Letters for Delivery.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Nov., 1896-Accepted, 20th Mar., 1897
for Letters for Delivery.
I, DAVID J. AYRES, of Keokuk, in the State of Iowa, United States of America,
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 consists in providing post office delivery cases with indicators
arranged to remain permanently the outfit or property of individual boxes or cells and
with the letters belonging therein when there are any to remain in the cells when
there are no letters and to go with the letters when taken out in hand for examination,
so as to avoid chance of there being any vacant cells except that from which letters
are taken into which they can be put back by mistake so as to cause subsequent
errors; and in improved indicators adapted for this purpose and various details
therein.
In the accompanying drawing :-
Figure 1 is a front elevation of part of a letter case provided with my improved
indicators.
Figures 2 and 3 are perspective views of the front and rear of the indicator.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the same, showing a letter strapped upon
it; and
Figure 5 illustrates a modified form of the indicator.
The letter cases K are made with rectangular divisions forming boxes or cells L
suited to hold letters on their sido edges or flat or part each way and convenient for
removal for examination and return. These cells are lettered in series laterally and
vertically for the initials of given and surnames to which the individual cells are
devoted, or with the titles of classes of letters or packages or in any suitable manner
desired.
Each box or cell I is provided with an indicator I, which may be made as shown,
or as a card or in any other suitable form, arranged to be handled with the letters
when taken out for examination, and to remain permanently with the cells as their
outfit or property whether they contain letters or not, to avoid a chance of any cells
being vacant except the one from which letters are taken, into which they can be put
back by mistake with serious results.
This indicator bears on its front face M, the initial letters or titles of the letters or
packages its cell is devoted to, so as to act as a label for such cell. Its other face has
a prepared surface N adapted for the writing and erasure of names or memorandums
as to letters to be looked out for, for forwarding or other purpose. And it has a
pocket P, between the two face surfaces for holding request slips or cards relating to
such letters.
It may be made in either the form of either an envelope open at the top to receive
the request papers and from the pockets, or as a book, Fig. 5, with the pocket in one
back or lid or between them, and with memorandum leaves between the back parts.
These indicators, whichever way they are made, have notches R on their side edges
adapted to receive elastic straps S bandlike to hold letters.
Various modifications may be made.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what inanner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A post office case having cells for letters or packages, each provided with an
indicator adapted to be handled with its letters and bearing indicia of the names or
classes of letters the cell is devoted to on one face, and on another face a surface
prepared for writing and erasing memorandums, and intermediately a pocket for cards
or slips, and having notches on its edges to receive elastic straps for letters,
substantially as set forth.
2. A post office case having cells for letters or packages each provided with an
indicator adapted to be handled with its letters, and to remain permanently therewith
in the absence of letters to avoid mistakes.
3. A post office case having cells for letters or packages, each cell provided with an
indicator adapted to be handled with its letters and bearing indicia of the names or
classes of letters to which the cell is devoted on one face, and a surface on the other
face adapted for the writing and erasure of memorandums, and intermediately a
pocket to retain memorandum cards or slips.
4. A post office case having cells for letters or packages each cell provided with an
indicator adapted to be handled with its letters and to remain perimanently with it,
and bearing initial letters or indicia of the names or classes of letters to which the cell
is devoted.
5. A post office case having cells for letters or packages, each cell provided with an
indicator adapted to be handled with its letters and to remain permanently with it
and bearing on one face a label or indicia of the names or classes of letters to which
the cell is devoted, and on another face a prepared surface adapted for the writing or
erasure of names.
6. The mode of avoiding mistakes in replacing letters in post office cases which
consists in providing each cell with an indicator with appropriate indicia thereon, and
handling the same with the letters of each cell and retaining such indicators in the
cell when it is otherwise vacant of letters.
Dated this Third day of November 1896.
CHARLES JUNGE,
Agent for Applicant.