US719474A - Mail-box for rural free delivery. - Google Patents

Description

No. 719,474. PATBNTEDFEB. s, 1903.

H. N. KING.

MAIL BOX FOR RURAL FREE DELIVERY. APPLIUATIQN FILED my '7, 1902.

I0 MODEL.

WITNESSES. v JNVEJVTOR.

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UNHED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY N. KING, OF ADRIAN, MICHIGAN.

MAIL-BOX FOR RURAL FREE DELIVERY.

SPECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 719,474, dated February 3, 1903.

Application filed May 7,1902. Serial No. 106,240. (No model.)

To aZZ whom zit may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY N. KING, a citizen of the United States, residing at Adrian, county of Lenawee, State of Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Mail-Boxes for Rural Free Delivery, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention has for its object certain new and useful improvements in a mail-box for rural free delivery; and it consists of the construction, combination, and arrangement of devices hereinafter specified and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a View in perspective. Fig. 2 is a view in vertical longitudinal section. Fig. 3 is a view in vertical cross-section. Fig. 4 is a detail view showing the loop 2' and slot 7' on an enlarged scale.

The aim of my invention is to provide a mail-box of this description of superior durability, economy, and utility.

I carry out my invention as follows: In the drawings, a represents the vertical wall, or, in other words, the sides and ends of the box, all made in a single integral piece of suitable sheet metal formed of a suitable blank stamped and pressed into desired form. The cover is indicated at I), having side and end flanges bent downward over the upper edges of the walls of the box, as shown. The bottom is indicated at 0, formed with downwardlyprojecting side and end flanges, through which the bottom is riveted to the lower edges of the walls of the box, as shown at at. One of the ends of the box, preferably, is formed with an opening 6 for the insertion of mail into the box, said opening, covered with a hood f, having a hinged engagement at its upper end, as shown at g, to the inner surface of the corresponding end of the box above the opening. To this end a strap h is secured to the adjacent inner surface of the box, formed with a loop i at its lower end, the hood being constructed with a slot at j, in which said loop is engaged. It will be obvious that the hood will have but a limited opening in consequence of the upper edge of the hood striking against the inner face of the loop, the hood opening, however, sufficiently to permit the insertion of mail, but not opening sufliciently to afford access to the contents of the box. The upper edge of the hood is cut away at its corners, forming an intermediate tongue it, having the slot j, which is passed through the opening g to engage the loop 11. The rear downwardly-projecting flange of the cover I) is slotted, as at Z. Straps or hinges m, formed with loops n, are secured to the rear outer face of the wall a, the loops 1]. being engaged in the slots Z to form hinges for the cover. It will be obvious that the lower edge of the flange of the cover, when the cover is open, striking against the loop will form a stop to limit the movement of the cover and prevent its dropping down against the rear face of the box, the cover being thus supported, as indicated in dotted lines, Fig. 3.

A haspp is secured to the front face of the wall of the box, formed with a loop q, the loop entering a slot at r in the front depending flange of the cover, into which loop a suitable lock may be engaged.

On one of the inner faces of the box is socured a mail-holder s for holding outgoing mail. Also upon one of the inner surfaces of the wall of the box is located a swinging money box or support, (indicated at t,) said support being pivotally connected with the wall of the box, as indicated at u, so that the device may be tilted downward to discharge the money therein, one end of said box being open, as indicated at 'u, for the ready discharge of the money into the hands of the carrier. The straps on are riveted or otherwise secured to the outer face of the box, as indicated at w.

A signal device is indicated at w, the same being pivotally engaged with one of the end flanges of the cover, as indicated at y, said flange being also provided with a stop, as indicated at a, to limit the movement of the signal device in one direction and support said device in displayed position. This device being pivotally engaged with the end flange of the cover, it will obviously be thrown down out of displayed position whenever the cover is opened and will remain. in such position until thrown back in displayed position. The upright walls of the box, as above noted, are formed of one piece of metal cut to shape, as

also the cover, the cover being made withouta seam. The adjacent edges of the piece constituting the walls of the box are lapped at the rear of the box and riveted together, as indicated at the numeral 1. The Walls, cover, and bottom of the box may be constructed by machinery, the slots and rivet-holes therein being also formed by machinery. A box so made is strong and durable and not liable to get out of order.

The mail-holder s I prefer to construct with a single piece of wire bent upward intermediate of its ends, the extremities of the Wire being engaged with the wall of the box.

What I claim as my invention is 1. A mail-box embodying a vertical Wall forming the sides and ends thereof, a cover, and a bottom united to said wall, each formed in a single piece, and straps each formed with a loop at its upper end engaged upon the rear outer face of said Wall, a hasp engaged with the front face of said wall formed with a loop at its upper end, said cover formed with a downwardly-projecting flange slotted to receive the loops of the straps, and the loop of the hasp.

2. In a mail-box a swinging money box or support having an oscillatory engagement with the innersurface of said box, said money box or support open at one of the lateral ends thereof.

3. A mail-box having an opening for the reception of mail and a hood to close said opening, the adjacent inner face of the wall provided with a strap above said opening formed with a loop, the upper edge of the hood slotted to engage said loop on the inner face of the box, said hood having a limited outer movement by the contact of its upper edge with the loop of the strap.

4. A mail-box embodying a vertical wall forming the sides and ends thereof, a cover, and a bottom united to said wall each formed in a single piece, the rear outer face of said wall provided with straps each formed with a loop at its upper end,said cover formed with a downwardly-projecting flange slotted to receive the loops of the straps, said cover adapted'to be supported in open position by the con tact of the lower edge of said flange with the loops of the straps.

5. A mail-box embodying a vertical wall forming the sides and ends thereof, a cover, and a bottom united to said wall each formed in a single piece, straps engaged with the rear outer surface of said wall each formed with a loop at its outer end, said cover formed with a downwardly-projecting flange slotted to receive the loops of the straps and thereby form a jointed engagement of the cover with the wall of the box, and a mail-holder Within said box. In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

. HENRY N. KING. Witnesses:

FRED A. ACKER, A. DOBBINS.

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