US751922A - Mail-box - Google Patents

Description

N0.'751,922. k I PATENTED FEB. 9, 1904;

' J. v. KEENER.

MAIL BOX.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 22, 1903.

no menu.

Patented February 9, 1904.

PATENT cam MAIL-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 751,922, dated February 9, 1904.

Application filed April 22,1903. $erial1l'0. 153,865. (No model.) i

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOSEPHINE V. KEENER, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Joseph, in the county of Buchanan and State of Missouri, have invented new and useful Improvements in Mail-Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in mail-boxes especially adapted to be secured to house-doors; and its object is to provide an inexpensive and attractive device of this character having an alarm adapted to be sounded when mail is deposited within the box.

A further object is to provide a separate receptacle upon the mail-box into which any desired articles may be deposited.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, which is a section through a mail-box constructed in accordance with my invention.

Referring to the drawing by numerals of reference, 1 is a box formed of any suitable material and having an opening 2 in one side thereof which is adapted to be normally closed by means of a door 3, which may be locked in any suitable manner. The front face of the box may be grooved, as shown at 4, for the reception of an artistic plate 5 or any other similar ornamental device, and the opposite or rear end of the box is open and adapted to be secured to a door 6. Outwardly-extending ears 7 are formed at the rear edges of the receptacle'and are adapted to be connected to the door by means of screws 8 or any other fastening devices.

Secured to the top of receptacle 1 is a suitable figure 9, preferably a bust representing the Goddess of Liberty, and this figure is hollow and divided, by means of a partition 10, into two compartments 11 and 12. A standard 13 is arranged in compartment 12 and has a bell l4 thereon, and a clapper 15 is arranged upon the standard and within the bell and has a flexible strip 16 connected thereto. This strip extends downward through a slot 17 formed in the top of receptacle 1, and passes under a pulley 18 and downward through an inclined slot 19, formed within the door. The outer end of this slot is normally closed by a lid 20, which is hinged at its upper edge and is connected adjacent to its lower edge to the outer end of the strip 16. A plate-holder 21 is preferably secured to the door 6 at a point adjacent to and above the cover 20, and a curved flange 22 extends downward from this plate and over the hinge of the cover 20, so as to protect the hinge of said cover from rain, dust, &:c. The upper compartment 11 is preferably formed within the head of the figure, and the upper portion 23 of the head forms the closure therefor, said closure being-hinged, as shown at 24. A

It will be seen that whenever the cover 20 is raised to permit a letter or parcel to be insorted into the slot 19 the bell 14:. will be sounded. The compartment 11 can be used as a receptacle for cards or any other desired articles. It will also be seen that the walls of the compartment 12 of the bust or figure 9 serve to inclose the alarm device in a manner to protect it from injury and that said device is supported by the box itself rather than by the door or other structure to which the box is secured. By thus supporting the alarm device the same is not required to be attached to or removed from the structure separately from or independently of the box itself, and thusless cutting out or wearing of the surface of the structure is necessary than would otherwise be the case. I

In the foregoing description I have shown the preferred form of my invention; but I do not limit myself thereto, as I am aware that modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantagesthereof, and I therefore reserve the right to make such changes as fairly fall within the scope of my invention.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new is The combination with a suitable structure, having a slot therethrough, and provided at one side with a closure for the slot, of a box secured to the other side of the structure, and

provided with a top having a slot therein, said box having communication with the slot first named, a guide-pulley supported in the box adjacent to this slot, an alarm supported on said top adjacent to the slot therein,-a device on the top for inclosing the alarm, a clapper for the alarm, and an operating-strip for the clapper, said strip extending through both of said slots and over the guide-pulley and con nected to said closure. 10

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPHINE V. KEENER. Witnesses:

JOSEPH R. GENEREUX, FRANK LANE.

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