US1632733A - Metal receptacle - Google Patents

Description

1,632,733 s. HAMMER METAL RECEPTACLE Filed Feb;15 ,v 192s 2 sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR fizzle! Kam/7361 A ATTORNEY N n "BY June 14 1927.

June 14; 1927.

S. HAMMER METAL RECEPTACLE Filed Feb.l5, 1926 V 2 sheets-Sheet 2 lNVEN-TOR w( M ATTORNEY Jamzze! Patented June 14, 11927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL HAMMER, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED METAL 180x160. INC., OF LONG ISLAND CITY, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

METAL nncnrracnn.

Application ined February 1s, 1926. serial No. 88,294.

This invention relates to metal receptacles, and more particularly to boxes or receptacles such as are usually provided in a artment houses, hotels and other large buil ings for receiving Inail-of the tenants residing therein. However, it will be apparent as this description proceeds that certain features of myA present improvements are susceptible of application to various other analogous structures designed for other uses, such for instance as electrical panel yboards or switch boxes.

It is the primary object and purpose of this invention to provide an improved means for hingedly mounting the door for closing the mail receiving compartment, upon the body of the receptacle whereby the assemblage of the parts will be greatly expedited. p

It is a more particular object of my invention to provide a box or receptacle structure having al front plate provided with upper and lower door opemngsl separated b a relatively narrow panel to ether with hinge rods horizontally mounted 1n the walls of the box structure and positioned above and below said separating panel and a door provided with a part at one `end insertable between the hinge rod and the panel and adapted to be thereafter hingedly locked in connection with said rod for swinging movement.

It is also another object of my invention, to provide the recept-acle door of a relatively thin sheet df brass with a steel reinforcing plate onits inner surface having means.

formed on one of its ends for cooperative engagement with the hinge rod and: a simple and efective means for ixedly attaching said.

reinforcing plate whereby manufacturing costs in the production of the receptacle may be reatl reduced.

lith t e above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the improved metal f receptacle and in the form, construction and relative arrangement of itsv several parts as will be hereinafter more fully' described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and subsequently incorporated 1n the su joined claims.

In the drawings, wherein I have shown one simple and practical embodiment ofmy present improvements, and jin which similar shown in its open position-.a

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 2; y Fig. 5 is a detail vertical section taken onthe line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail sectiontaken on theline 6-6 of Fig. l, and

Fig. 7 is a similar section taken on1 the line 7-7 of Fig. 1.'

Referring in detail to the drawings, wherein I have disclosed a mail box or receptacle corresponding in external form or appearance to the mail box shown in my prior application for Patent Serial No. 712,945, filed May 13, 1924, the body structure 5 of the box which may be of any required dimensions is fabricated from sheet metal and may be of any approved construction. This box structure is adapted to be suitably mounted and secured in the usual way within a cavity or recess formed in the face of the building wall and to suitable outwardly extending flanges 6 on the top, bottom and side walls of said box structure at its open side the front frame late 7 'is secured. This frame plate is o brass having a highly finished surface and may be welded or otherwise Secured to the flanges 6, said plate including a relatively narrow horizontally extending anel 8 connecting theppposite vertical si e portions thereof and located approximately midway between the top and bottom portions of said frame and vertical spaced parts 8' connectin said anel with 4.the bottom portion. It wil thus e understood that the top, bottom and side portionsof said frame in conjunction with the horizontal 'panel 8 and parts 8 rovide upper` and lower openings in the rame 7 through which access may be had to the interior of the box. In the illustrated condista-ntly spaced vertical` partitions 9 ex-v tending from the top to thel bottom of the box and thus dividing the same into a series of vertical compartments. Of course, it will be apparent that the box may be .constructed of any desired width and provided with a greater or less number of the partitions 9 than herein shown so as to provide theirequired number of the individual mail receiving compartments. In a receptacle structure designed for the purpose of receiving mail, the vertical height of the compartments is such as to enable magazines and periodicals of the maximum length now published to be contained within said compartments. Any preferred method maybe employed for rigidly attaching or securing the partitions 9 to the walls of the body structure 5. The upper portions of the individual mail compartments formed by the partitions 9 are closed by means of acommon door 10 which closes the upper opening in the front frame 7 of the box above the horizontal panel 8 and in its closed position is disposed in the same plane therewith-as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The lower openings of the frame 7 and the lower portions of the several mail receiving compartments of the box are closed by the .separate or individuall doors 11 corresponding in number to the number of compartments. The upper door 10 is provided upon the inner side thereof with a Suitable lock indicated at 12 of which only the postman possesses the proper key. Each of the individual lower doors is provided on its inner side with a lock 12 of which the respective tenants possess the proper keys. The lower doors 11 in their upper portions are provided with suitable ornamental sight open ings 13.

