An Improved Letter-box Device for Collection and Delivery of Mail.
Year: 1892

page_text: ate of Application, 19th Jan., 1892-Accepted, 9th Apr., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Letter-box Device for Collection and Delivery
of Mail.
1, HENRY BLOSSOM ANDERSON, of 2852 Accomac Street, St. Louis, in the
County of St. Louis and State of Missouri, United States of America, Letter
Carrier, 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 :-
My invention relates to improvements in letter-boxes; and it consists in the
novel arrangement and combination of parts, as will be more fully hereinafter
described and designated in the claims.
In the drawings,
Figure 1 is a front elevation of my complete invention.
Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section taken on the line of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a similar section of a modification constructed for street use.
The object of my invention is to construct a box for holding letters and papers,
the same especially designed for indoor use, and the same so constructed to close
automatically with an alarm.
I will further describe the various objects and advantages of my invention in
connection with the description of the mechanical parts embodied in the same.
Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates the outer shell or casing, which may
embody any simple and symmetrical construction for the purpose as designed, the
same being provided in its back with suitable perforations, (which are not
illustrated,) through which screws or bolts may be inserted for securing shell or
casing to any desired support, and also provided on its side face, as illustrated in
Fig. 2. with slits 2, in which a card 3 may be placed. Card 3 may have the name
of the owner or any other inscription written upon it.
4 indicates an inner shell or receptacle for the letters, cards, &c., which is
hinged or otherwise pivotally secured within the outer shell or casing 1, prefer-
ably, however, by the bolt 5, which passes through the lower portion of the outer
shell or casing 1 and also the receptacle 4. The lower end of said inner receptacle
is provided with an upturned portion or lip 6, of the construction as shown in
Fig. 2, and the upper end of the same is provided with a similar upturned portion
or lip 7, the function of said lip to be more fully hereinafter described. The front
face of the receptacle 4 is provided with an elongated opening 8 for the insertion
of the letters, postal-cards, &c. Said opening 8 is covered on the inside with a
hinged lid 9 to protect the inclosed mail from rain, &c. The front face of said
receptacle is also provided with an opening 10, as shown in Fig. 1, for inspecting
the interior of the box of the receptacle without opening the same. The front
face of the receptacle also extends and terminates in projections 11, the same
being provided with a perforation 12, through which a bar 13 may pass. Bar 13
is firmly secured to the outer shell or casing 1, and is provided with a perfora-
tion 14, in which a padlock may be inserted for locking the receptacle within the
outer shell or easing 1. Any construction of lock may be employed for this-
purpose.
15 indicates a bell, which is secured in any suitable and mechanical manner to
the outer shell or casing 1, the same being provided with an annular clapper 16,
which swings a little below the upper surface of lip 7, and is adapted to be struck
and actuated by said lip whenever the receptacle 4 is opened and closed.
17 indicates U-shaped bars, which are secured to the sides of the inner
receptacle 4, the object of which is to hold the papers, pamphlets, &c. Said

page_text: U-shaped bars extend a little beyond or about even with the front edges of the
outer shell or casing 1.
18 indicates a spring, which is mounted on rod 5, and one end of the same rests
upon the inner surface of the bottom of the lower end of shell or casing 1, and
the other end of the same passes up in the U-shaped bars 17 and rests against the
front surface of the front face of receptacle 4. The function of said springs is to
close receptacle 4 automatically after the same has been opened. In other words,
the receptacle 4 can never be left open through any carelessness or neglect of
the mail-carrier.
The construction of the box as I have just described is especially designed, as
before stated, for indoor use. It may be observed in this connection that the
front portion of the outer shell or box 1 may be covered by any suitable means
so as to protect the papers that are located in and supported by the U-shaped
bars 17 from rain, &c. It may also be further observed that the U-shaped bars
have two functions, viz. They answer as a support for the papers and also a
hand-hold by which the receptacle 4 may be opened.
In Fig. 3 I show a modification of my invention especially designed for outdoor
use. In this construction I use no alarm-bells, and also dispense with the upper
end of receptacle 4.
I do not wish to limit myself to any particular way of attaching the box to a
door, as the same may be provided with an opening in the back of the outer shell
or casing 1, whereby the box may be secured to the door, the opening in the
said box corresponding to the opening in the door. By this means letters may be
inserted and removed from either the inside of the house or outside. Further, I
may use or dispense with the alarm in either of the two constructions shown in
the drawings.
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. A letter-box consisting of an outer shell or casing 1, an alarm secured to the
same, a receptacle for letters, carrying a support for papers, pivotally secured
within said shell or casing and adapted to sound the alarm when the same is
opened or closed, and means for automatically closing the same, substantially as
set forth.
2. A letter-box consisting of an outer shell or casing 1, a receptacle 4 of the
character described, carrying U-shaped bars for supporting papers pivotally secured
within said shell or casing 1, and means for automatically closing said receptacle
within said shell or casing 1, substantially as set forth.
3. A letter-box consisting of an outer shell or casing 1, the lower and upper
ends of which are provided with lips or upturned portions 6 and 7, respectively,
and the front face of said receptacle provided with an opening 8 for the insertion
of the letters, the same being covered with a lid 9, and with an opening 10 for
inspecting the interior of the receptacle when the same is closed, and an alarm of
the character described adapted to be sounded whenever the receptacle is opened
or closed, U-shaped bars 17, carried by said receptacle, for holding papers,
.catalogues, &c., a spring for automatically closing said receptacle, and means for
securely locking the same when closed, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 1st day of January 1892
F. W. BARKER,
Applicant's Agent.