Improvements in Letter-box Plates and Letter-boxes.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Letter-box Plates and Letter-boxes.
ELLEN MILES 29 Carlton Terrace Swansea Married, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
The improvements consist of a thick fixed glass inserted in the letter-plate shutter
on the outside of a house door, with grooves at the back to hold a thin transparent
name plate, which can be altered or changed when desired.
The letter-box fixed at the back of the door is hinged, so as to collapse on either
side as desired. There is a slightly curved projecting arm on the side of the box
nearest the wall, or side on which the door is hung. When the house door is opened
the projecting arm comes in contact with the wall, and pushes the letter-box, causing
it to collapse, and when closing the house door an L shaped spring on the opposite
side of the letter-box, causes it to return to its original position, for the reception of
letters, or other correspondence.
The box has a transparent back, with an illuminant held in a socket, and a reflector
behind it, to throw the light through the name plate, showing vividly the name of
the resident, or any other device, to the persons outside the door.
The box has a bottom of strong net to hold the correspondence, and a door on
top to take it out.
Dated this 4th JC M1900
I, ELLEN MILES, of 29 Carlton Terrace, Swansea, in the County of Glamorgan,
Wales, Married, 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 :-
This invention relates to letter boxes, and to the plates covering the openings to
the same, which are fixed on the outsides of the doors of houses; and consists in
improvements whereby the name plate can be altered or changed when desired; in
the use of mechanism whereby the opening of the door causes the letter box to
collapse or fold close, and in the use of a transparent back, a reflector, and an
illuminating device whereby the name of the resident upon the name plate is shewn
clearly and vividly.
In order that my invention may be fully understood I append drawings in
which:-
Fig. 1 is a vertical section of a letter box open, and
Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same, collapsed.

page_text: Fig. 3 is a plan of the same open, and
Fig. 4 is a plan of the same, collapsed.
Fig. 5 is an elevation of the back of the box, open.
Fig. 6 is an elevation of the back of the box, collapsed.
Fig. 7 is an end elevation, open.
Fig. 8 is an end elevation.
Fig. 9 is an elevation of the outside of the door.
The first part of my invention is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, and consists in
forming the shutter A which covers the opening B in the door in such manner that
a thick pane of glass or other transparent medium a can be inserted therein, and a
space left at the back with grooves at the sides thereof, in which a transparent or
partially transparent name or other plate C can be inserted so that the same can be
changed in a simple and convenient manner.
The second part of my invention consists in so forming the letter box and attaching
and hinging its parts together that it is capable of collapsing and laying flat close
to the door as shewn in Fig. 4. For this purpose a slightly curved projecting arm D
is employed on the hinged side of the door and this is arranged in such manner
that when the door is opened it presses against the wall on that side, and pressing
the back of the box laterally causes its back and sides to move on their hinges and
the box to collapse until it lays flat in close proximity to the door, thereby
occupying but a small space. This movement is against the action of a spring E
arranged on the opposite side of the box in such manner that when the door is closed
the box is forced to again assume the open position as shewn in Figs. 1 and 3.
The third part of my invention consists in inserting a transparent back F in the
box and arranging a lamp or other illuminating medium upon a bracket Hin
proximity thereto, which moves with the box and carries the lamp clear of the
wall, and close to the door, as shewn in Figs. 3 and 4, with a reflector which projects
a strong. light through the transparent name or other plate so as to render the
words upon the same easily legible to any person outside the door. In some cases
the special lamp and reflector are dispensed with and the light of the ordinary hall
lamp is utilized for the purpose of rendering the name on the plate visible.
The box has preferably a strong net attached to its bottom which contains the
letters and other packages dropped therein, and in some cases a door G at the top
which is free.to fall when the box collapses laterally.
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 plate or shutter, consisting of a plate of glass or other transparent
medium on the street side, and a transparent or partially transparent name or other
plate behind it, substantially as described and shown.
2. A collapsible letter box, which when the door is opened closes flat, and which is
forced to return to its normal position when the door is closed, by means of a
spring, substantially as described and shewn.
3. A collapsible letter box which has a transparent back for the purpose of
allowing a light behind it to show vividly the letters upon the name or other plate,
substantially as shewn and described.
4. A letter box having a transparent name plate in the shutter, a transparent
back so arranged that a light behind it renders the name or other words on the name
plate easily visible, and which has its sides, back, and top so constructed that the box
may collapse when the door is opened and be caused to assume its open position
when the door is closed, substantially as shewn and described.
Dated this 1011
CAT
1000
ELLEN MILES.