US1151666A - Mail-box. - Google Patents

Description

J. B. CULLEN.

MAIL BOX.

APPLICATION FILED IuNE 5,1914.

Patented Aug. 31, 1915.

LII/INH y. E l: i x i NT FFGGE.

JOSEPH B. CULLEN,OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

j MAIL-BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Aug. 31, 1915.

Application filed June 5, 1914. Serial No. 843,184.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOSEPH B. CULLEN, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Visconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Mail-Boxes, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which are a part of this specification.

The invention relates to mail boxes.

Formerly it has been the practice to construct mail boxes in which the mail is placed without regard to positioning it in the box in any special order, and when the box is opened the mail is removed therefrom lin disordered condition and placed in bags which are taken to the post oice. After this, the mail is removed from the bags and placed in piles with the addresses face up, in which condition it may be sorted.

To obviate the necessity'of arranging the mail previous to its being sorted, is one of the objects of this invention. ,v

W ith this end in view, the invention designs to provide a mail box in which the letters, when deposited therein with the addressed side face up, are arranged in a vertical stack, so that they may be removed in this condition, bound together, and carried to the post office, where they may be readily sorted or run through the canceling machine.

The invention further designs to provide a mail box with a self-closing cover, and means connected therewith to prevent pilfering of the contents of the' box.

The invention further designs to provide a shelf upon which the mail may rest in a vertical stack, which shelf is automatically operated by mechanism connected to the box cooperating with the stack of letters therein.

The invention further designs to provide a new and improved form of mail box.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical sec tional view of the device. Fig. 2 is a vertir `cal sectional view of the device. Fig. 3 is a front elevation, parts Vbeing broken away. Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

r1`he device comprises a box having a base 10, back 11 and sides 12 and 13, the back 'and the base projecting outwardly, to provide a space between the sides 12 and 13 and the outer edges of said back and base. Side covers 14 are designed to fit on the outer edges of the back and base, forming a space between them and the sides 12 and 13. A top cover 15 is hinged lto the upper'end of the back 11 and is secured to the side covers 14 by rods 16,- each secured at one end to the cover 15, and detachably secured to the side covers 14 by means of brackets 17 having apertures therein through which the other ends o f the rods pass, said ends being secured in position by wing nuts 18. The front of the box is provided with a door 19 hinged to one of the sides, and which may be locked to the other.

The sides 12, 13 and 14 at the upper ends and adjacent the top cover, are recessed, having a horizontally extending portion 2O and an upwardly inclined portion 21, a plate 22 resting upon the edges of the sides at the portion 20 and extending thereacross, and a plate 23 resting upon the edges of the sides at the portion 21, and extending thereacross, said plate 23 having a transversely extending aperture or slot 24 adjacent its bottom edge for receiving the mail. A partition 20 is secured to the sides 12 and 13, and forms the back of the mail box proper.

A cover 25 is pivotally secured to the box adjacent the slot 24 by pins 26 secured to it adjacent one edge, which pins are pivotally -n1ounted in brackets 27 secured to the sides 12 and 13.

Counterweights 28 are rigidly secured to the ends of the pin 26, as shown vin Figs. 1 and 4, so that, when the cover 25 is turned down so as to rest upon the plate 22, the weights will assume the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, and on a release of the cover it will return to its normal position to cover the slot 24 and rest upon the plate 23. This construction thus serves to provide a self-closing cover.

The means for receiving and arranging the mail inthe box in the form of a stack, comprises mechanism connected to and operated by the cover 25, which cooperates with an automatically adjustable support or shelf hereinafter described.

