IMPROVEMENTS IN DRESSING AND TRAVELLING BAGS, STATIONARY, AND OTHER SIMILAR CASES
Year: 1874

page_text: 11
LETTERS PATENT to Herman Van Dyk, of West Smithfield, in the
City of London, Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN DRESSING AND TRAVELLING BAGS, STATIONARY, AND OTHER SIMILAR
CASES."
Sealed the 14th July 1874, and dated the 15th January 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Herman Van Dyk at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
15th January 1874.
I, HERMAN VAN DYK, of West Smithfield, in the City of London,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN DRESSING AND TRAVELLING BAGS, STATIONARY, AND OTHER
SIMILAR CASES," to be as follows:-
1 The object of my Invention is to provide dressing or travelling bags
as well as stationary and other similar cases which shall afford the
greatest possible amount of space with the least possible weight when

page_text: these articles are constructed of leather, canvas, and leather like and
woven materials.
The Invention consists in adding to the ordinary frame of such articles
a strong iron band which starts from one of the ends of the bag at about
the centre, and passes along the top at its middle down to the opposite 5
end, and which greatly strengthens the bag or case. To this band is
attached the handle plates to which the handle for carrying the bag is
fastened, as well as any other fittings which may be used.
The Invention further consists in placing the principal frame of the
bag to which the lock is attached at one side instead of at the middle 1
of the bag as is usual, and in hinging that side to the bottom of the
frame so that the side of the bag itself forms the flap or door, thus
enabling a complete opening to be effected, and the whole of the interior
space of the bag to be exposed to inspection.
The ends of the bag from which the metal band starts are strengthened
by pieces of wood or other strong rigid material.
I prefer to use in the interior of my improved bag or case movable
shelves or partitions fitted with straps as may be convenient, in order
that articles of one kind may be separated from articles of another kind
when kept in the same bag or case; and since in consequence of the
complete opening they can be perfectly seen, one set of articles between
two shelves may be removed from the bag without disarranging the
remaining ones which it is not desired to disturb.
In consequence of the above improvements perfectly strong and con-
venient bags may be easily and economically constructed, possessing the
advantage of a complete opening at the side with any interior depth
which may be convenient.

page_text: .
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty. Queen Victoria,, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of January, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the
thirty-seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her. heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said Herman Van Dyk, Her
special licence that I, the said Herman Van Dyk, my executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Herman Van Dyk,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
DRESSING AND TRAVELLING BAGS, STATIONARY, AND OTHER SIMILAR CASES," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Herman Van Dyk, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Herman Van Dyk, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement thereof, reference being had to the
Drawings hereunto annexed, that is to say:-
The object of my Invention is to construct and arrange dressing or
travelling bags as well as stationary and other similar cases, which shall
afford the greatest possible amount of space with the least possible
weight.
The Invention consists firstly in adding to the ordinary frame of such
articles as in Figure 1, a strong iron band a which starts from one of the
ends of the bag c at about the centre, and passes along the top at its
middle down to the opposite end, and which greatly strengthens the bag
or case. To this band are attached the handle plates d, d, to which the
5 handle.e for carrying the bag c is fastened, as well as any other fittings
which may be used.

page_text: The Invention consists secondly in placing the principal frame ƒ, ƒ, of
the bag to which the lock is attached at one side, as in Figure 2, instead
of at the middle of the bag as is usual, and in hinging that side gas a
flap to the bottom of the frame f, so that that side of the bag itself
forms the flap or door, thus enabling a complete opening to be effected,
and the whole of the interior space of the bag to be exposed to
ingnection
The Invention consists secondly in placing the principal frame f, f, of
the bag to which the lock is attached at one side, as in Figure 2, instead
of at the middle of the bag as is usual, and in hinging that side g as a
flap to the bottom of the frame f, so that that side of the bag itself
forms the flap or door, thus enabling a complete opening to be effected,
and the whole of the interior space of the bag to be exposed to
inspection.
The ends of the bag from which the metal band starts are strengthened
by pieces of wood or other strong rigid material.
I prefer to use in the interior of my improved bags or case movable
shelves or partitions h fitted with straps as may be convenient, as in
Figure 3, in order that articles of one kind may be separated from articles
of another kind when kept in the same bag or case, and since in con-
sequence of the complete opening they can be perfectly seen; one set
of articles between two shelves may be removed from the bag without
disarranging the remaining ones which it is not desired to disturb. The
front end portions of the bag may have side hinged or shut-to flaps i, i,
as in Figure 2, and either or both sides of these can have loops and
pockets in them to receive toilet articles, as in Figure 4, the side
hung doors i, i, may have right angled pieces j,j, as in Figure 5, or they
can be arranged in any convenient manner.
In consequence of the above improvements perfectly strong and con-
venient bags may be easily and economically constructed, possessing the
advantage of a complete opening at the side with any interior depth
which may be convenient.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention and in
what may the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,-
The fitting or arranging a metal half strap or frame from one side or
end of a travelling, stationary, or other bag portmanteau to the other
such half strap, or frame being used to strengthen the bag and to hold
the handle strap plates as shown.
Secondly. I claim the construction of bag portmanteaus with hinged
fall-down flaps, such flaps being fastened to the side or front frames as
and for the purposes set forth.

page_text: Thirdly. I claim in combination with such bag portmanteaus the
appliances or apparatus such as loose partition shelves or division pieces
provided with straps and fasteners, and also with end hung doors for
holding toilet or other articles as shown and for the purposes set forth..
In witness whereof, I, the said Herman Van Dyk, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of July, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four.
H. VAN DYK (LA)