Improvements in the Construction of Safety Letter and Pillar Boxes.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 11th July, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 8th Jan., 1851-Accepted, 14th Feb.. 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Safety Letter and Pillar Boxes.
I, JOSHUA ELLIS, Junior, of Carlisle Street, Batley Carr, near Dewsbury, in
the County of York, Wool Waste and Rag Merchant, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to prevent letters and other postal packages from
being stolen from letter and pillar boxes.
its
I employ within the letter box a roller or other guard preferably armed upon
periphery with sharp teeth and prevented from revolving in one direction by
wheel and catch. Midway, or in other suitable position, within the box, I fix a
hinged flap, projecting outward at an angle so that the letters can drop through the
aperture between it and the side of the box, so that upon a wire, string, or other
article being lowered within the box with a view of abstracting articles therefrom,
such string passes through the said aperture, and on attempting to withdraw it,
comes in contact with the hinged flap, which moves upwards and closes the aperture
upon it, whilst the upper part of the band or wire also comes in contact with
the barbed roller placed below the opening thus effectually preventing its
withdrawal.
10h d. of L. 1800
JOHN E. WALSH,
Royal Exchange Chambers, Boar Lane, Leeds, Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Safety Letter and Pillar Boxes.
I, JOSHUA ELLIS, Junior, of Carlisle Street, Batley Carr, near Dewsbury, in the
County of York, Wool Waste and Rag Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of my invention is to prevent letters and other postal packages being
stolen from letter and pillar boxes.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1, is a side elevation in section of private letter box with my improvements
applied.
Fig. 2, is also a side elevation in section of private letter box with my improve-
ments as shown in Fig. 1, slightly modified.
Fig. 1. Within the letter box AI employ a roller B which is journalled at each
side of the said box. The roller B carries spikes or other sharp teeth upon its
periphery, and is prevented from revolving in one direction by a ratchet wheel C
carried upon the axle of the said roller, and a catch or pawl D fixed on the side of
the letter box A. Midway or in other suitable position within the box A I fix a
hinged flap E projecting outward at an angle, so that the letters can drop through
the aperture F, the lower end of the said hinged flap rests upon a stop G.
Under the roller B I employ a guard H of "mica" so that should lighted matches
be thrown into the letter box, there is no danger of such coming in contact with the
letters, the said "mica" being elastic or flexible also allows the letters and other
packages to descend and afterwards assume its normal position.
The base of the box A is provided with a false bottom J in the form of a sieve.

page_text: Upon a wire, string, or other article being lowered into the box with a view of
abstracting articles therefrom, such string passes through the said aperture and on
attempting to withdraw it comes in contact with the hinged flap E which comes
upwards and closes the aperture F. The band or wire also comes in contact with
the roller B thereby preventing its withdrawal.
Fig. 2. In this modification, in lieu of the roller B I employ a guard L in the
form of a hinged flap which rests upon a stop M.
The base of the box A is provided with perforations T for allowing the escape of
water, and a bar K for keeping the letters out of water.
The hinged flaps E and guard L are provided with teeth as shown at E³ (detail
view) see Fig. 2.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. Within letter boxes the use and employment of guards consisting of teeth or
prongs either upon a roller, flap or other projection as and for the purposes shown
and described.
2. Within a letter box the combination of the toothed or pronged roller B or
guard L and pronged flap E as and for the purposes substantially as shown and
described.
3. Within a letter box the combination of the toothed or pronged roller B or
guard L, pronged flap E and mica guard H as and for the purposes substantially
as shown and described.
Dated vins fun day on wanuary 1o01.
JOHN E. WALSH,
Royal Exchange Chambers, Boar Lane, Leeds, Agent for the Applicant.