vThe mechanism connected to and operated by the cover comprises a movable" rack 29 having rack bars 30, said rack carrying pins 31 whichare pivotally connected toone of the ends of a pair of upwardly curved,arms 32, the other ends of which are pivotal-ly secured to pins 33 secured to the cover 25 'aidjacent the upper edge thereof.` The .arms 32, when moved by the movement ofuthe cover 25, serve to move the rack backwardly and forwardly,A and'to rotate the same, the rack being supprted by the pins 31 which engage and are movablelongitudinally extending slots 34 in the sides 12 and 13, which slots alsoserve to llimit the movement of the rack. `The partition 20 is provided with a plurality of vertical recessesor slots 35 in which the ra'clrba1s 3Q are free yto move, and a pluralityof bars 36 are, secured to the upper vedge of the partition 20,', and extend outwardly therefrom to a position adjacent the plate 23, and are disposed 'fadjacent the slots 35, thereby forming a p lurality of horizontal 'slots which form a continuation of the vertical slots 3 5, so thatgthe rack bars 30 are free to move therein. The slots 35 inthe partition 20 andthe continuation ofthese slots between the bars 36 form a fixed rack within 'theIboXwhich C 'ooperates. with the movable rack touniformly deposit the mail inthe form of. a stack.

.Arms 36 arese'curedto the endsof the pins 31 and areoperatively secured to arms 32 yby springs37, which :permit movement of the rack with respect tothe arms 32. An innery cover plate 38 is s'lidably secured adjacent the y'plate 23 by apluralitybffpins 39 on either side thereofwhich move in slots 40 inthe sides 12 and 13, and which fare operatively connected .with the curved arms 32, said arms being disposed between said pins. This ,plate 38 `has a slot 41 whichV registers with the slot 24 when the ycover 25is wide open. .f y l The automatically adjustable shelf comprises a shelf 42 .ttingbetween the sides 12 and 13, and having its rear edge disposed adjacent the-:partition 20 of theboX, which construction for-ms a chute open at its front end. The shelf has a depending-portion4 43 whichcarries lugs 44 s'lidablyV secured invertical slots 45 in the sides of the-bok,y and to which are connected'one of, aipair of leXible connections 46 whichpass over pulleys 47 pivotally lmounted uponthe sides of the box, and carry counterweights 48 attheir other ends. Owing to this construction, there is a constanttendencyfor the shelf to"mo,ve upwardly, but this is checked by `an adjustable locking means .comprising a pair of ratchet bars 49 secured to said shelf by a pin and slot connection, the outer ends of said bars registering with a .pair of toothed racks 50 secured to the sides 12 and 13, said bars being yieldinglyy pressedapartto engage the racks 50 by a spring 51 interposed between their inner ends. This construction serves to lock the shelf against upward movement by the counterweights, but permits downward movement,as the teeth on the rack have downwardly inclined sides 52 and horizontal sides 53. The open side of the chute is partially closed by a pairv of spring controlled doors 54 hinged to the sides 12 and 1'3 of the boX and secured in closed position by springs 55.

The paitition20, sides 12 and 13, doors 54 and adjustable shelf 42 form an `eXtensible chute h'avingan open space between the doors, so that the letters which are arranged thereinin the ,form of a stack, may be taken therefrom in this condition.

. ,The operation of the device is as follows: The cover 25, 'shown in closed position in Fig. 1, is pulled down to open position, as Ishown in Fig. 2. In 'closed position, the rack bars 30 faire raised as shown in dotted lines The pins are at the farthest end of the slots 34, and the inner cover 38 in raised position, the 'pins 39 thereon being in their uppermost position in the slots 40. As the cover 25 moves forwardly, the arms 32 move with' it, carrying the vrack 29, the pins 31 on the rack 'moving in the slots 34; rthe 'c'ounterweights 28 move upwardly and the inner vcover 38 moves downwardly, the pins 39 'thereon moving in the slots 40, which movement continues until the cover 25 reaches its veXtreme forward 'or open position, as shownin Fig. 2.o' This exposes the 'slot`24'in the plate 23 and the slot 41 inthe Vcover 38, 'and a letter is placed therein with Athe addressed sideiface up, suitable instructions loeing.provided onthe 'cover for this purpose. Theflett'er deposited under these conditions rests upon the face of the rack bars 30, which barsare disposed in the slots 35, so that the letter isbetween said bars and thefba'rs 36; Then the cover is released,

Aand underthe -action of the weights 28 is moved to closed position. During the first part of this movement, the rack 29 is moved upwardly, and the letter carried by the bars '30 is forced' upwardly against the bars 36, and being interposed 'between the bars 30 and 36, prevents further upward movement of the rack bars which now,'by reason of the V,spring connection with the arms 32, are moved longitudinally along the under face .of the letter, until they are released therefromandthe letter drops down upon the .L 'shelf 42. LLAt the same time that the rack 29 and'arnis 32 are moving'backwardly, the inner ycover 38 ris moving downwardly to cover the slot24. Thus the movable rack 29 and the fixed rack formed bythe bars 36 and 'i partition 20 cooperate to form a means for automatically and uniformly depositing mail inthe boX in the form of a stack.

