SE1951266A1 - Letterbox unit - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is a letterbox unit comprising a casing (10) divided into a plurality of letterbox compartments (12) arranged in a column, wherein the casing has an open forward-facing side (10a) arranged to give access to said letterbox compartments. Furthermore, a door assembly (20, 30) is provided which is arranged to, in closed position, cover the open forward-facing side of a column of letterbox compartments. The door assembly comprises a plurality of compartment doors (22, 32) arranged in a column, wherein each compartment door is arranged to, in closed position, cover a corresponding letterbox compartment. The door assembly further comprises a frame (24, 34) that lines the plurality of compartment doors. The door assembly is characterized in that it comprises a single hinge, pivotally connecting the door assembly to one edge of the open forward-facing side of the casing wherein the compartment doors and the frame are separately arranged on said single hinge.

Description

80783 LETTERBOX UNIT Technical field 1. 1. id="p-1" id="p-1" id="p-1" id="p-1" id="p-1" id="p-1" id="p-1"

[0001] The present invention relates generally to letter boxes and moreparticularly to letterbox units for apartment buildings.

Background art 2. 2. id="p-2" id="p-2" id="p-2" id="p-2" id="p-2" id="p-2" id="p-2"

[0002] Letterbox units for apartment buildings are known, which comprise a boxshaped casing divided into a plurality of compartments, or pigeon-holes, whereineach compartment is assigned to an individual tenant. Each compartment iscovered by a lockable door, which may be unlocked by the tenant in question forretrieval of mail in the assigned compartment. 3. 3. id="p-3" id="p-3" id="p-3" id="p-3" id="p-3" id="p-3" id="p-3"

[0003] ln these kinds of letterboxes, the compartments, and thus the doorsassigned thereto, are arranged in a plurality of vertical rows, wherein each vertical row comprises a plurality of compartments. 4. 4. id="p-4" id="p-4" id="p-4" id="p-4" id="p-4" id="p-4" id="p-4"

[0004] During mail delivery by a postman, the postman must have access to thecompartments in order to deliver the mail to be stored therein. To this end, eachdoor may be provided with an elongated horizontal opening to allow the postmanto insert the mail therethrough. Alternatively, the postman may have a central keyallowing him or her to open the compartment door, allowing insertion of the mail into the compartment. . . id="p-5" id="p-5" id="p-5" id="p-5" id="p-5" id="p-5" id="p-5"

[0005] The patent publication EP 0 898 916 A1 discloses a centralized closuredevice for a collective letterbox comprising a plurality of pigeon-holes laid out incolumns and closed by doors capable of being opened individually. A centrallocking barrel unlocks all the doors of a corresponding column, allowing a postmanto thereafter open the individual doors of a column for subsequent insertion of mailinto the respective pigeon-hole. However, this takes time and the design is alsoprone to forced entry into the closure device. 80783 Summary of invention 6. 6. id="p-6" id="p-6" id="p-6" id="p-6" id="p-6" id="p-6" id="p-6"

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a letter box unit of thekind initially mentioned, which is easy to operate and offers high security to forcedentry attempts. 7. 7. id="p-7" id="p-7" id="p-7" id="p-7" id="p-7" id="p-7" id="p-7"

[0007] The invention is based on the insight, that a single hinge can be used for the door(s) and the compartment doors of a Ietterbox unit. 8. 8. id="p-8" id="p-8" id="p-8" id="p-8" id="p-8" id="p-8" id="p-8"

