US1069246A - Mail-box attachment. - Google Patents

Description

T. M. GAUGHAN.

MAIL BOX ATTAGHMENT.

APPLICATION IILIID JUNE 20, 1912.

71,069,246, Patented Aug.5,1913.

ThOIYLQSMG'AUG'H W i2 INVENTOR A a 5 I ,C 16/ hLSAliorney THOMAS M. GAUG-HAN, OF EARLETON, KANSAS.

MAIL-BOX ATTACHMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 5,1913.

Application filed June 20, 1912. Serial No. 704,794.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS M. GAUGHAN, citizen of the United States, residing at Earleton, inthe county of Neosho and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Box Attachments,'of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to mail box attachments which are intended to be used in connection with mail boxes along rural routes, so that the person owning the mail box may place money in the box, and the mail carrier may easily remove the coin and place stamps or any other mail matter desired in the receptacle in place of the coin.

The principal object of this invention is to provide the receptacle with the improved type of lever connection with the improved type of bottom, so that the bottom of the receptacle may be very easily swung upon its pivot, thus causing the coin to drop directly in the mail carriers hand.

This invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of the attachment. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the attachment. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the attachment showing the connection with the side of the mail box. Fig. i is a perspective view of the band which surrounds the receptacle.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, itwill be seen that this invention comprises a receptacle ]0 which is preferably cup shaped and is open at both ends. This receptacle may be formed of any material desired, such as metal,.and is mounted within the mail box so as to be protected from the weather, and is connected with one of the side walls so as to be out of the way.

A bracket connects the receptacle to the side wall of the mail box, the bracket being formed from a single strip of metal such as strap iron, the strip of metal being bent around the receptacle and having its end portions provided with slits leading from the opposite sides, so that the strip may be crossed and thus held around the receptacle with its end portions 11 extending to each side. These end portions 11 are provided with openings so that securing bolts 12 may be passed through the side wall 13 of the mail box and through the ends of the strip, thus securely connecting the receptacle with the side of the mail box. This receptacle is provided with a pivotally mounted bottom comprising the disk 14: which is rigidly mounted upon the pivot pin 15 having its end portions extending through openings formed in opposite sides of the receptacle. The bottom is secured to the pin by any suitable means such for instance as suitable clips. A spring has its central portion 16 coiled about the pin 15, and has its arms 17 extending in "opposite directions with one of the arms bearing against the bottom of the disk. The remaining one passes through an opening formed in the side of the receptacle bent as shown at 18 to prevent its removal. It will thus be seen that when the bottom of the receptacle is moved upon its pivot pin, the spring will return it to its normal position when the disk is released.

An operating lever is connected with the disk 14 and is substantially S-shaped, with its upper end 19 secured to the disk 14: by means of the rivet 20, and its lower end portion 21 broadened and curved as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3, so that when placing the hand beneath the receptacle, the fingers will engage the broad lower portion of the lever, thus rocking the disk 1 L upon its pivot point and permitting the coin within the receptacle to drop into the hand. It should be noted that since the lower portion of this lever is made very broad, that there is no danger of the fingers slipping from the lever before the disk has been rocked to an open posit-ion. It should also be noted that with the construction shown, the coin may be removed from the receptacle without it being necessary to remove the gloves from the mail carriers hands, thus making it more convenient for the mail carrier.

When using this device, the receptacle is mounted upon the side of the mail box within the box, and since the cover of the box is closed and locked, the receptacle is protected from the weather and unauthorized persons are prevented from removing coin or stamps from the receptacle. If the owner of the mail box wishes stamps, he places the required amount of money in the receptacle, together with a note telling how many stamps he wants, and when the mail carrier arrives, he places his hand beneath the receptacle and upon pressing upon the lever, the coin and note will fall into his the desired amount of stamps in the receptacle and then re-lock the mail box, so that there will be no danger of the stamps being removed before the owner collects them.

It will thus be seen that there has been provided a receptacle which will be very convenient to use since the owner of the mail box does not have to watch for the mail carriers arrival, and the mail carrier does not have to remove his gloves in order to take the coins from the receptacle, since it is only necessary to press the lever and the coins will fall, into his hands.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is l. A device of the character described, comprising a receptacle, a strip carried about said receptacle and having its end portions interlocked and extending in opposite directions, securing means passing through the ends of said strip whereby said strip may be connected with a support, a pivot pin mounted in the bottom of said receptacle, a disk mounted upon said pivot pin, a spring coiled about the central portion of said pin and having its arms ex" tending in opposite directions, one of said arms of said spring engaging said disk, and the other arm passing through the wall of said receptacle, whereby said disk will be normally held in a position to close the bottom of said. receptacle, and a substantially S-shaped operating lever having its upper end secured to the bottom of said disk, and

its lower end portion formed into an enlarged curve, and flattened.

2. A container of the character described, comprising a receptacle, a strip wound about. said receptacle and having its end portions interlocked and extending in opposite directions, securing means passing through the end portions of said strip, a disk pivotally mounted in the bottom of said receptacle, resilient means normally holding said disk in a closed position, and a lever connected with said disk for moving said disk from a closed to an open position.

3. A container of the character described, comprising a receptacle, attaching means carried by said receptacle, a disk pivotally mounted in the bottom of said receptacle, resilient means for holding said disk in a closed position, and an operating lever carried by said disk, said lever being substantially S-shaped and having its upper portion secured to said disk, and its lower portion formed into an enlarged curve, and flattened to form a relatively broad lower portion for said lever.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aifix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

THOMAS M. GAUGHAN.

Witnesses Gr. W. RILEY, O. E. MARK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Iatents, Washington, 1). G.

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