Improvements in or relating to Means for Closing and Securing Bags.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 9th June, 1898-Accepted, 9th June, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
Improvements in or relating to Means for Closing and Securing Bags.
I, WILLIAM FESSENDEN BEASLEY, Manufacturer, of 13, North Eutaw Street,
Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, one of the United States of America, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same 18 to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement..
My present invention has for its object improvements in or relating to means
for closing and securing bags (such as mail bags, bags for transporting valuables,
etc.) whereby the bag can be opened and closed in the shortest time and with the
smallest amount of labor, and which will, at the same time effectually prevent
the removal of the contents of the bag, while the mouth is closed It also
includes in its objects to provide a lock for securing such a closure against
unauthorized opening, and the security afforded thereby resides more particularly
in the fact that it is impossible to unlock the closure without mutilating a seal,
which also forms a part of my invention
Referring to the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bag closure, provided with a lock, both
being constructed in accordance with my invention, when opened
Figure 2 18 a perspective view of the same when partly closed
Figure 3 18 a front elevation of such a bag closure when entirely closed
Figure 4 18 a section on line -- of Figure 3
Figure 5 18 a section, similar to Figure 4, but showing a modified form
thereof
Figure 6 18 a fragmental plan view with the cover plate removed, of the lock.
Figures 7, 8, and 9 are sections on lines r―r, y-y, and -2, respectively of
Figure 6, with the cover plate down, a staple being shown in Figure 7
Figure 10 is a perspective view of a seal and a counterfoil thereof, constructed
in accordance with my present invention
Figure 11 18 a perspective view of a slightly modified form thereof, and
Figure 12 is a perspective view, partly opened, of the lock
As this invention relates only to the mouth frame of the bag, and parts carried
thereon, I have not deemed it necessary to show, in the drawings, more than
the upper part of the bag In these diawings A and B indicate respectively the
front and rear of the bag mouth, or as I shall hereinafter call them, the front
and rear gussets
At each side of these and between them is formed two inter-
mediate gussets C and D, the said intermediate gussets being connected to the
front and rear gussets respectively by the inclined on oblique folds, marked E,
the gussets C and D upon the same side being connected to each other by the
fold F, which is houzontal when the mouth is closed and vertical when it is
open It will be thus seen that these gussets C and D are formed from the
corners of the upper edge of the bag and that the fold F is but a prolongation

page_text: of the side for³d in the lower portion of the bag, the direction of the fold being
reversed
As it is desirable that the intermediate gussets C and D upon each side of the
mouth of the bag 'hould both reach the medial line thereof, I may form upon
the upper edges of the said gussets, prolongations or extensions G which form a
continuation thereof to wards the middle of the bag when its mouth 18 folded,
and by preference I for these extensions of stiff sheets or plates which serve
not only to continue the intermediate gussets as above described but also to
stiffen them and to afford means whereby they may be secured against movement,
and for a similar purpose and to receive the locking mechanism I secure similai
plates H to the interior faces or the forward and rear gussets, these plates being
preferably made of vulcanized fibre o similar material
The extensions G upon the same side of the bag, or those portions thereof
which extend beyond the edges of the gussets of which they form a part, are
connected together by a hinge g, preferably formed of flexible leather, whereby
the horizontal fold F 18 extended towards the medial line of the mouth of the
bag and the introduction of an instrument between the extensions G to remove the
contents is prevented It is obvious, however, that if flexible extensions G be
used that the hinge thereof may be of the material of the extension
In order to provide means to lock the front and real gussets together and the
intermediate gussets between them I secure to the rear gusset and projecting
forwardly from the inner face thereof, a post which passes through a correspond-
ing slot J in the forward gusset upon the exterior of which it may be locked
This post I also passes through the recesses K formed in the edges of the
extensions G, whereby the extensions and gussets of which they form a part are
held against lateral movement so long as the post is contained therein For the
purpose of permitting the rapid closing of the bag and to guide the gussets into
place these recesses are generally made with flared ends, the recesses upon the
coresponding gussets registering with each other when the bag 18 closed, while a
lock casing of the character hereinafter described is secured upon the front
face of the forward gusset
As an additional means for holding the intermediate gussets firmly against
displacement I form female members in the exterior gussets and male members
in the intermediate gussets by cutting apertures or recesses in the plates H and
placing the material so removed therefrom on the plates G and in a corresponding
position, .18 19 scen, and I by preference overhang the bosses,
as shown at g¹ and undercut the apertures, as shown 11 A', whereby
when the bag is folded the overhung portions of the former will be in
positive engagement with the plates H, whereby the separation of the exterior
gussets from the intermediate ones will be prevented. It is obvious that instead
of overhanging one of the bosses, as before described, I can secure or form upon
the top thereof a locking plate, which will enter between the mouth of the
bag and the exterior surface of the plate H This modification is shown in full
lines in Figure 5. In any case, the boss is made of such a size as to prevent
the introduction of an instrument between the outer and intermediate gussets, and
upon one side of the post, these cooperating with the horizontal folds F and the
extensions thereof in the hinges g to assure the safety of the contents of the bag
I have shown in the annexed drawings the folds Fas formed by a seam.