The 'above' operations take place in depositing 4each letter, and asthe successive `letters fall upon the shelf 42, they are ar- Vthe ratchet bars 49, which are free to move downwardly, as previously pointed out, will be forced in position under the sides 53 of one of the teeth on the racks-50, and further upward movement of said shelf prevented. Thus it follows that as successive letters are deposited within the box, the shelf 42 moves downwardly as the stack increases, until the chute is completely ufilled.

It will be noted that the chute is so shaped and the partition 20 so positioned that only mail which is inserted lengthwise of the slot 24 can be deposited so that the present construction insures a uniform stacking of the mail within the box.

The mailman, in collecting, opens the outer door 19, and, placing his hand between the spring hinged doors 54, grasps a quantity of letters and pulls them out, and binds them together in bundles.

It will be further noted that the inner cover 38 formsa guard means and prevents any tampering with the contents of the box through the slot 24, for as soon as the cover is started on its upward movement, the cover 38 moves up to cover the slot 24.

rI`he invention thus exemplifies a mail box which is constructed so that mail may be deposited therein in the form of a stack, to facilitate its removal from the box and its future handling at the distributing office.

T he invention is not to be restricted to the details of construction herein set forth, but may be varied so as to be within the scope of the appended claims.

`What I claim as my invention is:

l. In a mail box, the combination, with a box body, of an extensible chute, means within said body for automatically and uniformly depositing mail on its fiat sides in said chute in the form of a stack, and means for permitting of the removal of the mail from the box in this form.

2. In a mail box, the combination, with a box body, of a movable cover, and means within said body and operatively connected with said cover for automatically depositing mail in said body in the form of a stack.

3. In a mail box, the combination of a box body having a mail receiving slot therein, a cover secured to said body adjacent said slot, and mechanism comprising means operatively connected with said cover for depositing the mail in the box in the form of a stack.

4. In a mail box, the combination of a box body having a mail receiving slot therein, a cover pivotally secured to said body adjacent said slot, and mechanism comprising means operatively connected with said cover for depositing mail in the box in the form of a stack, and with one of its flat sides uppermost.

5. In a mail box, the combination of a box body having a mail receiving slot therein, a cover pivotally secured to said body adjacent said slot, a chute for receiving the mail after it has passed'through the slot, and mechanism comprising means connected to the cover and operated thereby for depositing the mail in the chute in the form of a stack.

6. In a mail box, the combination of a box body having a mail receiving slot therein, a cover pivotally secured to said body adjacent said slot, a chute for receiving mail after it has passed through the slot, and means comprising a rack connected to the cover and operated thereby for depositing the mail in the chute in the form of a stack.

7. In a mail box, the combination of a box body having a mail receiving slot therein, a cover pivotally secured to said body adje-'93 cent said slot, a chute for receiving mail after it has passed through the slot, and means comprising a sliding and rotatable rack connected to the cover and operated thereby and a lixed rack for depositing the l mail in the chute in the form of a stack.

Y 8. In a mail box, the combination of a box body, a chute in said body for receiving the mail, means for depositing the mail in said chute in the form of a stack, and means for varying the length of said chute.

9. In a mail box, the combination of a box body, a chute in said body for receiving the mail, means for depositing the mail in said chute in the form of a stack, and means for automatically varying the length of said chute.

10. In a mail box, the combination of a box body having a mail receiving slot therein, a cover pivotally secured to said body adl" jacent said slot, a chute for receiving mail, mechanism comprising means connected to the cover and operated thereby for depositing the mail in the chute in the form of a stack, and means for varying the length of said chute.

