US935287A - Mail-bag lock. - Google Patents

Description

MAIL BAG LOCK. APPLIUATION FILED MAR.11,1908.

Patented septzs, 1909.

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@zwi/Mmmm A Md UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GLEN I. WILLETT, OF REE HEIGHTS, SOUTH DAKOTA.

MAIL-BAG LOCK.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GLEN I. WILLETT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ree Heights, in the county of Hand and State of South Dakota, have invented a new and useful Mail-Bag Lock, of which the following is a specication.

The invention relates to improvements in mail bag locks.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of mail bag locks, and to provide a simple and comparatively inexpensive mail bag lock, designed to be permanently applied to a mail bag, and adapted to dispense with the staples with which the ordinary mail bag is equipped, and capable of enabling` a mail bag to be quickly and securely fastened and readily unfastened.

lith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction and novel combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended; it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction, within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawing :-Figure l is a perspective view of a mail bag lock, constructed in accordance with this invention, and shown applied to a mail bag. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view, the bag being open. Fig. 3 is an elevation, the bag being closed. Fig. et is a detail vertical sectional view, illustrating the means for securing the lock to a mail bag and the construction of the label holder.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawing.

The mail bag lock includes a lock casing l and a shackle 2, forming a circular loop and provided4 at one end with an eye 3, which is hinged to the lock casing at one side thereof in the usual manner. The free end t of the shackle is beveled, and is provided at one end with a shoulder, adapted to be engaged by locking mechanism contained within the casing l. The casing l andthe locking mechanism are designed to be constructed similar to the locks used by the Post Office Department, but as any form of locking mechanism and casing may be employed,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 11, 1908.

Patented Sept. 2S, i909. Serial No. 420,439.

and as these features do not constitute any portion of the present invention, a detail description and illustration thereof is deemed unnecessary.

The shackle, which is of circular form, provides a bag-receiving loop, adapted to receive a mail bag 5, when the neck is gathered together to close the mout-h of the bag, as clearly illustrated in Fig. l of the drawing. The terminals of the shackle form narrow or contracted entrance to the loop, which is of greater diameter than the said entrance. By having the entrance of a width less than the loop, the shackle is enabled to retain the neck of the bag in its gathered or closed condition. The shackle surrounds the bag, which is confined within the sleeve of the shackle by the lock casing. One side of the shackle is enlarged to form a label or tag-receiving portion G, which is provided at the upper and lower edges with side flanges 7, extending inwardly over the outer face of the enlarged portion and providing grooves or ways to receive the side edges of a tag or label S. The tag or label, which is designed to bear suitable matter to indicate the destination of the mail bag, may7 be readily introduced into the holder at either end thereof, and the curvature of the holder is adapted to bow the label and create sufficient friction on the same to retain the label in the holder.

The lock is secured to the bag by means of rivets 9, or other suitable fastening devices piercing the shackle at the label holder and the bag, as clearly illustrated in F ig. of the drawing. The inner face of the bag is preferably reinforced at the attached portion of the lock by means of a piece of leather 10 and a metallic plate or strip 1l. The rivets 9 permanently attach the lock to the bag, so that there is no liability of the lock beconiing lost. The lock is designed in practice to be equipped with the usual spring for throwing the shackle open when the same is unfastened, and the bag may be quickly removed from the shackle, when it is unlocked.

IVhen the mail bags are hung up in a mail car, the label holder will be arranged in a horizontal row and may be easily read so that no difliculty will be experienced in picking out the bags.

IVhile referred to as a mail bag lock, the receptacle shown in the drawing is referred to by the Post Office Department as a mail pouch.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. A mail bag lock including a casing, and a curved shackle forming a loop to receive the neck ot' a mail bag when the latter is closed, said shackle being provided with an enlarged portion having longitudinal side flanges forming label receiving grooves or ways.

2. The combination with a mail bag7 of a mail bag lock including a casing, and a curved shackle permanently attached to the mail bag and forming a loop to receive the neck otl the mail bag when the latter is closed, said shackle being provided with a label holder consisting ot' spaced longitudinal side flanges forming a groove or way to receive the side edges of a label, said label holder being curved longitudinally to bow the label or tag to cause the same to frictioually engage the groove or way whereby the label or tag is retained in the holder.

3. TheI combination with a mail bag or receptacle, a shackle permanently secured to the outside of the bag or receptacle near the mouth thereof, means provided on the ontside ot the shackle to constitute a label holder, the ends of the shackle being spaced apart sutliciently to allow the opening otl the bag and forming a contracted entrance ot a width less than the width ot the shackle and sutliciently narrow to retain the bag in a gathered condition when the entrance is open, and the lock casing bridging the space between the terminals of the shackle and permanentl-y connected to one terminal ot the Vshackle and detachably connected to the other end ot the same.

ln testimony 'that l claim the foregoing as my own, l have hereto attixed my signature in the presence ot' two witnesses.

GLEN l. VILLETT. lllituesses J. O. GAGE, lV. T. GARDNER.

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