US1307242A

US1307242A - Mail-box

Info

Publication number: US1307242A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1919-06-17
Anticipated expiration: 1936-06-17

Description

M. 0. COURTNEY.

MAIL Box.

AFFUCATION FILED DEC. l2. I9l6.

1,307,242, Patented June 17, l9l9.

I: :3f/7 Y l Y y /7 -f /5 r' Specication of Letters Patent.

MAIL-BOX.

Patented June 1'7, 1919.

Application led December 12, 1916. Serial No. 136,578.

T 0 all whom it may] concern.'

Be it known that I, MnRroN O. COURTNEY, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Walter, in the county of Cotton and State of Oklahoma, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to mail boxes, and more particularly to new and useful improvements in mail boxes of the rural delivery type.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a mail box of the class described wherein upon the insertion of the mail in the box the signal will automatically raise.

A further object of my invention is to provide a mail box of the class described having a tray pivotally connected to the side walls of the box and having means associated with one end thereof to limit the movement of the tray.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a mail box of the rural delivery type which is simple in construction, that may be manufactured at a small cost and means associated with one end thereof to provide quick and easy access to the interior of the box.

Other objects and advantages to be derived from the use of my improved mail box will appear from the following detail description and the claim, taken with an inspection of the accompanying drawings, in which;-

Figure 1 is a front plan view of one end of my invention,

Fig. 2 is a side view of the same,

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the tray used 'in connection with my invention, and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the fender used in my invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, wherein similar characters of reference designate like and corresponding parts throughout the various views, the box desi gnated B in its entirety is provided with sides 1 and 2 and end sections 3 and 4. A portion of the end 4 is removed to provide means of access to the box and a closure means is rovided therefor comprising a door 5 havlng the lower edge thereof incised for a purpose which will hereinafter appear, the door being hingedly connected to the end section 7 which is provided with a plurality of incisions at its upper edge. The tongues thus formed by the last mentioned incisions are alternatively bent in opposite directions. The tongues bent outwardly are bent to engage a pintle 6. The tongues formed by the incisions on the lower edge of the door are alternatively cut away and the remaining tongues are bent into engagement with the pintle 6 on the spaced portions thereon, to form the hingedly connecting means 6 in conjunction with the tongues on the section 7, the other tongues on said section being cut away.

A tray T is pivotally mounted in the sides 2 and 3, in the bearings 9 by means of a shaft 10 mounted transversely of the tray, forming a long and

short arm

8 and 8 respectively. The shaft is retained on the tray by means of a fastening means 11 or some similar connecting staple.

A fender designated F in its entirety comprises a bearing bar 13 pivotally connected to the end 3 by means of fastening loops 14. A plurality of parallel fingers extending laterally of the bearing arm are adapted to engage the tray. The said fingers serving to prevent mail or other small packages from wedging in the end 3 and also to prevent any weight being placed on the short arm 8.

My signaling device comprises a metallic Staif 15 having one end thereof provided with a transverse strip 17 to provide a signal means and also to limit the downward movement of the short arm 8 upon the removal of the mail. The free end of the staff extends through an opening in the short arm and has a right angular portion 16 formed on the said end and extended through the tray and bent into engagement with the upper surface thereof to retain the staff in rigid position.

The tray is normally held in a slanting position with the arm 8 raised. Upon the insertion of a letter 18 or other package on the long arm, the weight thereof causes the tray to assume the slanting position as shown in Fig. 3.

It is to be noted that when an article is deposited on the tray the slanting position assumed causes the article inserted to slide to the front of the same thus facilitating the removal of the said articles and the accurate operation of my signal.

From the above description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it is thought that a clear and comprehensive understanding of the construction, operation and advantages of my invention may be had, and while I have shown and described my invention embodying a specic structure, I desire that it be understood that I maymake such changes on said structure as do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as described.

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

A mail box comprising a housing, a tray pivotally mounted off-center in the housing to provide relatively long and short end portions for the tray, a signal extending from the shorter end portion of the tray through the housing and serving to yieldably hold the tray in a normal position, and a guard pivoted at one end to one wall of the housing above the shorter end portion of the tray and extending downwardly at an incline and having its free end loosely engaged with said tray at a point adjacent the pivotal mounting thereof.

In testimony whereof,I aiiix my signature hereto.

MER-ION O. COURTNEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, 2D. G.