A COMBINATION "SIGNAL INDICATING LETTER BOX AND DOOR BELL to be as follows
Year: 1884

page_text: I, JOSEPH DANIEL DUCKETT of 1 Georges Terrace, Mount Pottinger Belfast in the
County of Down, Ireland Foreman in Ironworks do hereby declare the nature of
my invention for "A COMBINATION "SIGNAL INDICATING LETTER BOX AND DOOR
BELL to be as follows:-
"
To provide various improvements in the construction and general utility of door,
pillar and other letter boxes or receptacles, in combination with door or house bell,
and also to make provision thereon for the reception of an adjustable or moveable
name plate.
One object of my invention is so to improve the construction of door or other
letter boxes or receptacles, as to provide by automatic means a notification, indicated
by signal to the occupants or residents, that a letter, paper or other similar matter
has been inserted therein.
In carrying out this portion of my invention the following means are
employed: viz.
I provide a front or door plate which may be of ornamental design, to be screwed
or otherwise affixed on the front side of door or pillar, such plate having an opening
or aperture provided for the insertion of letters, papers, or other similar matter, the
opening or aperture may be made horizontal, vertical, or any other convenient.
shape, preferably I make it horizontal; at the back of front or door plate is a
hinged or pivoted flap or shutter covering the aforesaid aperture, this flap may be
hinged or pivoted at top, bottom, or central, preferably I hinge it at top; also at
the back of the front or door plate and, at a proper distance above the aforesaid
hinged flap I cast or otherwise attach 2 bearers or snuga, provided for the purpose
of receiving and supporting a rotary or revolving spindle, connected to the spindle is
a bell, such bell being attached to the spindle and supported or suspended by a steel
spring of any convenient shape, but for the purpose of greater sensitiveness &
oscillation I make or use one of volute form or shape.
Cast or otherwise affixed to the aforesaid spindle is a small suitably shaped spur
or finger projecting downwards, the extreme point or tip of which rests lightly
upon the back of flap or shutter covering the aperture provided for the insertion of
letters, papers, or other similar matter, upon the slightest. pressure being applied to
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page_text: push back the Hap or shutter for the insertion of letters or other similar matter the
spur or finger yielding to such pressure causes the spindle supporting the bell to
rotate or revolve in its bearings, such movement of the spindle being sufficient to
set the bell in motion, causing it to ring, thus automatically notifying or indicating
by signal to the occupants or residents that a letter or letters or other similar
matter has been inserted within the letter box or receptacle provided. The afore-
said spur or finger when at rests serves to keep the flap or shutter of letter box
securely closed. This arrangement also gives additional safety or security to the
letter box, as no attempt to tamper with or withdraw any letter or other similar
matter could be made without causing the bell to indicate the usual signal.
By another modification of my invention in lieu of the bell as herein before
described I employ an electric bell, thus notifying or indicating by signal to any
given room, office or apartment that letters or other similar matter have been
inserted within the letter box or receptacle provided.
In order to effect this object I fix in a convenient position within the box or
receptacle a plate in the centre of which is placed the button or pusher or contact
maker; to the spindle as herein before described I attach an eccentric, the eccentric
when the spindle is at rest is exactly opposite, but quite clear of the centre button
or pusher of the electric bell, upon the flap or shutter of the letter box being pushed
back for the purpose of inserting letters or other similar matter therein, the spindle
revolving as hereinbefore described causes the eccentric to act upon & force back
the centre button or pusher upon the contact wires, thus completing the circuit &
setting the electric bell in motion, thus automatically notifying or indicating to
any given room, office or apartment the signal that letters or other similar matter
have been inserted within the letter box or receptacle provided, the requisite wires
may be carried from the letter box or receptical horizontally across the door to the
hinged side whence they may be conducted by any convenient means to the given
room, office or apartment wherein the electric bell may be placed.
Another object and important feature of my invention relates to the utilization,
apart from the especial purpose herein before described, of the letter-box bell, as a
door or house bell, as a means of communication to the occupants or residents,
having an entirely seperate action and working apart from and independently of
the automatic action imparted by the motion of the letter box flap or shutter.
I accomplish this object in the following manner, by an arrangement of the
design of the front or door plate I obtain the requisite formation and seating to
receive and support a knob or bell-pull with a connecting rod for attachment to the
rotary or revolving spindle herein before described & to which the bell is attached,
cast or otherwise affixed to the said spindle & rising above it is a small and suitably
shaped arm or bracket provided with an oblong or slotted hole, through this slotted
hole the connecting rod of knob or bell pull passes and is secured in its position by
studs or prongs or an adjustable pin, fixed through the connecting rod, immediately
behind the arm or bracket aforesaid and forming a T shaped clip, by this arrange-
ment when the knob or bell pull is pulled forward, the T shaped clip presses
forward the arm or bracket attached to the spindle hereinbefore described, causing
it to rotate or revolve in its bearings and setting the bell in motion causing it to
ring as hereinbefore described. The slot hole in arm or bracket is for the purpose
of allowing a free & separate action of the door or house bell, thus working quite
independent of the automatic action imparted by the motion of the letter box flap
or shutter.
By a modification of this arrangement the letter box flap or shutter and the door
knob or bell pull may be united in their action, or the door knob or bell pull may
be dispensed with, preferably the dual action or movement is the one I adopt as the
most efficient.
Another object of my invention is to provide for the easy adjustment, whether of
fixture or removal of name plate of occupier or resident without affecting the other
parts or portions of the apparatus or necessitating its disarrangement or removal,

