US1172513A - House mail-box. - Google Patents

Description

E. E. BRUMBAUGH.

HOUSE MAIL BOX.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 29. 1912.

Patented Feb. 22, 1916. v

I//////ll/( 1 W1 T/VESSES EDWARD E. BRUMIBAUGI E, OF IMLER, PENNSYLVANIA.

HOUSE IVIAIL-BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 22, 1916.

Application filed February 29, 1912. Serial No. 680,654.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD E. BRUM- BAUGH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Imler, in the county of Bedford and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in House Mail-Boxes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to mail boxes, and it relates especially to new and useful improvements in house mail boxes.

An object of the invention is to provide a mail box adapted to be secured on the outside door of a house, and therefore, lo cated at a convenient and accessible point for receiving the mail from the mail carrier and for delivering it to the proper party or parties. 7

A further object, is to provide a mail box having a mail-receiving opening provided with a spring-pressed closure which may be quickly and easily opened by the hand which is depositing the mail therein.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a delivery opening, closed by a door, which can be opened by one person, only when the house-door to which it is secured is open.

A still further object is to provide latchoperating means, for the door, which ex tends from the interior to the exterior of the house-door, and is adjustable-for fitting doors of different thicknesses.

A still further object is to provide a latch operating device for the door, having means to provide for the positive actuation of the latch at all times.

Other objects and advantages will be hereinafter set forth and pointed out in the specification and claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which are made a part of this application, Figure 1 illustrates, in perspective, a door having one of my improved house-mailing boxes attached. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through a fragment of a house-door and through the mail box on line 22 of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4: is a fragmental sectional detail view of a modified form of latch-actuating axle and handle and, Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. i.

Referring to the drawings, the mail box, as a whole, is designated by numeral 6, and is secured on the house-door 7 by screws 8, or other proper means. At the upper front portion of the box is a receiving opening 9, through which the mail carrier may deposit mail into the box. The opening 9 is provided with a closure 10, held in closed position by means of spring 11. This closure is hinged to the box at 12 and is provided, at its lower edge with a weather guard 13. Fixed lugs 14:, on the inside of the ends of the box constitute stops for limiting the downward movement of the closure 10.

Obviously, mail may be inserted in the box by using only the one hand which carries the mail, by simply pressing inward upon the closure 10, and forcing it against the action of the spring 11 until a suflicient opening is made between the closure and the top of the box for inserting the mail, and on removing the hand from the closure the same will assume the position shown in Fig. 2.

The lower front part of the box is provided with a delivery opening 15, through which mail may be taken from the box. This opening 15 is normally closed by a door which is hinged at 16, said door having a keeper 17, whereby it may be locked, and having a knob 18, whereby it may be opened when unlocked. A latch 19 is normally held in engagement with the keeper 17 by means of a leaf-spring 20, and said latch is secured to an axle 21 and adaptedto be oscillated therewith, for engagement and alternative disengagement with the keeper. The wall of the box is apertured at 22, and the door 7 is correspondingly apertured; and through these apertures the axle 21 may extend and unite with a handle or knob 23. A guard 80 is secured to the front wall of the box at one edge of opening 15, and latch 19 extends through said guard into engagement with keeper 17 the outer end of spring 20 also extending through said guard so that lateral movement of the latch and spring relative to each other is prevented.

In Fig. 2 the axle 21 is indicated as if in one piece, and it may be found preferable, at times, to employ this simple construction; but it may usually be found advisable to employ a structure such as, or similar to, that which is shown in Figs. & and 5, in which the axle 21 is preferably reduced in diameter at 24 and slabbed or flattened as at 25. A sleeve 26, having an aperture 27, which conforms to the shape of the slabbed portion 25, receives said slabbed portion, and provides for the positive rotation. of the axle or rod 21. The sleeve 26 is also adapted to be moved longitudinally thereof, and thereby made adjustable for fitting doors of different thicknesses. After the adjustment has been made the members 25 and 26 may be secured in fixed relation by means of the set-screw 28, and the box may then be secured to the outer side of the door, a sufficiently large aperture 29 being made in the door 7 to allow the set-screw to be inserted and operated.

I do not limit my invention to the exact details of construction and arrangement of parts shown and illustrated, but the invention is limited only by a reasonable inter pretation of the following claims.

I claim,

1. In combination, a door having an opening therethrough, a mail box secured to the outer side of said door and covering said opening, a delivery door hinged to said mail box, a keeper upon the inner side of said delivery door, a rod pivotally mounted Within said mail box, a latch mounted upon the for- Ward end of said rod and actuated thereby, a leaf spring having one end secured upon said mail box and its free end bearing upon said latch for normally holding the latch in engagement with said keeper, said rod having its inner end reduced and provided With a flattened portion at one side and projecting through he rear Wall of said mail box, a sleeve having a central bore provided With a flattened Wall for adjustably receiving the reduced. end and flattened portion of said rod to provide for the positive rotation of said rod and said latch, a set screw Within said sleeve for engaging the flattened portion of said reduced end of said rod for re taining said sleeve in adjusted position thereon, said reduced end of said rod and Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, byaddressing the box, keeper upon the inner side of said.

delivery door, a rod pivotally mounted within said mall box, a latch mounted upon the forward end of said rod and actuated thereby, a leaf spring having one end securedv upon said mail box and its free end bearing upon said latch for normally holding the latch. in engagement with the said keeper, said rod having its inner end reduced and projecting through the rear Wall of said mail box, said reduced end of said rod being flattened. at one side, a sleeve having a re cess of the conformation of the reduced end of said rod for adjustably receiving said. reduced end for assuring the rotation of said rod, a set screw Within said sleeve for engaging the flattened. portion of said reduced end for adjustably retaining said sleeve upon said reduced end of said rod, said reduced end of said rod and said sleeve being adapted for adjustment for doors of.

diflferent thicknesses at the outer side of said mail box and previous to applying the mail box to the door, and a knob secured upon said sleeve at the inner side of said door for actuating said latch through said sleeveand said rod.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

EDIVARD E. BRUh IBAUGH.

Witnesses:

D. E. GOCHNOUR, Jos. M. DIVELY.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I. C. e

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