US1456543A - Automatic signal-operating device for mail boxes - Google Patents

Description

IAlSlS 'May 29, H923.

H. C. FEIST AUTOMA'IIG'SIGNAL OPERATING DEVICE FOR MAIL BOXES Filed Feb. 2l 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 :J1/werde@ May 29, H923.

H. C. FEIST AUTOMATIC SIGNAL OPERATING DEVICE FOR MAIL BOXES Filed Feb. 2l, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 where Patented May 29, 1923.

stata HER-MAN C. FEIST, OF ROWENA, TEXAS.

AUTOMATIC SIGNAL-OPERATING DEVICE-LE`OR lAIL BXS.

Application filed February 21, 1922. Serial No. 538,295.

To all who/m it 'may concern.'

Be it-known that T, HERMAN C. Fnis'r, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rowena, in the county of Runnels and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Signal-0perating Devices for Mail Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to rural delivery mail boxes and has for its main object to provide automatic means for raising' a flag directly mail has been deposited in the box, thereby signaling to the owner that mail is awaiting him, or to the mail carrier that he should empty the box.

The device is a time saver in that the person emptying the box has no additional operation to perform for giving the signal beyond that of opening and closing the door on the mail box. This has also the advantage that the setting of the signaldoes not directly depend on his actions,` butis performed by him unconsciously in opening and closing the box and cannot for that reason be forgotten.

Another advantage' of the invention is that it constitutes an accessory to a mail box so that it may be as easily inserted in an old box as in a new one.

The device is, moreover, so simple and consists of so few and substantial parts that it cannot get outof order from daily use.

One embodiment of the invention is illustrated4 in the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 represents a rural delivery mail box of the usual design and with my improvement attached as shown in perspective view;

Figure 2 is a transverse section of the mail box on a larger scale; y

Figure 3 is a perspective view of an insert containing the details constituting the invention;

-Figure 1 is another the details separated.

In the drawings, the reference numeral 10 represents a rural delivery mail box provided with a door 11 hinged to the fixed bottom 12 of the same. Upon this door is secured an inwardly projecting` finger 13, preferably constructed of a thin metal plate with the high dimension in the vertical direction and terminating with a dovetail portion 14. This projecting finger 13 is so posiperspective view of tioned that it extends inwardly a short distance in the box 10 when thev door 11 is closed. Y

The device constituting the invention -is constructed as an insert with a long narrow base 15 approximately of the same dimensions as the fixed bottom 12 of the box so that the base 15 may be positioned upon the bottom of the box and no part thereof extending outside of the latter. rlhis base 15 has preferably a flanged bar 16 riveted along one -Y side thereof with an upright bearing piece 17 nearer the inner'than the outer end of the base. Tn this bearing piece 17, a spindle 18 is mounted to rotate and on the spindle is rigidly secured an arm 19 adapted to Y This upright wall also forms a terminates with a la-t'dovetailed portion 27. f

This tail portion 27 is placed with its wider dimension in an approximately horizontal lane.

Slightly raised' above the base 15 is shown a false bottom 28, which is secured on va transverse shaft 29 pivoted at` 30 in thebase 15 and provided with washers 39 to prevent rubbing of the bottom 28 against the sides. This arrangement will permit of a slight oscillation of the false bottom with the shaft f 29 with regard to the base. The position of the shaft 29 beneath the false bottom 28 has been selected so that the outer portion of the false bottom, near the door of the box, is approximately twice or three times the length of the inner portion of the false bottom. At the inner edge of the false bottom 28 is secured a weight 31 which is intended to give a siight preponderance at the inner end of the .false bottom so that, when free, the

inner end of the bottom 28 will rest upon the base 15 and as a consequence the outer end 32 of the false bottom 28 will be raised above the base 15, as best seen .at 33 in Figure 1. The preponderance caused bythe weight 31 is not greater than will "be"overcome by theplacing of a very lighthobject at the outer end 32 of the false bottom's'o that, for instance, if a postal card were deposited on this end, the false bottom would be ftilted andthe outer `fend 32v would strike and rest upon the base 15 and remain in this position as long as this object stayed on the false bottom.