[0008] According to the invention, there is provided a Ietterbox unit comprising acasing divided into a p|ura|ity of Ietterbox compartments arranged in a column,wherein the casing has an open forvvard-facing side arranged to give access tosaid Ietterbox compartments; the Ietterbox unit further comprises a door assemblyarranged to, in closed position, cover the open forward-facing side of a column ofIetterbox compartments, the door assembly comprising a p|ura|ity of compartmentdoors arranged in a column, wherein each compartment door is arranged to, inclosed position, cover a corresponding Ietterbox compartment, and a frame thatlines the p|ura|ity of compartment doors, characterized in that the door assemblycomprises a single hinge, pivotally connecting the door assembly to one edge ofthe open fonNard-facing side of the casing wherein the compartment and the frameare separately arranged on said single hinge. This provides a letter box unit which is easy to operate and offers high security to forced entry attempts. 9. 9. id="p-9" id="p-9" id="p-9" id="p-9" id="p-9" id="p-9" id="p-9"

[0009] ln a preferred embodiment, the frame of the door assembly comprises afirst section, a second section and a third section, and wherein one end portioneach of the first and second sections are perpendicularly joined to one end portioneach of the third section, forming a C-shape framing the p|ura|ity of compartmentdoors. . . id="p-10" id="p-10" id="p-10" id="p-10" id="p-10" id="p-10" id="p-10"

[0010] ln a preferred embodiment, the single hinge comprises a single rod. 11. 11. id="p-11" id="p-11" id="p-11" id="p-11" id="p-11" id="p-11" id="p-11"

[0011] ln a preferred embodiment, each of the p|ura|ity of compartment doorscomprises a through hole in the plane of the door arranged parallel and adjacentto a side of the door, through which the single rod extends, pivotally connecting the compartment doors to the rod. 80783 12. 12. id="p-12" id="p-12" id="p-12" id="p-12" id="p-12" id="p-12" id="p-12"

[0012] ln a preferred embodiment, end portions of the C-shaped frame areprovided with through holes in the direction of the third section, through which thesingle rod extends, pivotally connecting the frame to the rod. 13. 13. id="p-13" id="p-13" id="p-13" id="p-13" id="p-13" id="p-13" id="p-13"

[0013] ln a preferred embodiment, the Ietterbox unit comprises a central verticalwall in the casing dividing the plurality of Ietterbox compartments into a first and asecond column and a first and a second door assembly, each arranged to, inclosed position, cover the open fon/vard-facing side of a corresponding column ofIetterbox compartments. 14. 14. id="p-14" id="p-14" id="p-14" id="p-14" id="p-14" id="p-14" id="p-14"

[0014] ln a preferred embodiment, each of the plurality of compartment doors ofa door assembly comprises a compartment lock for locking the respectivecompartment door to the frame of said door assembly. . . id="p-15" id="p-15" id="p-15" id="p-15" id="p-15" id="p-15" id="p-15"

[0015] ln a preferred embodiment, the frame of the door assembly comprises aframe lock for locking the frame to the casing. 16. 16. id="p-16" id="p-16" id="p-16" id="p-16" id="p-16" id="p-16" id="p-16"

[0016] ln a preferred embodiment, only the second door assembly comprises aframe lock for locking both the first and the second door assembly to the casing.

Brief description of drawinqs 17. 17. id="p-17" id="p-17" id="p-17" id="p-17" id="p-17" id="p-17" id="p-17"

[0017] The invention is now described, by way of example, with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective overall view of a Ietterbox unit according to the invention,comprising two columns of compartments and corresponding door assemblies,each with nine compartments and corresponding compartment doors, Figs. 2a-d show the left door assembly of the Ietterbox unit of Fig. 1 in plan view, side view, perspective view, and top view, respectively, Figs. 3a-d show the right door assembly of the Ietterbox unit of Fig. 1 in plan view,side view, perspective view, and top view, respectively, and Fig. 4 is a perspective overall view of an alternative embodiment of a Ietterbox unit according to the invention, comprising two columns of compartments and 80783 corresponding door assemblies, each with two compartments and correspondingcompartment doors.

