US759305A - Trunk-strap. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTBD MAY 10, 1904.

R. J. NUNN.

TRUNK STRAP.

APPLIoAwIoN FILED Nov.11, 1903.

B0 MODEL.

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UNITED STATES Patented May 10, 1904.

PATENT OEEICE.

RICHARD J. NUNN, OF SAVANNAH, GEORGIA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersV Patent No. 759,305, dated May 10, 1904. l

Application iiled November 11,1903. Serial No. 180,665. (No model.)

Be it known that I, RICHARD J. NUNN, a citizen ot the United States, residing in Savannah, in the county of Ohatham, in the State ot eorgia, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Trunk-Straps, ot' which the Jfollowing is a specilication.

The improvement relates to the provisions for fastening and liberating' at will. It provides for tightening and releasing the strap to a iixed extent by a lever motion oi' one of two metal parts. One part is formed with an eye at one end which is engag'ed with one end of the strap and with a hook at the other end with which the other part can be engaged to serve as a pivot and be instantly released to allow the strap to be removed from the trunk and to be reapplied again without disturbing the adjustment. It results from my invention that the effective length or' the strap may be increased or diminished by shifting the strap so as to change the position of the bight in its engagement with one part, and the adjustment can be retained without change for any period, the strap being removed and re-v applied to the trunk as many times as required in the interval.

The following is a description of what I consider the best means of carrying out the invention.

The accompanying drawings form a part oi' this specification.

Figure l is an edge view, and Fig. 2 a top View, showingV the device in use on a trunk. Fig. 8 and the succeeding iigures are longitudinal sections on the line 3 3 in Fig'. 2, showing' the device in different conditions. The strong lines in Fig. 3 show the parts separated, and the dotted lines correspondingly lettered show the parts engaged together without being' subjected. to any strain. Fig. I shows -the parts in the `act of tightening the strap, and Fig. 5 shows the same with the action completed. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section oi a portion, showing a modiiication.

Similar letters ot' reference indicate corresponding parts in all the iigures where they appeal'. Y

The principal parts may be made oi" various materials; but I will assume that they are malleable cast-iron.

I will describe the fastener as equipped with a spring-lock, to the keyhole of which easy access is aliorded when the fastener is in use.

The strap is marked ft, certain portions being designated by supernumerals. One end fr' is :folded around a cross-bar in one end of one ot the fastening parts, whichI will u term the catch, and riveted. The other end es or' the strap is folded around a cross- 1 bar din the nud-length ot' the other part, which .l will term the lever of the fastener;-

When the device is out oi' use, the strap may be adjusted in its embrace oiE the bar (.Z, so as to increase or reduce the length of the strap to adapt it to different-sized trunks.

The catch having the cross-bar L', which engages the strap, has also a iiattened crossbar 3. An extension-piece c is secured on the flattened cross-bai' b3 and formed with a strong hook c. It has also a cross-bar b or oii'set, which serves in holding the lever in the closed condition, as will presently appear. The lever l constitutes the remainder of the fastener. It is equipped with a cross-bar IZ' at the 1nidlength, which receives the fold or bight at the strap. Another cross-bar d at one end is adapted to catch in the hook c and should be cylindrical, so as to turn easily in the hook. A cross-bar (Z3 of angular crosssection serves to sharply deflect the strap and insure its being nipped and held bythe strain when in the fastened condition. I have shown the lever as carrying a spring-lock, of which d* is the back plate. The works may be of any ordinary or suitable construction. The keyhole e and the bolt e of this lock are shown. The bolt projects on the side of the lock farthest from the pivotal cross-bar and is arranged to engage and release the cross-bar The level' Z may be extended any length re quired beyond the lock, accordingto the leverage required to give the necessary tension to the strap. I have shown it as extended only a little.

In the use of the invention the strap may have been previously lying on the iioor extending across under the trunk with one end permanently but flexibly engaged with the cross-bar CZ and the other end forming a bight around the cross-bar Z2. Its ends are picked up and the two fastening parts Zrand CZ are brought together on the top of the trunk, and the cross-bar Z2 is engaged in the hook c. Then force is applied to the end ZZ of the lever Z in the direction to turn it into the closed position, (shown in Fig. 5,) and on the lever Z being so urged a little farther than is shown in Fig. 4 the bolt e snaps under the cross-bar Z2, and the whole will thereafter remain in the secured condition (shown in Fig. 5) for any period. "When it is desired to open the trunk, the proper key operated in the keyhole e withdraws the bolt e and sets the lever (Z at liberty. It will turn under the tension of the strap back again to the position shown in Fig. I or farther. rIurning this part quite over into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 so slackens the strap that the crossbar (Z2 is easily disengaged from the hook c, and the separation is complete.

It will be seen that one adjustment of the biglit of the strap around the cross-bar Z will serve for an indefinite period, allowing the strap to be secured and removed at will. There is no necessity for shifting the strap in its engagement with the cross-bar (Z after it has been once adjusted for the trunk on which it is used until stretching or other change in the strap or enlargement of the trunk shall require it.

Modifications may be made without departing from the principle or sacrificing the advantages of the invention. Ilie extensionpiece 0, carrying the hook c, may be made in one with the catch b. Fig. 6 shows such modification. Instead of the fiat form of the cross-bar Z3 I can use a bar of circular section, and on embracing it with a corresponding circular loop of the part c the parts will be allowed to ieX to any 'required extent on each other. Instead of rigid parts here I can use a chain or anything flexible, but not eX- tensible. The connection of the strap Z to the cross-bar CZ may be made unchangeable by stitching or otherwise, and the length of the strap may be adjusted by a buckle or other suitable device at any point not shown. I prefer the whole as shown.

I claim as my invention- 1. The catch Z) c having a cross-bar or eye b', adapted to engage the strap at one end.I and the engaging' cross-bar Z2 near that end, and a hook 0 at the opposite end, in combination with a corresponding lever part Z having a pivotal cross-bar (Z2, adapted to engage and release said hook, a cross-bar Z adapted to engage a biglit of the strap and allow it to be shifted to adjust the effective length, and a locking-bolt e and suitable operating means, all arranged for joint operation substantially as herein specified. A

2. A flexible strap Z engaged with the adjacent eiid of the catch Z; c havinga cross-bar or eye Z engaged with such strap at one end and the cross-bar Z22 near such end and a hook c at the opposite end, in combination with a corresponding lever part (Z having a pivotal cross-bar Z2 adapted to engage and release said hook, a cross-bar ZZ adapted to engage a bight of the strap and allow it to be shifted to adjust the effective length and a lockingbolt e and suitable operating means, all arranged foi` joint operation substantially as herein specified.

In testimony that I claim the invention above set forth I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

RICHARD J. NUNN. Vitnesses:

THOMAS DREW STETsoN, M. F. BoYLE.

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