US749428A - Jto model - Google Patents

Description

No; 749,428. PATENTBD JAN. 12, 1904. P. s. DUSENBURY &- H. MQKELLY.

MAIL OR LETTER BOX.

APPLIOATION FILED APR. 29. 1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

N0 MODEL.

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PATBNTED JANQlZ, 1904. P. s. DUSENBURY & 1-1. M. KELLY. MAIL 0R LETTER BOX.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 29. 1903 N0 MODEL. V 2 SHEETS-SHEBT 2.

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Patented January 12, 1904.

'- UNITED T T PATENT. OFFICE- PHILIP s. DUSENBURY AND HENRY M, I I Q L oF s f FRANCISCO, ican ronum a r a MAILQR LETTERMBOX."

ljlsracirionquoivror ia part of Letters Patent No. 749,428, dated January 12, 1904..

l 2 3 A plication filed'April 29, 1903. SBI'ialNd. 154,868. (N0 modelL) l Ta a whomjit may concern? :Be it known that we, PHILIP S. DUSENBUR'Y and HENRY M. KELLY, citizens of the United Statesiresiding at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail or Letter Boxes; and we 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 3.1)".

and tosimplify construction and facilitate operation.

It consists of the combination of parts, including their construction and arrangement, substantially as hereinafter more fully disclosed and specifically pointed out by the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating the preferred embodiment of our invention, Figure 1 is a front view thereof. Fig. 2 is a side elevation, and Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation. Fig. 4: is a like section or view disclosing the operative parts in the position they assume when depositing mail in the box.

In carrying into practice our invention we provide the usual closure or box 1 for receiving or containing the mail, having preferably in its lower front portion the usual door 2 for the removal by the collector or other authorized person of the mail. To deflect or shed water, as in inclement weather, an inclined ledge or flange 10 is applied to said box above the door 2. Upon the upper end of said closure or box is suitably hinged or pivoted a hood or cover 3, preferably curved. or arcuate in cross section, said box or closure at its upper end also being preferably curved in correspondence with the curvature of said cover or hood and through the upper end of the box at its front is producedtheletter-receiving slot or opening 4. Said cover or" hood has its depending lateral portions 3 fitting or arranged exterio rly of prising a plate fixed to and movable with the pivot or rod 3" and having a forwardly curved or inclined upward extension with its upper end arranged contiguously to the inner surface of the top or upper end portion of said box, and thus adapted to guard the previouslydeposited mail or contents of the latter when the mail-receiving slot is exposed, as when the cover or hood is moved from over said slot, as against access to said contents from that point via the upper part of said box. Said guard or valve, pivot, and hood or cover are thus also fixed with relation to each other, and accordingly adapted to move together as said cover or hood is actuated in depositing or putting mail into the closure or box. To said plate or guard at its rear side is suitably connected one end of a spring 6, its upper end being likewise connected to the closure or box 1 to provide for so actuating the cover or hood when released after having been moved, as in exposing the letter-receiving slot, as to cause said cover or hood to automatically close said slot, and thus retain the same normally in such position. Also it will be noted that the relative arrangement of the cover or hood and the valve or guard is such that when said cover or hood is moved, as in exposing the letter or mail receiving slot or opening, the lower edge or end of said guard or valve will engage or contact with the front wall of the closure or box, and thus prevent, as would otherwise be the case, possibility of access through that channel to the mail previously deposited in said closure or box.

An indicator or signal 7 is used to indicate to the collector the fact that the box or closure 1 contains mail for removal, comprising a staff 7 carrying a suitable symbol or figure 7", as the representation of a flag, &c., and

pivoted at one end to the front of the box or closure, said symbol or signal being raised to a vertical position by any one placing mail in said box as an indication of that fact. Said signal is automatically retained in such vertical position by the action of a spring 8, secured to a bracket 8 on the box or closure 1, said spring being arranged in such relation to the inner pivoted end of said staff as to be forcibly engaged by said end of said staif as the last named is raised, the recoil action of said spring thus exerted upon said staff effecting such retention of said staff. Of course I the collector after removing the mail from within said box and having a fixed relation to said hood or cover, said box having an offset projecting inwardly from the inner surface thereof, the lower edge or end of said valve or guard being adapted to engage said ofl'set as said cover or hood is moved to expose the mail or letter receiving slot of said box.

2. Amail or letter box embracing a pivoted hood or cover having pendent lateral portions external of said box, and said pendent portions having fixed thereto a shaft carrying a guard or valve by the actuation of which hood or cover said guard or valve will engage the front wall of said box, and means for automatically returning said hood or cover to its initial position.

3. A mail or letter box having in its upper front portion, a letter or mail receiving slot or opening, a pivoted cover or hood adapted to close said slot or opening and having pendent lateral portions external of said box and fixed to a shaft-bearing in the sides of said box and passing therethrough, a valve or guard fixed'to said shaft and having its upper extended edge arranged contiguously to the inner surface of said upper end portion and its lower portion adapted to guard the contents of said closure, and means adapted to hold said lower portion of said valve normally away from the closure front wall and to automatically effect the return of said cover or hood to its initial position, after the release of said cover.

4. A mail or letter box having in its upper front portion, a letter or mail receiving slot or opening, a pivoted cover or hood adapted to close said slot or opening, and having pendent lateral portions external of said box and fixed to a shaft-bearing in the sides of said box and passing therethrough, said box having an oifset projecting inwardly from the inner surface thereof, a valve or guard fixed to said shaft and having its upper extended edge arranged contiguously to the inner surface of said upper end portion, and its lower portion adapted to contact with said offset, and means adapted to hold said lower portion of said valve normally away from the closure front wall and to automatically effect the return of said cover or hood to its initial position, after the release of said cover.

5. A mail or letter box embracing a closure having an upper curved end or portion, provided with the letter-receiving slot or opening, a hood or cover conforming to the curvature of said upper end portion and having pendent lateral portions, external of said box and fixed to a shaft-bearing in the sides of said box and passing therethrough, and a valve or guard fixed to said shaft and having its upper edge adapted to move in close proximity with the inner surface of said upper end portion, and its lower portion adapted to guard the contents of said closure, and a spring connected to said valve or guard and to said closure and adapted to hold said lower portion of said valve normally away from the front wall of said closure and to automatically cause said cover or hood to cover the letter-receiving slot after the release of said cover.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

PHILIP S. DUSENBURY. HENRY M, KELLY, Witnesses:

FRANK B. HOYT, HARRY L. HORN.

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