US59287A - Letter-box file - Google Patents

Description

T. K. STERRETT AND W. R.v FARRELL,

OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

LETTER-,Box FILE.

Specification forming-*part of Letters Patent N0. 59,257. dated October 30, 1866.

.To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that we, THOMAS K. STERRETT and WILLIAM R. FARRELL, of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and .State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and Improved Letter-Box or Pigeon-Hole; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

The present invention relates to a box or pigeon-hole, as it is ordinarily called, for the reception of letters, bills, memorandums, and documents of various kinds; and it has for its principal object tohold the papers, when folded and placed within the box or pigeonhole, in such amanner as to obviate all possibility of their becoming unfolded and consequently mixed, as will be hereinafter explained, reference being had to the accompanying plate of drawings, in which- Figure l is a view of the front or open end of the pigeon-hole; Fig. 2, a similar view Ato Fig. l, but- With a portion broken ont and in section; Fig. 3, a vertical section, taken in the plane of the line m, Fig. 1, and in the direction of the length of the box; Fig. 4, a longi- 1 tudinal vertical section, taken in the plane of the line y y, Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts.

A in the drawings represents the letter-box or pigeon-hole,7 as it is ordinarily termed, made of wood or any other suitable material, open at one end, B, but closed upon all other sides, the box being rectangular in shape and of suitable width to accommodate the documents, whether letters, bills, memorandums, &c., to be folded and placed within it. Within the box A is placed a loose board or plate, C, having upon its upper side two long wire staples, D, under which, respectively, move and slide the cross-bars E of two frames, F and G, which are hung by their upper ends, H, to both sides of the box A, so as to cross or intersect each other, as plainly shown in.Fig. 4 of the drawings. The frames, by one of their upper ends, extend through one side of the box, and by their extension portions I, at their bent ends, are interlocked or engaged with the slots J of the slotted horizontal bar K, arranged so as to slide and move upon the exterior of one side of the box, it being guided thereon bythe vertical groove L, in which moves the lip M of the bar K, and the toothed rack N, forming a part thereof. With this toothed rack N engages a pinion-wheel, O, secured to a horizontal shaft, P, turning in fixed bearings of the outside, and projecting through the front end, B, of the box, with a milled head, Q, upon its outer end for convenience in turning it. Around this shaft P a spiral spring, B is wound, which at one end is fixed therein, and at its other in the bearings for the shaft toward the front end ofthe box. f

By turning the shaft P to the right, the slotted bar in which the swinging frames are hung, as above explained, is made to move upward, thus raising the board within the box, so as to allow any letters or other documents to be placed under the same when releasing the haudfrom the said shaft. The board then falls by its own Weight, aided by the force of the spring coiled around the shaft, tightly and rmly binding and pressing whatever letters, Ste., may be under the board within the box, and thus preventing them from becoming either unfolded or mixed-the importance of which in the filing of letters, 85e., is obvious to all business men.

S S, grooves made in the outside of the box A for the bent ends of the extension portions of the frames F and G to move in.

Upon the pinion-shaft P is secured a collar, T, one end of which is toothed or notched, and by the action of the spiral spring B is held engaged with a similar notched collar, U, xed to the front piece V of the box in suitable positio'u'therefor, the shaft P being allowed sufficient lateral play in its bearings that by simply pressing upon its head its ratchet-collarl can be disengaged from the fixed collar U, and thus, setting the shaft free, allow it to turn through the action of the spring coiled around it, and lower the board within the box, this ratchet-collar arrangement serving to hold the board at any desired elevation within the box.

It may be here remarked, in conclusion, that any desired number of letter-boxes or pigeontoothed collars T, notched collar U, arranged with the box, having grooves S and L, as described, and operating substantialhT as and for the purpose specified.

THOS. K. STERRETT. WM. R. FARRELL.

Witnesses:

A. H. SHOEMAKER, AGHALKLEY ToLAY.

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