US1726632A

US1726632A - Mail-distributing case

Info

Publication number: US1726632A
Application number: US290607A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ernest M Shreeve
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1928-07-05
Filing date: 1928-07-05
Publication date: 1929-09-03
Anticipated expiration: 1946-09-03

Description

Sept. 3, 1929.

E. M. SHREEVE MAIL DISTRIBUTING CASE Filed July 5, 192a uv-m 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 sheave.

/ a Moi/WW Sept. 3, 1929. E. M. SHREEVE 1,726,632

MAIL DISTRIBUTING CASE Filed July 5, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 am-uvmtoz 1:. M. ,sie ev Patented Sept. 3, 1929.

UNITED STATES ERNEST M. SHREEVE, oroGDEN, U'rA'rrf MAIL-DISTRIBUTING CASE.-

Application filed July 5, 1928. Serial No. 290,607,

The invention aims to conserve space and facilitate the routing of mail, and provides a case whereby different classes of mail, such as letters, newspapers and periodicals may be assorted when arranging the same for delivery.

The invention contemplates a case embodying two sets or tiers of shelves, one set being movable vertically and counterbalanced, and the other set being foldableso as not to obstruct the path of the movable set. i

While the drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that in adapting the means to meet specific needs and requirements, the design may be varied andsuch other changes in the minor details of construction may be resorted to within the scope of the invention as claimed, without departing from the spirit thereof.

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof, reference is to be had in the following description and the drawing hereto attached, in which Figure 1 is an elevational view of a mail routing case embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 22 of Figure 1. j j

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 1 showing the letter unit elevated and the paper unit lowered.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing the letter unit lowered and the paper unit folded.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fra entary view of a portion of one of the olding shelves of the paper unit.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of the part illustrated in Figure 5.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and designated in the several views of the drawing by like reference characters.

The case is relatively small and shallow and comprises a cabinet and independent sets of shelves, the one for use in routing letters and the other for routing newspapers,

circulars and like matter. The cabinet comprises similar side pieces 1, a top 2, a bottom 3, and an intermediate desk top 4. The space included between the desk top 4 and bottom 3 is divided by means of a vertical partition 5 to form a compartment for resame,

tive strips 8, toaline therewith when lowered into horizontal position, as indicated most clearly Figures 3 and'5 ofthe drawings. Bars 10 connect I, the shelves 9 and engage journals 11 projecting at opposite ends adjacent the forward edges of the shelves. Latches 12 at the sides of the cabinet are adapted to hold the shelves 9 in folded .position, as indicated most clearly in Figure 4 of the drawings. Pins 13 projecting upwardly from the shelves 9. serve to hold the newspapers and other matter in place when assorted during the routing operation. The bottom shelf of the paper unit alines With the part {1 thereby admitting of the newspapers, circulars and like matter bein assorted upon the desk top 4;. The butts o the hinges connecting the shelves 9 with the strips 8 face upwardly, hence the rear edges of the shelves abut the forward edges of the strips Sand are thus supported in hori zontal position as indicated most clearly in Figures 3 and 5 of the drawings. Label holders 14 are applied to the forward edges of the shelves 9 and consist of strips of sheet metal having their longitudinal edge portions recurved so as to engage opposite edge portions of the labels as will readily be appreciated.

The letter unit is movable vertically and comprises a rectangular frame 15 and a plurality of shelves 16. Each of the shelves 16 has a plurality of openings formed there in to receive spacers 1 which serve to hold the letters in spaced position. The letter unit is counterbalanced and directed in its vertical movements. A cord 18 is attached at one end to each side of the frame 15 and passes over a guide pulley 19 at the top of each of the side pieces 1. A weight 20 slidable in a 1pocket 21 is provided at each end with a pn ley 22 beneath which the cords 18 pass, the opposite ends of the cords being attached to the sides 1 adjacent the top thereof. When the letter unit is lowered the weight 20 is elevated and when the letter unit is raised the weight 20 is lowered.

The pocket 21 is located above the strips 8 of the paper unit thereby admitting of the letter unit having an unobstructed movement vertically when the shelves 9 are folded as indicated most clearly in Figure 4 of the drawings. Vertical guide strips 23 at opposite sides of the letter'unit are received in guide grooves formed in the sides 1 and direct the letter unit in its Vertical movement and revent forward or backward movement t ereof 'in any a-djusted'position.

.Inrouting the mail the aper unit is folded and the letterunitis rawn downwardly and rests upon the desk top 4. This position of the unit ,is indicated in Figure 4: of the drawings. The letters to be routed are placed uponthe desktop 4 and areproperly positioned u n the shelves 16 as they are assorted. -A er the letters have been routed the tier of shelves 16"is moved upwardly to the position indicated in Figure 3 and the shelves 9"are lowered into operative osition. The newspapers, circulars, perio icals and like matter placed in the bin 6 are assorted and properly positioned upon the shelves 9and are tied into bundles and arranged for deliver The shelves 9 are now folded and the etter unit drawn downwardlyand any'letters'receiv'ed are distrib'utedafter which'the letters ma betied in bundles and "otherwise arrange for delivery.

'It ,is observed that the case results in a material saving of floorspace and facilitates the-assorting and routingof the mail, and in consequence the expense incident'to enlarging quarters isobviated with av material saving both in the position of quarters and timerequiredintherouting of the mail for delivery.

Having thus described the invention, I claim 1. A mail routing case, comprising a cabinet, a tier of folding shelves within the cabinet, bars pivotally connecting the shelves to permit simultaneousfolding and unfolding thereof, a tier of vertically movable the. cabinet, folding shelves hinged to the transverse strips, means for simultaneously folding and unfolding the shelves, and a tier of shelves movable vertically in frontof the shelves when folded.

3. A mail routing case, comprising a cabinet, a desk top intermediate the top and bottom of the cabinet, a tier of folding shelves adjacent the'back of the cabinet, one shelf of the tier, when unfolded, being adapted to align with the desk top, a tier of shelves movable vertically in front of the folding shelves and 'acounter weight connected with the vertically movable shelves and operable in the space adjacent the back of the cabinet and provided above the tier of folding shelves.

4. The combination with a cabinet 1ncluding vertical s'ides, transverse strips disposed adjacent the back of the cabinet, shelveshinged to the'transverse strips and limited in their downward movement thereby, ba'rs pivotally connecting the folding shelves, and means 'for'holding the shelves in folded position.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ERNEST M. SHREEVE.