Improvements in Letter Plates for Doors or like use.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Jan., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 28th Oct., 1889-Accepted, 30th Nov., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Letter Plates for Doors or like use.
I, WILLIAM LEA of the Bloomsbury Foundry, Wolverhampton in the County of
Stafford, Brass Founder, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to the plates which serve to close the apertures left in street
doors and other places for the convenience of postal delivery and other uses.
Such plates as now made swing on a hinge joint at their upper edge or end or
on a pair of pivots but such arrangement is apt to result in a nuisance from wind
lifting the flap and letting it fall-chattering being the result-whilst dust is admitted
especially when the device is in an exposed situation.
According to some arrangements this evil effect is sought to be prevented by
applying springs or weights but the remedy is sometimes ineffectual and inconvenient
from the weight having to be overcome and the springs fail in time.
The present invention is characterised by the plate or shutter sliding across the
opening preferably travelling in guides, in the same plane as the face plate, said
A small
face plate serving to bear the name of the owner or other announcement.
knob or handle on the shutter may serve to move the same from over the opening.
Or, the removal may be by pulling a line or connection to the plate either with,
or without, the addition of a weighting means for return of the shutter.
In more elaborate devices where expense is not so much an object, the lifting
may be by a projecting short ornamental crutch or arm passing through the door
and bearing therein, acting on a connection to the shutter to lift it.
To economise space in margin or the boxing of the plate, it may be made folding or
in leaves.
In some
cases the plate or shutter is made to open sympathetically with the
pressure of a knob of an electric ball, the current also acting to attract a part on
the shutter or connected with it, or the lifting of the knocker or pull of the bell
or annunciator may also draw the shutter open.
Anti-frictional rollers to reduce the resistance to movement of the plate may be
employed.
uay
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Letter Plates for Doors or like use.
I WILLIAM LEA of the Bloomsbury Foundry, Wolverhampton, in the County of
Stafford, Brass Founder, 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 the plates which serve to close the apertures left in Street
doors and other places for the convenience of postal delivery and other uses.
Such plates as now made swing on a hinge joint at their upper edge or end or on
a pair of pivots but such arrangement is apt to result in a nuisance from wind lifting
the flap and letting it fall, chattering being the result, whilst dust is admitted especially
where the device is in an exposed situation.
According to some arrangements this evil effect is sought to be prevented by
applying springs or weights but the remedy is sometimes ineffectual and incon-
venient from the weight having to be overcome and the springs fail in time.

page_text: The postman or other person to insert a letter through the opening a¹ has simply to
lift the rising plate by the knob or projection, and then the plate will of itself fall
into position to close the opening again.
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. In a letter plate for covering openings in doors or for like use the combination
or arrangement and use of a vertical sliding plate with a fixed guideway therefor,
secured to the door or other part substantially as set forth.
2. The arrangement or combination of parts of letter plates for doors or like use
substantially as described.
1000
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.