US932453A - Mail-box. - Google Patents

Description

E. W EASTERLING.

MAIL BOX.

APPLICATION I'ILED SEPT.4,19OB.

932,453. Patented Aug. 31, 1909.

UNTE S ELBERT W. EASTERLING, OF NICKELSVILLE, VIRGINIA.

MAIL-B 0X.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 4, 1908. Serial No. 451,763.

T 0 all w7wm it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELBERT W. EASIER- L'ING, a citizen of the United States, residing at Niclcelsville, in the connty of Scott and State of Virginia, have invented new and nsefnl I1nprove1nents in Mail-Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to mail boxes, the object in view being to provide a simple, convenient and practical mail box for rural delivery pnrposes embodying novcl means for signaling both the mail carrier and the patron, in connection with means for locking snch signal when in position for signaling the carrier, the box also embodying nove means for holding stamped postal carde and currency in payment of the same.

Vith the above and other objects in view, the nature of which Will more fully appear as the description proceeds the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as herein fnlly described, illustrated and claimed.

In the accompanying drawingssFigure 1 is a perspective view of the complete mail box closed, and the signal arranged for the carrier. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the box partly in section, showing the lid raised and thrown back. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section through the box with the lid closed and locked. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the rerersible signal, showing the shaft thereof in cross section.

The main bcdy of the box is preferably made in semi-cylindrical form as shown at 1 and constrncted of a single sheet metal blank while the ends 2 thereof are made in separate pieces, flanged about their marginal edges and inserted in any convenient manner as by a grip joint illustrated at 3 in Fig. 2.

Upon the box is arranged a lid 4 which entirely covers the top of the box and is prorided with a pendent marginal fiange 5 along its Sides and end which fiange overhangs the box and prevents water or dirt from finding access thereto. Connected to the front of the lid by means of an eye 6 or its equivalent is a padlock 7 adapted to engage a staple or eye 8 on the body of the box for the purpose of locking the lid. The lid is also provided with an upwardly projecting finger lift 9 to facilitate opening and closing the same.

Mounted on the under side of the lid 4 is a closure shaft 10 one end of Which is 1nonnted in a bearing formed by providing an opening in one end of the fianges of the lid while adjacent to its other end said shaft is journaled in a suitable bearing 11 located adjacent to the center of the lid as shown in 2. Upon the outer projecting end of the shaft 10 there is arranged a two-armed signal 12 having the enlarged or disk- shaped ends 13 and 14 one of which may have printed or otherwise represented therein such a designating character as the capital letter P t0 indicate the patron while on the other arn1 the letter C may be placed to indicate the carrier as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4. The signal turns with the shaft 10 and the opposite or inner end of the shaft is provided with a right angular extension 15 which by coming in contact with the under side of the lid 4 forms a stop for limiting the rotary movement of said shaft thereby positioning either one arm or the other of the signal as indicated in Figs. 1 and 3. I also secure to the under side of the lid 4 a clip 16 somewhat resembling the shape of the capital letter W the ends thereof being fixedly secured to the under side of the lid by means of snitable fasteners 17 While the intermediate portion of said clip is left free and composed of spring material such as Wire, a letter or several letters may be inserted between said clip and the under side of the lid, such letter or letters thereby serving as a lock for the stop 15 and preventing the shaft 10 from turning, when the shaft is turned to the position shown in Fig. 2 with the stop 15 lying between the central diverging portions of the clip, and a letter or letters are inserted under the clip, the letter C is displayed at the top of the box after the lid is closed thus directing the attention of the carrier to the fact that there is mail in the box to be collected. When any letters are placed in the box by the carrier, he reverses the signal, displaying the letter P at the top thereof and calling the patrons attention to the fact that the box contains mail for said patron.

ithin the box is fitted the removable stamp and card tray 18 shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the same being in the form of a trongh extending lengthwise of one side of the box and provided with hooks 19 adapted to bock over the rear edge of the box as shown in Fig. 3 whereby said tray is supported at a point just beneath the lid 4 when the latter is closed. The trough comprises a front flange or Wall 20 which is scalloped or serrated and formed with vertical slots 21 Patented Ang. 31, 1909.

adapted to receive postal cards, stamped envelops and the like in return for cnrrency placed in the trough to be collected by the carrier W110 may thus deliver any number of postal cards or sramps paid for in the manner described. Vhen not needed, the tray 18 may be detached and removed from the box by simply unhooking it from the rear edge of the box.

I claimz 1. A mail box comprising a box body, a lid having a jointed connect-ion therewith, a signal shaft jonrnaled on the under-side of the lid, a signal fastened on the projecting end of said shaft outside of the plane of the box, an angular extension of said shaft for1ning a stop adapted to coperate With the under side of the lid, and a clip carried by the lid and adapted in connection with said stop to prevent rotative movement of the signal shaft.

2. A mail box comprising a box body, a hinged lid, a signal shaft jonrnaled on the underside of the lid, a reversible signal mounted on the projeoting and of said shaft 'outside of the plane of the box and embodying oppositely extending signal a11ns, and a stop on said shaft adapted to contact with the inner side of the lid and serving to limit the rotative movement of said shafc and the swinging movement of the signal arms.

3. A mail box comprising a hinged lid, a signal shaftjournaled on the under side of the lid, a signal fastened on the p1ojecting end of said shaft outside of the plane of the box, an angnlar extension of said shaft forming a stop adapted to coperate with the ander side of the lid, and a clip carried by (lie lid and adapted to coperate with said stop to prevent rotative movernent of the signal shaft.

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

ELBERT WV. EASTERLING.

Witnesses J. F. MCCONNELL, J12, V. V. GIFIFSON.

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