US869866A - Strap-fastener. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED OCT. 29. 1907.

A. MAINS.

` STRAP FASTENER.

/INVENTOH EE URGE AMAINS.

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APPLICATION FILED PEB. 16, 1907.

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GEORGE A. MAINS, OF THOMPSON, MONTANA.

STRAP-FASTENER.

No. 869 ,866. Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Oct. 29, 1907'.

Application led February 16. 1907. Serial No. 357,751.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE A. MArNs, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Thompson, in the county of Sanders and State oi' Montana, have invented an Improved Strap-Fastener, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in strap fasteners, especially designed for use in securing mail pouches, such as are commonly used in carrying United States mail; and the invention consists in certain novel constructions and combinations of parts as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of my invention as in use. Fig. 2 is a cross section on about line 2-2 of Fig. l, the lock being removed to release the cover plate. Fig. 3 is a similar section with the cover plate thrown open. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the fastener', with the cover plate thrown open in position to permit the stra-p to be drawn freely through the base plate and the cover plate. Fig. 5 is a cross section of the fastener with the strap applied, the cover plate being shown released in full lines, and dotted lines being employed to indicate the cover plate put under tension and the lock applied.

My fastener as shown comprises a base plate A, and a cover plate B, said plates being preferably similarly curved from end to end, so they will conform in a degree to the curvature of the neck of apouch when applied thereto, and theisaid base plate and cover plates are provided with slots for the passage of the tree end of the strap C, the said strap being secured at one end at C/ to the base plate A at a point about midway beerably formed by bending the plate at one Wall of the slot ll, and such rib or projection operating by pressing the strap into the opening I3 to aid in binding the same, and thus improving the locking qualities of the fastener when the same is closed, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 5. The rib or projection l0 being thus formed on one of the plates A or B, and the opening 13 forming a seat in which the strap may be pressed by the action of the said rib, I provide this supplemental locking means comprising the rib or projection on one plate, and the seat in the other plate, said parts being formed on the proximate faces of the plates, as will be understood from Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings,

In the operation of the invention, the strap may be passed around the neck of a pouch, being disposed through the slots l and 2 of the base plate, thence around the hinged end of the fastener, and thence through the slots ll and l2, and when the parts are adjusted to the position shown in Fig. 4 with the cover plate open, the strap may be drawn freely through the fastener in either direction for adapting its loop to fit around the neck of a pouch and then for tightening it on said neck, as will be understood from the said Fig. 4. After the strap has been drawn to the desired degree of tightness, the cover plate may be partially closed to the position shown in Fig. 5, thus holding the strap, and the tongue A will protrude partly through the opening B/ in the cover section. Then, the free end of the cover section may be put under tension by pressing it to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 5, thus increasing the force with which the strap will be held by the binding thereof between the plates A and tween the ends of the same, as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 5. The cover plate B is hinged at one end Bf to one end of the base plate A, and the latter is provided at its other or free end with an outwardly projecting tongue A which when the fastener' is closed, protrudes through an opening B2 in the cover plate near the free end of the latter, and is perforated at a/ to receive the shackle ol a pad lock D, as will be understood from Figs. l and 5 ol the drawings. The base plate A.is provided with a cross-bar and on opposite sides thereof with slots or openings l and 2 for the passage of the strap O, and the walls oi' said openings l and 2 may be slightly defiected at 3, as best shown in Figs. 4 and 5, to ease the passage of the strap through the said slots, and the strap C is passed from the inner side of the base plate A through the opening l, thence back through the opening 2, and thence around the hinged end of the fastener and brought over the iront side of the cover plate and passed thence through slots ll and l2 in the cover plate.

Between the slots l1 and l2, the cover plate is provided on its inner side with a rib or projection l0 and B, and a lock D may have its shackle passed through the opening o. in the tongue A/ to hold the fastener under tension and to lock the parts in the dotted line position shown in Fig. 5, and in the full line position illustrated in Fig. l, in which there is no danger of the strap slipping back through the fastener.

The construction is simple, easily applied for use, can be readily operated to permit the tightening of the strap around the neck of the pouch to any desired extent, and may then be easily closed and locked.

It will be noticed that when the cover is thrown open as shown in Fig. 3, and then is adjusted to the position shown in Fig. 5, that the strap Will be drawn through the openings l and 2 of the base plate, and all slack in the strap surrounding the neck ofthe pouch will be taken up and the strap will be tightened around the neck in such manner as to hold the same tightly closed when the fastener is adjusted to the position shown in Figs. l and 5.

I claim:

1. vA strap fastener having a base plate provided between its ends with slots for the passage of a strap, and also having an opening forming a seat for a rib or prothe base plate A has, opposite said rib or projection l0, an opening 13, the said rib or projection l() being prefi jection on a cooperating plate, and having at one end of said base plate an outwardly projecting tongue provided with a perforation for the passage of a lock, a cover plate hinged at one end to the end of said base plate opposite the outwardly projecting tongue, and provided near its free end with an opening through which said tongue may protrude, and having between its ends openings for the passage of a strap, and between said openings a rib or projection opposite the seat in the base plate, and a strap secured to the base plate about midway between its ends vand disposed thence through the openings in the base plate and around the hinged end of the fastener and thence through the openings in the cover plate, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. A strap fastener or buckle, substantially as herein described, comprising a base plate having a cross bar and provided ,on opposite sides thereof with openings, a

[cover plate hinged at one end to one end of the base secured at one end to the base plate, midway between the ends of the latter, the base plate being provided on opposite sides of the point of connection of the strap with openings through which the other e'nd of the strap may be E laced, and passed thence around the hinged end of the buckle, and the cover plate being provided with openings spaced apart. and through which the return end of the strap may be laced, the said cover plate being provided between its said openings with an inwardly projecting lug 3 or portion to bind upon the strap when the buckle is closed, and means for holding the buckle closed, substantially as set forth.

4. A buckle comprising a main plate, and a cover plate, and a strap secured at one end to the main plate, the said 4 main plate and cover plate being provided with openings through which the return end of the strap is laced, when the buckle is closed, and means for holding the buckle closed, substantially as set forth.

5. A fastener or buckle for straps, consisting of a base f plate, and a cover plate hinged together at one end, and provided with means for securing the other ends oi the plates when the buckle is closed, the said plates having spaced apart openings, and a strap secured at one end to the base plate and laced at its free end through the 5i spaced apart openings in the base plate, and thence around the hinge and through the spaced apartopenings in the cover plate, all substantially as and for the purposes' set forth.

GEORGE A. MAINS. Witnesses SoLoN C. KEMoN, PERRY B. TUnPlN.

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