The upper and lower doors are assembled and hingedly mounted upon the box struc-- lower door plates 11. While various means might be employed for rigidly securing the plates 15 and 16 to the respective door plates, for the (purpose of expediting such attachment an reducin manufacturing costs, I preferably provi e slots 17 in the upper plate 10 coinciding with similar slots 18 1n the reinforcing plates 15, and the metal punched from the plate 10 to form the slots 17 provides a flange 19 extending from one edge of each slot which is turned over and securely clinched upon the inner face of the plate 15 as shown in Figs. 2 and B of the drawings. rLhe reinforcing plates 16 on the lower doors 11 are attached in a similar manner by turning over flanges produced in forming the openings which receive the locks 12 upon the inner face of the rein forcing plate. Also, at the other end of each door 11, the. metal thereof surrounding the central one of the series of openings 13 is similarly engaged through an opening in the plate 16 and flanged on the inner face of the plate as shown at 20 in Fig. 6 of t-he drawings. In this manner, I avoid the comparatively expensive and tedious operation of welding the two plates` together.

The plates 15 and 16 are identical in their several structural parts and are stamped out by means of the Same die. Each of these plates is provided at its opposite side edges with a longitudinally extendin flange 2l. These flanges at one of their en s terminate in spaced relation to the end edge of the plate 15 which is formed with an angularly extending flange 22 extending substantially at right angles to the plane of the door. The reinforcing plate at the opposite ends of this flange and between said flange and the ends of the side flanges 21 is recessed as at 23 so that the ends of the flange 22 are separated from the body of the plate. The purpose of this construction will hereinafter appear.

Each of the flanges 21 is provided in its end which is adjacent the flange 22 with. a notch or recess 24, and said notches or recesses are adapted to receive the hinge rod 14. One of the side flanges on each reinforcing plate is formed with a iesiliently yieldable arm or extension 25 having an end portion extending longitudinally of the plate and terminating in a latch finger indicated at 26 which is positioned at an angle of slightly less than 90 with respect to the plane of the arm 25. Each of the partition walls 9 and one of the side walls of the box structure has a tongue 27 struck therefrom and extending at an oblique angle with respect to the Dlane of the partition or box wall.

Each of the partition walls 9 is further provided at its front edge and at the upper ledge of the horizontal panel 8 with a notch or recess 28, the upper edge 29 of which constitutes a stop-#shoulder against which the end edge of the door 10 between the reinforcing plates is adapted to contact. Preferably though not necessarily, I also provide the vpartition walls and the side wall of the box having the tongues 27 thereon with protuberances indicated at 30 formed by indenting the wall and properly spaced from the tongues 27 for coaction of the latch fingers 26 therewith as will be later described.

The latch fingers 26 on the reinforcing plates 16 of the lower doors are also adapt' ed to ride over the protuberances 3l formed on the partition walls 9 and one side wall y as of the box when the respective doors are moved to open position, said finger en aging 1n a slot 32 in said protuberances W iereby the door will be latched in its open position.

