US3325091A - Mailbox - Google Patents

Description

June 13, 1967 A. MARILLO 3,325,091

MAILBOX Filed OCL. 18, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. CHRISTY A. MARILLO w 32 5' ATTORNEYS June 13, 1967 c. A. MARILLO MA ILBOX 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 18, 1965 INVENTOR- CHRISTY A. MARILLO ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,325,091 MAILBOX Christy A. Marillo, 3536 W. 95th St., Cleveland, Ohio 44102 Filed Oct. 18, 1965, Ser. No. 497,306 2 Claims. (Cl. 23217) This invention relates to mailboxes and particularly to mailboxes having means to hold them open for easy removal of the mail.

An object of this invention is to provide a mailbox that is functional, inexpensive, and economical to manufa-cture.

Another object of this invention is to provide a mailbox that is capable of receiving and holding mail securely and safely, excluding damaging elements such as dust and moisture.

Another object of this invention is to provide a mailbox that can be opened and emptied easily and conveniently with the use of only one hand.

Another object of this invention is to provide convenient means for removing the mail and preventing its accidental spillage on the ground where it may become soiled or otherwise damaged.

These and other objects will become more apparent from the following description.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the mailbox in closed position.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal, vertical, sectional view of the mailbox.

FIG. 3 is a side, elevational view of the mailbox.

FIG. 4 represents a perspective veiw of the inside of the front section, showing the construction of the mailholding shelf.

FIG. 5 shows the top section including the lid and sidewalls.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the inside of the rear section.

In the drawings, in FIG. 1, 10 represents a perspective view of the mailbox, comprising a rear section 12, a front section 13, and a top section 19. The rear section 12 has an upright supporting wall 14, connected to upright side walls 16 and 18, disposed forwardly, and a bottom portion 20 which also projects forwardly. Hinge apertures and 17 are disposed in the upper, frontal portions of side walls 16 and 18 respectively. The uppermost portion of the upright supporting wall 14 terminates centrally in a narrower portion 22 which incorporates a mounting aperture 24 and two small extensions 26 and 27 disposed perpendicularly and forwardly to portion 22, said extensions having therein pivotal apertures 28 and 30. Locking means 32 is attached centrally on the inner face of the bottom portion 20. Spring retaining means 34 is connected to the inside of upright side wall 18 as shown in FIG. 6, said spring retaining means 34 having an aperture 36 therein for anchoring cooperating spring 38.

The front section 13, Fig. 4, has an upright frontal wall 40 connected to upright, rearward side Walls 42 and 44 and a top portion 56 disposed perpendicular and rearwardly with respect to frontal wall 40. The top portion 56 has a mail slot 48 therein and two downward, perpendicular side members 50 and 52 connected thereto. Members 42, 44, 50 and 52 have hinge apertures 54 and 56 disposed therethrough respectively. Side member 52 also has spring retaining aperture 58 adapted to receive the opposed anchoring end of spring 38. A finger-grasping device 60 is mounted on the front face of the upright frontal wall 40 which has latching means 62 protruding from the inside face of upright wall 40, said latching means being adapted to cooperate with locking device 32 to hold the front section 13 firmly secured to the rear section 12 when the mailbox is closed. Letter retaining means 64, FIG. 4, is adapted to receive and hold the mail deposited in the mailbox and comprises an upper hinge member 66, pivotal means 67 supporting hin-gedly an upright member 68 to which is connected a shelf-like structure 70. The configuration and width of shelf 70 is adapted to stop and retain postal letters deposited in the mailbox through mail slot 48, said shelf being sized and shaped to hold envelopes complying with standard sizes prescribed by the US. Post Oflice and prevent them from falling, sliding, or slipping past said shelf. The front section 13 is connected hingedly to the rear section 12 by means of hinge rod 72 disposed in cooperating apertures 15 and 17 in the rear section and apertures 54 and 56 in the front section respectively.

