US509254A - Letter-box - Google Patents

Description

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G. E. SIBBIWER'V A LETTER B0X.

HIIIIJUIII 'UNITED STATES. j

lAfrEiwnr OFFIQE.

GEORGE E. SIEBLEROF DAYTON, OHIO.

LETTER-Box.

SPECIFICATION forming" part of Letters Patent No. 509,254, dated November 21, 18.93.

Applicationiiled December 17l 1892. Serial No. 455,438- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. SIEBLER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Dayton, in the countyof Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in LetterBoxes; and Iv do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled inA the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in street door letter-boxes, and the object is to provide an improved construction of same whereby I secure superior advantages with respect to economy, simplicity, and efiiciency in operation.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts, hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved letter box, the same being shown open. Fig. 2 is a central cross sectional view of the same. `Fig. 3

is a similar View, taken near one end of the box. Fig. 4 is a front View, the door or cover being removed; and Fig. 5 is a detail view. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the rectangular plate or door, looking from the inside. Fig. 7 is a central cross sectional view of the box, showing a letter inserted therein and the door closed.

In the said drawings the reference numeral 1 designates a rectangular box constituting the letter receptacle open at the front, and

formed at the back at or near the center thereof with an outwardly projecting screw-thread` ed boss 2, adapted to receive a nut 4 having a recess 4a in its outer end. This box is secured to the outside of a door by means of .the boss 2 and nut 4, the boss projecting through an aperture inthe door and extending a short distance beyond the inner side thereof so as to receive the nut. Journaled in bearings 5 secured to the box near the upper side thereof, is an oscillatory shaft 6, provided at one end with an inwardly projecting hooked arm 7. The other end of the shaft is located in an inwardly extending sleeve 8, passing through an aperture in the side wall of the box and flush therewith on the outer side.

The end of this shaft is adapted to engage with a key orv other instrument inserted into the sleeve from the outside whereby the hinged or pivoted cover or door can be unlocked from Vthe outside, as hereinafter de-l scribed. The shaft 6 at or near its center is provided with a downwardly projecting arm 9, having its end bent at a right angle and passing through a central aperture inthe boss 2 and nut 4, being provided at its end with a button 10, adapted to be seated in the recess 4a of the nut 4. The shaft ymay also be provided with arms 12, if desired.

The numeral 13 denotes a rectangular plate, slightly smaller than the opening in the box, and at each end is provided withl an inwardlyv projecting ear 14, by whichl it is pivoted to the ends of the box. Atene of its upper corners the door or lid is provided With an inwardly projecting lug 15, having an aperture or hole therein with which the hooked arm 7, is adapted to engage. It will be noted that the said arm is beveled upon its inner upper end, andthe lug 15 formed with a corresponding bevel, so that they will ride past eachother.

Secured to the inner side of the box is a spring 1'6`,the upper end of which is connected with the shaft 6. The object of this spring is to throw the arm 9 outward when the door is opened. V'The numeral 17, designates a spring secured to the vinner side of the back of the box,the free end of which abuts against the lug` 14. The object of this spring is to aid in closing the door. Secured to the inner side of the rectangular plate or door are two downwardly extending spring arms 21, one at each side of arm 9.

The door or lid on its outer side is provided with a supplemental cover 18, bent downwardly at its upper andinuer sides, the edges of which are secured to the lid. A space 19 is thus formed for the reception of papers, books, dro. The supplemental cover is provided with a finger-hold 20. n

The operation of the device is as follows: Thebox is secured to a door by means of the boss 2, and nut 4. To deposit a letter the door or lid is opened by pushing on the finger-hold, and the letter 23 is inserted in IOO the box between the arms 9 and 12, and the spring arms 2l. By now closing the door or lid the spring arms 21 will press the letter upon or against t-he arms 12 and 9, causing them to be pressed inward and the button be forced out of its seat. This will cause the shaft 6, to be rotated so that as the door closes the catch 7, will engage with the lug 15, on the door and thus lock the latter. To unlock the door the button 10, is pressed, actuating bent arm 9 which owing to the resiliency of the spring arms 2l, will be forced outwardly and rotating shaft 6, so as to release the hooked arm from engagement with the lug 15 and allow the door to be opened; It will thus be seen that the button serves 1 two purposes, viz'., to unlock the door as just described, and to indicate that there is mail in the box, as when there are no letters therein it will lie in the recess in the nut and not project outward from the same. It will also be noted that the door is locked only when there is mail in the box, as when there is no Inail therein, the bent arms 9 will pass between the spring arms 2l, when the door is closed, so that the shaft 6, will not be actuated and the catch 7, will consequently ride past lug 15, without engaging therewith, so that the door will not be locked.

My device may be used also as a delivery box, that is to say, letters may be placed therein to be taken up by the carrier for transmission to the post-office. In this case the carrier is provided With a key which can be inserted in the sleeve 8, so as to engage with the end of shaft 6, whereby it may be turned to unlock the door.

The arms 12 secured to shaft 6 are for the purpose of supporting the letters mailed in the box, but they may be dispensed with if desired.

From the above it will be seen that I provide a letter-box for street doors in which dust, dirt, and rain are eectually excluded and which is also reasonably secure from opening by unauthorized persons.

The object of the supplemental cover is to provide a receptacle in which papers and other matter of small value may be inserted.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a letter box the combination with the letter receptacle having ascrew-threaded boss with an aperture therein, a nut engaging with said boss and provided with a recess, a spring actuated oscillatory shaft journaled in bearings in the letter receptacle, the inwardly extending sleeve in which one end of the shaft is located, the hooked arms at 4the other end of the shaft, the bent arm secured to said shaft and projecting through the boss and nut and the button secured to said arm, of the hinged or pivoted lid or cover having a lug with a recess adapted to engage with the hooked arm, and the springs ysecured to the lid or door, substantially as described.

2. In a letter box for street and other doors, the combination with the box constituting the letter receptacle, of the oscillatory shaft having a bent arm projecting through the back of the box, the hooked arm or catch carried by said shaft, the hinged door having a lug with an aperture therein with which said catch is adapted to engage, and the spring arms secured to said door, at each side of said bent arm, substantially as described.

In a letter box, the combination with the letter receptacle havinga screw threaded boss with an aperture therein, a nut provided with a recess, adapted to engage with the boss, a spring actuated oscillatory shaft located in said letter receptacle and provided with a bent arm passing through said boss and nut and having a button, and the hooked arm or catch at one end of said shaft, of the pivoted door having a lug with an aperture therein with which said catch engages, and the spring arms secured to the inner side of said door, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereunto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE E. SIEBLER.

Witnesses:

GEORGE B. LEWIS, ALBERT R. TIFFANY.

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