US544070A - Trunk-strap loop - Google Patents

Description

(No Modei.)

L. PHELAN.

TRUNK STRAP LOOP.

No. 544,070. Patented Aug. 6, 1895.

. 02 zSPium/a llivrrn TATES LOUIS PHELAN, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

TRUNK-STRAP LOOP.

, SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 544,070, dated August 6, 1895.

V 7 Application filed April 28, 1894. Serial No. 509,373. (N model.)

To all whom it may concern) Be it known that I, LOUIS PHELAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented a new and positions, and also allowing such straps to yield independently of each other when any strain is placed thereon.

The invention also contemplates an arrange.- ment of fastening-straps for trunks and the like, whereby such straps can be thrown off of 'the trunk or other object without affecting theirrelative connected positions.

With these and other obj ectsin view, which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination, and arran gement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated, and claimed.

In the' drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a trunk equipped with the herein-described improvement in straps. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the same. Figs. 3 and4c are detail sectional views illustrating the manner of arranging the straps in the selfadjusting connecting-keepers. Fig. 5 is a detail in perspective of one of the keepers. Fig. 6 is a plan View of the blank of leather from which the main part of the keeper is constructed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

- 2 designates an ordinary trunk that is adapted and 3 are connected or fastened together at their points of intersection by means of the self-adj usting strap connecting keepers 4:, that are disposed transversely on the top and bottom of the trunk. The said selfadjusting keepers 4 essentially comprise opposite rectangular end loops 5 and opposite parallel intermediate connecting portions 6 and 7, that serve to inclose lateral openings between the opposite rectangular loops 5. The said intermediate connecting portions 6 and 7 are arranged at opposite sides of the loops 5 and have their opposite ends connected with said loops in order not only to provide a transverse opening between the loops, but also to maintain the said loops in their relative aligned positions. Each of the said keepers constructed as described is preferably made of two pieces of leather, and, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 6 ofthe drawings, the blank from which the intermediate connecting portion 7 is formed is'provided at its ends with right-angularly-disposed side flaps 8, that are folded to form the loops 5, and the opposite or other intermediate connecting portion 6 is stitched at-its ends to the ends of said flaps to complete the form of keeper clearly illustrated inFig. 5.

The aligned loops 5 of the self-adjusting connecting-keepers 4: are of a size adapted to snugly receive therein the transverse trunkstraps 3, and the longitudinal strap 1 is passed through the lateral opening between the end loops 5 and also registers in the space confined between either of the connecting portions 6 and 7 and the transverse strap that is passed through the end loops. By reason of arranging the trunk-straps within the keepers, as described, it will be obvious that under ordinary circumstances the said straps will be always maintained firmly connected together at direct right angles, and the open ings of the loops 5 and between the connecting portions 6 and 7 of the keepers are there fore of such a size as to hold the intersecting straps in frictional contact with each other, thus preventing the straps from freely sliding out of position. In opening the trunk or box it is therefore simply necessary to unbuokle the straps and throw the same off of the trunk or box without affecting the connection between the same; and at this point too further attention is directed to the fact that the construction of the keepers admits of the same moving with either the longitudinal or transverse straps independently of the other straps passed therethrough, so that the said keepers are therefore practically self-adjustlug.

As the greatest strain is exerted on the transverse straps, the longitudinal strap may be lighter than said transverse strap, it desired, and changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

The keeper herein set forth is adapted for use in connection with crossing straps wherever the same are used for binding trunks and packages, and consists essentially of three loops which are in communication at their contiguous ends, the middle loop having lat eral openings for the free passage therethrough of one strap and the other, or crossing strap, adapted to pass loosely through the three loops, the two straps crossing in the middle loop and held in frictional engagement between the sides thereof. By this construction of keeper, the strap passing through the middle loop is' retained in operative relation with the keeper independently of the strap, disposed at right angles thereto, and passing through the end loops. Hence, it is essential to the efliciency of the device that the middle loop be closed in on its opposite sides, otherwise no provision would be made for retaining the keeper and transverse strap together when the longitudinal strap is removed, intentionally or otherwise.

I am aware that a buckle-tongue has been devised consisting of end loops connected by a single side piece, which is designed to form a guard for the buckle-tongue, and I make no claim to such construction, as'it is lacking in a middle loop, and cannot, for this reason, be supported independently upon a strap passing transversely between the end loops.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with crossing trunk and package straps, of a keeper, located at the point of crossing of the said straps to hold them in a relative fixed position, the same consisting of three loops in communication at their contiguous ends for the passage of one of the straps through the several loops, and the middle loop having lateral openings intermediate of the end loops for the free passage therethrough of the other, or crossing strap, the two straps being held together at the point of crossing by the sides of the middle loop, substantially as described.

2. A keeper for crossing trunk and package straps, to be located at the point of crossing of the said straps to hold them in a fixed relative position, after being properly adjusted, the same consisting of a blank of flexible mate rial, having oppositely disposed side flaps, at each end, said flaps being folded to form end loops, and a connecting portion spanning the I space between the end loops and attached to the laps on each side of their meeting, or inner ends, the space comprised between the body portion of the blank and the said connecting portion, forming a middle loop, substantially as described, for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own 1 have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

LOUIS PIIELAN.

\Vitnesses:

WM. L. WHELAN, '1. II. VON KAPFF.

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