Description of embodiments 18. 18. id="p-18" id="p-18" id="p-18" id="p-18" id="p-18" id="p-18" id="p-18"

[0018] ln the following, a detailed description of a Ietterbox unit according to theinvention will be given with reference to the drawings. When references are madeto directions, such as "left" and "bottom", these refer to what is shown in thefigures for better understanding of the invention and are not limiting to the scope ofprotection. 19. 19. id="p-19" id="p-19" id="p-19" id="p-19" id="p-19" id="p-19" id="p-19"

[0019] ln Fig 1, a Ietterbox unit, generally designated 1, is shown. The Ietterboxunit 1 comprises a casing 10 divided into a plurality of Ietterbox compartments 12arranged in two columns, separated by a central wall 14. The casing 10 has anopen forward-facing side 10a arranged to give access to the Ietterboxcompartments 12. On the other sides, the casing 10 comprises a left side wall 10b,a right side wall 10c, a top wall 10d, a bottom 10e, and a back wall 10f, forming abox-like structure. . . id="p-20" id="p-20" id="p-20" id="p-20" id="p-20" id="p-20" id="p-20"

[0020] Two door assemblies 20, 30 are arranged to, in closed position, coverthe open forward-facing side 10a of the Ietterbox unit 1. A left door assembly 20covers the left column of Ietterbox compartments 12 and a right door assembly 30covers the right column of Ietterbox compartments 12. Each of the doorassemblies 20, 30 comprises a plurality of compartment doors 22, 32 arranged ina column, wherein each compartment door is arranged to, in closed position, covera corresponding Ietterbox compartment 12. The compartment doors 22, 32 arepivotably arranged so that they can be opened and closed, as will be describedbelow. Each of the compartment doors 22, 32 is provided with a compartment lock22a (not shown), 32a. 21. 21. id="p-21" id="p-21" id="p-21" id="p-21" id="p-21" id="p-21" id="p-21"

[0021] Each of the door assemblies 20, 30 also comprises a respective frame24, 34 that lines the plurality of compartment doors 22, 32. By means of thecompartment locks 22a, 32a, the compartment doors 22, 32 can be lockedrelatively to the respective frame 24, 34 so that the compartment doors 22, 32 80783 follow the movement of the respective frame 24, 34. Each of the door assemblies20, 30 is pivotally connected to the casing 10; the left door assembly 20 to the leftside wall 10b and the right door assembly 30 to the right side wall 10c, by meansof a respective hinge, as will be described below with reference to Figs. 2a-d and3a-d. One of the frames 24, 34, the right frame 34 in the embodiment shown inFig. 1, is provided with a door assembly lock 30a for locking the door assemblies20, 30 in a closed position. To this end, the door assembly lock 30a is providedwith a bolt which extends through the central wall 14 and an opening in the leftdoor assembly 20 in a manner known to the skilled person. 22. 22. id="p-22" id="p-22" id="p-22" id="p-22" id="p-22" id="p-22" id="p-22"

[0022] All parts of the letterbox unit described above are preferably made ofsteel. 23. 23. id="p-23" id="p-23" id="p-23" id="p-23" id="p-23" id="p-23" id="p-23"

[0023] Turning now to Figs. 2a-d, showing the left door assembly 20 fromdifferent views, the left door assembly comprises a single hinge, pivotallyconnecting the door assembly 20 at the left edge of the open forward-facing sideof the casing 10, i.e., adjacent to the left side wall 10b thereof, see Fig. 1. Thehinge comprises a single rod 26, preferably a steel rod, extending from the top wall10d to the bottom 10e of the casing 10, wherein the rod 26 is kept in place bybeing inserted in a hole in the top wall 10d and the bottom 10e, respectively. 24. 24. id="p-24" id="p-24" id="p-24" id="p-24" id="p-24" id="p-24" id="p-24"

[0024] Each of the compartment doors 22 is pivotably journaled on the rod 26,this is for example shown in Fig. 2a. ln the preferred embodiment, this is achievedby providing a vertical through hole between the upper and lower corner of avertical side of each of the compartment doors 22, and the rod 26 extends throughthese holes. . . id="p-25" id="p-25" id="p-25" id="p-25" id="p-25" id="p-25" id="p-25"

