US244227A - ginesi - Google Patents

Description

3 Sheets-Sheet. 1.

(No Mode l.)

C. GINESI. LETTER BOX.

Patented July 12, 1881.

ATTORNEYS N. PETERS. Fholo-Ukhugnpher. Wilmington. n. c.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2..

G. GINESI. LETTER BOX.

No. 244,227. Patented July 12,'1881.'

Jay/2% ATTORNEYS N. PETERS Pholo-Lflhngnphcr, Washington. 0 c4 3 SheetsSheet 3.v

(No Model.)

0. GINESI." LETTER BOX.

Patented July 12,1881.

ATTORNEYS N. PETERS, Pholo-Liihngraphor. Washington. D. c

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OASIMIRO GINESI, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

LETTER-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 244,227, dated July 12, 1881.

Application filed May 2, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GAsIMIRo GINEsI, a citizen of the United States, resident at Washington, in'the county of lVashington, District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Letter-Boxes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 represents a front view of the box and bag attached, the lids of the recesses open. Fig. 2 is a transverse section. Fig. 3 is alongitudinal section of part. Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the box. Fig. 5 is a top view of the bag, key-stud in section Fig. 6, enlarged front of bag, parts broken away; Figs. 7 and 8, views of the lock; Fig. 9, the guard; Fig. 10, enlarged detail; Fig. 11, the dial; Figs. 12 and 13, key-catches; Fig. 14, enlarged section.

This invention relates to improvements in mail-boxes.

The object of the invention is the production of a device whereby the carrier is prevented from tampering with the mail-matter and the time of collection indicated, the latter forming a detecter.

To these ends the invention consists in a box of peculiar construction, and in combination therewith a bag having certain features, all as hereinafter fully set forth.

In the annexed drawings, the letter an indicates a mail-box of any desirable shape and size, the ordinary curved-top one being preferable, having the bottom open, as at b. To the rear side of this opening b are secured two parallel strips of metal, 0 0, having a narrower one, 0, between their outer edges, leaving a space, 0 between their inner ones, said strips thus forming a guideway; or a single piece of metal having a guide-groove on its inner edge may be used.

Fastened to the front side of opening bis a casing, d, flush with the bottom, and having the deep securing-flange d extending into the box. On its inner face this casing has secured to it the two parallel longitudinal flanges e e, forming a groove or space, a, in the plane of groove or space 0 on the opposite side, the inner flange, 0', having two angular notches, 0 c At these notches the casingd is provided with angular perforations c 0 extending from flange 0 across groove 6 and beyond flange e, as shown at 6 Seated in casing 01 about mid-length is a lock, f, the catches f f of which project through the perforations e c. This casing d has the projecting lip g, which bears against the frame of the box a, and within said lip there is formed in the casing thekey-hole g for the locking, there being a notch, 9 for admission to said hole. Hinged to one side of this notch is the guard h, to which is pivoted a slide-rod, h, whichpasses lengthwise through casin g d, and, projecting beyond, has the catch-head k havin g the bevel h toward the edge of the bottom,

to which the casing is fastened, said rod having a spring, which keeps the rod thrown out and the guard down. This head 762 isturned down at an angle to the stem of the rod, and secured to the bottom of the box at the ends are flanges 70 7a, the former in the plane of the head 72?, forming guide-grooves 70 or said grooves may be simply scored in the ends of the box, which extend far enough down for that purpose.

In one end of the box, preferably that away from the catch-head W, is made a transverse slit, 1, leading into the opening I) on a line with grooves c 6 This slit is faced with a strip of metal, m, having registering-slit m and depending flange m parallel to the flange 70, but spaced therefrom at m therebeing a corresponding strip, m, at the other, spaced at m from flange 7c. Passing through these slits is a plate, at, having inside the box a the depending lip n, and outside the upturned catch "n This plate has secured upon its 'upper face, at one edge, the three bars a, with spaces a between each two, said plate being the width of the opening I), and its edges coming in the grooves 0 0 the spaces n registering with perforations 6 when the plate is in place, which thus forms the bottomofthe box,

on which plate the mail-matter rests,the catches f f hooking in spaces of, holding the plate securely in place.

On each side of notch 9 there are secured to the bottom edge of the box two bearing-plates, o and p, in which are pivoted lids q and 1, which are provided with guide-lugs q r, catches IOO 1' springs g 1' and close openings 8 and t in the side of the box, which said openings lead into recesses s t.

Forming a part of lockf is a bar, 9, running lengthwise of easing d, and having a hooked end, 12 coming into recess 3, and a straight tongue, 12 into recess t, in which latter recess is a plate, 23 having notch t across which notch the tongue extends, being held out by the spring in the bar 19.

In recess 8 is secured a spring, 8 having a notched swinging head, 8 the position of this head and that of notch i being such as to engage the catches on the lids q and a". The bar p, when in a locked position, has its hook 10 and tongue 19 also in position to engage the catches, and when it is in this position and the lids are closed spring .9 is forced back and the catch Q2 is held between said spring and the hook 19 and catch r forces tongue 19 against its spring of bar 1) until thecatch-head passes, when the spring throws the tongue into engagement. This bar 12, as stated, is a part of the device of the lock, and when the latter is opened, so as to release catches f from spaces a, the said bar is shot, releasing the lids and allowing their springs g 1' to throw them open.