This is not necessary, but I have found that by placing a series of rivets f along
such a fold that it is rendered difficult to abstract the contents of the bag, which
might otherwise be done by the use of some sharp instrument to slit the folds F
The open position of the closure is shown in Figure 1 In folding it, the
intermediate gussets Cand Dale first folded down along the folds E, as shown
in Figure 2, and the exterior gussets are brought together, the intermediate
gussets folding now upon the folds F When the exterior gussets have been
fully closed the post I will be engaged by the main locking bolt, M, hereinafter

page_text: more fully described, and the locking mechanism closed by the insertion of a
seal and the throwing down of the cover over it
In Figure 5 a form of the bag 18 shown in which the extensions G are suffi-
ciently prolonged to project past the medial line of the mouth when the bag is
closed and in this case instead of formung recesses in the said extensions I form
holes therein, through which the locking post passes and reduce the thickness
of the plates forming the said extensions where they overlap, as at 3, thus pei-
mitting the parts to fold compactly It will be seen that by passing the post
through the holes g³ that the former locks the intermediate gussets against lateial
movement
I may, if I so desire, place over the mouth of the bag when closed, a cap
which can be locked in place by the locking mechanism, and in the diawings I
have shown in dotted lines such a cap in the form of a flap L attached to oi
formed integial with the rear gusset and being capable of folding over the
mouth of the bag, and if such a flap is used, the lock casing should be secured to
the exterior surface of the forward end thereof, the flap being suitably apertured,
as at 7, to permit the passage of the post I
The lock itself consists of certain parts to be hereinafter described, mounted
upon a base plate N, in a box n, provided with a cover plate ¹. The base plate
projects beyond one side of this box and to it is hinged the flanged scal-holder 0,
the said extension of the base plate having a slot n therein, through which the
head of the post I passes, the said post having a channel into which the main
locking bolt M 18 adapted to project, in order to engage the head 2', formed by
the channel, the head being 1ounded to permit it to shove back the locking bolt
during locking and unlocking
The locking bolt is shown as having a locking end m, which projects through
one side of the box and to above the slot nu to engage the post and as having
opposite bifurcated ends m³, extending through the opposite side of the box, the
outer ends thereof being against the block o on the inside of the head flange of the
seal-holder when the latter is closed down, thus preventing the retraction of
the locking bolt while the seal holder is in the described position
In order to lock the seal-holder in the position stated a bolt P is used, the said
bolt projecting through the side of the box and entering into engagement with a
shoulder o on the block o, and in order to provide means for shooting the
bolts M and P, I use coil springs Pi compressed between the inner end of the
auxiliary bolt P and the main locking bolt M, the bolt P being contained between
the bifurcated ends of the main locking bolt, and the said springs being by
preference coiled around the guide posts m³ which project from the main locking
bolt into recesses in the auxiliary locking bolt
As before stated in my invention the safety of the contents of the bag pumanly
depends upon the integrity of a seal, the seal being interposed in front of the key
slot, and in order that it will be rendered impossible to move the bolt without
such extensive laceration of the seal as will be readily perceived, I form the
auxiliary locking bolt in two pieces lying side by side, and having notches in
their adjacent faces, the faces in the rear of said notches being cut away, so
that they are slightly separated, and into these notches a blunt instrument (which
I call a key) may be placed for the purpose of retracting the auxiliary bolt by a
sliding movement thereof, it being obvious that if a sharp instrument be used
(which might make a cut in the seal difficult to detect) it will slip between the
two pieces of the bolt, without retracting them The cover plate n¹ has an
elongated key slot n³ therein, located above the notches in the auxiliary locking
bolt and of sufficient length to permit the necessary sliding movement of the
key inserted therethrough to unlock the bolt, but as an additional safeguard and
to render a still more extensive tearing of the seal necessary I may pivot to the
cover plate above the key slot an apron Q, provided with a noteli g in its fiee
end, by which it may be raised to permit the insertion of the key. It will be seen
that when it is so raised it will cause an extensive tearing of the seal located above it,

page_text: The seal-holder consists of a flat plate hinged to the extension of the base
plate, its top being cut away to any deared extent over the key slot n³ to permit
the insertion of a key and the inspection of punting or witing upon the upper