[0025] Not only the compartment doors 22 but also the frame 24 is pivotablyjournaled on the rod 26. As can be seen from Fig. 2c, the frame 24 comprisesthree straight sections lining the compartment doors 22: an upper horizontalsection 24a above the compartment doors, a vertical section 24b right of thecompartment doors, and a lower horizontal section 24c below the compartmentdoors. These interconnected sections 24a-c together form the frame. At the distalend portions of the horizontal sections 24a, 24c, i.e., to the left in Fig. 2c, the 80783 frame 24 is provided with vertical through holes, through which the rod 26 extends.This means that the compartment doors 22 and the frame 24 are separatelyarranged on the same single rod 26. 26. 26. id="p-26" id="p-26" id="p-26" id="p-26" id="p-26" id="p-26" id="p-26"

[0026] The right door assembly 30 is shown in Figs. 3a-d. This is essentially amirror image of the left door assembly 20 and comprises a single hinge, pivotallyconnecting the door assembly 30 at the right edge of the open forward-facing sideof the casing 10, i.e., adjacent to the right side wall 10c thereof, see Fig. 1. Thehinge comprises a single rod 36 extending from the top wall 10d to the bottom 10eof the casing 10, wherein the rod 36 is kept in place by being inserted in a hole inthe top wall 10d and the bottom 10e, respectively. 27. 27. id="p-27" id="p-27" id="p-27" id="p-27" id="p-27" id="p-27" id="p-27"

[0027] Each of the compartment doors 32 is pivotably journaled on the rod 36 inthe same way as the compartment doors 22 of the left door assembly 20. 28. 28. id="p-28" id="p-28" id="p-28" id="p-28" id="p-28" id="p-28" id="p-28"

[0028] The frame 34 is pivotably journaled on the rod 36. As can be seen fromFig. 3c, the frame 34 comprises three straight sections lining the compartmentdoors 32: an upper horizontal section 34a above the compartment doors, a verticalsection 34b to the left of the compartment doors, and a lower horizontal section34c below the compartment doors, together forming the frame. The frame 34 isprovided with a door assembly lock 30a arranged on the vertical section 34b. Theright frame 34 is journaled to the rod 36 in the same way as the left frame 24 sothat the compartment doors 32 and the frame 36 are separately arranged on the same single hinge in the form of the rod 36. 29. 29. id="p-29" id="p-29" id="p-29" id="p-29" id="p-29" id="p-29" id="p-29"

[0029] The letterbox unit is operated as follows. The door assemblies 20, 30 areusually closed and locked by means of the lock 30a. This is also true for thecompartment doors 22, 32, which are locked to the frames 24, 34 by means of therespective compartment lock 22a, 32a. During mail delivery by a postman, thepostman accesses the compartments in order to store the mail to be deliveredtherein by unlocking the door assembly lock 30a. This allows him or her to openthe door assemblies 20, 30 in order to get access to all the compartments 12. Afterhaving inserted the mail into the compartments 12, the mailman closes and locksthe door assemblies 20, 30. 80783 . . id="p-30" id="p-30" id="p-30" id="p-30" id="p-30" id="p-30" id="p-30"

[0030] When a tenant or other person is to retrieve the mail stored in thecompartment 12, he or she unlocks the compartment door 22, 32 by means of thecompartment lock 22a, 32a and opens the compartment door, thereby havingaccess to the compartment 12 behind this door. After having retrieved the mail, thecompartment door 22, 32 is locked. 31. 31. id="p-31" id="p-31" id="p-31" id="p-31" id="p-31" id="p-31" id="p-31"

[0031] A perspective view of a second embodiment of a Ietterbox unit accordingto the invention is shown in Fig. 4. This comprises two columns of compartments12, but each column comprises only two vertically spaced apart compartments. lnall other aspects, this Ietterbox unit is designed in the same way as the one shownin Fig. 1. 32. 32. id="p-32" id="p-32" id="p-32" id="p-32" id="p-32" id="p-32" id="p-32"

