Abstract:
This invention relates to a closable counter device for a vertical wall structure such as a door of a house or an office or room in a building and more particularly to a closable counter device on a vertical wall such as a door adapted to conveniently communicate with a visitor or visitors or to deliver an article or articles therethrough in the condition of opening the counter device while the door is latched without imparting any discomfort to the visitor or visitors and in a safe manner in connection with prevention of crimes as well as in connection with prevention of privacy.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In the prior art, a vertical wall such as a door is usually provided with a peephole, or otherwise, with a small lens through a hole in the wall through which a visitor or visitors can be confirmed. Alternatively, the door is restrained from being fully opened by means of a chain device while it remains slightly open. However, such prior art devices have disadvantageously imparted discomfort to the visitor or visitors. The peephole or the small lens has a disadvantage in that one cannot communicate with the visitor or visitors in a satisfactory manner (although it does prevent crimes in a safe manner), and the chain device cannot effectively prevent crimes because any slight opening will allow an invader to enter through the door broken by force and arms. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a folding or closable counter device for a vertical wall structure such as a door wherein one can satisfactorily communicate with a visitor or visitors or deliver an article or articles therethrough without imparting any discomfort to them and in a safe manner in connection with prevention of crimes as well as in connection with retaining privacy and which is adapted to be completely and easily folded or closed after use. 
     One of the most important features of the present invention is to provide a folding or closable counter device for a vertical wall structure such as a door comprising a rectangular frame mounted on said wall through an opening formed therein; a transparent plate mounted on said frame with said frame and said transparent plate defining a window therebetween at the lower portion of said frame; and a counter plate pivotally mounted on said frame and movable between a vertical position in which said counter plate closes said window in a locking relation with said frame inside said vertical wall and a horizontal position in which said window is open with said counter plate serving as a counter. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     The above and other objects and feature of the present invention will be apparent from the detailed description of preferred embodiment of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawing in which; 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a counter device on a door while it is in the open condition; 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the counter device while it is in the closed condition; 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the counter device when it is about to be open; 
     FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the counter device when it is slidable in the open condition; 
     FIG. 5 is a vertically sectional view of the counter device while it is in the closed condition; and 
     FIG. 6 is a vertically sectional view of another embodiment of a counter device when it is in the closed condition. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to FIG. 1, an iron or wooden body of a door 1 has a closable counter device 10 mounted therein. The counter device 10 comprises a rectangular frame 2 composed of wood, iron or aluminium and having an outward flange 2a integrally formed on the outer periphery of the frame 2 as shown in FIG. 2. The frame 2 may be fitted into an opening in the door body 1 and attached thereto by means of screws (not shown). The device 10 also comprises a transparent plate 3 composed of glass or synthetic resin having a plurality of apertures 3a formed therein; said plate may be fitted into the frame 2 and attached to an inward flange 2b by means of screws 6. A window 7 is defined between the lower edge of the transparent plate 3 and the lower portion of the frame 1. The device 10 further comprises a counter plate 4 composed of wood, iron or aluminium and which has longitudinal grooves 4a formed in both sides thereof. The counter plate 4 is slidably mounted on the lower portion of the frame 2, with the longitudinal grooves 4a each receiving two pins 5a and 5b which are in turn secured to each of the inner vertical surfaces of the frame 2, so that the counter plate 4 is guidable along the pins by engagement of the latter with the grooves 4a. The pins 5a and 5b are shown to be spaced from each other so that the counter plate 4 can move in a stable manner. Transverse slots 4b are provided in the longitudinal grooves 4a at the points which are spaced from the edges of the grooves 4a by distance equaling the space between the pins 5a and 5b so that the pins 5b can extend through the slots 4b to be withdrawn from the grooves 4a. Thus, with the counter plate 4 pulled in a direction opposite to an arrow of FIG. 6 until the pins 5a engage the edges of the longitudinal grooves 4a, the counter plate 4 is pivotaly movable about the pins 5a so that it closes the window 7 together with the transparent plate 3. It should be noted that the pins 5a and 5b are disposed inside the door body 1 so that the counter plate is positioned interior of the door body 1. Thus, one outside the door 1 cannot move the counter plate 4 toward the horizontal position thereof or the open condition of the window 7 while he is outdoors. The counter plate 4 may be provided with a latch 8 mounted on the inner edge of the counter plate 4. The latch 8 may comprise a latch body 81 retractably projected from the inner edge of the counter plate 4 by means of a spring 82 received in a recess 83 in the counter plate 4. The frame 2 may be provided with a locking piece 9 attached to the upper portion of the frame 2 so that it latches the counter plate to hold it in a close or vertical position by engaging it with the latch 8. It will be understood that a pair of guide grooves 11 in the inward flange 2b  serve to stably guide the counter plate 4 in a horizontal position together with the pins 5a and 5b. 
     In operation, when one has a visit from a person, the counter plate 4 can be opened by disengaging the latch 8 with the locking piece and pivotally moving the counter plate 4 toward the horizontal position. As previously described, the counter plate 4 is slidably movable along the pins 5a and 5b in a stable manner. Thus, the transparent plate 3 is exposed so that the visitor can be confirmed therethrough and so that he can communicate with the visitor through the apertures 3a in the transparent plate 3. It will be noted that an article or articles having small dimensions such as postal matters, documents or the likes can be delivered through the window 7 while they are mounted on the slidable counter plate 4. It will be also noted that people can write, sign on or seal the delivered documents lying on the counter plate in a stable manner because it is held horizontal in position by the pins 5a and 5b and the guide grooves 11. 
     After required communication, business or delivery of the article or articles, the counter plate 4 may be pulled inward of the door 1 until the edges of the longitudinal grooves 4a engage the pins 5a and then be pivoted about the pins so that they may be raised as shown in FIG. 5 with the latch 8 engaged with the locking piece on the frame. Thus, the window 7 can be fully closed by the raised counter plate 4 so that unnecessary matters are never thrown indoors. It will be noted that the door may remain latched while the above acts are being made. Thus, with this device constructed within the door, a bill collector, a mailman or a drummer can promptly do his business without entering the house or room and without imparting any discomfort to him, which causes the business to be effective. Furthermore, since the door may be latched during business, a woman or a child can be safely protected from invaders. Thus, as soon as a man such as an importunate peddler or an apparently doubtful salesman by which one does not want to be visited is confirmed, the counter plate 4 can be closed so that the window 7 can be kept interrupted in a safe manner in connection with prevention or crimes. 
     FIG. 6 shows a modification of the closable counter device 10 wherein the same numerals designate the same components. In this modification, the pins 5a are located at lower level than the pins 5b, with the result that the counter plate 4, when opened, is slidable downwardly outdoors. Thus, any visitor can easily write a document on the counter plate even though he is short. 
     Although some preferred embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described with reference to the accompanying drawing, it will be apparent that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, the counter plate 4 may be made of translucent material serving as a skylight. It should be understood that the present invention is intended to be defined only to the appended claim.