US659806A - Envelop-fastener. - Google Patents

Description

Patented Oct. l6, I900.

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W. BABNARD.

ENVELDP FASTENER.

(Application filed Fob. 3Q, 1900.)

(No Model.)

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time 'ra'rns IVILLIAM BARNARD, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

ENVELOP-FASTENER.

SIEGIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 659,806, dated October 16, 1900. Application filed February 16, 1900. Serial No. 5,467. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VILLIAM BARNARD, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Envelop-Fasteners, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in envelop-fasteners, and has for one object to provide afastener which will l satisfactorily hold an envelop closed, but at the same time allowing the envelop to be quickly and readily opened for the purpose of inspecting the contents by the postal authorities, if desired, and to again close the envelop, as before.

Another object of this invention is to provide a fastener so durable in construction and simple in operation that it will be a very desirable fastener for envelops used for filing, such as those generally used for legal documents.

With these ends in view this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then specifically designated by the claim.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may understand how to make and use the same, the construction and operation will now be described in detail, referring to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a rear elevation of an envelop, showing the flap fastened down; Fig. 2, a rear elevation showing the flap raised; Fig. 3, a longitudinal section through Fig. 1; and Fig. 4:, a view similar to Fig. 2, showing a piece for reinforcing the wearing parts of the fastening device.

In carrying out my invention as here embodied, A represents the envelop, and B the flap thereof.

0 is a thin oblong piece of stiffened material, such as cardboard, or, if desired, thin sheet metal, and this piece C is secured to the body of the envelop by any suitable pivot, shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 as an eyelet D and in Fig. 4 as a rivet E. This eyelet or rivet is clenched inside of the body of the envelop and passes through the overlapping edges of the body for fastening the said edges and also through the piece C and is also clenched on top of said piece 0. This stiffened piece 0 forms a button or fastener and is adapted to revolve upon the rivet E or eyelet D.

Formed in the flapB is a slot F. This slot is of the same general outline as the fastener C, but slightly larger, so that when the flap Bis bent over this slot F will register with and allow the fastener O to pass therethrough. Then the said fastener can be turned crosswise of the slot, thus holding the flap down, and thereby closing the envelop. Of course this slot F can be formed longitudinally with the envelop or, in fact,-in any position, it be ing only necessary to turn the fastener C so that it will register and pass through the slot.

The fastener C may be formed in any desired shape, the only requirement being that when said fastener is rotated upon its pivotal point after it has passed through the slot it will engage the flap upon both sides of the slot.

In using this fastener for filing-envelope or for envelops that are required to be opened and closed a number of times it can be rendered more durable by reinforcing at G the slot F and the portion of the envelop where the eyelet or rivet passes through, as indicated at G in Fig. 4c. This reinforcement may consist in simply doubling the material of the envelop at that point or securing or pasting cloth or other durable material around these parts, and thus prolonging the life of the fastener.

The ad vantages of my fastener are its cheapness and simplicity of construction, that it can be opened and closed very readily, and that in passing through the mails it has no points to catch or mutilate other inaiLmatter, and while being neat and attractive in appearance it is so durable that the envelop can be opened and closed frequently without destroying the said fastening device.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and useful is-- In combination with an envelop and its flap provided with an approximately-oblong open ing, a button formed of a thin piece of stiffening material, an eyelet passed through the button and overlapping edges of the body of the envelop and clenched to form a pivot and a fastening means for the edges of the body, I In Witness whereof I have hereunto affixed a reinforcing-strip secured on the under surmy signature in the presence of two subscribface of the flap around the opening and a ing witnesses.

second reinforcing-strip on the surface of that portion of the body of the envelop Where the eyelet or pivot passes through, as and for the purpose set forth;

WILLIAM BARNARD.

Witnesses:

MARY E. HAMER, N. N. SCHOFIELD.

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