[0032] Preferred embodiments of a Ietterbox unit according to the inventionhave been described. lt will be realized that these may be varied within the scopeof the appended claims without departing from the inventive idea. Thus, theIetterbox unit has been described with a casing, but it is realized that the doorassembly can be arranged in front of a recess in a wall or the like, acting as aspace for the Ietterbox compartments. 33. 33. id="p-33" id="p-33" id="p-33" id="p-33" id="p-33" id="p-33" id="p-33"

[0033] Letterbox units with two columns of compartments have been shown anddescribed. lt will be realized that the inventive idea is not limited to this. Thus, aIetterbox unit with just a single column of compartments falls within the scope ofthe invention, in which case the single door assembly is provided with a main lockfor locking and unlocking the single door. Also, more than two columns ofcompartments may be provided, in which case each pair of columns forms a unitlike the ones described herein.

Claims (9)

1. .

2. A Ietterbox unit comprising a casing (10) divided into a plurality of Ietterbox compartments (12) arrangedin a column, wherein the casing (10) has an open forward-facing side (10a)arranged to give access to said Ietterbox compartments (12);a door assembly (20, 30) arranged to, in closed position, cover the openforward-facing side (10a) of a column of Ietterbox compartments (12), thedoor assembly (20, 30) comprising- a plurality of compartment doors (22, 32) arranged in a column,wherein each compartment door (22, 32) is arranged to, in closedposition, cover a corresponding Ietterbox compartment (12), and- a frame (24, 34) that lines the plurality of compartment doors (22, 32), characterized in that the door assembly (20, 30) comprises a single hinge, pivotally connectingthe door assembly (20, 30) to one edge of the open forvvard-facing side(10a) of the casing (10) wherein the compartment doors (22, 32) and theframe (24, 34) are separately arranged on said single hinge. The Ietterbox unit according to claim 1, wherein the frame (24, 34) of the door assembly (20, 30) comprises a first section (24a, 34a), a second section(24b, 34b) and a third section (24c, 34c), and wherein one end portion each of thefirst and second sections are perpendicularly joined to one end portion each of the third section, forming a C-shape framing the plurality of compartment doors (22,32).

3. The Ietterbox unit according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the single hinge comprises a single rod (26, 36). 80783

4. The Ietterbox unit according to claim 3, wherein each of the plurality ofcompartment doors (22, 32) comprises a through hole in the plane of the doorarranged parallel and adjacent to a side of the door, through which the single rod (26, 36) extends, pivotally connecting the compartment doors (22, 32) to the rod.

5. The Ietterbox unit according to claim 4 when depending on claim 2,wherein end portions of the C-shaped frame (24, 34) are provided with throughholes in the direction of the third section, through which the single rod (26, 36)extends, pivotally connecting the frame (24, 34) to the rod (26, 36).

6. The Ietterbox unit according to any of the preceding claims, furthercomprising: - a central vertical wall (14) in the casing (10) dividing the plurality ofIetterbox compartments (12) into a first and a second column; - a first and a second door assembly (20, 30), each arranged to, in closedposition, cover the open forvvard-facing side (10a) of a corresponding column ofIetterbox compartments (12).

7. The Ietterbox unit according to any of the preceding claims, wherein eachof the plurality of compartment doors (22, 32) of a door assembly (20, 30)comprises a compartment lock (22a, 32a) for locking the respective compartmentdoor (22, 32) to the frame (24, 34) of said door assembly (20, 30).

8. The Ietterbox unit according to any of the preceding claims, wherein theframe (24, 34) of the door assembly (20, 30) comprises a frame lock (34a) forlocking the frame (24, 34) to the casing (10).

9. The Ietterbox unit according to claim 8 when depending on claim 6,wherein only the second door assembly (30) comprises a frame lock (34a) for locking both the first and the second door assembly (20, 30) to the casing (10).