IMPROVEMENTS IN OR CONNECTED WITH BOXES OR RECEPTACLES SO AS TO PREVENT THE ABSTRACTING OR PURLOINING THE CONTENTS CHIEFLY APPLICABLE TO POST LETTERS AND MONEY BOXES
Year: 1884

page_text: I WILLIAM THOMAS of Denman Chambers 41 Temple Street Birmingham in the
County of Warwick Accountant do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN OR CONNECTED WITH BOXES OR RECEPTACLES SO AS TO PREVENT
THE ABSTRACTING OR PURLOINING THE CONTENTS CHIEFLY APPLICABLE TO POST
LETTERS AND MONEY BOXES to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in the construction and arrangement of
parts to boxes or receptacles so as to prevent the abstracting purloining or illegally
tampering with the contents chiefly applicable to post letter ballot and money
boxes,
I will describe my invention as applied to the ordinary private letter box To
the interior of the said box I arrange a metallic plate in width nearly the same
bent at a suitable angle and suspended by working upon a rod or pins from the side
preferred, the lower part taking a vertical line and extending about half way down
the box the upper part being horizontal and pressing against the interior of the
moveable plate or flap usually affixed to letter boxes and keeping it closed when a
letter or parcel is to be deposited pressure is applied to the plate last described (as
in the ordinary manner) when the interior plate will move also bringing it in an
oblique line and compressing the front of the box the letter or parcel being now
deposited falls against this plate and the position it now assumes prevents it falling
any farther but immediately pressure is withdrawn it takes its normal position and
the letter falls into the lower part of box and is secure.
The mode employed for purloining or abstracting the contents of letter boxes is
by the said plate or flap but by this invention it will be perceived that immediately
the said plate or flap is moved for opening in any degree the metallic plate closes
correspondingly and all access to the contents is prevented.
To boxes where the aperture for depositing is at the top or upper surface (such
as money or ballot boxes) I so arrange the said angular plate by suspending but
with the horizontal part to cover the said aperture and moved for depositing by
means of a stud, the protection of the contents being effected as before described,
In some cases I may employ wood in place of metal.

page_text: .
I WILLIAM THOMAS, of Denman Chambers, 41 Temple Street, Birmingham, in
the County of Warwick, Accountant, do hereby declare the nature of my said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR CONNECTED WITH BOXES OR RECEPTACLES
SO AS TO PREVENT THE ABSTRACTING OR PURLOINING OF THE CONTENTS, CHIEFLY
APPLICABLE TO POST LETTER AND MONEY BOXES," 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 the construction and arrangement of
parts to boxes or receptacles so as to prevent the abstracting purloining or illegally
tampering with the contents, chiefly applicable to post, letter, ballot, and money
boxes.
I will describe my invention as applied to the ordinary private letter box. To
the interior of the said box I arrange a metallic plate in width nearly the same
bent at a suitable angle, and suspended by working upon a rod or pins from the
side preferred, the lower part taking a vertical line and extending about half way
down the box, the upper part being horizontal and pressing against the interior of
the moveable plate or flap, usually affixed to letter boxes and keeping it closed;
when a letter or parcel is to be deposited pressure is applied to the plate last
described (as in the ordinary manner), when the interior plate will move, also
bringing it in an oblique line and compressing the front of the box, the letter or
parcel being now deposited falls against this plate and the position it now assumes
prevents it falling any farther, but immediately pressure is withdrawn it takes its
normal position and the letter falls into the lower part of box and is secure.
The mode employed for purloining or abstracting the contents of letter boxes is
by the said plate or flap, but by this invention it will be perceived that immediately
the said plate or flap is moved for opening in any degree the metallic plate closes
correspondingly and all access to the contents is prevented.
To boxes where the aperture for depositing is at the top or upper surface, (such
as money or ballot boxes) I so arrange the said angular plate by suspending but
with the horizontal part to cover the said aperture and moved for depositing by
means of a stud, the protection of the contents being effected as before described.
In some cases I may employ wood in place of metal.
Having thus specified the object and nature of this my said Invention for
"Improvements in or connected with boxes or receptacles so as to prevent the
abstracting or purloining of the contents, chiefly applicable to post, letter and
money boxes'
its description will be proceeded with in reference to the
accompanying drawings that is to say-
Fig 1 is a side view in elevation sectional of a private letter box.
Fig 2 a similar view.
Fig 3 a front view in elevation.
The same. letters of reference upon the several Figures indicate like or
corresponding parts. A is the box or receptacle, B is the door with lock C and
glass, panel D, the same being affixed in a well known manner to the door E
interiorally, or any other suitable part of the building, F is the letter flap of the
ordinary kind secured to the door as hitherto; G is a metallic plate suspended and
working upon the pins H freely, this said plate G by preference being in one piece
the upper end finding a continuous bearing against the interior of F and keeping it
closed when not in application, the lower end of the said plate G, when in

page_text: application at a certain period bearing against the interior of the box or
receptacle A; this is shewn at I and J respectively.
In Fig 1 the letter flap F is shewn in the position when pressure is applied (that
is to say) open sufficiently to admit of a letter or parcel being introduced, this is
clearly illustrated by the letter K which is partially passed through, but when
through it finds a check at J until the pressure is released from F, and the letter or
parcel is deposited with security at the bottom of A-In Fig 2 this is clearly
illustrated, any attempt to feloniously abstract the said letter or parcel would be
by opening the flap F. as when in the act of depositing, but as this closes the
plate G it is impossible to reach the same otherwise than by the door B.
I do not confine myself to the angle herein shewu of the said metallic plate as
various modifications may be made without departing from the principle of this my
said Invention; for instance I may construct the plate G of wood or other suitable
material.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:
The construction and application of the part or parts G in combination or
arrangement with the other parts for the purposes above described and set forth
the whole forming, "Improvements in or connected with boxes or receptacles so as
to prevent the abstracting or purloining of the contents, chiefly applicable to post,
letter, and money boxes."