US1207101A - Mail-box. - Google Patents

Description

H. F. WADE.

MAIL BOX.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 20. 19H").

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Patented Dec. 5, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

H. F- WADE.

MAIL BOX. APPLICATION man FEB. 20. I915.

Patented Dec; 5, 1916. 2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

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HAROLD F. WADE, OF'OPPORTUNITY, WASHINGTON.

MAIL-BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

PatentedDec. 5, 1916.

Applicatiomfiled February 20,1915. Serial No. 9,622.

To all whom it mag camera:

Be it known that I, HAROLD F. VADE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Opportunity, in the county of Spokane and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail- BoXes, of which the followmg 1s a specification.

My invention relates to mail boxes and having novel indicating means associated therewith and operable simultaneously with the insertion of the newspaper so that a person may recognize from a distance whether or not there are any contents in the receptacle.

Another object of my invention resides in the novel means for mounting the indicating means whereby the same will be-automatically returned to its normal or closed position when the newspaper or the like is removed from the box.

A further object of my invention resides in the provision of a novelly constructed indicating means preferably in the form of a flag which is movably associated with the receptacle and so positioned that it will be engaged by the actuating means when the latter is operated.

A still further object of my invention resides in the provision of a device of the character described that is simple in construction, efficient in operation and one that can be manufactured and placed on the market at a minimum cost.

Other objects as well asthe nature, characteristic features and scope of my invention will be more readily understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings and pointed out in the claims forming a part of this specification.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a front elevational view of my inventionshowing-the same in closed position;-Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and showing especially the peculiar manner of associating the actuating means with the retaining means; Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of my invention showing the flag in a raised position; Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the same taken on the line li of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 2 in the direction in which the arrow points illustrating to advantage the manner in which the piston is associated with the casing; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary front elevational view of my invention illustrating to advantage a modified form of indicator, in a raised position; Fig. 7 is a front elevational view of my invention showing another modified form of indicator or flag, this type being especially applicable to a post; Fig, 8 is a'fragmentary front elevational view of my invention illustrating a modified form shown in Fig. 7, in an eX- tended position; Fig. 9 is a fragmentary side elevational View of my invention showinga modified form of Fig. 7; and Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken on the line 10-1O of Fig. 9 illustrating to advantage the novel means for associating this type of flag with the receptacle.

Referring more particularly to the drawings in which similar reference numerals designate like or corresponding parts throughout the different views, I provide a receptacle 1 which in this instance is formed preferably from sheet metal andconsists of a rear or base plate 2 of a substantially rectangular configuration in plan, said plate having associated therewith a semicylindrical section 3, the longitudinal edges of which are bent upon themselves to provide flanges 4, which extend at substantially right angles to the sections 3 so as to be arranged in snug and substantially rigid engagement withthe rear plate 2, thus providing a substantially semicircular receptacle, the upper end of which is provided with a sloping roof 5. The lower end of the receptacle is open and the extreme lower 5 edge thereof is arranged in spaced relation with the extreme lower and arcuate edge of the plate 2. The flanges 4 and the respective side edges of the plate, 2 are provided I with openings 6 which receive suitable fastening devices when it is desired to attach the receptacle to a post or other suitable support. The front surface of the lower edge of the curved section 3 is provided with a semicircular depression 7 and also '15 provided in this depression with a pair of suitably spaced openings 8 which constitute a suitable means for receiving the improved retaining means.

The retaining means which is for the purpose of removably holding a newspaper or other mail matter within the receptacle 2, in this instance includes a spring 9 formed preferably from a single piece of wire which is bent to. assume a U-shaped configuration. The free ends of the Wire are bent so that portions 10 thereof are arranged in abutting relation with the bottom of a semicircular depression 7 from which points the terminals extend through spaced openings 8 and are bent and arranged in abutting relation with the inner surface of the curved section 3 as at 11. The body of the spring is normally arranged in yielding engagement with the inner surface of the rear plate 2 and is slightly curved, the vertex 12 of which spring being crimped into a substantially U-shaped configuration so that the portions continuing therefrom may be engaged about a newspaper or other mail matter when the latter is inserted therein and thus facilitating the removable holding of the said newspaper in abutting relation with the inner surface of the plate.

