US1380164A - Automatic mail-box signal - Google Patents

Description

s. E flsmmsn" AUTOMATIGMAIL BOX SIGNAL;

APPLICAHON FiLED OCT. 8,1920? 1,380, 164, Patented May 31, 1921.

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ATTORNEY.

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AUTOIVIA'I'IC MAIL-BOX SIGNAL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 31, 1921.,

Application filed October 8, 1920. Serial No. 415,467.

T0 allwliomz't may concern:

Be it known that'I, SIDNEY E. STAFFORD, citizen of the United States, residing at Ashdown, in the county of Little Rlver and State of Arkansas, have invented certa n new and useful Improvements in Automatic Mail-Box Signals, of which the following is a specification. I a

The present invention relates to improve ments in mailboxes and more particularly to an antomatic signal means therefor openable upon the opening of the mailbox.-

The. main object of my invention is to provide a mailbox signal which is automatic in operation; that is wherein the flag or other signaling device is raised simultaneously with the opening of the lid of the mailbox and remains in such position after the lid has been closed in order to indicate that there is mail within the box.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the above character which is simple in construction, strong and durable, not likely to get out of order and which it is believed may be manufactured and placed upon the market at a reasonably low cost.

Various other objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent during the continuance of the following description. I

p In the drawings The figure is a view in side elevation showing my invention in its preferred embodiment, the flag being shown in a lowered or inoperative position in full line, and a raised or operative position in dotted line.

In the drawings 10 designates the body of the mailbox which is of substantially conventional form and which is provided at one end with the hinged lid or door 11 as at 12. At its upper end the lid or door 11 is provided with a catch 13 designed to engage with the catch 14 of the body 10 when the door is in a closed position so as to retain the same in such closed position. The

lid or door 11 is further provided on one side with an outwardly projecting lug 15 for the purpose that will presently appear.

A lever 16 is pivoted at its lower end as at 17 to one side of the mailbox 10 at a point toward the bottom of the latter and at its upper end carries a flag or other signal do vice 18. The lever 16 is in turn provided with a pivoted arm 19 as at 20 the free end of which is enlarged as at 21 .to form a shoulder 22. The lower edge ofthe arm 19 between the shoulder 22 and the pivot point 20 thereof normally rests on the lug 15 of the lid or door 11 as is clearly shown in the drawing. Normally the lever 16 assumes the position shown in full line in the drawing, the arm 19 resting on the lug 15 as clearly shown. However, when the lid or. door 11 is moved to an open position the lug 15 engages the shoulder 22 of the arm 19 thus moving the arm with the lid or door into the position as shown in dotted line in the drawing and at the same time raises the lever 16 into the position also shown in dotted line." When'the lid or door 11 is returned to a closed "condition the lug 15 slides freely on the lower edge of the arm l9 and the arm 19 is simply moved on its pivot 20 without returning the lever 16 to its original position. 7

In order to insure the eficient operation of the device and at the same time to provide for the limiting of the movement of the lever 16 at certain times and the proper guiding of the arm 19 during its movement by the lug 15, I further provide the side of the body 10 of the mailbox with a guide-rod 23 the ends of which are secured to the mailbox as at 24 while its intermediate portion is offset with respect to the mailbox and between this and the side of the mailbox operates the lever 16. Another guide-rod 25 is provided to guide the arm 19 the same having its ends secured to the mailbox as at 26. The intermediate portion of this guide-rod is also offset with respect to the side of the mailbox so that the arm 19 will be free to operate in a vertical plane. However it will prevent lateral movement of the arm 19 as is obvious.

Upon reference to the drawing it will be observed that the upper end of the guiderod 23 is fastened to the mailbox 10 at a point slightly in advance of the pivot point of the lever 16 so that when the lever is moved to its raised position, it will lie beyond its vertical center and assume a slightly forward tilted poition. Conse quently it will not be likely to fall back into its original position without being moved by the operator.

While I do not wish to limit myself to any particular material used in the construction of my device it is pointed out that the Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1s 1. The combination with a mall box in cluding a movable door, of a lug carried by said door and projecting beyond the edge thereof, a lever pivotally mounted on the side of said mail box, an arm pivotally connected at one end to said lever, said arm provided with a notch adjacent its other end adapted to receive a portion of said lug whereby when said door is opened said arm and said lever will be moved from their normal position, and means to limit the forward and rearward movement of said lever substantially as described,

2. The combination with a mail box including a movable door and means to normally retain said door in a closed position, of av lug carried by said door and projecting from one side of said mail box, a lever pivotally mounted at its lower end on said mail box, a guide rod for said lever arranged in spaced relation to the side of said mail box to form a guide way, means securing the ends of said guide rod to said mail box tolimit the forward and backward movement of said lever, said last named means being sufficiently spaced to permit said lever to be moved beyond a dead center, an arm pivotally connected at one end to said lever at a point intermediate the ends of the latter, a shoulder formed at the other end of said arm to be engaged by said lug whereby said lever will be operated when said door is moved to an open position, said shoulder being so positioned whereby it will be disengaged from said lugwhen said door moves toward its closed position, and said guide rod being arranged in spaced relation to the side of said mailbox thereby forming a guide way for said arm, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my slgnature 1n presence of two witnesses.

SIDNEY E. STAFFORD. WVitnesses: i i

K. DRAPER, i J. R. WOOD.

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