In recess 8 is placed a key, 8 the use of which will be hereinafter explained, held by a chain, 8 preferably fastened to the lid q.

In recess t is placed a dial, having on its face the hours and parts thereof, arranged so that only a portion is to be shown at one time, such dial to be movable, so as to bring into the field the desired number. This dial may also have any proper legend-such as Time for next mail, or Carrier will call -arran ged so as to come at-the exposed number. The lid to this recess should be transparent, so that the dial can be seen from the outside. This operates as a detecter, for the carrier is to change the number for the next round each time he empties the box, and if the time of inspection be later than that 011 the dial it will indicate that the carrier has failed in his duty. In this way any depositor can tell when his letter or package is to be taken out, and also whether, after deposit, it has been taken out at the proper time.

u represents the bag to be carried by the carrier for emptying the box described. This bag is secured to a metallic frame, a, of a size corresponding to the bottom of box a, which said frame has at each end the flanges u ,forming guide-grooves a open atone end and having stops at at the other, one groove having the bevel-tongue a. The sides and one end of this frame have guide-grooves a u", and the other end has the slot a in the plane of these grooves. Passing through this slot 26 and into the grooves 20 a is a cover-plate, o, having inside lip, '0, outside catch, '0 and edge bar, '0 with space v.

To one side of the frame at is secured a spring-lock, 'w, the catch of which, w ,engages in space 4% of bar a the key contained in recess 8 being for this look and adapted to the hole 10 No other key except the master-key kept at the office can open the bag.

' At the key-hole 10 there is formed on the frame a a lug, w, corresponding to notch 9 having the outwardly-projecting hollow stud 00, through which and the lug 00 passes a key, y, having handle y outside and wards y inside, said key being surrounded by a spring, 1 inside of stud 00, which tends to force the key inward. It will be seen that by this construction the key of the box is secured to the bag and that of the bag to the box; hence to separate the two parts the keys must be removed from their respective locks. This,however, must not be allowed until the slides are in, so that the keys may not be removed until the receptacles are securely closed.

In Figs. 12 and 13 are shown locking-dogs for catching the keys, preventing the movement of the latter until the slides are in position, when such dogs are held olf and the keys loosened.

a is a lever, the head b of which projects through slot a into the interior of the box in the end of groove 0 said rod being operated by a spring, p. This rod a engages the heel g of an elbow-lever, r, the head 8 of which is adapted to catch the key 3 As soon as catches f are withdrawn from notches n and the slide n is withdrawn the spring 12 throws the head 8 so as to clutch the key y, which will be kept held until the slide a is shoved home, when the inner end of the end bar, n striking head b will release the elbow-lever from the key 11 when the latter can be turned to be taken out but this looks the slide at.

a is a dog pivoted in look w, and held in by spring 3 to engage key 8 This dog is thrown ofl by the beveled lug 3 on the slide '0 bearing on the beveled heel m of said dog, which happens when the slide is in position. When the slide is withdrawn the dog is released and catches the key.

When the box a is to be emptied the frame a is slipped onto the bottom, the flanges u engaging the flanges k k, and when the bevel it? strikes the head h the guard h is swung up and the wards y of key 3 enter the lock f. As this look f is unlocked the catches f f are withdrawn from spaces a, loosening the bottom plate, a, and the bar 11 is shot, lids s and t falling. This exposes key a, by which the lock to is unlocked, which loosens the top plate, 27,

when both plates can be drawn out, and the mail-matter will drop into the bag. For convenience in handling, it is better that the plate 41 of the bag should come out at the side opposite to that of the plate n. As the plates are drawn out the keys are caught as before described. When the exchange of mail-matter is made the slides are returned, the dial changed for the next trip, locks fastened, andthe parts separated.

The lid 7 need not be made to be opened, and the dial will be made automatic, as shown in Fig. 11, where it is operated by a pawl, t", attached to the slider-bar 10 This device is applicable not only to mailboxes, but also to money-boxes in cars, &c.

I claim 1. A delivery-box having a sliding bottom, in combination with a detachable bag or receiver having a sliding top, and mechanism, substantially as described, whereby the one is enabled to act on the other, as set forth.

2. A delivery-box having a recess for hold in g the key of the bag, another recess having a dial, and a lock, whereby both recesses are simultaneously opened.

3. A delivery-box and receiving-bag, each having the key of the other, and aclosing-slide, in combination with means, substantially as described, whereby the keys cannotbe released until the slides are in position, as set forth.

4. Adelivery-box having a pivoted key-hole 2o guard, in combination with a bag adapted to the box, and means, substantially as described, for moving the guard to admit a key attached to the bag, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature 2 5 in presence of two witnesses.

GASIMIRO GINESI.

Witnesses:

THEO. MUNGEN, H. H. SINGLETON.

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