The top section 19, FIG. 5, comprises a lid portion 74 and side wall portions 76 and 78 connected thereto. A hinge bracket 80, connected to lid 74, has two hinge members 82 and 84 having hinge apertures 86 and 88 disposed therein to cooperate with pivot apertures 28 and 30 in portion 22 of the rear section. This pivoting arrangement permits the top section 19 to pivot hin-gedly about the rear section 12 by means of pivot rod 90.

When the mailbox is closed, latching means 62 is held firmly and securely in friction locking device 32, and spring 38 is extended and in tension. In this closed position, the frictional force holding latching means 62 within the lock 32 is greater than the force exerted by the spring 38 which tends to pivot the front section away from the rear section and open the mailbox. When the mailbox is closed, the spring 38 is expanded and in tension between the front section 13 and the rear section 12.

' However, when enough force is exerted forwardly on the holding device 60 to pull the latch 62 out of the lock 32, the spring 38 is able to retract to assume a normal, non-deformed position. In so doing, it swings the front section 13 of the mailbox about hinge rod 72, away from the rear section 12, opening and holding the front section of the mailbox open.

The mail, which is resting on shelf-like structure 70, can then be easily and readily removed with one hand. Pushing firmly against the front section 13 of the mailbox snaps latching means 62 into lock 32, closing the mailbox securely.

Although a single preferred embodiment has been illustrated, this was done in the interest of illustrating and describing the invention. It is intended that the scope of the invention be limited by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A mailbox comprising in combination front, rear and top sections, said front section having upright side walls and a top portion connected and disposed perpendicularly to an upright frontal wall, said top portion having a mail slot therein and means connected thereto for receiving and retaining mail, said rear section having upright side Walls and a bottom portion disposed perpendicularly and forwardly and connected to an upright supporting wall, said top section having upright side wall portions with a lid portion therebetween, said front and top sections being pivotally connected to the upper part of said rear section, a locking device adapted to secure the front section to the rear section, means for unlatching said locking device to permit the front section to move away pivotally from the rear section to open the mailbox spring means disposed between the front and rear sections held extended and in tension when the mailbox is securely locked, said spring retracting and urging the front section away from the rear section when the lock is unlatched, said spring then holding the mailbox in an open position to permit easy and convenient removal of the mail.

2. The mailbox of claim 1 wherein means for receiving and storing the mail is a shelf-like member connected hingedly to the top portion of the front section, said shelf being disposed to stop and retain securely all mail deposited into the mailbox through the mail slot.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 326,948 9/1885 Cadwell 23233 403,790 5/1889 Taylor 23224 482,292 9/ 1892 Brown 232--28 616,330 12/ 1898 Horder 232-3 3 638,622 12/ 1899 Brockmeyer 23224 1,006,772 10/ 1911 Meyer 23228 1,090,997 3/1914 Linck 232-28 1,435,676 11/ 1922 Wagenseller 232-3 3 1,597,582 8/1926 De Voe 2323'3 2,498,361 2/1950 Davis 232-47 2,532,289 1 2/ 1950 Cahill 23217 CASMIR A. NUNBERG, Primary Examiner.

20 FRANCIS K. ZUGEL, Exwm'iner.

Claims (1)

1. A MAILBOX COMPRISING IN COMBINATION FRONT, REAR AND TOP SECTIONS, SAID FRONT SECTION HAVING UPRIGHT SIDE WALLS AND A TOP PORTION CONNECTED AND DISPOSED PERPENDICULARLY TO AN UPRIGHT FRONTAL WALL, SAID TOP PORTION HAVING A MAIL SLOT THEREIN AND MEANS CONNECTED THERETO FOR RECEIVING AND RETAINING MAIL, SAID REAR SECTION HAVING UPRIGHT SIDE WALLS AND A BOTTOM PORTION DISPOSED PERPENDICULARLY AND FORWARDLY AND CONNECTED TO AN UPRIGHT SUPPORTING WALL, SAID TOP SECTION HAVING UPRIGHT SIDE WALL PORTIONS WITH A LID PORTION THEREBETWEEN, SAID FRONT AND TOP SECTIONS BEING PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO THE UPPER PART OF SAID REAR SECTION,

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