Improvements in Boxes applicable for Bulletins or other purposes.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Feb., 1893-Accepted, 8th Apr., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Boxes applicable for Bulletins or other purposes.
I, SUSAN FANNY FOULIS HAY, of The Lodge, Dawlish, in the County of
Devonshire, Gentlewoman, 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 improvements in boxes applicable for bulletins or other
purposes, which consists of an oblong shaped box made of wood or of any other
material fitted with leather straps, lock, pencils and other fittings.
The bulletin box is intended to be fastened outside a house on an area or garden
railing or other fence, where there is serious illness or infectious disease. Friends
can come, learn how their friends are, leave their cards and never go near the
house. Nothing is more awful in serious illness than the never ceasing inquiries
of anxious friends. Then suppose the patient dies a bulletin could be shown saying
for instance; "Mrs. Jones and family are as well as can be expected. But they
feel their loss acutely, and are quite unable to see any of their friends at present."
Said friends would then drop their cards of sympathy into the box, and leave
Mrs. Jones and family to the privacy of their grief. In the case of infection a
disinfectant could be sprinkled inside the box, and as the box would never be inside
the house there could be no danger.
And in order that my invention may be thoroughly understood, I now proceed
to describe the accompanying drawings thereof, reference being had to letters and
figures marked thereon.
Fig. 1, is a view of the outside of the box.
Fig. 2, is a view of the inside and outside of the box.
This invention is constructed with a hinged door a opening outwards in front,
and provided with a lock and key. Inside is a tray c or drawer which can be
lifted out, for receiving the cards of persons who may call to inquire after the
patient, the cards to be dropped through a slit d, the box e having one in
each end.
The door a would have a square of glass in the centre of it, with above the
word "Bulletin."
Behind the glass would be the slate g, which is dropped in from the top of the
door when it is open; then there is wood, or other material, down each side and at
the back of where the slate rests, forming a "pocket " for it to stand in.
At the top of the wood at the back of the slate, a three-cornered piece is cut out
which enables the fingers to get in to pull the slate up.
The slate has a square hole / near the top, which is rounded and through which
one or two fingers are placed to pull it up.
The slate of any suitable pattern with or without a rim may be used and can be
lifted right out.
The slate should have a different material on each side; say one side with a
white ground on which black writing could be shown; the other black with white
writing, then people could use either side they liked. Of course both sides could
be the same. The slate could be made of ordinary slate for cheapness if wished.
There are two pencils i, one to write black, the other white. If the slate was the
same on both sides only one would be required. The pencils i are above the tray,
as the back of the door when closed would come close against the tray. The slate
and the wood at the back of it with the pencils, fits inside the box as in Fig. 2, and
the front of the door with the square of glass is outside the box. The door a would
reach nearly to the top of the box, but the roof of the box would come out over
the top of the door to protect it from rain if necessary. The roof would not project

page_text: in front, it would only cover the top of the door. The door could be fitted with a
square of ordinary glass or if desirable in the case of distinguished people, where
crowds would flock to see the bulletin, it could be filled with magnifying glass.
You will observe that the box a has a ring j on the top by which it can be nailed
to a wall, and straps k and buckles at the sides. The top strap can be buckled and
slung over the top of a railing, and the one at the bottom fastened round the rails,
or both straps could be used to strap it round a gate-post, lamp-post or the like;
and the straps could be strapped tightly round the box, or over the top and under
the bottom out of the way, if it was to be nailed. The straps could be fastened
on to the box so as to move round either to strap at the back, or over the top, or
under the bottom.
The word "Bulletin "
"Cards
"
is to be on the front of the box; and the words
beneath each slit, or not, if desired but the word "Bulletin" is to be
on each box as in Fig. 1.
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 claim is :-
1. In a bulletin box, the combination of the box e hinged door a lock b
glass slate g pencils with tray c slits d straps k and ring j, substantially as
herein described and according to Figs. 1, and 2, of the accompanying drawings.
2. In a bulletin or other box, the combination of the box and other parts, with
two or more straps and buckles, substantially as herein described and for the
purpose specified.
Dated this 18th day of February 1893.
J. P. BAYLY,
18, Fulham Place, W., Agent for the Applicant.