an elongated eye or a slot P' therein, the
opposite ends of the said slot being of different shapes and corresponding to the
opposite ends of the crosshead F, which are also of different shapes, and it will
thus be seen that there is but one position in which the crosshead F can. be
inserted in or withdrawn from the slot P, the crosshead being formed upon the
shaft in such a relative manner that this will only occur when the proper
designating marks upon the shaft and shell register. A cap Q is secured to the
strap 01 and covers the eye therein, thus preventing any pressure being applied to
the crosshead.
In the operation of my device, the parts being in the position shown in Figure 3,
the straps of the bag are folded upon themselves and brought together and the
extension B shoved backward into the eyes thereof, and at the end of its path is
turned through an arc of 90 degrees, thus placing the crosshead at right angles to
the position in which it was inserted, locking the straps of the bags together,
while upon withdrawing the key the pins G will enter the holes in the shaft
previously occupied by the pins G, holding the latter against further rotation
until the key is again inserted, and by preference the key is so constructed that it
can only be withdrawn in the locked position of the shaft. The state of the
registering mechanism may now be taken and recorded, and the bag forwarded to
its destination, the agent at which is notified of the number. If the bag when
arriving there has the same number it may be known that it has not been opened
in transit, as it is impossible to open the bag without causing a registration thereof.

page_text: In opening the bag the key is inserted in the shaft, and the latter is turned
forward through an arc of 270 degrees, that movement causing the ends of the
crosshead and slot P to bear the same relation to each other as they did when the
former was inserted in the latter, which, owing to their irregular shape, it is
necessary that they assume, before they can be separated. This movement,
however, will trip the registering mechanism and cause it to add one number to the
number already shown, and it will thus be seen that each unlocking movement of
the shaft will be recorded. When the shaft has assumed its full unlocked position,
the lock may be moved forward and the bag again opened. It will be evident
that as the bag is of seamless fabric, that any ingress thereto will either be
recorded by the register or will be shown by the cutting of the bag.
It will also be evident that if desired the registering mechanism may be dispensed
with, and exclusive reliance placed upon the difficulty of picking the lock.
If it be desired that the inouth of the bag be made watertight when closed,
the straps on the inside of the bag may be covered with india rubber or other
similar substance, so that when the mouth of the bag is folded and the cross-
head F turned to a locked position the rubber upon the several folds will be
pressed together by the crosshead riding upon the cam track R, which is con-
centric to the eye P¹ in the rear fold O¹ of the bag.
A bag constructed as above described will be found convenient for the trans-
portation of mail and other valuables, as it affords great protection against theft.
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 combination with a bag having a series of eyes therein, of a shaft
adapted to be inserted in the said eyes, the said shaft having a crosshead upon
one of its ends, and carrying an enlargement upon its opposite end, substantially as
described.
2. The combination with a bag having a series of eyes therein, of a shaft
adapted to be inserted in the said eyes, the said shaft having a crosshead upon
one of its ends and carrying an enlargement upon the other, and means for locking
the barrel against rotation, as set forth.
3. The combination with a bag having a series of eyes therein, of a fastener
therefor consisting of a piece adapted to be inserted in the said eyes, and having
an enlargement upon its one end, a shaft partly contained within the said piece,
and having a crosshead upon its projecting end, and means for locking the said
piece and shaft together against a rotation of the latter, as set forth.
4. The combination with a bag having a series of elongated eyes therein, of a
fastener therefor consisting of an angular piece adapted to be inserted in the said
eyes, and having an enlargement upon its one end, a shaft partly contained within
the said piece, and having a crosshead upon its projecting end, and pins contained
in the said piece and adapted to lock the said piece and shaft together, as set forth.
5. The combination with a bag having eyes therein, of a shaft contained in the
said eyes, and having a crosshead upon its one end and carrying a face plate upon
the other, of a register adapted to register the rotation of the said shaft, substantially
as described.
6. The combination with a bag having a series of eyes therein, one of the eyes
having its opposite ends of irregular shape, a shaft contained in the said eyes and
carrying a face plate upon its one end, and a crosshead corresponding in shape to
the said eye upon its opposite end, and a registering mechanism adapted to be
actuated by a rotation of the said crosshead from a position across the said eye to
one corresponding therewith, substantially as described.
7. The combination with a bag having a series of eyes therein, of a shaft con-
tained in said eyes, and carrying an enlargement upon its one end and a crosshead
upon its opposite end, the said shaft being capable of a limited longitudinal
movement within one of the eyes of the bag, substantially as described.

page_text: 8. The combination with a housing consisting of a face plate having a conical
extension thereon, and of webs at the junction of the said parts, of a shaft contained
in the said face plate and extension, and carrying a crosshead upon its projecting
end, means for locking the said housing and shaft together, and a bag having a
series of eyes therein in which the said housing and shaft are adapted to be con-
tained, the said eyes corresponding in size and contour to the shape and size of
that section of the housing contiguous thereto, substantially as described.
9. The combination with a housing having an enlargement upon its one end, of a
shaft partially contained therein, and carrying upon its free end a crosshead,
means for locking the said shaft and housing together, a bag having a series of
eyes therein corresponding in contour to the parts of the housing and crosshead
adjacent thereto, and a connection between the said housing and said bag whereby
the housing is permitted a limited longitudinal motion in one of the end eyes of
the bag, substantially as described.
10. The combination with a housing having an enlarged shell secured to the
front end thereof, a shaft partially contained in the said shell and housing, and
carrying a crosshead upon its projecting rear end, means whereby the said housing
and shaft may be locked together, registering mechanism contained in the said
shell and adapted to record a rotation of the said shaft, and a bag having a
series of eyes therein adapted to receive the said housing and corresponding in
shape to that portion of the housing or crosshead contiguous thereto, substantially
as described.
11. The combination with a bag having a series of eyes therein of a cover
secured to the bag over one of the end eyes of the said series, a housing adapted
to be contained in the said eyes, a shaft partially contained in the said housing
and having a crosshead upon its rear projecting end and means for locking the said
crosshead and housing together, substantially as described.
Dated this 28th day of March 1892.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.