1l. In a mail box, the combination of a box body having a mail receiving slot therein, a cover pivotally secured to said body adjacent said slot, a chute for receiving the iii mail from said slot, mechanism comprising means connected to the cover and operated thereby for depositing the mail into the ros rio

'iss

'chute in the form of a stack, and an adjustable shelf for holding the mail so deposited.

12. In a mail box, the combination of ,a box body having a mail receiving slot ytherein, a cover pivoted to said body adjacent said slot, a chute for receiving mail from said slot, said chute comprising sides and a back, anda pair of doors for partially inclosing` the front oit' said chute, mechanism comprising means connected to the cover and operated thereby Jfor depositing the mail in said chute in the form of a stack, and an adjustable .shelf for receiving `the mail so deposited.

13. n a mail box, the combination, With a box body of an extensible chute, and means for automatically depositing mail on its fiat sides in said chute in the form of a stack.

14. A mail box comprisinga box body, mechanism Within said body for automatically depositing mail therein in the form of a stack, and means for operating said mechanism, said mail being deposited With one of yits flat faces uppermost.

15. In a mail box, the combination, with a box body, of means for receiving mail as deposited in the body, a movable inail-receiving support in said body, means cooperating With said receiving means to automatically deposit mail upon said movable support in the form of a stack, said receiving means also serving to secure the mail so stacked upon said support.

16. A mail box comprising-a box body, movable means Withinthe body for receiving the mail thereon, means Afor reciprocating said movable means and means cooper-ating with said movable means Jfor auu tomatically depositing the mail in said body in the form of -a stack.

17. A mail box comprising a box body, movable means Within said bodyi'or receiving the mail on one of its flat sides, means for reciprocating said movable means, and

`means cooperatingWithsaid movable means for automatically depositing the mail` in said body in the for-m of a stack.

18. Aanail boxfcomprising abox body, fixed means Within said body, movable means Within the body for receiving the mail thereon, and means for operating said movable means, said movable means and xedmeans coperating to automatically deposit the mail in said body in the form of a stack.

1f). A mail boxcomprising a box body, fixed means Within said body, movable means within the body for receiving` mail thereon, said mail being interposed between the ixed and movable means, and means for reciprocating and rotating the movable means to move the mail against the fixed means and deposit it in the form of a stack.

20. A mail box comprising a box body, movable means Within the body for receiving mail thereon, fixed means Within said body, and means for reciprocating and oscil- ;tomaticallydepost the mail in said body in the form of a stack.

' 22. A mail box comprising a box body having a mail receiving slot therein, means in said body forreceiving and automatically depositing mail therein in the form of a stack, means for operating said means, and guard means for the slot operated by said Aoperating means.

23. A mail box comprising a box body having a mail receiving slot therein, means in said body for receiving and depositing mail therein in the form of a stack, means for operating said means, and a guard means for the -slot comprising a plate slidablyY mounted in said body and operated by said operating means. l

24. In a mail box the combination of a vbox body, a chute in said body, means for depositing the mail in said chute, and means for automatically varying the length of said chute.

25. A mail box comprising a box body, an open-sided chute in said body, means for ydepositing the mail in said chute in the form .of a stack, means for automatically varying the length of said chute, and movable means forpartially closing the open side of said chute.

26. A mail box comprising a box body, an open-sided chute in said body, means in said body for depositing mail in said chute in the form of a stack, means for automatically varying the length of said chute, and self closing doors for partially closing the open side of said chute.

27. A mail box comprising a box body,

`mechanismvvithin said body for depositing the mail therein in the form of a stack, and automatically movable means for supporting the mail so deposited.

28. A mail box comprising a box body, an open-sided chute in said body, means for depositing the mail in saidchute in the form of a stack, means for automatically varying the length of said chute, and means for par-l tiallyl closing the open side of said chute.

29. A mail box comprising a box body, a

movable support in said body, movable means for receiving and automatically de* positing the mail in said body upon said support and for securing the mail so stacked between it and the support, and means for automatically moving said support to accommodate the increase of mail in the stack.

