boxes, Doors, and the like.
Year: 1885

page_text: boxes, Doors, and the like.
I, JOSEPH WATTS, of 64 Princess St. Manchester, in the County of Lancaster,
Joiner and Builder, do hereby declare the nature of said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MEANS FOR PREVENTING THE PILFERING OF LETTERS AND OTHER POSTAJ
" to
PACKAGES THROUGH THE LETTERSLIT IN LETTERBOXES, DOORS AND THE LIKE
be as follows:-
It consists, first, of a frame of metal or other suitable material attached to the
To
inner side of letter slits by means of screws or in any other ordinary manner.
the bottom of this metal frame is fixed a metal plate in such a manner as to
project at a convenient angle, more or less approaching a right angle from the
bottom of the letterslit. The outside edge of this plate is cut into a number of
points of a triangular form, with a slight enlargement at the base of each point,
and the plate is slightly curved downwards so as to allow the letters to fall freely
from it. In the middle of the plate are two or more slits, and pivoted in each_of
these slits is a hook, made in a suitable form and pivoted from the middle. The
point is above the plate and the other end below it. Each hook is fixed with its
point projecting from the letterslit. The point above the plate is sharpened so that
it will be quite flat upon the plate and will allow letters to pass freely over it in
one direction, but the hook is weighted beneath so that it resists any attempt to
withdraw them. At the top of the frame, across and parallel to the top of the
letterslit is a metal rod, upon this rod are a number of narrow flat slips of metal
pivoted from one end, and with the other or lower end almost resting upon the
metal plate beforementioned, forming an internal flap to the letterslit in a number
of seperate pieces.
At a suitable distance from this first rod is affixed a second rod of a similar kind
with a second series of metal slips; forming a second flap, which is pivoted in
such a manner that if it is opened before the first flap, it will prevent the first
flap opening.
Pivoted among the slips in this second flap are two or more metal hooks, of
suitable form, pointing downwards and inwards. If neccessary I can fix three
or more flaps inside but prefer two only. The use of the points in the metal plate

page_text: is to prevent a string being used for drawing up letters. In practice, any string
drawn over the edge of the plate lodges in the narrow parts and is effectually
stripped of anything bulkier than itself in the process of withdrawal. I may also
fix suitably shaped hooks in the slips forming the first or second flap, if neccessary
in certain cases; or instead of fixing them in the slips I may pivot them from
another parrallel rod, placed between the two rods beforementioned and allow them
to pass through slits in the slips.
I also fix rods or any ordinary stop to keep the slips at any angle which may
suit any particular case.
is to prevent a string being used for drawing up letters. In practice, any string
drawn over the edge of the plate lodges in the narrow parts and is effectually
stripped of anything bulkier than itself in the process of withdrawal. I may also
fix suitably shaped hooks in the slips forming the first or second flap, if neccessary
in certain cases; or instead of fixing them in the slips I may pivot them from
another parrallel rod, placed between the two rods beforementioned and allow them
to pass through slits in the slips.
I also fix rods or any ordinary stop to keep the slips at any angle which may
suit any particular case.
DRAWINGS ANNEXED.
Fig. 1 is a side view and Fig. 2 a back view of the apparatus. a indicates the
frame, b the metal plate, c the triangular points, d the pivoted hooks, e the first
metal rod, the flaps upon it, g the second metal rod, the flaps upon it, i the
hooks upon it, and k the rods, or stops.

page_text: Improvements in Means for Preventing the Pilfering of Letters
and other Postal Packages through the Letterslit in Letter-
boxes, Doors, and the like.
I, JOSEPH WATTS of 41 Major Street and late of 64 Princess Street, Manchester
in the County of Lancaster, Joiner and builder 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:-
It consists first, of a frame of metal or other suitable material, attached to the
inner side of letterslits, by means of screws or in any other ordinary manner. At
the bottom of this frame is fixed a metal plate (either attached to the frame or
seperately attached to the door by screwing or other suitable means,) in such
a manner as to project at a convenient angle, more or less approaching a right
angle from the bottom of the letterslit. The outside edge of this plate is cut into
a number of points of a triangular form with a slight enlargement at the base of
each point, and the plate is slightly curved downwards, so as to allow the letters
to fall freely from it. In the middle of the plate are two or more slits, and
pivoted in each of these slits is a hook made in a suitable form and pivoted from
the middle in such a manner that the point of the hook is suspended above the
surface of the plate by the other end which is suitably weighted for this purpose.
Each hook is pivoted with its point projecting from the letterslit and so
sharpened that it lies flat with the surface of the plate when a letter is passed over
it in the right direction although preventing any attempt to withdraw it.
At the top of the frame across and parallel to the top of the letterslit if
horizontal, but at right angles to it if vertical is a metal rod, upon this rod are
a number of narrow flat slips of metal pivoted from one end, and with the other
or lower end almost resting upon the metal plate before mentioned, forming an
internal flap to the letterslit, in a number of seperate pieces.
These slips may be of any width, and close together, or at a small distance
apart.
At a suitable distance from this first rod is affixed a second rod of a similar
kind, with a second series of metal slips (forming a second divided flap).
Pivoted among the slips in this second flap are two or more metal hooks of
suitable form pointing downwards and inwards.
I also fix suitably shaped hooks in the slips forming the first or second flap if
neccessary or suitable in certain cases, or instead of fixing them among the slips
I may pivot them from another parallel rod, placed between the two rods before-
mentioned and allow them to pass through slits in the slips.
I also fix rods or any ordinary stop to keep the slips at any angle which may
suit any particular case.
The use of the points in the metal plate is to prevent a string being used for
drawing up the letters. In practice any string drawn over the edge of the
plate is drawn through the narrow parts into the enlargement and is effectually
stripped of anything bulkier than itself in the process of withdrawal.

page_text: In order that the foregoing may be better understood, I send herewith a sheet of
Drawings in which:--
Fig. 1 is a back elevation and Fig. 2 a side elevation of the apparatus a indicates
the frame, 6 the metal plate, c the triangular points, d the enlargements at base
of points, e the pivoted hooks, f the first metal rod, 9 the slips of metal upon it
h the second metal rod, i the slips of metal upon it the suspended hooks upon
both rods, and the rods or stops.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and the manner in which the same is to be performed; I declare that
what I claim is
1st A metal plate with serrated or triangular pointed outside edge and pivoted
hooks substantially as described and shown hereinbefore and in the accompanying
drawing, for the purpose set forth.
2nd Two or more rods with suspended slips and hooks substantially as described
and shown herein before and in the accompanying drawing, for the purpose set
forth.
3rd The combined apparatus, substantially as described and shewn hereinbefore
and in the accompanying drawing, for the purpose set forth.
בד
of Ontahan 100x
JOHN HENRY TOPHAM,
Agent to Applicant.