US438476A

US438476A - Combined letter-box and gate-post

Info

Publication number: US438476A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1890-10-14
Anticipated expiration: 1907-10-14

Description

(No Model.)

R. GROOM, Jr.

COMBINED LETTER BOX AND GATE POSTQ N0.,438,47 Patented O filllllllllljlllllllllIllllllllllllllllllllll a INVENTOR: a ifitiflfld 627 00171471- ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE."

RICHARD GROOM, JR., OF PUEBLO, COLORADO.

COMBINED LETTER-BOX AND GATE-POST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 438,476, dated October 14, 1890.

Application filed December 4,1889. Serial No. 332,558. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, RICHARD GROOM, J r., residing at Pueblo, in the county of Pueblo and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Combined Gate=Post and Letter-Box, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has for its object to provide a gate-post having a receptacle or box hinged in its upper end, which when closed fits into its upper hollow portion of the post, and when desired may be swung outward, so as to facilitate the ready removal of the letters and papers accumulated therein.

It has also for its object to provide convenient means for inserting the mail into the box, of dividing the box into compartments for the reception of papers and letters, and also to provide the same with a suitable gravity-cover, whereby the entrance-slots may be more readily protected from the weather, and to hide the same from view to meddlers.

To this end my invention consists in certain novel combinations and peculiar arrangement of parts, all of which will hereinafter be fully described in the annexed specification, and particularly pointed out in the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side View of a gate, showing one of the posts provided with a letter-box. Fig. 2 is a perspective rear view of one of the posts. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section showing the box swung out in dotted lines; and Fig. l is a transverse section on the line 4; 4, Fig. 3.

In the drawings, A indicates the post, which is formed of a hollow body, preferably square or rectangular in crosssection, and which may be constructed of any kind of material of which gate-posts are usually made, and in any improved design or style to match different styles of fences.

The upper rear face of the post is provided with an opening B, to the lower edge of which is hinged the box or receptacle 0. This box, which is most clearly shown in Fig. 3, consists of a vertical side 0', which snugly fits the opening B when the box is in its closed position, and a horizontal portion O upon which the letters or papers drop when inserted through the entrance-opening, hereinafter re ferred to. The Vertical-and horizontal members of the box are connected by segmental side plates 0 G which have secured on their lower ends a transverse ledge or strip 0, which forms the lower portion of the box into a pocket, for a purpose presently explained.

D denotes a segmental plate, which divides the box into two compartments, one D for letters and the other I) for papers.

A glass-covered sight-opening E is provided in the vertical member of the box, which is of a sufficient size to permit of sight into the interior of the two compartments, but not large enough to admitof the letters being abstracted through the same from the box in case the glass be broken or removed.

F denotes the staple and lock for securing the box in place, and G denotes the hinges, which are of a construction to avoid the box .being swung farther than to a horizontal position, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 3.

H denotes the diaphragm which closes the upper end of the post, and which is provided with two slots h h, which register with the paper and letter compartments, respectively, of the box. I denotes a partition-plate, having a concave inner edge, which registers with the partition D and serves, in conjunction with the same, to divide the upper end of the post, thereby forming a guard which pre vents any one abstracting the letters from the letter-box through the large or paper opening. The cap-plate J, which covers the upper end of the post, and which in contour may be of any desired ornamental style,'is hinged at one end to the upper edge of the post, the hinges K being provided with depending lugs K, which are so arranged that the center of gravity of the cover may not pass the vertical plane passing through the hinges, so that the lid, after being raised sufficiently to permit the postman or paper-carrier to insert the mail or papers through theslots h It, will always fall by gravity. The lid is preferably formed with a depending flange, which surrounds the upper end of the post and prevents rain or dirt from entering into the box through the top.

In the front face of the post is cast or secured thereto guide-flanges L, into which is slid the name-plate or house-number, the same being held in the plate by the detachable end portion L, as shown.

In placing the post in position the same is arranged so as to have the letter-box open toward the building and with the name-plate on the outside, as shown in drawings.

By forming the inner end of the box with the ledge c the same prevents the letters from being caught between the stationary portion I and the partition of the box.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings, the operation and advantages of myinvention will be readily understood. It will be seen that the same is exceedingly simple, and that a post can be constructed with the box attachments at almost the same cost of the ordinary post.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. An improved letter-box consisting of a hollow post having a closed top provided with entrance-slots, a downwardly-extending central division-plate I, having a cut-away portion, an opening in one side near the top, a box or receptacle hinged at the lower end of the side opening and projected into the hollow post, said box formed with a base portion adapted to form the bottom of the letter or parcel receptacle, and a central division having a curved edge adapted when folded to fit the cut-away portion of the divisionplate I, whereby two distinct compartments are formed, all arranged substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. The combination of a hollow post A, provided with a lateral opening, a closed top provided with entrance-slots, and a central division-plate I, secured in the upper end of the post below the top, said plate having a concave inner face, of the box 0, hinged in the lower edge of the opening B, said box consisting of a horizontal member 0 forming the bot tom of the box, a vertical member C, adapted to close the opening 13 when closed in, segmental side plates connecting the members O 0 and a segmental division-plate D, said plate adapted to fit the concave edge of the division-plate I when said box is closed in, substantially as shown and described.

3. Theherein-describedimprovedcombined gate-post and letter-box, consisting of the post A, having a hollow upper end, a closed top, provided with entrance-slots h h, a central partition I, formed in the upper end below the top, having a concaved inner edge, a lateral opening B in the upper end of the post, op-

posite the partition I, a box or receptacle hinged at the lower end of the opening B, said box consisting of a horizontal member forming the bottom, a vertical member adapted to close the opening B when the box is closed in, segmental side plates connecting the horizontal and vertical members, a central segmental plate dividing the box into two compartments, said central plate fitting against the concaved edge of the partition I when closed in, and a gravity-cover hinged over the top of the post, all arranged substantially as and for the purpose described.

RICHARD GROOM, JR.

, Witnesses:

W. A. KING, E. C. BETTS.