US1015908A - Lock for mail-bags and the like. - Google Patents

Description

J. SAOKETT.

LOOK FOR MAIL BAGS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED APRJO, 1911.

1,015,908. Patented Jan.3,0,1912

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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awe/who's q nlmlm ILANOOMPH 60., WASHINGTON. n. C.

J. SACKETT.

LOCK FOB MAIL BAGSAN -D THE LIKE. APPLICATION FILED 'Arnm, 1911.

Patented Jan; 30, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

FOLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH (20., WASHINGTON, D. C.

JAMES SACKE'IT, OF VENANGO, PENNSYLVANIA.

LOOK FOR MAIL-BAGS AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 30, 1912.

Application filed April 10, 1911. Serial No. 620,072.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES SACKETT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Venango, in the county of Crawford and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Locks for Mail-Bags and the Like, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in mail bag closures and more particularly to a lock therefor, and my object is to provide a device of this character which may be readily applied to a mail bag and one which may be quickly and effectively applied to use.

A further object of the invention resides in providing an improved form of lock adapted for application to a portion of a bag and further to provide a shackle or head member carried by a strap adapted to encircle the bag, said shackle being adapted to be securely held upon insertion within the look.

A further object resides in providing a lock having spring held latches adapted to engage and retain the head member upon the insertion thereof within the lock casing.

A still further object is to provide means whereby the shackle will be automatically forced from the casing upon the release of the latches from engagement therewith.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lock of this character which, although particularly adapted for use in connection with mail bags, may be readily and effectively applied to use in any connection wherein a lock of this character is desired.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter referred to and more particularly pointed out in the specification and claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, Figure 1 is a fragmentary front elevation of a mail bag showing my improved lock applied to use. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the lock having the front wall of the casing removed. Fig. 3 is a similar view having the front wall of the ca sing and the covering plate removed therefrom. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section as seen on line 414, Fig. 1, and Fig. 5 is a transverse section through the lock as seen on line 55, Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is an elevation of thekey. Fig. 7 is a detail perspective of one of the spring members used in the lock. Fig. 8

In carrying out my invention, I shall refer to the drawings in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views and in which 1 indicates a bag, such as used in the present mail service, having the flap 2 thereon, and secured to one of the sides of the bag, is a plurality of wire loops 3 which extend inwardly and are adapted to be inserted through the openings 4 in the other face of the bag so as to extend therebeyond. The flap 2 is also provided with a plurality of openings 5 which are adapted to receive therethrough the projecting loops 3 when said flap is bent down over the face of the bag, and secured to one end of said bag, is a strap or the like 6 which is adapted to extend through said wire loops after the flap has been engaged therewith, the opposite or free end ,of said strap being provided with a shackle .or head member 7. This head member comprises a plate secured to the strap and having one end thereof bent at right angles, on which angular bent end, is

formed an extended lug Shaving an opening therethrough. As stated, the strap is adapted to be extended through the wire loops after the flap on said bag has been engaged therewith and said shackle or head member engaged with a lock pivotally secured to the rear face of the bag. This lock comprises an outer casing 9, the front face of which is provided with a key-receiving opening 10, one end of which is provided with a stem 11 pivotally engaged with the bag, and the opposite end thereof provided with a rectangular opening 12, this last referred to opening being adapted to receive the shackle or head member heretofore mentioned. The front wall of said casing is provided with a pin 13 upon which is p-ivotally mounted one end of a pair of latch members 14 and15, the pivoted ends of said latches being spaced from the rear wall of said casing by means of the spacing plate 16, and the other ends of said latches are spaced from saidrear wall by being positioned in a groove 17 ofan additional spacing plate 18 mounted on said rear wall. These latches 14 and 15 are identical in size and shape and the same are provided adjacent their pivoted ends with the inclined alining slots 19 which receive one end of a leaf spring 20. Said leaf spring is then bent somewhat to rest against one of the end walls of the groove 17 of said plate 18, whereby the tension of said spring will normally force said latches against the opposite end wall of said groove. The free ends of said latches 14 and 15 are beveled, as disclosed at 21., and each of said levers is provided in one side, adjacent the beveled end, thereof with the locking notch 22, the notches of the two latches being 'alined, and as the ends of said latches are normally positioned immediately below the opening 12 in the top of said casing, it will be seen that the head member is adapted to be engaged by said latches as the same is inserted through the opening in said top. An additional leaf spring 23 has one end thereof engaged with one end of the plate 18 and extends for some distance along said plate in the rear of the latches 14: and 15 and is then bent, as shown at 2a, to extend below the opening 12 in the top of the casing to allow the free end thereof to contact with said top. In this manner, it will be seen that as the head member is inserted through the opening 12, the same will encounter the spring, the tendency of which will be to force said head member outwardly.