page_text: To accomplish this object a recessed space is provided upon the front or door
plate, for the reception of a suitably shaped name plate, to be secured by screws or
in any other convenient manner and which will allow of its easy adjustment
whether of fixture or removal, Such recessed space if not utilized for a name
plate, being a part or portion of the ornamental design of the aforesaid front or
door plate. The apparatus herein before described may be made of brass or any
suitable metal.
I, JOSEPH DANIEL DUCKETT of No 1 Georges Terrace Mount-Pottinger Belfast
in the County of Down Ireland, Foreman of Ironworks do hereby declare the
nature of my invention for A COMBINATION "SIGNAL INDICATING LETTER-Box
AND DOOR BELL" and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention has been designed to provide various improvements in the
construction and general utility of door, pillar or other letter-boxes or receptacles,
in combination with house, door or office bell, and also to make provision thereon
for the reception of an adjustable or moveable nameplate.
The various improvements effected are illustrated in the accompanying drawings
in which
Figure 1 is the elevation of the front plate of letter-box, the position of the
adjustable or moveable name plate being shewn on the left hand side of line A B.
Figure 2 is the plan.
Figure 3 is a vertical section on line A. B.
Figure 6 is a vertical section on line A B shewing my invention as provided
with the electrical bell apparatus attachment.
The same letters of reference indicate the same or corresponding parts throughout
the drawings.
One object of my invention is so to improve the construction of door, pillar, or
other letter-boxes or receptacles, as to provide by automatic means a notification,
indicated by signal that letters, papers, or other similar subject matter have been
inserted therein.
In carrying out this portion of my invention the following means are employed,
viz: I provide a front plate a (Figure 1) to be made of brass, cast malleable, or
any other suitable metal and may be of any ornamental design, to be screwed or
affixed in any convenient manner on the front side of door or pillar, such plate a
having an opening or aperture b for the insertion of letters or other similar subject
matter, the opening or aperture 6 may be made horizontal, vertical, or any other
convenient shape or design, preferably I make it horizontal, as shewn in Figure 1,
At the back of plate a and covering the opening or aperture b, is a hinged or
pivotted flap or shutter c, which may be hinged or pivotted at the top, bottom, or

page_text: central, preferably I hinge it at the top as shewn in Figures 3. and 6; also at the
back of plate a and at a suitable distance above the flap or shutter c are two snugs
or bearers d d which receive and support a rotary or revolving spindle e to which
is connected a bell f, the bell being supported or suspended by a steel spring of
any convenient shape, but to secure greater sensitiveness and oscillation I employ
one either of the volute form or of the shape as shewn g in Figures 2 and 3; the
spindle e being held in position by a projecting stud h resting in contact with
corresponding stud h¹, projecting from the back of plate a; cast to the underside of
spindle e is a segmental arm or bracket i containing an oblong or slotted hole i¹,
the arm or bracket i extending downward to a point a little below and resting
clear of the tip or point of projecting spur ke which is hinged or pivotted to the
back of flap c.
Upon pressure being applied to push back the flap c for the insertion of letters
or other similar subject matter, the flap yielding to the pressure, imparts through
the medium of the spur ka corresponding pressure upon the segmental arm or
bracket i causing the spindle e from which the bell is suspended to rotate or
revolve in its bearings, until the spur in traversing the segmental arm or
bracket reaches the slotted hole ¹, thus disengaging the spindle e which
immediately falls back to its original position, this action aided and intensified by
the sensitiveness of the spring g is sufficient to set the bell in motion, causing it to
ring; thus automatically indicating by signal that letters or other subject matter
have been inserted within the letter-box or receptacle provided; the spurk being
hinged or pivotted to allow the flap or shutter c to return after the disengagement
of the spindle e.
By another arrangement of my invention in lieu of the bell and appliances
hereinbefore described, I employ an electrical bell, thus automatically notifying,
or indicating in any particular room, office, or, apartment in which the bell may
be placed, the signal, that letters, or other subject matter have been inserted
within the letter-box or receptacle provided.
I effect this object in the following manner, and as shewn in Figure 6 of the
drawings. Cast to the spindle e. and connected to the spur or finger n is an
eccentric 8, the face or periphery of the eccentric 8 when at rest being opposite but
free of the centre button or push piece t of the electrical bell, which is fixed in its
proper position and secured to the front plate a by light iron straps, or it may
be equally conveniently placed within the letter-box or receptacle and secured by
screws as shewn in Figure 6 of the drawings. When the flap c is pushed back, the
spindle e rotates or revolves in its bearings causing the eccentric 8 to press upon
and force back the push piece t upon the contact plates t¹, completing the electrical
circuit, establishing the current and causing the bell to ring, thereby automatically
indicating the signal to any particular room, office or apartment in which the bell
is placed that letters or other subject matter have been inserted within the lotter-
box or receptacle provided. The requisite circuit line wires may be conducted
horizontally across the door to the hinged side, where being formed into a spiral
coil they allow the free action of the door, they can be conducted thence in any
direction. The various arrangements herein before described, afford additional
security to the letter-box, as no attempt to tamper with, or to abstract any letter
or other subject matter, could be made without causing the bell to indicate the
usual signal.
Another object and important feature of my invention, relates to the utilization
(apart from the special purpose hereinbefore described,) of the letter-box signal bell,
as a door or house bell, as the means of communication to the occupants or
residents, possessing an entirely seperate action, and working independently of the
automatic action imparted by the motion of the letter-box flap or shutter See
Figures 3, and 6.
I accomplish this object in the following manner; viz; by an arrangement of the
design of the front plate a I obtain the requisite formation and seating to receive

