Improvements in Letter Boxes for Rendering their Contents more Safe.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 18th July, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 18th Apr., 1895-Accepted, 24th May, 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Letter Boxes for Rendering their Contents more
Safe.
I WILLIAM ALFRED EDWARD CROMBIE of 14 Sherborne Lane London E.C.
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
-
My invention relates to public & private receptacles for letters, packets etc., &
has for its object the rendering of their contents less liable to abstraction through
the opening by which those contents were first inserted.
To effect this purpose I make the upper part of the letter box a chamber to
conduct the letters etc. to an opening, preferably horizontal, into the lower part of
the box, such opening being similar to & lower than the opening by which the
letters etc. are first inserted.
At the underside of the lower opening I place two rows of angle pieces, each row
turning on a spindle parallel to the longer edges of the opening, & each angle piece
turning on its spindle independently of the others.
The sides of the angle pieces may be of any shape, but the sides towards the
opening I preferably form of a V shape, & so arrange them that in their normal
position these sides are pointing obliquely downwards, leaving between the rows a
clear space somewhat less than the width of the fixed opening.
The angle through which the angle pieces can turn is limited to about 90°, the
extreme positions of their inner sides being approximately horizontal & vertical, in
the former position practically closing the lower opening & in the latter position
forming a continuation of that opening.
When a letter or the like is inserted, it falls through into the lower part of the
box, the angle pieces turning slightly if necessary with the weight of the letter, thus
allowing it to pass.
But should any attempt be made to abstract the letters or the like from above,
the inner sides of the angle pieces would be encountered & moved into a horizontal
position, & thereby prevent the upward passage of any of the contents of
the box.
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COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Letter Boxes for Rendering their Contents more
Safe.
I WILLIAM ALFRED EDWARD CROMBIE of 14 Sherborne Lane London
Engineer 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 public and private receptacles for letters, packets, & the
like & has for its object the rendering of their contents less liable to abstraction
through the opening by which these contents were first inserted.

page_text: In order that any invention may be better understood reference is made to the
accompanying drawings.
Figs. 1 & 3 are side sectional elevations of a letter box with horizontal openings
at O for letters & the like, & Fig. 2 is a front sectional elevation of a letter box with
a vertical opening at O for letters & the like.
In Figs. 1, 2 & 3 C is a chamber to conduct the letters through a narrow' opening
into B the receptacle proper.
In Figs. 1 & 2 A, A are angle pieces turning freely on two spindles parallel to
the longer edges of the lower opening.
On each spindle there are several of these angle pieces.& each piece turns freely
& independently of the others. They are shown in their normal positions with a
clear space between them, but they can be placed so that there is none.
The extreme positions of these angle pieces are determined by the stops S, S,
which may be either rods, or the edges of the lower opening. In one extreme
position-they-are-opened-out to admit of the passage between them of letters & the
like, & in the other extreme position-they lie across the lower opening-&-effectually.
bar the upward passage of any of the contents of the chamber B. They are always
returned by gravity to their normal; position.
In Fig. 2. the chamber C is shown of the same size throughout, it may with
advantage be contracted.at the lower opening..
Fig. 3 shows a simpler form in which I dispense with the moveable angle pieces &
instead I continue the sides of the chamber downwards & leave the edges of the
lower opening plain or preferably make them serrated.
These arrangements are applicable to private & public letter-boxes.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, & in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
.
(1.). In letter-boxes, an upper: chamber terminating at its lower end in a fixed,
narrow, & more or less central opening, with plain or serrated edges, into the lower
chamber, substantially as described.
(2.) In letter boxes, an upper chamber terminating at its lower end in a fixed,
narrow, & more or less central opening into the lower chamber in combination with
two. rows of moveable angle pieces with determined extreme positions; substantially
as described.
Dated this Eighteenth day of April 1895.