In order that a person positioned at a distance from the receptacle may recognize that newspapers or other mail matter are contained in the receptacle, I have constructed my improved indicator which is preferably in the form of a flag 13. The flag is preferably formed from sheet metal and assumes a rectangular form in contour, one edge of which is slit at certain intervals and the portions lying between the slits are rolled upon themselves to provide ears 1% which are rigidly mounted about a pin 15, the latter being rotatably mounted in the uniformly spaced ears 16 formed in a manner similar to the manner of formation of the ears 14: on the upper slightly extended end of the rear plate 2 at a point substantially, intermediate the side edges thereof. In order to raise the flag so as to indicate the fact that the receptacle has a package or the like therein, I provide my improved actuating means; the

actuating means is peculiarly arranged with the receptacle and flag so that the flag may be raised simultaneously with the insertion of thenewspaper or the like in the receptacle, and in this instance comprises essentially a substantially semicircular shaped slide 17 which is arranged in close relation with the inner sides of the receptacle 1. A vertically extending rod 18 is rigidly mount ed on the upper surface of the slide by means of a suitable fastening device 19, the said rod extending through the opening 20 in the roof 5 at a point adjacent the upper edge thereof, said rod terminating in a loop 21 for a purpose to be hereinafter referred to. A suitable brace 22 is preferably formed in tegral with the rod adjacent the inner end thereof and extends at a substantially acute angle to the rod, the free end thereof being rigidly connected to the slide adjacent the outer or curved edge thereof by means of a suitable fastening device 23. The slide normally rests upon the curved vertex 12 of the spring 9 and is normally supported thereon. WVhen in this lower position the loop 21 is preferably engageable with the upper surface of a collar 24: formed integral with the upper surface of the roof 5 about the opening. From this arrangement it can 7 be readily understood that when a newspaper or other package is inserted in the recep-' tacle and forced upwardly therein, the upper edge of the paper or like which is shown in dotted lines in the drawings will engage the under surface of the slide 17 causing the loop 21 to engage the under surface of the flag 13, which by the way is normally sup ported by the roof 5, and cause the flag to be raised into a substantially upright position so as to enable one to perceive the same from a distance and readily recognize that the receptacle is filled. It is also thought to be understood that when the newspaper or other mailing package is removed from the receptacle, the slide, will, due to the force of gravity, slide downwardly until it is again 1.10 supported by the spring, during which movement the flag which is slightly inclined toward the roof will fall and engage the root. In Fig. 6 of the accompanying drawings 1 have shown a slightly modified form of in- 11.5 dicating means which is substantially similar to the form heretofore described with the exception that the pivot pin 15 is extended laterally from the flag 13 and has rigidly associated therewith another flag 25, of a size similar to the size of the flag 13. By this arrangement it is obvious that the flag 13 will be practically indistinguishable when the box is attached to a telephone post, not shown; however, it will be readily appreciated that the laterally extending flag 25 will form a suitable means for communicating the fact to a person standing at a distance therefrom.

In Figs. 7 to 10 inclusive of the accompanying drawings, I have shown another modified form of flag which is particularly adapted for use when the receptacle is attached to a telegraph pole so that the indicating means will be positioned laterally of the pole or post, thus placing the same in a position where it can be readily seen from a distance. In this instance a portion of one of the flanges 4: is slit at uniformly spaced intervals adjacent the section 3 to provide spaced ears 26 in which is pivotally mounted a pivoting pin 27. Rigidly connected to the pin 27 and positioned between the ears 26 are ears 28, formed integral with the flag 29 by slitting said inner edge and rolling the portions between the slots upon themselves. The upper edge of the flag 29 is curved inwardly as at 30. Extending laterally from the inner edge of the flag 29 and preferably formed integral therewith is an extension 31,