In assembling the doors upon the box structure, after the hin e rods 14 have been arranged in position, t e end edge of the door havin .the flange 22 is inserted' between one edge o 4 the horizontalpanel 8 and the hinge rod until the hinge rod is received in the notches24." By means of a suitable tool the free end portions of the flange 22 are then angularly bent to form locking lugs 33, the ends of which are preferably provided with .concave seats 34 to receive the hinge rod 14. When thus disposed in locking position it will be noted that these lugs extend substantially at right angles to the plane of the flange 22 an'd cooperatin with the notches or recesses 24'efectively old or lock the door against bodily shifting movement in an angular direction relative to the axis of the hinge rod. At the same time. however, thedoor may be freely swung or hingedly moved upon the rod 14.

' The one-piece upper door or the individual lower doors for the several compartments are assembled upon the box structure in the manner above described. The resilient arms 25 carryin the latch yfingers 26- bearing on t-he box wa ls or the partitions 9 operate in the nature of friction brakes and check or retard the downward o ening movement of the upper door 10 or t e downward closing movement of the individual lower doors -11. W'hen the upper door is moved to its fully open position, the latch fingers. 26 move upon the inclined tongues 27 so that in the open position of the door,- the resilient pressure of door 10 which is accurately balanced on thel swing the the arms 25 on said Walls of the box structure -is practically released. In the initial closing movement of the upper door, the latch fingers 26 in riding over the tongues 27 establish the frictional braking action of the arms 25above referred to.

p When the door is moved to its closed position, the latch "lingers 26 ride' over the protuberances 30 and engage against the forward sides thereof.l The fingers 26 cooperating with these protuberances thus oder suflicient resistance to the outward swinging movement of the hinge r0d'14to prevent said door from falling'to its open position. In other words, it is necessa oor outwardly and downwardly until the fingers 26 move above and out of l contact with the protuberances 30.

This downward opening movement of the upper door is limitedto a substantially horizontal position by reason of the 'contact of the hinged edge of the door with the stop shoulders 29 formed in the partition wallsf9.

The upward opening .movement of the lower doors 11 is also hmited to a substanto apply a manual force totially horizontal position by reason of the engagement of the angular latch fingers 26 on the arms 25 in the slots 32. Thus, the doors will be securely supported in this position against a return movement by gravity to their closed positions and in order to move the doors to the latter positions it is necessary to exert a positive downward pressure upon the free end of the door in order to disengage the spring latch finger 26 from the 0 ening 32. The resilient arm 25 pressing t is latch finger against the wall of the box structure, applies a braking action to the closing movement of the door as above explained so that even though the door may be released after the latch finger is disengaged from the slot 32it will not, in closing result in an excessive noise or place the parts of the door or the box structure under severe strain. i I

For the purpose of enabling the name cards of the respective tenants to be readily applied to the lower doors 11, I preferably form the reinforcing plate 16` on the inner side of the door adjacent the free end of they door with an angular offset 35 in opposed relation to a slot or opening 36 in the door 11. The space thus afforded between the opposed surfaces of the door and the rein forcing plate 16 is open at its opposite ends so that the name card maybe readily inserted from either edge of the door.

The slots 17 in the up er door 10 provide convenient means where y visitin or call-` ing cards may bereadily inserte into the and quickly assembled upon the body structure-of. the box by unskilled labor. vAs this assemblage of the parts is a very important consideration both in producing a practical commercial structure and in the production costs thereof, it will be appreciated that my new construction which enables the 'doors to be accurately and expeditiously assembled upon the body of the receptacle, is of primary importance to the art. I believe it to be broadly new to provide a structure of this kind wherein the hinge rods which support the door may be first inserted and mounted in the walls of the box structure and the doors then subsequently applied and hingedly secured in connection with the rods. Therefore, it is to beiunderstood that while I have above described and illustrated in the drawings one simple and practical embodiment of the present improvements, the same end might possibly be attained in other alternative structures and I accordingly rcserve the anges in the form, construction and relative arrangement of the several parts as may be fairly embodied within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

l. A mail box construction of the class 'described comprising a mail box divided by partition walls into a plurality of receptacles opening through one wall only of the box, independently operable door members controlling admission to the lower end portions of the respective receptacles and hingedly mounted near their upper ends within the box, a one piece master door controlling admission to the upper ends of all of the receptacles, a hinge rod extending across the box adjacent its open side and mounted in the partition walls and side walls of the box, means on the inner side of the master door for hingedly connecting said door with said rod in spaced relation to the lower edge of the door, and said partition walls below the hinge rod being provided in their edges with recesses to accommodate the lower edge portion of the master door in the opening and closing movements thereof.