page_text: and support a knob or bell pull with connecting rod u. Cast to the spindle e and
rising diagonally above it, is a suitably shaped arm or bracket j provided with an
oblong or slotted hole j' through which the connecting rod u passes and is. secured
in its position by an adjustable pin passed through the rod u immediately behind
the arm j, forming a T shaped clip u. By this arrangement when the knob or
bell-pull u is pulled forward, the clip u¹ presses forward the arm or bracket j causing
the spindle e to rotate or revolve in its bearings, setting the bell in. motion and
causing it to ring as herein before described and set forth.
The compression of the spiral spring v inserted within a recessed chamber formed
in the seating of connecting rod u imparts the requisite force to ensure the
return of the knob or bell-pull and its connections to their original position.
The slotted hole in the arm or bracket j is provided for the purpose of allowing
a free and seperate action of the house, door or office bell, thus acting quite
independent of the automatic action imparted by the motion of the letter-box flap
or shutter c.
Figure 6 illustrates this portion of my invention as applied to the electrical bell
apparatus attachments.
When the knob of bell-pull u is pulled forward, the effect as herein before
described is to cause the spindle e to rotate or revolve in its bearings, causing the
eccentric s to act upon and force back the push piece t upon the contact plates t¹
bringing them into contact, completing the electrical circuit, establishing the current
and causing the bell to ring.
By another modification of my invention the letter-box flap or shutter c and the
connecting rod of bell pull u may be connected and thus united in action; or the
knob and connecting rod of bell-pull u, and the push piece w of the electrical bell
may be dispensed with. I prefer however to construct my invention with the dual
movements as herein-before described and shewn in the accompanying drawings.
Another object of my invention is to provide for the easy adjustment either of
fixture or removal of a name plate of the occupier or resident, without affecting the
other portions of the apparatus or necessitating its disarrangement or removal.
To accomplish this object a recessed space or groove y is provided upon the front
plate a for the reception of a name plate z prepared with a tongue to fit into the
groove y and to be secured in that position by screws or other suitable and
convenient means which will allow of its easy adjustment whether of fixture or
removal, such recessed space y when not utilized for the name plate z being a part
or portion of the ornamental design of front plate a See Figures 1. 3. and 6.
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: "
First. The construction of door or pillar letter-boxes or receptacles as provided
with automatic signal indicating bell or appliance, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth, and herein before described, or any mere modification thereof,
and as shewn in Figures 1. 2 and 3 of the annexed drawings.
Second. The construction of door or pillar letter-boxes or receptacles as provided
with automatic apparatus for attachment to electrical signal indicating bell or
appliance, substantially as and for the purpose set forth, and herein before
described, or any mere modification thereof, and as shewn in Figures 1, and 6 of
the annexed drawings.
Third. The construction of door or pillar letter-boxes or receptacles as provided
with automatic signal indicating bell or appliance acting in combination with
house, door or office bell, substantially as and for the purpose set forth, and herein
before described, or any mere modification thereof, and shewn in Figures 1. 2 and 3
of the annexed drawings.
Fourth. The construction of door or pillar letter-boxes or receptacles as provided
with automatic apparatus for attachment to electrical signal indicating bell or
appliance acting in combination with house, door, or office bell, substantially as

page_text: and for the purpose set forth, and hereinbefore described, or any mere modification
thereof, and shewn in Figures 1, and 6 of the annexed drawings.
Fifth. The construction of door or pillar letter-boxes or receptacles with provision
made for the reception of an adjustable or moveable name plate, substantially as
and for the purpose set forth, and herein before described, or any mere modification
thereof, and as shewn in Figures 1. 2. 3 and 6 of the annexed drawings.
Dath 0th Jan of Onthou 1001
Witness present,
JOSEPH LYTLE,
Law Clerk,
Connsbrook, Belfast.
JOSEPH DANIEL DUCKETT.