Between the front wall of the casing and the operating parts of the look, as herein described, is an additional plate 25 which may be secured to the rear wall of the casing in any desired manner, said plate being provided with a key-receiving opening 26 in alinement with the similar opening in the front wall of the casing, and extending through said key-receiving openings, is a key-post 27 formed on the rear wall of said casing. Said key post is adapted to receive the usual or any preferred form of key 28 so that the same may be held in its proper position as the same is turned to force the locking levers into their inoperative positions.

In operation, the strap after being passed through the various parts of the bag to lock the same, is brought into position so as to allow the shackle or head member on the end thereof to be inserted in the opening 12 in the casing. The latch members being normally sprung in a position immediately below said opening 12, are adapted to contact with said head member after the same has been forced through the opening and against the spring 23, the engagement of said head member with the beveled ends of the latches being suflicient to force the latter out of their normal positions. The further forcing of the head member within the lock will allow said latches to be sprung back into their normal positions, the ends thereof being inserted through the opening in said head member, while the notches in said.

latches will also receive a portion thereof, thereby securely retaining the same. Then it is desired to release the shackle so as to open the bag, the key 28 is inserted within the look and by turning the same, the lug 29 thereon will engage the side edges of said latches 14 and 15 and force the same out of their normal and effective positions, and as soon as the locking ends of said latches have been disengaged with the head member, the spring 23 will immediately force said head member outwardly through the opening 12 in the top of the casing. Thus, it will be seen that the release of the head member is.

substantially automatic after the key has been turned.

Although I have specifically described this lock in conjunction with a mail bag, it will be readily understood that changes in form, proportion and in minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that- I have provided a lock which although particularly adapted for use in connection with mail bag closures, is equally well adapted for use'in any connection wherein a lock of this character is desired. ther be seen that by providing a spring in position beneath the head member receiving opening of the casing, the release of the shackle or hard member will be substantially automatic. It will still further be seen that the lock is extremely simple in construction, thereby easily and cheaply manufactured and one which is exceedingly effective in operation.

hat I claim is 1. In a lock of the class described, the combination with a casing having an opening in one end thereof, latch members pivotally mounted in said casing opposite the end having the opening therein, a spring means normally forcing the free ends of said latches in position beneath the opening in said casing, and a spacing plate for the latches adapted to limit the movement thereof; of a head member adapted to be inserted in said opening and engaged by the latches, a key for forcing said latches out of their effective positions to release the same from engagement with the head member, and a spring member within said casing disposed immediately below the opening therein, said spring member having one end thereof engaged with said spacing plate and the other bent into engagement with the end of said casing.

2. In a lock of the class described, the combination with a casing having an opening in the end thereof, a pair of latch members pivoted to the rearwall of said cas ing, a spacing plate on said rear wall having a groove therein through which said It will still furlatches move, and spring means cooperating with said plate and the latches for forcing the latter normally below the opening in said casing; of a head member adapted for introduction through said opening and for engagement with said latches, a key to force the latches from their normal position and release the same from their engagement with the head member, and a spring positioned in said casing beneath the opening in the top thereof to force said head member from the casing when the latches have been disengaged therefrom.

3. In a lock of the class described, the combination with a casing having an opening in the end thereof, a pair of latch members pivotally mounted on the rear wall of said casing, means to retain the pivoted end of said latches spaced from said rear wall, an additional spacing plate also mounted on said rear wall having a groove therein through which said latches extend, and a leaf spring engaging the lower ends of said latches and resting against one wall of the groove in said plate, said spring forcing said latches normally to the opposite wall in said groove and beneath the opening in said casing; of a head member adapted to be introduced through the opening in said casing to be engaged by said latches, a key for releasing the latches from their engagement with the head member, and a spring having one end thereof in engagement with said spacing plate and the opposite end bent into engagement with the end of said casing, said spring extending immediately below the opening in said casing to force said head member therefrom when released from said levers.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aifix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES SACKETT.

Witnesses:

FRANK EASTMAN, ELLA LANG.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

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