2. A receptacle having a door opening in one wall thereof, a hinge rod mounted in the receptacle structure in spaced relation to one edge of said opening, a door adapted to be inserted at one edge thereof between said rod and the edge of the door opening, spaced flanges on said door having seats to receive said rod, and manually adjustable parts carried by said door adapted to be engaged with the rod after it has been positioned in said seats to thereby permanently connect the door with said rod for hinging movement to open and closed positions.

3. A receptacle having a door opening in one wall thereof, a hinge rod mounted in the receptacle structure in spaced relation to one edge of said opening, a door adapted to be inserted at one edge thereof between said rod and the edge of the door opening, spaced parts on the door having seats to receive said rod, and a flange extending from one side of the door and having end portions 'adapted to be angularly bent and engaged with said rod to permanently connect the door with said rod for hinglng movement to open and closed positions.

4. A receptacle having a door opening in one wall thereof, a hinge rod mounted in the rece tacle structure in spaced relation to one e ge of said opening, a door adapted to be inserted at one ed e thereof between said rod and the edge o the door opening, a reinforcing plate secured to the inner face of the door and provided with spaced parts engaging one side of the hinge rod, and said plate having additional parts adapted to be thereafter adjusted into engagement with the opposite side of the rod to permanently connect the door with said rod for hinging movement to open and closed positions.

5. A receptacle having a door opening in one wall thereof, a hinge rod mounted in the receptacle structure in spaced relation to one edge of said opening, a door adapted to be inserted at one edge thereof between said rod and the edge of the door opening, a reinforcing plate secured to the inner face of the door and having a flange on each side edge thereof, said flanges at one of their ends terminating in seats to receive said hinge rod, and said reinforcing plate adjacent to each of said seats having a bendable part adapted to be thereafter adjusted into engagement with said rod to permanently connect the door therewith for hinging movement to open and closed positions.

(l. A receptacle haring a door opening in one wall thereof, a hinge rod mounted in the receptacle structure in spaced relation to one edge of said opening, a door adapted to be inserted at one edge thereof between said rod and the edge of the door opening, a reinforcing )late secured to the inner face of the door ant having a fiange on each side edge thereof, said fianges at one of their ends terminating in seats to receive said hinge rod, and said reinforcing plate at one end having an additional flange extending between said first named fianges and provided with bendable end portions adapted -to be bent at an angle to said fiange and into engagement with said rod to permanently connect the door therewith for hinging movement to open and closed positions.

7. A receptacle having a door opening in one wall thereof, a hinge rod mounted in the receptacle structure in spaced relation to one edge of said opening, a door for said opening, a reinforcing plate secured to the inner face of the door and having a flange extending along one edge of the door and in a plane substantially at right angles thereto, said reinforcing plate at the opposite ends of said ange being provided with seats and said end edge of the door and said flange adapted to be inserted between said rod and the edge of the door opening to position the rod in said seats, and said flange having portions adapted to be thereafter angularly bent with respect to the iange into engagement with said rod to thereby permanently connectthe door with the rod for hinging movement to open and closed positions.

8. A mail box construction of the class described comprising a mail box divided by partition walls into a plurality of receptacles opening through one wall only of said box, independently operable door members controlling admission to the lower end portions of the respective receptacles and hingedly mounted near their upper ends within the box, a one piece master door member controlling admission to the upper end portions of all of the receptacles, a hinge rod mounted in the box structure ad- `the jacent the open side thereof, spaced reinforcing plates secured to the inner face of the master door member and extending between the upper and lower edges thereof, each of said plates being provided with flanges on its opposite side edges, and means at one end thereof adapted to be hingedly connected with said rod in spaced relation to the lower edge of the master door member, the edges of the partition walls contacting with the inner face of the door member between the flanges on the adjacent reinforcing plates when said master door is closed.