the outer edge of which is curved outwardly therefrom as at 32, which curvature 32 blends with the curve 30 of the fiag so as to provide an uninterrupted engaging surface for the loop 21. In order to yieldingly hold the flag 29 in abutting relation with the portion of the curved surface of the section 3, I have disposed about the pin 27 a coil spring 35, the respective ends of which bear against the adjacent flange 4 and the outer surface of the flag 29. In actuating the flag 29, it is necessary that the guiding collar 36 be positioned adjacent the curved edge against which the flag 29 is arranged, the loop 21 and rod 18 being accordingly associated with the slide so that when a newspaper or the like is placed within the receptacle, the slide when actuated, simultaneous with the placing of the newspaper, will cause the loop 21 to engage the inner curved surface 30 of the flag 29, and, due to the inclination of this curved surface, the said flag will be swung laterally about its pivot and from the receptacle, during which movement the loop at the upper end of the rod will finally engage the curved end 32 and remain in removable engagement therewith, thus removably holding the flag 29 in a laterally extended position so that it can be readily perceived from a distance when the receptacle is attached to a telegraph pole. By the arrangement of the spring the flag 29 will be automatically returned to its normal position when the receptacle is emptied.

It is thought from the above description that the operation of the device is obvious, however, although I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, I desire it to be understood that I am not to be limited to the exact details shown, great stress being laid upon the novel and peculiar cooperation of the retaining, actuating and indicating means for providing an efficient device of the character described. Attention is also directed to the fact that the Weight of the slide 17 on the spring 9 when the receptacle is emptied will have a tendency to at all times hold the spring in abutting relation with the plate 2, thus providing an efficient means for increasing the durability of the spring which is naturally weakened by continual use.

From the above description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it can easily be seen that I have provided a device that is simple in construction, containing but a few simple parts that can be cheaply manufactured and assembled and when assembled can be placed upon the market and sold at a minmum cost.

It will be understood that the above description and accompanying drawings comprehend the general embodiment of my invention and that various minor changes in detail of construction, proportion and arrangement of the parts may be made within the scope of the appended claims and without sacrificing any of the advantages of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. A mailing receptacle having a closed upper end and an open lower end, retaining means mounted in the lower end for removably holding packages insertible in the receptacle, an indicator pivotally mounted on the upper edge of the receptacle and normally arranged over the closed end, and actuating means slidably mounted in the receptacle and positioned between the retaining means and the indicator for raising the indicator simultaneously with the insertion of a package in the retaining means.

2. A mailing receptacle having a closed upper end and an open lower end, resilient retaining means mounted with the receptacle, an indicator pivotally mounted on the upper edge of the receptacle and normally resting on the closed upper end thereof, actuating means slidably mounted in the upper end and normally supported on the retaining means for raising the indicator simultaneously with the insertion of a package within the receptacle and for holding the indicating means in an operative position while a package remains in the retaining means, and

the actuating means owing to its weight being adapted to return to its normal position upon the removal of a package to consequently permit of the indicator returning to its normal position.

3. A mailing receptacle having a closed upper end and an open lower end, a spring mounted within the receptacle adjacent the lower end, an indicating flag pivotally mounted on the receptacle and normally arranged over the closed upper end thereof, a slide mounted in the receptacle and normally resting on the spring, a rod mounted on the slide and slidably' mounted in the closed upper end of the receptacle so as to raise the flag simultaneously with the insertion of a package and maintain the flag in a raised position and the slide being maintained in position by a package insertible beneath the spring and adapted to return to its lowermost position owing to the Weight thereof and consequently permit of the return of the flag to its lowermost position.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HAROLD F. WADE.

Vitnesses H. N. GARDINER, S. J. OSTROSKI.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

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