face of the seal, which is held against displacement by the spines o projecting
rearwardly from the seal-holder and into recesses n in the cover plate
To prevent the Jaining of the auxiliary locking bolt from its locked position I
form on the undei surface of the outer end of each of its parts a groove p¹, the
grooves being engaged by the rib o³ on the shoulder o¹ of the block o, when the
seal-holder is pulled up, without the bolt P having been first retracted, and to
prevent the removal of the seal-holder by forcing out the pintle pin o, shoulders o³,
having inclined faces o' are secured to the side flanges of the seal-holder near its
pivoted side and close to the edge of the box n when the seal-holder is closed
down, each of which shoulders is then engaged by the projecting end of a lever K
pivoted upon a pin r in the box on each side of the key slot in the cover plate
thereof, the opposite ends of the levers projecting, if desired, through the
opposite side of the box and engaging shoulders o' formed on the ends of the
block o, whereby the seal-holder will be firmly held, the inclined faces of on
the shoulders o³ serving to move the levers to the side when the holder 18 pressed
down upon the box, the levers being then thrown into and held in engagement
with the shoulders 0 and of (if the latter are used), by the springs,
Each of
these levers, (which are preferably stamped out of sheet metal) has an extension r³
formed thereon or secured thereto which projects to the middle of the key slot,
where the extensions of the two levels abut, the corners thereof being beveled
beneath the slot as at r, and above the notches in the auxiliary locking bolt, so that
when the key is inserted and moved within the slot to retract the bolt, it will
enter the bevels, forcing the extensions away from each other, and moving the
levers upon their pivot pins, disengage them from the shoulders upon the holder,
thus unlocking the latter By preference notches are formed in the outer
sides of the pieces of the auxiliary locking bolt, which notches are engaged by
the depending ears struck from the extensions of the levers, except when
the extensions have been moved away from each other, thus preventing the
ietraction of the bolt except at that time
A stud S may project from the inuer face of the seal holder and be adapted
to pass through an aperture s in the covei plate and into a recess in the main
locking bolt, thus preventing the retracting of the latter when the seal holder is
depressed, and it will be seen that when this construction is used that the rear-
ward extensions m¹ upon the main locking bolt may be dispensed with, and
while for complete security I prefer to use both the auxiliary locking bolt and
the levels R, either may be omitted
If desired, any preferred tumbler oi guaid mechanism, as is shown in Figure 6
may be applied to prevent the retraction of the main locking belt without the
use of the proper key, by causing the locking bolt T of such mechanism to
engage therewith, the key hole for such mechanism being protected by the
imperforate portion of the seal-holder, and that, also, if desired, an extension T¹
may be placed upon one edge of the scal-holder which may go over a staple
and be locked thereto by an ordinary pad lock, which will thus secure the holder
in its closed position This is useful when it is desired to dispense with the
seal, which in this instance, can be replaced by a simple label
It will be thus seen that in the use of my improved lock the post is inserted
through the slot ³, foicing back the main locking bolt, which, when the post 5
1s in place is forced outwardly by the tension of the spings and into the channel
of the post The seal is then put in place on the seal-holder and the Jatter pressed
down upon the box, it being caught by the auxiliary locking bolt and levers, and
at the same time the block o upon the flange of the holder will move in front of
the ends of the rearward extensions m¹ of, the main locking bolt and prevent the 5
retraction thereof until the holder has been raised. This, however, cannot be
done until the auxiliary locking bolt and levers have been disengaged therefrom,

page_text: to accomplish which it is necessary to mutilate the seal. I thus construct a
lock which can be rapidly fastened and which is simple in its working parts and
which may be quickly opened, but which at the same time relies for its safety
upon the difficulty of duplicating the seal, and therefore I prefer to use such a seal
as is hereinafter described.
From the construction above described it will be noted that when the flanged
seal holder is down it entirely covers, not only the box containing the locking
mechanism, but also the post and the projecting end of the main locking bolt,
so as to preclude any tampering therewith, and that under some circumstances
the post and main locking bolt, as well as the hinge connection between the seal
holder and the base plate, may be dispensed with, and the base plate and the
box be secured directly upon an exterior gusset of the bag, and the seal holder
to the other, so that if the seal holder be caught upon the box the two parts
will be locked together.
