US483525A

US483525A - Island

Info

Publication number: US483525A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1892-10-04
Anticipated expiration: 1909-10-04

Description

(No Model.)

G. E. BEGKET.

LETTER BOX.

Patented Oct 4,1892.

NVEN-rn.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

GEORGE EIBECKET, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

LETTER-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 483,525, dated October 4, 1892.

Application filed January 6, 1892. Serial No. 417,197. (No model.)

T0 @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. BEcKET, a citizen of the United States, residing at Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, 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 the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to letter-boxes, but more especially such as are adapted to be conveniently attached to residences for the reception of private mail-matter; and it consists, essentially, of a frame portion and a self-closing box or receptacle pivoted thereto provided with a hinged bottom, all as will bev more fully hereinafter set forth and claimed.

The object of my invention is to provide a letter-box adapted in use to facilitate the delivery of mail-matter, the device being comparatively inexpensive and forming a safe holder for letters, dac. My improved letterbox possesses the qualities just referred to. It is, moreover, so constructed and arranged that when mounted in, say, the front door of a house the front or outside of the axiallymovable box may be utilized for a door-plate. The box portion is counterweighted or so pivoted that it automatically returns to its normal position immediately after the carrier has opened it to deposit or receive letters, dac. The device is provided with a hinged bottom, catches being used to secure the box in a fixed position when desired. By means of this device, when mounted as before stated, a person in the front hall can readily ascertain at a glance whether letters have been left there by the carrier on making his rounds. In order to prevent an accumulation of mailmatter in the box at any time, the bottom of the latter may be left open, in which case the letters, zc., pass through the box and fall directly to the Hoor after being introduced by the carrier.

In the accompanying sheet of drawings, Figure l is a front elevation in reduced scale, showing a door provided with my improved letter-box. Fig. 2 is a side elevation, enlarged, viewed from the rear. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line w o: of Fig. 2, showing the box open to receive letters, &c. Fig. 4 is a similar sectional view, the box' being closed and inits normal position. Fig. 5 is a sectional view similarto Fig. 3, the bottom of the box being open. Fig. 6 is a partial transverse sectional view, still further enlarged, showinga manner of locking the bottorn in position. Fig. 7 is a sectional view showing a similar device for locking the box from the inside to prevent its being opened, and Fig. Sis atransverse sectional View taken on line 0c of Fig. 7.

In the accompanying drawings, a indicates my improved letter-box complete, the same consisting of the frame portion f and the box or receptacle portion b, pivoted thereto. The frame f is, as drawn, substantially rectangular in form and is adapted to` be let into a correspondingly-shaped opening cut through the front door d, screws s, passing through the frame-iiange f3, serving to secure it 111 place against the rear side of the door. The Width of the frame transversely is substantially equal to the thickness of the door, all as clearly shown.

The box proper or receptacle b is made to freely receive letters Z, and is adapted to v1- brate in the frame f by means of pivot-pins p, passing through the front lower portions of the two ends. The front and rear sides b2 b of the box are integral with the ends. The rear side also serves as a stop in limiting the forward movement of the box. (See Figs. 3 and 5.) The back of the front side Z22 when the box is in its normal position bears against the circumscribing edge of the frame f, as in Fig. 4, thus limiting the rearward movement of the box. The front may,if desired, be further utilized to serve the purpose of a door-plate. (See Fig. l.) A slight projection 'L' is provided at the top of the side b2 to facilitate opening the box. The bottom c of the box is hinged at cto the back b. The frame is beveled off or depressed at f to permit the box to vibrate freely, thus allowing the latter to stand at an angle. The upper and lower edges of the front b2 are rabbeted,therebyformingcorrespondingseats m m. Into the upper one is fitted a sliding (see Eig. 4..) y

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dovetail bolt lo, arranged to enter a hole lc, formed in the frame, as clearly indicate-d in Fig. 7. When in this position, it is obvious that the box cannot be opened from the outside. In like manner the bottoni c may be looked to the lower portion m of the box, a shown in Fig. 6. Y n

As before stated, the device not only forms a very convenient house letter-box, but it also enables the carrier to dispose of mail-pieces with greater dispatch. YWhen pieces to be delivered are toc large to enter the box, they may be laid across it outside, as shown by dotted lines L2, Fig. 8,*although if the bottom c be unlocked from the frame such large Ypiecesrmay be passed VVdirectly through the box (see arrow-direction, Fig. 5) and fall directly to the Hoor. The box automatically returns to its normal position upon being re-Y leased bythe letter-carrier, and, if desired, a

spring may be employed for thus returning or tilting the box in lieu of a counter-weight. Obviously the Vbottom Yc may be integral with the box b, although practically I prefer to make it movabie for reasons before stated.

The device can, if desired, be secured tothe door-frame orjothernsuitable place conveniently accessible to the letter-carrier.

I claim as my invention-Q Y 1. The house-door letter-box hereinbefore described, consisting of the frame portion adapted YVto be permanently secured Yto the door, having an' openingy or mouth formed therein increasing in width ina vertical direction from the front, and the box or receptacle b, pivoted to the frame and arranged to be tilted back andl forth in said opening and liaving'the front b2 of the box arranged to practically conceal the frame-"opening 2. The house-door letter-box substantially as hereinbefore described, the same consisting of the frame portionf, adapted to be permanently secured to the door, having its in- :ner opening wider vertically than the front or outer opening, andY the self-closing box b,

pivoted to and arranged to be vibrated or