US167312A - Improvement in letter-boxes - Google Patents

Description

1. .1. neAnnv, T. 1. s. A. T LuNouv'lsT Letter- Box.

Patented Aug. 3|,1375.

NAPETERS. PHDTD-UTHOGRAPHEH. WASHINGTON. D C.

Nrrnn STATES JAMES J. DE BARRY, THORVALD ATEN J. LUNDQVIST, AND ALEXIUS T.

IMPROVEMENT IN LETTER-BOXES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent lim-167,312, dated August 31, 1875; application filed July 30, 1875.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that we, JAMES J. DE BARRY, THoRvALD J. LUNDQVIST, and ALnxIUs T. LUNDQVIST, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Letter-Boxes, of which the following is a specication:

This invention relates to certain improvements in post-office letter-boxes, its object being to prevent the extraction of the letters through the mail-opening, and also to indicate the hours or time at which the letters are to be collected by the carrier.

The invention consists,iirst, in an automatically operating guard affixed inside the box directly opposite the mail-opening, consisting of Weighted rock-shaft extending across the box parallel with the mail-opening, and provided with a series of radial arms, which are adapted to be shifted automatically by the insertion of a letter, allowing` the same to fall into the box, but oering an obstruction to the insertion of any instrument for the fraudulent removal of the letters, as more fully hereinafter set forth; second, in the combination, with the door of a letter-box, of an indicator for denoting the time for collecting the mails, said device being operated by means of a lever at each time the door is opened, in such manner as to expose a number indicating the time of the next collection of the mail, as fully hereinafter described.

In the drawings, Figure l represents a perspective view of the interior of the apparatus; Fig. 2, a front view of the apparatus; Fig. 3, a view of the apparatus with the back removed, and Fig. 4 a sectional view of the apparatus.

The letter A represents a rectangular or other suitably-shaped box, constructed of any material of suitable strength; and B, the opening in the front of the same for the insertion of the mail-matter. D represents arock-shaft, extending across the box parallel with the mail-opening, and journaled. in opposite sides of the box, as represented. Said rock-shaft is provided with a series of three radial arms, E EI E2, and with two weighted arms, F F.

Across the box, just below the mail-opening,

extends a bar, G, which serves as a stop to the arm E, for the purpose of holding the rock-shaft and its radial arms in proper position in front of the opening. rllhe letters, when inserted through the mail-openin g, shift the arm E sufficiently to allow the same to drop into the box, but in doing so bring the arms El and E2 into such position as to bar the opening against the insertion of any instrument for the removal of the letters or other mail-matter, and thus prevent the fraudulent extract-ion of the saine. The letter H represents a circular disk, journaled to the inside of the front of the box in such position as to display, successively, when turned, a series of numbers denoting the hours or periods for collecting the mails through an opening, I, through the front wall of said box. Said disk is provided with a series of pins, K K, on its rear surface, in number corresponding to the numbers on the face of the disk, against which pins a spring-pawl, L, secured to the end of a bent lever, M, which is pivoted to the inside of the box, is adapted to engage. The other end of said lever extends downward, falling between the projections N N, attached to the tilting door O in such position that it will be shifted back and forth upon opening and closing the door.

It will be seen that at each opening of the .door the lever will be shifted so that its upper end will clear the projection above it on the indicator-disk, and upon closing the door will engage such projections, and carry the disk forward, exposing the number indicating the time for the next collection of mail. The in dicator-disk is held in position, and kept from being improperly shifted, by means of a spring, P, attached to the inside of the box, which successively engages in the ratchets or teeth of the disk.

The letter R represents a rectangular wire box, which may be attached to the lower part of the box A, and provided with a suitable opening large enough for the reception of a newspaper or large package, for the purpose of relieving the letter-box from the collection of such large articles, the said box being prorricu vided with interior Wallsl of 'Wood' Or other materiulto exclude rain Aand prevent `injuryto the contents.

Having thus described our invention, what We claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The combination, substantially as described, of the mail-Opening B, rock-shaft D,

radial arms E E1 E2, Weighted arms F, and

stop-bar G, the Whole constructed and arranged to operate substantially as described.

2. The combination, with a street letter-box, provided with an opening, I, the rotating ratchet indicatingidisk, provided with a series -of pins'on its rear face, the angle-lever M, Aand drop-door O, provided with the `pins'N N,

for Operating said lever and ratchet-disk, sub- .stantiaily as described.

JAMES J. DE BARRY. THORVALD J. LUNDQVIS'I. ALEXIUS TH. LUNDQVIST.

Witnesses:

J OHN P. TROY, THOMAS F. TROY.

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