Rigidly secured lon the shaft 29 or formuing "an integralvpart thereotis a lever 34, which extends in the idirection toward the door of the box and is bent upwardly so that itsv forked `end 3.5 is able to embrace the rod 21.6, and ,a pin 36 or .other suitable means is provided to close the opening in the tonk to prevent the rod from jumping out during the operation. 'h I `The :function of this lever 341 is now to positionthetail 27 ot' y.the'rod 26 s0 that 1the tail 4will =be in the .path'lof the dovetailed vportion ll of A,the finger 13, when the door 11 is "being closed and when they yfalse bottom 2,8 is tilted, with its outer end 32 resting upon the base l5. In other words, as lsoon as a piece iof mail is dropped in the ybox 4and ithedoor is closed, .the finger 13 will engage .with the tail v,27 on the 'trod 26,which has Such length that the tail will stand about even with the perpendicular` outerend of i :the side 'wall'of the mail boxf Illhen the Idoor ,is completely'closed, thev finger 13 will ,push upon the ,tail 27 and drive the rod 26 inward, whereupon the latter will swing the leverv23 as well asithe spindle `1 8 'and the arm 19 carrying the flag 37 `secured on the outer LendftheIQQ- lIn this manner, the `flag 37 will ibe raised and the aotionofthe `rod 26 limited iby the striking of ,the .arm 19 .against the $03920. M

' :svubsequelntlythe door 11 isopened for the purposevof emptying the mail box, Ethe fla .willimmediately tall when the pres- `sure o ,the finger y13 against "the tail 27 is released upon the swinging`- ofthe door.v Directly the mail has vbeen removedl from the u falsebottom 28the' outery end 32 will be lifted gbythe ,weight 3l, .which hasl as' aconsequ'ence the Elifting ofthe vlever 34 andfthe'rod 26.

Should no `inail be deposited `in the y'box at thistime the outer lend 32 of the false bot,- :tom ,28 will I,remain 'in its .upper position and consequently .the .tail 27 willstand abovelthe ldinger 13 when the door isilbeingclosed. As

no engagem.enttbetween,tlielingerl 13 and tail 2:27 .can "now takepll-Ce, the'arni 19 and the spindle-18 will remain inactive and the flag '-,in` Figure -1.

3T .will stayin its lowered "position, as seen vIt will be evident that 1.this-device may `very easily beapplied to existing mail boxes `andthat allithat will be requiredis to secure ,the `finger 13 on .thedoorandthe lstops 20, 21 o,nthe box and attach rthe flag 37 upon the /outerendof thespindle 18, andthat forthis ,purpose asmall holeis to bey drillediin the side of the mailbox.

' lnnew v mail boxes, ointhe other ,hanththe .whereby said alsebo'ttoin in 'cooperation ture.

base 15 may be Vdispensed with 'altogether and the moving parts attached directly in the box itself.

I reserve the right of making minor l changes in the construction within the scope ot' this specification and claims, as for instance leaving out lever `34l yand securing the fork 35 directly on the fase bottom 28 by means of any upwardly directed arm. In such acase it is evident that ay slot will have to be provided in theupright wall 22 for the arm to work up' l .nd down in, whenthe 'false bottom 28 oscillates.

a ,projection on said dooradapt'ed to engage with 'said Arod when lthe door is' closed, a false vbottom injsaid box, ashatt upon'which ,the false bottom isfsecur'ed, a lever yrigidly connected withisaid shaft, said lever having sliding engagement with said rod, said false bottom ,having a slight preponderance at the end `,a\vay' from said door, whereby said false" bottom yin co-operation 'with said lever is adapted to lposition said rod inthe path ot' said projection upon the swinging of-said door, when saidbottoinis being'aotuated by lthe ydepositing loty a 'light' ,obj ect A there'i'ipon adjacent to the door.

The combination with a lmailbox yhaving swinging door; of a signal member, a

spindlefvfor said signal member pivoted in the box and keyed to the signal member, an arm rigidly attached to said spindle, and means linserted between said'door and said aLIn for 4operating the signal member through the swinging "of said door, said means includinga rod pivotedon' said arm,

a projection on said door adapted't'o engage with said rod Vwhennthe door 1s Close`d, a-

Vfalse bottom in saidbox, al shaftv upon vwhich the y false bottom (secured, *an* element rigidly Aconnected `with said'bottom, 'I'said element having sliding engagement with said rod,sa1d false bottom havlnga slight preponderance at the end yawa'yf:from A,saidrol'oor5 v with sa'id element isada-ptedto 'position said frod in the path 'ot .saidv 1` r `ijectionfupon -'the swinging` of saiddoor, when saidbott'omvis being actuated bythe de'pos'itin'gof a light f i i HERMAN 1 FE1/,Se als@

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