US1474424A - Mail box - Google Patents

Description

' Nov.v 20, 1923.

A. G. MAXEY MAIL BOX 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. '7, 1.922

llllallnlliillalrlllll1| In!!! I: III k A. G. MAXEY MAIL BOX Nov. 20 1923 Filed Oct. '7. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 V A (1. M01156] 7 aktozmgl Patented Nov. 20, 1923.

stars AUGUSTUS G. MAXEY, OF OWENSBORO, KENTUCKY.

MAIL BOX.

Application filed October 7, 1922.

T 0 aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AUoUsrUs G. MAxnY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Owensboro, in the county of Daviess and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to mail boxes intended more particularly for use upon rural delivery routes and has for its object the provision of an inexpensive construction whereby a strong and durable box will be provided which box will prevent the access of rain to its interior. Another object of the invention is to provide a box including means for displaying advertisements or other announcements. The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings and will be hereinafter fully set forth.

In the drawings Figure l is a perspective view of my improved mail box showing the same as it appears when set up for use; 7

Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the same;

Fig. 3 is a plan View of the box with the lid or cover in open position, and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective View showing the interior of the box.

The box is constructed of sheet metal and its front wall 1, bottom 2 and back wall 3 are formed of one integral plate folded to define the said elements. The front wall 1 is provided at about its center with a slot or opening 4, the purpose of which will presently appear and the back wall is carried to a greater height than the front wall in order that the lid maybe disposed in an in clined position and thereby caused to offectually shed rain or snow. The upper edges of the front and back walls are doubled on themselves to provide the beads or reentrant flanges 5, whereby to reinforce the structure and counteract any tendency to buckle, and the lower edges of these doubled portions are bent inwardly at a right angle, as shown at 6, a very rigid structure being thus attained. The end walls 7 have their lower ends and their side edges bent inwardly at right angles to provide the flanges 8 which fit within the open ends of the body defined by the front, bottom and back walls and are soldered or otherwise intimately united with the ends of the said front, bottom and back walls. The upper edges of Serial No. 593,003.

over the upper edges of the back, front and and is constructed of a sheet metal end Walls plate having its edges turned downwardly to provide flanges l2 overhanging the several walls of the body of the box and thereby preventing the access of water or other elements to the interior of the box. The flange 12 at the rear edge of the cover is cutaway or notched at intervals and portions between the incisions are rolled upon themselves to form a hollow head or tube 13 adapted to align axially with similar members 14 soldered or otherwise secured upon the back wall 3 of the body of the box, and a hinge pin or rod 15 is inserted through the alined tubular members or sleeves so that the cover will be hingedly connected to the box body. The free or front edge of the cover carries a hasp 16 which is adapted to engage over a staple 17 secured in and projeotingfrom the front wall of the box and adapted to receive a lock 18 whereby the cover will be held normally in closed position.

Upon the inner surface of the front wall 1, I secure by soldering or any other preferred means, a card holder 19 which is preferably constructed of sheet metal having flanges 20 formed along its bottom edge and its end edges to be secured to the front wall 1 below and at the ends of the slot 4 in said walls. The top of the card holder is open, as shown at 21, and its lower side or bottom is so formed as to present the horizontal shoulder 22 and a second horizontal shoulder 23 which is somewhat higher than the first-mentioned shoulder. A piece of glass or other transparent material 24 is supported by the shoulder 22, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, and this plate or piece of material is of proper dimensions to entirely cover the slot 4, while a packing 25 of rubber or other elastic material may be inserted between the said transparent member and the front wall 1 of the box so as to prevent rattling of the transparency and also form a weather-proof joint. Upon the shoulder 23 of the card holder is supported a plurality of cards, indicated at 26, which may have any desired announcements upon their faces and each card may have inscriptions upon both faces. Either face of any one of the cards may be placed against the glass or other transparent material and may be easily read therethrough so that the owner of the box may in this manner make any desired announcements to passers-by. The top of the box will preferably have the legend U. S. Mail displayed thereon and the front of the box presents an ample surface for the display of the name and other matter identifying the owner of the box. Any other desired announcements of apermanent character may also be placed upon the front of the box.

In one end wall 7 is formed a slot 27 and the upper edge of this slot is rolled upon itself to provide a tubular bead or sleeve 28. A flap 29 is provided to cover this slot and the lower edge of thesaid flap is turned slightly outward, as shown at 80, whereby it may be easily raised when the carrier desires to insert mail into the box through the slot 27. The upper edge of this flap is provided at its ends with tubular beads or sleeves 81 adapted to align axially with the sleeve or tubular bead 2S, and a hinge pin 32 is inserted through the alined beads or sleeves so as to pivotally connect the flap with the box.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that I have provided a very simple and durable box in which the mail may be easily inserted and by which it will be protected from the action of the weather. Simple and efiicient means are provided for displaying desired announcements and the mail will be protected until such time as the owner sees lit to remove it so that the owner may be assured of receiving his mail even after a considerable absence.

While the box may be secured upon any permanent support and the particular form of the support is of minor importance, I have illustrated the box as resting directly upon the flat upper end of a post 33 and Secured to said post by screws 3 f inserted through the bottom of the box into the post. The back of the box is illustrated as hearing against a board or bar 35 secured to and rising from the back of the post 33, and a fastening screw 36 may be inserted through the back wall of the box into the said board or bar, as will be readily understood. This manner of mounting the box is simple and inexpensive while at the same time it is'secure and will resist ordinary efforts to remove the box.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is: A box. having its with a slot, a card holder consisting metal plate provided at its lower edge and at its end edges with angularly disposed webs having marginal flanges secured to the inner face of said front wall below and at the ends of said slot, the body portion of the plate being spaced from the wall of the box by the webs and the bottom web being constructed with stepped shoulders, a transparent plate resting upon the lower of the stepped shoulders and covering the slot in the front wall of the box and held against the inner surface of the box at the top, bottom and ends of the slot by the vertical portion of the plate between the stepped shoulders, and a card resting upon the upper stepped shoulder and bearing against said transparent plate, the space between the upper edge of the plate and the front wall of the front wall provided box being entirely free and unobstructed.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

AUGUSTUS G. MAXEY. [n s] of a.

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