US507956A

US507956A - Letter-box

Info

Publication number: US507956A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1893-10-31
Anticipated expiration: 1910-10-31

Description

. (No Model.) 2 Sheets-She-et 1. E.V WOLF. LETTER B0X. V No. 507,956. Patented 001;. 31, 189s.

(No Model.) 2 sheets-sheet 2.

' E. WOLF. LETTER BOX.

No. 507,956. Patented o0t.31,1a93.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD WOLF, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

LETTER-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 507,956, dated October 31, 1893.

Application iled December 22, 18'92. Serial No. 456,053. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: y

Be it known that I, EDWARD WOLF, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of laltimore city,in the State of Maryland, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement 1n Letter-Boxes, of which the following 1s a description.

Thisl invention relates to an improvement in letter boxes, and more particularly to that class employed in street service.

The object of the invention is to produce a letter box of the above description which will effectually prevent unauthorized removal of the mail matter when once deposited.

A further object is to provide a letter box having its walls so constructed as to prevent any catching of mail matter between the said walls and the pocket when the latter is turned down for the removal of the mail matter.

A further object is to provide a mail box havlng a removable bottom whereby to facilitate the depositing of themail matter within a bag, thus obviating the necessity of thrusting the hand within the box for that purpose, Jits with mail boxes of the ordinary construcion.

With these objects in view the invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts of a mail box as will be herev inafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts, Figure 1, is a vertical transverse section of the mail box constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2, isa vertical longitudinal sectional view of the same. Fig. 3, is a perspective view of the shutter and its Aattached mechanism removed fromthe box.

Referring to the drawings, 1, designates the box, the upper portion of which is provided wlth a curved top 2, a ledge 3, and a pivoted {iap or shutter et for closing the mail opening.

The hap or shutter is pivoted at its lower end in the respective sides of the box by means of a pintle or rod 6, and is provided at its upper end and at each side with a lug or projection 7, and a continuous flange 8, extending at an angle to the shutter proper and forming a stop. At a point near the rear side of the box, and on each side thereof, is piv' oted a link 9 to which is secured a deliecting plate 10, either integrally or by means of suitable fastening devices. To each of the links 9 is.V pivotally attached a lever-arm 11, the free end of eaclrof which is pivotally attached to one of the lugs 7 of the shutter. When the shutter is closed the deliecting plate assumes an angle sufficient to project the mailnratter into the pocket, and when the shutter is opened the deliecting plate is brought to the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, with the flange 8, bearing upon the plate and serving to limit its upward movement. The

downward movement of the plate is limited by means of a rigid stop `12, clearly shown in Fig. l.

The pocket 13, to which referencehas been made, is of the ordinary shape. As before stated, it is desirous to prevent any catching of mail-matter between the sides of the pocket and the box, and in order to accomplish this result the lower portion of the side walls of the box are made double, as shown at 14, and between these double walls the sides of the pocket work. The upper ends of the double walls are connected with the sides proper by means of an inclined piece 15, which serves to prevent any lodgment of mail at this point. The pocket is held in place by means of an ordinary lock 16, such as is usually employed. The function ofthe pocket is to permit of the removal of the mail by the letter carrier in the usual manner, but should it be desirous to deposit the mail directly in a bag, such construction would not be found to answer the purpose. In order to provide for this contingency the bottom 17, of the box is made removable and works in guides 18 formed in the lower portion of the sides of the box. The upper surface of the bottom is provided with a series of ribs or corrugations 19 which are designed to be engaged by fingers 20 car- IOO der to permit of the introduction of a wire or l the like, and bythe time the shutter has been moved down a sufficient distance to permit of the removal of any mail matter, the deflecting plate will have assumed a position which will further preclude the admission of the wire, while a further raising of the plate will bring the fiange 8 into Contact with it, and thus close ingress to the box.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, ils- 1. A mail-box having a mail-opening and a shutter pivoted at its lower end and arranged to close the said opening and having a rearward extendingiiange on its upper portion, in combination with a pivoted deiecting-plate EDWARD WOLF.

Witnesses:

LOUIS KRUMMJ r., p J. S. RUsKL