9. A mail box construction of the class described comprising a mail box divided by partition walls into a plurality of receptacles opening through the front wall of said box, independently. pperable door members controlling admission to the lower end portions of the respective receptacles and hingedly mounted near their upper ends within the box, a one piece master door member controlling admission to the upper end portions of all of the receptacles, a hinge rod for thev latter door member fixed in the box structure adjacent said open side thereof, a plurality of reinforcingl plates upon the inner face of said door member extending between the upper and lower edges thereof, said reinforcing plates and the door member having integrally formed coactin means detachably interlocking the same wit each other, -and each of said reinforcing lates being provided with means at one of its ends for connection with said hinge rod.

'10# A receptacle having a door opening in one wall thereof, a hinge rod mounted in the receptacle structure in spaced relation to ower edge of said opening, adoor for said opening adapted to be inserted at one of its ed es between said rod and the edge of the oor opening, said door carryinA means to ermanently connect the door wit said rod or hinging movement to open and closed positions, and additional means vcar-l ried by .the door and exerting a frictional braking pressure against one of the receptacle walls.

11. A receptacle having a door opening in one wall thereof, a hinge rod mounted in the receptacle structure in spaced relation to the lower edge of said opening, a door for said opening having a remforcin latev secured to its inner face and proviclg'edp with means at one of its ends to rigidly connect the door with said rod for swinging movement to open and closed ositions, and said plate being provided with a longitudinally rojecting resiliently movable arm exten ing mwardly from ,thehinge rod and frictionally bearing at its free end against one of the receptacle walls inthe opening and closing movement of the door.

12. A mail box construction of the class described comprising a mail box divided by partition walls into a plurality of receptacles opening through the front wall of said box, independently operable door members controlling admission to the lower end portions of the respective receptacles and hingedly mounted near their upper ,ends within the box, a one piece master door member controlling admission to the upper end portions of all of said receptacles, a hinge rod for the latter door member fixed in the box structure adjacent the open side thereof, a plurality of reinforcing pla-tes extending uponthe inner face of said member between the upper' and lower edges thereof, and means inaccessible from the outer side of the door for independently detachably securing said reinforcing plates to the door having an upper opening common to all of the compartments and spaced lower openings for the individual compartments and a panel separating said upper and lower openings from each other, hinge rods mounted in the rece tacle structure and respe'ctively spaced a ove and below said anel in parallel relation therewith, a single oor for the upper ends of said compartments, spaced reinforcing plates secured to the inner face of said door, said partitions being recessed to receive the lower edge of the door inserted between the lower ed e of the upper o ening and one of said hinge rods, and eac of 4 said reinforcing plates provided with means adapted to be engaged with thehinge rod to permanently connect the door therewith for swinging movement to open and closed ositions, and said recesses in the artltion plates providing stop shoulders limiting the opening movement o said door, and separate doors for the lower ends of said compartments each having means ada ted for engagement with the other of sai hin rods to connect the door therewith for in e ndent swinging movement to its open or c osed positions.

14. A receptacle having a. door openin in one wall thereof, a hinge rod mounte in door opening and said rod to engage the latter in sai seats, and said flange having bendable parts adapted to be thereafter engaged with the rod to hingedly connect the door therewith for swinglng movement to open and closed positions.

15. A. receptacle having spaced vertical partitions therein providing separate compartments, a front plate for the receptacle having an opening common to all of the compartments, each of said partitions having its front edge recessed at the lower edge of said opening, a hinge rod mounted in the receptacle structure above and in spaced 15 parallel relation to the lower edge of said opening, a door for said openin adapted lo he inserted at one of its'edges etween the lower edge of the opening and said rod and provided with spaced means for hingedly connecting the door to Said rod, and said recesses in the artitions providing stop shoulders engaged) by said edge of the door to limit the opening movement of the door to a substantially horizontal position with respect to the front plate of the receptacle.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signed my name hereto.

SAMUEL HAMMER.

Images