Improvements in Fastenings for Travelling and other Trunks and Boxes.
Year: 1886

page_text: DBOTICALION.
Improvements in Fastenings for Travelling and other Trunks
and Boxes.
I, JOHN MARSTON, of Paul Street Works, Wolverhampton in the County of
Stafford, japanner and tin-plate worker, 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, reference being had
to the accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon (that is
to say):
A travelling trunk fastener, as usually employed, consists either wholly or in
part of a hasp hinged at the centre of the front of the lid, and a lock on the centre
of the front of the body to which the hasp is locked, to fasten the lid. Frequently,
however, a staple projects from the lock case so as to pass through a slot or opening
in the hasp when closed down and thus projects also from the face of such hasp.
The purpose of employing the staple is that the hasp may be locked, or fastened,
by means of a padlock therethrough, or fastened by means of a stick or wire, in
case the key of the ordinary lock should have become lost, or the lock mechanism
deranged, or it being otherwise inconvenient to fasten the hasp by means of the
ordinary lock.
It is found in practice that the staple when projecting from the front of the lock
case, as it usually does, is liable to be knocked and damaged, as is also the padlock
which, when employed, hangs therefrom; and both the staple and padlock are
liable to catch and tear the clothing of persons passing by.
Now, the object of this invention is to so arrange the position of the staple as to
very greatly reduce the liability of such staple, and of the padlock, being knocked
accidentally, or of themselves catching and tearing any article of dress.
This invention will be clearly understood on reference to the accompanying
drawings, of which figure 1 is a front elevation of a trunk fastener, having the
staple arranged in position according to this invention, but without the padlock
therethrough. Figure 2 is a corresponding view to figure 1, but shews the
padlock in position through the staple. Figure 3 is a side or edge view of figure 2;
and figure 4 is a corresponding view to figure 3, but with the padlock removed
and with the hasp partially raised. The same letters of reference occurring upon
two or more of these views indicate corresponding parts. A is the hasp hinged at
its upper end in the ordinary manner with this class of trunk fastener. B is the

page_text: lock case (containing the lock mechanism) for fixture in the usual manner to the
front of the trunk. C is the padlock staple projecting from the flange or plate F
of the lock case and under the bottom of the case, and D is a padlock through the
staple. The hasp A is elongated, as shewn, so as to extend below the look case,
and has a slot formed through it near its lower end to pass over the staple. The
hasp is cranked inwards as shewn at a so as to pass, when closed down, under the
bottom of the lock case, and the part of the hasp lies against the flange or
plate F. The slot in the hasp through which the staple C projects is formed
through the part b, and when the staple is close against the underside of the lock.
case, as shewn, the slot is formed also through the part a. The outer end of the
staple projects very slightly, or not at all, in front of the part of the hasp which is
above it. The staple, and also to a considerable extent the padlock, is thus
sheltered or shielded under the part a of the hasp and the bottom of the lock
case B, and is consequently protected to a considerable degree from liability to
injury and to catch and tear articles of dress.
E is the nozzle or ornamental part frequently employed upon the lock case to
surround the key hole. An opening corresponding to such nozzle is formed
through the hasp so as to permit of such hasp being closed down thereover.
This opening through the hasp permits of its being raised and lowered without
removing the key from the lock; but, if it is not desired to raise and lower the
hasp whilst the key remains inserted within the lock, a simple keyhole may be
formed through the hasp and the nozzle dispensed with.
The term " case "is used in this specification as meaning simply the part which.
stands forwards from the plate F, and does not include the plate F itself though
formed in one piece of metal with the case.
This invention has been described specially with reference to a travelling trunk
fastener, but it is applicable also to fasteners for trunks and boxes generally.
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 in respect of fastenings for travelling and other trunks and boxes, is
1. A staple fixed underneath the lower side of the lock case in combination with
a hasp cranked to pass under such case and slotted to pass over the staple, sub-
stantially as and for the purpose described and shewn.
2. In a hasp formed to pass down below the lock case, for the purpose described,
an opening formed through such hasp for the purpose of enabling the hasp to be
raised and lowered whilst the key remains within the lock, substantially as
described and shewn.