US2367696A - Mailbox - Google Patents

Description

R. U. STALEY Jan. 23, 1945.

MAIL BOX Filed April '7, 1941 ATTofz/s/Y Patented Jan. 23, 1945 UNHTED STATES PATENT OFFICEl MAILBOX Russell U. Staley, Portland, Oreg.

Application April 7, 1941, Serial No. 387,278

Z Claims.

This invention relates generally to builders hardware and particularly to mail boxes.

The main object of this invention is to construct a mail box which will facilitate the deliv ery of mail by providing a wall pocket for the first class mail and making it possible for the letter carrier to deposit larger pieces of mail and overiiow from the wall pocket into the building.

A second object is to construct a box of the class described which will be easy to manufacture and install and which will prevent tampering or unauthorized removal of mail therefrom.

IThese and other objects are accomplished in the manner set forth in the following specification as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through the device.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevation from an interior point of view.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevation from an exterior point of view taken along the line 3-3 in Fig. 1 before stucco is applied.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevation taken along the line 4 4 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a section taken along the line 5-5 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a bottom view of the top plate taken along the line 6 6 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a plan of the insulator in which the l contact arm is suspended.

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the contact arm.

Fig. 9 is a transverse section taken along the line 9-9 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 10 is a plan of Fig. 9.

Similar numerals refer to throughout the several views.

Referring in detail to the drawing, there is shown the usual upright studdings 5 between the pair of which is placed a horizontal header I5, the exterior sheeting l1 supporting the stucco I8 or other treatment applied to the structure. To the interior of the studdings |5 are secured the laths I9 for supporting the plaster 20. Formed in the exterior sheeting il the stucco |8 is an opening 2|. y

Formed in the lath and plaster I6, 26 are the upper opening 22 and the lower opening 23, the former of which is provided with a sill 24, the side frames 25 and the header 2S while the opening 23 is provided with a sill 2l, side frames 23 and the header 29. The openings 2| and 22 are at approximately the same level while the opening 23 is considerably below the openings 2| and 22.

similar parts will be seen to consist of a pocket or compartment consisting of the sides 3|, the outer end 32 and the inner end 33. The inner end 33 slopes outwardly at its upper portion 34 to form a re- -duced opening 35 at the upper end of the compartment 30. The upper edge 36 of the outer end 32 turns outwardly and fastens to the sheeting A frame 31 surrounds the opening 2| and has hingedly mounted thereon the inclined door 38 whose hinges 39 are along the upper edges thereof and are adapted to permit the door 38 to move freely to an inclined position. On the inner side of the door are formed the raised lugs 40 across which is secured the fiber strip 4| by means of the screws 42. On the strip 4| is mounted the brass plate 43 which is secured to the strip 4| by means of the screws 44, one of which also holds the lead wire 45 which connects to a suitable source of electrical energy such as a battery 46 or transformer (not shown).

Secured to the header 26 is a top plate 41 in which is secured an insulator bushing 48 to which is attached an eye 49 from which is suspended the conductor wire 50 which extends through the tubular insulation 5| and has its end 52 turned backwardly upon itself to form a stop for the insulation. The end 52 is of suitable length to permit it to engage the plate 43 when the door 38 is moved inwardly by the postman putting mail into the box.

The eye bolt 49 has connected thereto a lead wire 53 which is connected through a buzzer or bell 54 to the battery 46.

The free end of the portion 34 turns inwardly over the sill 24 and is secured thereto while the lower end 56 slopes inwardly and downwardly and is secured to the sill 21. A frame 5l surrounds the opening 22 and is normally closed by a door 58 which swings from the topmost hinges 59.

Surrounding the opening 23 is a frame 6U having hinged on one side thereof the door 6| by means of the lateral hinges E2.

v The operation of the device is as follows:

" When the carrier delivers mail, he pushes against the door 38 which is merely held closed by gravity and the small pieces of mail are permitted to drop through the opening 35 into the compartment 36. If this compartment becomes filled before the mail is removed from the opening 23 or the pieces are too large to be inserted through the opening 35, he merely pushes them on through against the door 58 which is also held shut by gravity and yields to a slight pressure Referring particularly to my invention, same permitting the larger pieces to fall into the room,

thereby rendering it unnecessary to leave mail outside of the box and in many instances saving the letter carrier from the embarrassment of lost mail ordinarily due to same being lost by wind or theft, or by being playfully carried off by children or pet animals.

It will be noted that as the door 38 moves inwardly, the plate 43 engages the end 52 closing the circuit through the buzzer 54 and announcing to the occupant of the dwelling the fact that mail has been deposited by the carrier.

No knobs or handles are provided for the door 58 which is normally closed, cannot easily be opened from the inside thereby rendering it difl'icult for a child to open same and gain access -to the interior of the box and possibly actuate the signalling mechanism, but the door'58 does open easily in an inward direction to .permit magazines and parcels to be inserted therethrough.

It will be noted that the lower edge of the door 3 8 rests against the high side of the sill 6.4 .and that the rib 5,5 sheds the water from the door 3 8 onto the sloping sill 6,4 from whence'it drains outwardly. i

I amvaware that numerous forms of mailboxes have been constructed in the past in which `mail `can be extended either directly through thewall or downwardly into a pocket having an inwardly opening outlet. Both of these types have certain advantages and disadvantages and it is not my intention to cover such devices broadly but to cover only such features which are advantageous and which are set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A mail box within a wall space of a room having inwardly opening and horizontally opposite inner and outer doors in the respective surfaces of said wall, and having a pocket disposed within the wall space below the bottomof said doors, a passageway between said doors having a restricted opening at the under side thereof for .the insertion of small mail pieces passed through .the outer door while larger pieces are passed through both of said doors into the interior of the room.

2. A mail box consisting of a chute adapted to extend across a wall space and having doors at opposite ends thereof substantially along the inner and outer wall surfaces, a pocket depending from said chute having a restricted opening communicating between said chute and pocket near the outer door, and a door at the lower end of said pocket opening through the inner wall surface.

RUSSELL U. STALEY.

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