In order to prevent the undetected mutilation of a seal and its replacement in
the seal-holder by a new one, I use a seal having concealed marks, lines or
characters thereon, and extending to the edges thereof, such a seal being cut
from a sheet having the marks, etc., stamped or otherwise impressed thereon, so
that by comparing the seal removed from the lock with the counterfoil produced
by the cutting of the seal which was originally placed upon the lock, the con-
tinuity of the lines, marks, etc, will indicate that it is the same seal or otherwise
In making such a seal (referring now to Figure 10) I take a sheet of paper or
other suitable material, larger than the seal to be cut therefrom, and having on
one side thereof lines, characters, or other identifying marks, and cut therefrom a
seal of the desired configuration, and in practice it will be found that printed
matter, old maps, or sheets having scroll work thereon will be found suitable for
this purpose, as would also printed sheets discolored by age, of which it would
be difficult to obtain duplicates. By this a seal U, and a single counterfoil 18
formed, but as it is desirable that one counterfoil be retained at the office from
which the seal is sent and another be sent to the office to which the package
provided with the seal is consigned, I cut the counterfoil into two parts or
portions V, and V, each of the said counterfoils and the seal cut therefrom
having by preference a corresponding indicating mark, such as a corresponding
number printed thereon, which, if desired may indicate the number of the package
having the seal applied thereto. That side of the seal which is provided with
indicating marks, characters, or lines before referred to can then be used as
the back of the seal, and I will hereinafter refer to such maiks, lines or characters
as identifying marks, as they serve to identify by their continuity the seal cut
from the counterfoil, while the reverse side of the seal (or the face or exposed side
thereof) may have printed thereon suitable words and blanks as shown in
Figure 10 to form a label to indicate the origin, destination and the number of
the packet to which such a combined seal and label is applied, and as before
stated such last named number may be the same as the corresponding number
upon the seal and counterfoils thereof. It will be seen that when the identifying
marks are concealed from view by applying the seal to the appropriate seal lock,
that any person intrusted with a package provided with such a lock, to open it
without detection, must, between the time he opens it and the time he delivers
it, make a perfect fac-simile upon a corresponding seal of the identifying marke
upon the one he has destroyed. It is not believed that this can be done, as
upon a comparison of the seal taken from the lock with the counterfoil in the
possession of the consignee, any difference in type, relative position of the lines
or figures, character or color of the material, or shape of the seal, will be
headily detected
In Figure 11 I have shown a modified form of the seal in which the identify-
ng marks upon the seal are on the forward face thereof, which is concealed by a
label glued thereon. The use of this combined seal U1 and superimposed label 'W,
18 obviously the full equivalent of the single seal and label above described In

page_text: this figure I have also shown a sheet of mica X, as superimposed above the label,
and serving not only to protect the label but also to afford a ready means of
detecting the insertion of the key, as I have found that it is impossible to repair
or conceal a perforation in sheets of mica
I may if I so desire secure upon the under face of the seal shown in Figure 10,
or between the label and seal in Figure 11, and in that portion thereof that will
be mutilated by the key in opening the lock, a cap Y, of some fulminating com-
pound, which upon the insertion of the key will explode and burn a small portion
of the seal, which in this case should be of combustible material. The quantity
of fulminate to accomplish this need not be so great as to cause any dangerous
effects from its explosion, it being only necessary that it ignite or char the com-
bustible seal oi label, so as to discolor it
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same 18 to be performed, I declare that what
I claim 18:
1 A bag closure having a series of gussets around its upper edge, the inter-
mediate gussets being formed by folding in the edges of the bag and being
provided with stiffened extensions towards the medial line of the mouth, and
folding flat between the exterior gussets substantially as described
2 The combination with a bag having a series of gussets around its upper
edge, the intermediate gussets being formed by folding in the corners of the
bag and folding flat between the exterior gussets, the said intermediate gussets
being stiffened, of male members upon two of the gussets upon each side of the
bag, and female members upon the gussets opposite thereto, substantially as
described.
3 The combination with a bag having a series of gussets around its upper
edge, the intermediate gussets being formed by folding in the corners of the
bag and folding flat between the exterior gussets, the intermediate gussets having
stiffened extensions thereon projecting towards the medial line of the bag, of
means for locking the exterior gussets together passing through the extensions
on the intermediate gussets, substantially as described
4 The combination with a bag having a series of gussets around its upper
edge, the intermediate gussets being formed by folding in the corners of the
bag and folding flat between the exterior gussets, of male members on two gussets
on each side of the bag, and female members upon the gussets adjacent thereto,
whereby the intermediate gussets are held against lateral motion and means for
locking the exterior gussets together, substantially as described
5. A bag having a series of gussets around its upper edge, the intermediate
gussets being formed by folding in the corners of the bag, and folding flat between
the exterior gussets, of undercut shoulders and overhanging shoulders upon the
opposite gussets whereby they are held against lateral displacement, in com-
bination with means for locking the exterior gussets together, substantially as
described.
