US218090A - Improvement in boxes for prohibited mail and other matter - Google Patents

Description

H. 0. UNDERWOOD. Box for Prohibited Mail and other Matter.

WITJVE SES LNVEJV'TOR W y dwz UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HIRAM O. UNDERWOOD, OF KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN.

IMPROVEMENT lN BOXES FOR PROHIBITED MAIL AND OTHER MATTER.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 2] 8,090, dated July '29, 1879; application filed February 8, 1879.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HIRAM O. UNDER- WOOD, of Kalamazoo, in the county of Kalamazoo and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Boxes for Prohibited Mail and other Matter; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawin gs, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a representation of a longitudinal section of my mail-box, and Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the same.

My invention relates to a box of wood or other suitable material, the lid of which is held in a closed position by means of elastic bands, so as to make, in connection with proper packin g, a water and airtight joint; and the novelty consists in the construction and arrangement of parts, as will be more fully hereinafter set forth and pointed out in the claim.

The device is especially adapted to inclose for transportation prohibited mail matter, such as glass, tools, tacks, edged implements, and the like, such matter being at any time open for inspection by simply pressing open the lid; but the device may be used for other suitable purposes, as is obvious.

In carrying out my invention I employ a box of wo0d,in one piece, scooped or dug out to form a receiving-chamber for the goods. One or more partitions may divide the interior in to two or more such chambers, if desired, to carry more than one quality or kind of merchandise.

Fitting neatly upon the upper edges of the box is a cover, a portion of which reaches down into the reception-chamber to hold thelid firmly 1n place. The bearing-edges between the box and lid are each provided with a proper packin g, so as to form an air-tight, or approximately air-tight, joint.

Formed within the body of the box, and also in the lid, near the bottom of the former and the top of the latter, are open mortisesone, two, or more-which receive removable elastic endless bands. The open longitudinal mouths of the mortises allow the endless bands to be applied and removed at will by turning said bands in an edgewise position, and their constant binding force prevents their removal.

Upon the top of the lid, however, I place or secure firmly a sheet of paper, which not only closes the mouths of the upper mortises, but affords convenient means upon which the address may be written.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the box-body, having chamber A and open mortises a, as shown. This box is preferably made of one piece of wood, and the upper edge, which forms the bearing-surface for the lid, is provided with a suitable packing, a, to form an approximately air-tight joint in connection with the similar packing 11 upon the lid or cover B. This cover has a downwardly-projecting portion, which fits neatly within the chamber of the box and prevents the disturbance of the same, and it is also provided with the open mortises b, as shown.

0 represents elastic bands, which are reniovably received in the mortises, in which they exert a constant force to keep the box and lid in a closed position, but susceptible of being pressed open to inspect the contents, if desired.

A sheet of paper, D, is pasted upon the upper surface of the lid, covering the mouths of the mortises, and affording convenient means upon which to write the address.

The bearing-edges of the mortises are round-. ed, so as not to cut the elastic band by bruises.

These boxes may be used over and over again, as may be desired, it being only necessary to paste a new sheet of paper, D, over the old one.

I am aware that endless elastic bands have encircled boxes provided with notches in the edges of their lids, and that bill files have been provided with recesses in which endless elastic bands have been covered by slides also, that the bands have been covered by paper containing printed matter thereon, none of which devices are sought to be covered herein.

I claim- AIS-090 In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HIRAM O. UNDERWOOI).

Witnesses:

THOMAS A. REED, WILLIAM BALLANTINE.

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