US473972A - Letter-box and post therefor - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 2 Sheets*Sheet l.

W. W. SPEER. LETTER BOX AND POST THEREFOR.

Patented May 3, 1892.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. W W SPEER LETTER BOX AND POST THEREFOR.

Patented May 3, 1892. -i.

w, M L W UNITED STATES ATENT FFICE.

WILLIAM WV. SPEER, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

LETTER-BOX AND POST THEREFOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 473,972, dated May 3, 1892. Application filed September-2 4, 1891. Serial No. 406,969. (No model.)

To otZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM W. SPEER, a resident of Pittsb'urg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have i11- vented certain new and useful Improvements in Letter-Boxes and Posts Therefor; 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.

My invention relates to an improvement in letter-boxes and supports therefor, the object of the invention being to produce a simple, cheap, and substantial post or support for a letter-box.

A further object is to provide a letter-box which shall be of simple, cheap, and substantial construction and one which shall be effect-ual in the performance of its functions.

WVith these objects in view the invention consists in a wrought-iron or steel post for supporting a letter-box and means for securing said post in position.

The invention also consists in a letter-box made of sheet-steel and having its bottom and three sides made of a single piece of metal bent into-proper shape and rigidly secured by means of angle-irons; and the in- Vention also consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, as hereinafter set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is an elevation of my improved post and box secured thereto. Fig. 2 is a view illustrating my improved drop. Fig. 3 is an end view of the box. Fig. 4. is a plan view of the bottom of the box. Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional View through the box. Fig. 6 is aview of the blank from which the box is made. Figs. 7, 8, and 9 are detail views.

A represents my improved box, and B the supporting-post therefor. The box A is made of a sheet of steel, having abottom a, sides 1), and end 0 in one piece, the other end 0 being made of a separate piece and inserted over a door d, with which the box is provided. If desired, the sides I) and bottom a may be made of one piece of metal and both ends 0 c of separate pieces. The blank shown in Fig. 6 is bent up into proper shape and the sides and ends secured together by means of angleirons e, as shown in Fig. 5.

One side of the box is provided with an elongated slot 7 for the reception of letters, and over the top of the box is a roof 9.

Mounted in the ends of the box A is my improved drop O, said drop being located just inside the box near the elongated slot f and adapted to normally close said slot. The drop or guard O is composed of a skeleton made of, preferably, cast-iron sides 1 and steel rim 2, the ends of the steel rim being fastened to the sides 1. The sides 1 are provided with perforated bosses 3, said bosses being also each made with a recess 4. The ends of the box are perforated for the accommodation of the contracted ends 5 of lugs 6, which contracted ends also enter the recesses 4 in the bosses 3, thus producing bearings for the drop or guard. held together by means of bolts 7 passing through them. An arm 71 projects from one of the lugs 6, and on the end of this arm is a weight j, which serves to maintain the drop or guard O normally in position to close the elongated slot f, said drop or guard being limited in its movement when opened by means of a pin or projection is on the box A. Although I have claimed this drop or guard in this case only substantially the same construction has been disclosed in application Serial No. 408,687, filed by me October 14., 1891, and Serial No. 408,956, filed October 16, 1891.

The center of the bottom a of the box Aiis cut to produce two ears k in, which are bent downwardly and adapted to enter the hollow steel post 13, to which they are secured by means of suitable bolts L, said bolts also serving to secure a metal casting E to produce a finish between the base A and post 13. At the lower end of the metal tubular post is a metal ornamental casting F, located on the ground. Passing up through a portion of the tubular post B is a wooden post G, which is secured to the metal post B by means of screws m. The wooden post G is made with a shoulder n for the reception of the lower end of the metallic post B, and said post extends downwardly from the casting G and is adapted to be embedded in the ground, and thus rigidly support the entire device.

The bosses 3 and lugs 6 are A device thus constructed is very simple, cheap to manufacture, and effectual in the performance of all itsfunctions.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The combination, with a post having an enlarged flaring collar at the top, of a box located on the top of the post, projections extending from the box downward, and belts or similar devices passing through the projections, post, and collar, whereby to fasten the box to the post, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination,with a box having a slot formed therein, of a drop or guard comprising the sides, a rim secured to the sides, perforated bosses having recesses adapted to bear in holes in the sides of the box, lugs having contracted ends, one of the lugs having a weighted handle, and bolts passing through the bosses and lugs for holding said parts together, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with a metallic letterbox and a tubular post or support, of ears projecting downwardly from the bottom of said letter-box and entering said post, a cast Witnesses:

JOHN D. SPEER, THOMAS D. GRAHAM.

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