A bag having a series of gussets around the upper edge thereof, the inter-
mediate gusseta being formed by oblique folds uniting them with the exterior
gussets, and being connected to each other by a fold that is horizontal when the
bag is closed, the intermediate gussets folding flat between the exterior- gussets,
each of the intermediate gussets having a stiffened extension projecting beyond
the edge thereof, the extensions upon the adjoining gussets being connected
together beyond the edge of the latter by a continuation of the horizontal fold,
substantially as described.
7. In a lock, the combination, with a seal-holder, of a locking bolt therefor,
composed of a plurality of independent sections, each of which is provided with
a recess for the engagement of a key, the said recesses being covered by the
seal when inserted in the said holder, substantially as described
8. In a lock, the combination, with a seal-holder, of locking mechanism there-

page_text: for, consisting of levers engaging the said holder, and having extensions pro-
Jecting towards each other beneath the seal contained in the holder, and a cover
plate over the said extensions having a key slot therein to permit the sliding
lateral movement of a key between the extensions to move the levers, sub-
stantially as described
9 In a lock, the combination, with a seal-holder, of a locking bolt therefor,
and supplemental locking mechanism for the seal-holder, consisting of pivoted
levers, having extensions projecting towards each other and abutting over the
locking bolt and beneath the seal contained in the holder, substantially as
described.
10 In a lock, the combination, with a seal-holder, of a split locking bolt
therefor, each of the parts of the said bolt having registering notches in its
adjacent sides, and also having notches in its opposite sides, and a supplemental
locking mechanism, consisting of pivoted levers adapted to engage the seal-holder,
each of the levels having an extension projecting to above the split in the bolt,
and ears upon the extensions engaging the last named notches in the locking
bolt, substantially as described
11. In a lock, the combination, with a main locking bolt, of an auxiliary
locking bolt, a hinged apron covering the key way of the said last named bolt,
and a seal-holder adapted to be locked by the auxiliary locking bolt and to
prevent the retraction of the main locking bolt, and to hold a seal over the
Baid apron, substantially as described
12 In a lock, the combination, with a seal-holder, of a locking bolt therefor,
composed of a plurality of independent sections, each of which is provided with
a recess for the reception of a key, the said recesses being covered by the seal
when the latter is inserted in the holder, and a main locking bolt engaged by
the said holder, substantially as described
133 In a lock, the combination, with a main locking bolt, of an auxiliary
locking bolt, a seal-holder adapted to be locked by the auxiliary locking bolt to
prevent the retraction of the main locking bolt and to hold a seal, and pivoted
levers adapted to engage the seal-holder, and having extensions projecting
towards each other, and abutting over the auxiliary locking bolt and beneath
the seal, substantially as described
14 In a lock, the combination with a box, of a main locking bolt contained
5 therein, a seal-holder adapted to hold a seal and to lock the said bolt against
retraction, and means for locking the suid holder, the said box having a key-
slot therein covered by the seal through which a key may be inserted and laterally
moved for unlocking the seal-holder, substantially as described
15 In a lock, the combination with a box, of a main locking bolt, projecting
0 beyond one side of the box and having a rearward extension through the opposite
side thereof, of an auxiliary locking bolt, and a seal-holder adapted to be engaged
by the auxiliary locking bolt and to engage the rearward extension of the
main locking bolt, substantially as described
16 In a lock, the combination with a base plate, having a box thereon, and
5 seal-holder hinged thereto, the plate having an aperture therein for the passage
of the post between the pivotal point of the seal-holder and the side of the box,
a main locking bolt and an auxiliary mechanism contained within the box, the
auxiliary mechanism being adapted to lock the seal-holder upon the box, sub-
stantially as described.
0 17 The herein before described seal and counterfoil thereof, each having
portions of continuous identifying marks thereon, the marks upon the seal
being concealed when the latter is in use, substantially as described
18 The here before described seal and counterfoils thereof, the seal being
rut from the counterfoil, and the counterfoil so formed being severed, whereby
5 each piece thereof is a partial counterfoil of the seal, substantially as described
19 The herein before described seal, consisting of a sheet of suitable material
having a sheet of mica superimposed thereon, substantially as described

page_text: 20. The hereinbefore described seal, consisting of a sheet of suitable com-
bustible material having a fulminating substance in the portion thereof to be
mutilated, whereby the sheet will be burnt upon the explosion of the fulminate,
substantially as described
Dated the 0th day Tune 1800
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, WC,
Agents for the Applicant