30. A .mail box comprising a box Abody, a support in said body, means in said body for receiving and automatically depositing mail in saidbody upon said support inr the form of a stack, and means for automatically moving said support downwardly as the stack increases comprising` releasable means in engagement with said body.

3l. A mail box comprising a box body a support in said body, means in said body or receiving and automatically depositing mail therein in the form of a stack, means for releasably securing said support to the body to permit the support to move downwardly as the stack increases, and means for counteract-ing said downward movement to hold the mail between the support and the depositing means. y

32. A mail box comprising a box body, a movable support in said body, guide means for said support, means for releasably securing said support to the body to permit said support to move downwardly in said guides and lock it against upward movement, and means in said body for receiving and automatically depositing mail therein upon said support in the form of a stack.

33. 1n a mail box, the combination of a box body, a movable support in said body, a plurality of racks in said body, ratchet bars secured to said support and releasably engaging said racks, and means in said body for receiving and automatically depositing mail therein upon said support in the form of a stack.

34. A mail box comprising a box body, a support in said body, means in said body for receiving and automatically depositing mail therein in the form of a stack, means for releasably securing said support to the body to permit said support to move downwardly and lock it against upward movement, and means for counteracting said downward movement to hold the mail between the support and the depositing means.

35. A mail box comprising a box body, a support in said body, means in said body for receiving and automatically depositing mail therein in the form of a stack, means for releasably securing said support to the body to permit said support to move downwardly and lock it against upward movement, and gravity actuated means for counteracting said downward movement to hold the mail between the support and the depositing means.

36. A mail box comprising a box having a mail receiving slot therein, a self-closing cover secured to said body adjacent said slot, and mechanism comprising means operatively connected with said cover for depositing the mail in the box in the form of a stack.

37. In a mail box, the combination of a box body having a mail receiving slot therein, a self-closing cover pivotally secured to said body adjacent said slot, and mechanismV comprising 1 means operatively connected. with said cover for depositing mail in the box in the form of a stack, and with one of its flat sides uppermost.

38, In a mail box, the combination of a box body having a mail receiving slot therein, a self closing cover pivotally secured to said body adjacent said slot, a chute for receiving the mail after it has passed through .the slot, and mechanism comprising means connected to the cover and operated thereby for depositing the mail in the chute in the form of a stack.

39. In a mail box, the combination of a box body having a mail receiving slot therein, a. self-closing cover pivotally secured to said body adjacent said slot, a chute for receiving mail after it has passed through the slot, and means comprising a rack connected to the cover and operated thereby for depositing the mail in the chute in the Jform of a stack.

40. 1n a mail box, the combination of a box body having a mail receiving slot therein, a self-closing cover pivotally secured to said body adjacent said slot, a chute for receiving mail after it has passed through the slot, and means comprising a sliding and oscillating rack connected to the cover and operated thereby and a fixed rack for depositing the mail in the chute in the form of a stack.

4l. In a mail box, the combination of a box body having a mail receiving slot therein, a self closing cover pivotally secured to said body adjacent said slot, a chute for receiving mail, mechanism comprising means connected to the cover and operated thereby for depositing the mail in the chute in the form of a stack, and means for varying the length of said chute.

42. In a mail box, the combination of a box body having a mail receiving slot therein, a self-closing cover pivotally secured to said body adjacent said slot, a chute for receiving the mail from said slot, mechanism comprising means connected to the cover and operated thereby for depositing the mail into the chute in the form of a stack, and an automatically adjustable shelf for holding the mail so deposited.

43. 1n a mail box, the combination of a box body having a mail receiving slot therein, a self-closing cover pivoted to said body adjacent said slot, a chute for receiving mail Said slot, said chute comprising sides and an automatically adjustable shelf for In testimony whereof, aIiX my signature, 1n presence of two Witnesses;

JOSEPH B. CULLEN.

and a back, and a pair of doors for paitially inclosing the front of said chute, mechanism comprising means connected to the covel1 and operated thereby for depositing the mail in said chute in the form of a stack, Witnesses:

KATHERINE Hom,l receiving the mail so deposited. C. H. KEE'NEY.

Copies of this patent may 'be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner lof Patents,

Washington, D. 0;

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