AN IMPROVED MODE OR MEANS OF AND APPLIANCES FOR FASTENING SACKS OR BAGS."
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to David Alexander Bruce Murray, junior, of Glasgow, in
the County of Lanark, North Britain, for an Invention of "AN IMPROVED
MODE OR MEANS OF AND APPLIANCES FOR FASTENING SACKS OR BAGS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said David Alexander Bruce
Murray at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st September
1880.
DAVID ALEXANDER BRUCE MURray, junior, of Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain. "AN IMPROVED MODE OR MEANS OF AND APPLIANCES
FOR FASTENING SACKS OR BAGS."
This Invention relates to an improved mode or means of and appliances for
fastening sacks or bags when filled with flour, grain, or other substances, which
improvements are designed to retain such bags more securely closed, with less risk
of accidental opening or bursting.
The Invention consists in fitting to the mouths of sacks or bags two light bars
of hard wood, metal, or other strong material, which are partly covered by and
sewed, stitched, or otherwise secured to the upper edge or mouth of the bag on
each side, the length of the two bars being preferably nearly equal to the semi-
perimeter of the mouth of the bag, so that when held open the mouth is square or
rectangular. Two deep notches are cut in the upper edge of each bar, preferably
close to the centre of their length; and midway between the ends of the bars two
wooden or metal bolts, pins, or catches are attached to the mouth of the bag by
means of cords, wires, or links fixed to the centres of the pins and passing through
the sacking, where they are held by leather or other washers or buttons, and the
pins or catches are formed with flanges or bolt heads on each end. When the sack
is to be closed after filling, the two bars are drawn close together to touch each
other side to side with the two corresponding notches in each in line. Then the
other two sides of the mouth of the bag are drawn tightly inwards by the pins or
catches between the wooden bars, and the pins inserted into the notches with their
flanges or heads retaining the two bars firmly together. The two pairs of notches
are cut at angles inclined downwards and outwards, so that when the pins are
inserted any
strain on them only tends to retain them more firmly in position, and
any strain in the transverse direction cannot pull the bars at the mouth apart
owing to the flanges or heads of the pins holding them together as if rivetted.
This mode of fastening sacks and bags is most easily effected, and the holding
power is much greater and more certain than when the mouth of the bag is tied by
cords as usual.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said David Alexander Bruce Murray in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 28th February 1881.
DAVID ALEXANDER BRUCE MURRAY, junior, of Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North-Britain. "AN IMPROVED MODE OR MEANS OF AND APPLIANCES
FOR FASTENING SACKS OR BAGS."
My said Invention relates to an improved mode or means of and appliances for
fastening sacks or bags when filled with flour, grain, or other substances, the
improvements being designed to retain such bags more securely closed, with less
risk of accidental opening or bursting.
And in order that my said Invention and the manner of performing the same
may be properly understood, I have hereunto appended for that purpose a Sheet
of explanatory Drawings to be hereinafter referred to, and representing my
improved mode of fastening sacks or bags. In these Drawings the same reference
letters are used to indicate like parts where repeated.
Figure 1 is an elevation of a grain bag filled, but not closed, showing in
perspective my improved fastening appliances fitted to the mouth of the bag;
Figure 2 is an elevation, and Figure 3 a plan showing the bag closed and securely
fastened; Figure 4 shows another bag fitted with my appliances in a slightly
modified manner; and Figures 5 and 6 are respectively an elevation and plan of
the same bag closed; while Figures 7 and 8 are a plan and elevation of the wooden
bars B, B, employed for fastening the bags by my improved mode.
Referring to these Drawings my said Invention consists in fitting to the mouths
of sacks or bags A two light bars B, B, of hard wood (or it may be metal or other
strong material), which may be partly covered by and sewed or stitched to the
mouth of the bag, but preferably as shown secured thereto by having these boards
split longitudinally or made in halves and nailed together with the upper edge or
mouth of the bag entered between the two pieces. These bars B, B, are fitted on
each side, the length of the two bars being preferably nearly equal to the semi-
perimeter of the mouth of the bag, so that when held open the mouth is square or
rectangular. Two deep notches b, b, are cut in the upper edge of each bar,
preferably close to the centre of their length. Midway between the ends of the
bars two wooden or metal bolts, pins, or catches C, C, formed with flanges or bolt
heads C on each end are attached to the mouth of the bag A by means of cords,
wires, or links D, D, which may be fixed to the centres of the pins C, C, or passed
through them, as shown, and passing through the sacking preferably at the side
seams, where they may be held by leather or other washers or buttons, or simply
by a stitch of the cord to the sacking.
When the sack A is to be closed after filling, the two bars B, B, are drawn close
together to touch or nearly touch each other side to side, with the corresponding
notches b, b, in each in line. Then the other two sides of the mouth of the bag
are drawn tightly inwards by the pins or catches C, C, between the wooden bars
B, B, and the pins C, C, inserted into the notches b, b, with their flanges or heads
C₁, C', retaining the two bars firmly together, as shown in Figure 3. The two
pairs of notches b, b, are cut at angles inclined downwards and outwards, so that
when the pins C, C, are inserted any strain on them only tends to retain them
more firmly in position; and any strain in the transverse direction cannot pull the
bars at the mouth apart, owing to the flanges or heads C³, C', of the pins holding
them together as if rivetted.
In the modification of my Invention shown in Figures 4, 5, and 6, the pins or
catches C. C. are fixed by cords D, D, passing through the seat of the bag ▲ a

page_text: short way down from the mouth, and in fastening the bag the cords are passed
over the top free ends of the bag. The pins C, C, are turned to cross or twist the
cords over the bars B, B, and leave the upper free ends of the bag as ears A', by
which it can be lifted or held in carrying it.
This improved mode of fastening sacks and bags is most easily effected, and the
holding power is much greater and more certain than when the mouth of the bag
is tied by cords as usual.
Having thus particularly described my said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I wish it to be understood that what I claim as the Invention
secured to me by the herein before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
The improved mode of fastening sacks or bags by means of boards or bars B, B,
attached to the mouths of the bags closed and secured by pins, bolts, or catches
fitted to the sides of the bags entering notches in the bara, substantially as and for
the purposes herein set forth in reference to the accompanying Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said David Alexander Bruce Murray, junior, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of February, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty-one.
0
Witness,
WALLACE FAIRWEATHER, C.E.,
Of W. R. M. Thomson & Co.,
Patent Agents,
Glasgow.
D. A. B. MURRAY, JR. (L.S.)