US1052159A - Mail-box. - Google Patents

Description

O. E. MARTZLOFF & F. X. MARSHALL.

MAIL BOX.

APPLIOATION FILED APR. 9, 1912.

1,052,1 59. Patented Feb. 4, 1913.

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MAIL BOX.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 9, 1912. 1,052, 1 59. Patented Feb. 4, 1913.

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CHARLES E. MARTZLOFF AND FRANK X. MARSHALL, 0F BUFFALO, NEW YORK, AS-

SIGNORS 'I'O CLIMAX LOCK AND VENTILATOR COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

MAIL-BOX.

5 the county of Erie and State of New York,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Boxes, of which the folowing is a specification.

This invention comprehends certain new storage receptacles, and particularly to mail boxes of the type that are designed for invention has for its primary object a simple, durable and efficient construction of device of this character which is-composed of comparatively few parts that may be easily stamped out, shaped and assembled without the use of rivets, thereby effecting economies in the trade and enabling theboxes to be sold at a relatively low price and yet at a profit.

More specifically considered, the invention has for its object to provide a mail box with an improved construction of closure for the opening through which the letters or other mail matter are extracted from the box and a new and improved construction of finger piece therefor, which, like the paper holding clip with which the box is provided, is so constructed that it may be securely heldin place without the use of rivets, and may be easily and quickly applied. And the invention also aims to generally improve devices of this class and to render them more useful and commercially desirable.

With these and other objects in view as will more fully appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain constructions, arrangements and combinations ofthe parts that we shall hereinafter fully describe and claim.

For a full understanding of the invention referenceis to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a mail box constructed in accordance with our in vention; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal 'vertical sectional view thereof; Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view, the section being taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a view of the sheet metal blank out of which are formed the front, sides, bottom and top of the box. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed. April 9, 1912. Serial No. 689,502.

and useful improvements in collectionand of the sliding closure for the opening in the front of the box through which the letters or like matter may be extracted and Fig. is a sectional view on the line 6-6 of Flg. 2 looking in the direction of the arrow.

Our improved mail box includes a sheet metal back 1 which is formed at any desired polnt with openings -to receive fastening devices whereby the box may be suspended at the desired place, one of said openings be- I l ing shown in Fig. 2 and designated 2. The dlvidual or house holders use and the mfront, sides, bottom and top of the box are 1n the present embodiment of the invention formed of a single blank of sheet metal stamped in the shape illustrated in Fig.- 4, and subsequently bent to the shape illus- Patented Feb. 4,1913.

trated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, 3 designating the I front of the box, 4: the sides thereof, -5 the bottom and the top.- These parts are formed on their margins with integral tangs 7 that are designed to be passed through perforations formed in the back 1 at or within the margins thereof, the tangs being then clenched upon the rear face of the back 1 as best illustrated in Fig. 2. By this means the back may be quickly and easily secured to the other main part of the box,

.without the use of rivets and a rigid and strong structure produced.

The top 6 of the box is formed with a transversely extending slot 8 made in such shape, as best illustrated in Fig. 4, that when the metal defining one side edge of said slotis bent inwardly, as illustrated in Fig. 2, to form a lip 9, the opposite'w'alls of said slot willbe toothed, as indicated in Figs. 4 and 6. To stiffen the ends of the slot the top 6 is formed with integral and angularly disposed flanges 10 which are bent downward, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2' and as also shown in Fig. 6. The front 3 is formed near its lower end with a pref-- erably rectangular opening 11 which is designed for the pur ose of removing the mail matterand which is adapted to be closed by a sliding closure 12 which is in the form of a transversely bowed sheet metal plate with wardly upon themselves ments. Preferably, the lower edge of the closure 12 is bent slightly outward as indicated at'14, whereby when the opening 11 is closed, said edge will extend slightly out over the lower edge of said opening and se cure a proper joint. Preferably also, the edges 15 of the sheet metal blank which initially define the opening 12 are curled inso as to thus reinforce and stiffen the box at this point.

In order that the closure 12 may be easily raised, it is provided with an outstanding finger piece 16 which is formed with an attaching shank 17 adapted to be slipped upwardlythrough a strap formed by slots 18 in the front of the closure near the lower edge thereof. 'The shank 17 is held securely in position without the use of rivets b means of the outturned edge 14 which engages the lower end of the shank where it joins the finger piece 16 and thus prevents any downward movement of the shank, and

a bulge or protuberance 19 which is formed in the front of the closure and which engages the upper edge of the shank so as to prevent any upward movement thereof. Above the opening 11 in the front 3, a paper holding clip 20 is secured to the front of the box. This clip is preferably c0mposed of spring metal and is slipped upwardly through the slots 21 that correspond in function to the slots 18 before mentioned, the front of the box being formed with bulges or protuberances 22 one above the other as best illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 to engage the upper and lower ends of the shank or attaching portion 23 of the clip, whereby said clip, like the handle or finger piece of the closure 12 is securely held in position without the use of rivets or similar fastening devices.

The back plate 1 is extended upwardly as indicated at 240 and to this upward extension the lid or cover 25 is hinged, the same being preferably flanged as indicated at 26 so as to extend in closed position down around the top 6 and thus protect the contents of the box from rain, snow, or the like.

From the foregoing description in connection with the accompanying drawings, the operation of our improved mail box will be apparent. In the practical use of the device, the letters or similar mail matter are inserted into the box through the slot 8, while the papers or similar mail matter are inserted in' and securely held by the clip 20. In order to remove the contents of the box, it is only necessary to raise the-closure 12.

It will thus be seen that we have provided an extremely simple mail box, the parts of which can be cheaply manufactured and readily assembled, no rivets being used in the construction of the box.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A receptacle of the character described provided with a discharge opening, a sliding closure therefor formed with slots pro ducing a strap and having an angularly disposed lower edge contiguous to said slots, said edge protruding outwardly and adapted to overlie the lower edge of the discharge opening when the closure is in a closed position, and a finger piece provided with a shank extending upwardly through said slots and engaged at its lower end by said edge, for the purpose specified.

2. A receptacle of the character described, provided with a discharge opening, a closure therefor, formed with an outwardly projecting angularly disposed edge and with slots contiguous to said edge, and a finger piece provided with an attaching shank extending through said slots and engaging at one end said edge of the closure whereby to prevent the downward displacement of the finger piece, the closure being formed with an outward bulge engaging the upper edge of the shank whereby to prevent the upward displacement of the finger piece.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES E. MARTZLOFF. FRANK X. MARSHALL. Witnesses:

GODFREY M. FROHE, FRANCIS M. FRIEL.

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