US398981A - Box-fastener - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

J. W. SHAW.

BOX FASTENER.

N0. 398,981. Patented Mar. 5, 1889.

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JOSEPH VALTER SHAV, OF SIIELBURNE FALLS, ISIASSACHUSETT BOX-FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 398,981, dated March 5, 1889.

Application filed April 14, 1888. Serial No. 270,665. (No model.)

To all IUIL-OHZ/ it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOSEPH WALTER SHAW, of Shelburne Falls, in the county of Franklin and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Box-Fasteners, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

In the drawings like letters representcorresponding parts.

Figure 1 represents the catch part of the device. Fig. 2 represents the hasp part of the device. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a box, illustrating the manner of the application of the catch to the same.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple, strong, and efficient fastening to be applied to boxes and other articles, the attachment to be made without the aid of screws or any auxiliary devices.

Referring to the drawings, the catch part A of the device consists of a plain piece of metal preferably pointed at the lower end, as represented by f. At the upper end of the said piece of metal I form the catch proper, c, and upon the same end of the metal I form one or more guards, a. The other part, B, of the catch (represented in Fig. 2) also consists of a piece of metal made, preferably, pointed at the upper end, 8, and having a slot, 1), in the lower part of the metal, which slot serves the purposes of a hasp in connection with the part c'in 1.

Fastenings or catches of various kinds have been employed before; but they have been attached to the box or other article by screws or nails, and most of them have also had some device to press the catch part back from the outside in order to release the hasp part.

My present invent-ion can be made more cheaply than any I have ever seen. It is designed especially for light boxes in which there is some spring or give in the side of the box itself, as is the case with cigar-boxes, which are made of very light thin wood.

By referring to Fig. 3 the manner of securing the said hasp and catch part and the operation of the device will be understood. To insert the part A in the front side of the box '3, a slight mortise in the wood is made, (represented by g,) and the part marked f in Fig. 1

is bent at. right angles to the body of the metal, and the pointed end is then inserted through the side of the box from the inside, and the part f is afterward bent up against the outside of the box. This holds the catch part A firmlyin place, and the stiffness of the body of the metal is suiiicient to keep it erect, as represented. The part Bis secured to the lid or cover D by inserting the end a through the cover from the inside up to the shoulder, and then simply bending or pressing down so much of the end 2 as protrudes through the top of the cover. This secures the hasp part firmly to the cover. The catch part of the device A has the catch proper, c, and also the guard a. Now, when the cover is closed, the ha-sp part slides over the catch 0 and secures the cover tightly upon the box. The object of the guard to is to prevent the beep part from sliding in behind. the part A, as it is manifest that if the bottom of the hasp part is pressed upon the top of the catch part- A the guard on will slide it forward over the catch or hook c. There is sufficient spring in the metal itself to allow a slight movement of the body A inward and the hooking on of the said hasp over the part c, the stiffness of the metal. springing back and remaining substantially upright in its original position after the hasp is hooked in.

In order to unfasten the catch, all that is necessary to do is to press upon the outside of the box near the device and the catch part will be withdrawn from the hasp part, and the cover can be immediately opened. Of course in this device it is necessary that there should be more or less give or spring in the side of the box or other article to which the same is applied, as otherwise the device could not be unfastened.

In the case of boxes and other articles made of light wood or other material it has been found necessary heretofore to fasten the top on by brads or similar means, as there is often insufficientmaterial to properly hold any device which requires nails or screws to keep it in place. The guard at is also an important improvement in this class of fastenings, and prevents the parts from getting out of order or being bent or sprung in such a way as to be inoperative. The said guard may be formed singly or doublethat is, one prong upon each side of the catch part c-it' desired. The point fof the part A, also the point e of the part B,

formed with a projecting hook, c, and the guard a, all combined substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses, on this 10th day of April, A. -D. 1888.

JOSEPH WALTER SHAW.

Vitnesses:

H. S. SHEPARDSON, J. W. TURTON.

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