IMPROVEMENTS IN DOOR LETTER BOXES
Year: 1884

page_text: I GEORGE WILLIAM POTTER Surveyor of 22. High Street, Hampstead in the
County of Middlesex do hereby declare the nature of my said invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN DOOR LETTER BOXES to be as follows:-
A great inconvenience is experienced in houses in which the hall or passage is
narrow or in which from any cause the space near the entrance is contracted by
the necessity of making the letter box that is secured behind the door of a small
size whereby the insertion through the slit in the door of any letter or other
package of any considerable dimensions is rendered extremely difficult of accomplish-
ment if not altogether impossible. This is especially to be experienced when the
slit in the door for the letters and other articles is vertical. Now the object of
this my present invention is to construct these letter boxes in such a manner that
a large letter box can be secured behind the door capable of receiving any letter or
package with ease and without inconvenience and also that the door can be opened
to its full extent notwithstanding such large letter box even though the space
behind the door may be extremely narrow and contracted.
To carry out this object I make the back of the letter box that is that part
thereof that is furthest from and parallel with the door of wood or other convenient
rigid material and the sides and the top and the bottom of the said letter box I
form of a flexible material preferably leather which can conveniently be of that
kind or quality that is used in the manufacture of bellows which kind or quality
is very suitable for my purpose. The said sides and the top and the bottom
aforesaid which may be made in one piece or by many pieces joined together of
the flexible material are secured on the one side to the edges of the back of the
letter box and on the other side may either be secured directly to the door in the
proper position or may be secured to a suitable frame or plate which frame or plate
would be secured to the door in the position required.
This box therefore so made can be constructed of any required size and shape
and the door can be opened to its full extent notwithstanding this box as when the
door is opened and the back of the letter box is pressed against the wall behind the
said box collapses and lies flat against the door but when the door is shut the said
box expands by the action of the flexible sides and top and bottom thereof. To
assist this expansion I can also when I should deem it desirable so to do insert in
the box or use with the same a suitable number of spiral or other springs the ends
of which would bear against the rigid back of the box and force the same out from
the door. The door of the box through which the letters and other articles
deposited therein can be removed can conveniently and preferably be made in the
rigid back thereof.

page_text: I GEORGE WILLIAM POTTER Surveyor of 22 High Street, Hampstead in the
County of Middlesex do hereby declare the nature of my said invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN DOOR LETTER BOXES and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
A great inconvenience is experienced in houses in which the hall or passage is
narrow or in which from any cause the space near the entrance is contracted
through the necessity of making the letter box that is secured behind the door of a
small size whereby the insertion through the slit in the door of any. letter or
other package of any considerable dimensions is rendered extremely difficult of
accomplishment if not altogether impossible. This is especially experienced when
the slit in the door for the letters and other packages is vertical. Now the object
of this my present invention is to construct these letter boxes in such a manner
that a large letter box can be secured behind the door capable of receiving any
letter or other package as may be desired with ease and without inconvenience and
yet at the same the door can be opened to its full extent notwithstanding, such
large letter box even though the space behind the door may be extreinely narrow
and contracted.
To carry out this object I make the back of the letter box that is to say that
part of the said box that is furthest from the door and parallel therewith or
thereabouts of wood or other convenient rigid material as may be desirable in each
case and I make the sides and the top and. the bottom of the said box of a flexible
material preferably of leather which can conveniently be of that kind or quality
that is used in the manufacture of bellows which kind or quality of leather is very.
suitable for my purposes as herein declared. The rigid back of this box can
therefore be made to lie flat along and in close proximity to the door when
required and thus the said door is allowed to be opened to its full extent as is
desired.
In order to fully explain my invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed I refer to the accompanying drawing.
Figure 1 is a vertical section of a letter box constructed according to this my
invention. Figure 2 is an horizontal section of the same taken at a. b. in Figure 1.
In these two figures the box is in its normal condition or expanded. Figure 3 is
an horizontal section of the same also taken at a. b. when the box is collapsed as
is hereinafter described.
A is the door round the slit B in which it is required to fit a suitable and
convenient box capable of receiving with ease any letter or other package wherefor
I make a rigid back C for the box of the required shape and size and I then take
one or more pieces of flexible material D as aforesaid wherewith to make the sides
and the top and the bottom of the said box which material D is secured on one
side to the edges all round of the back C in any convenient manner and on the
other side either can be secured directly on the door in the proper position or as is
preferable can be secured to a frame or plate E of the proper shape and size which
frame or plate E is then secured. to the door in the position required as shewn in
the drawing. The door F of the box through which the letters and other packages
that have been deposited therein can be removed can conveniently and preferably
be made iu the rigid back C of the box as shewn in the drawing.
Thus according to this my invention any door can be opened to its full extent
notwithstanding the letter box thereon as when the said door is opened and the

page_text: back of the said letter box comes in contact with the wall behind the said door a
small pressure thereon will collapse the said letter box and cause it to lie flat
against the said door as shewn in Figure 3 but when the said door is shut the said
letter box expands by reason of the action of the flexible sides and top and bottom
thereof as shewn in Figures 1 and 2 and any letter and other package can be
deposited therein as is desired.
To assist this expansion I can also when I should deem it desirable or expedient
so to do insert in the box or use with the same a suitable number of spiral or other
springs the ends of which would bear against the door and the rigid back of the
box and when the pressure of the wall had been removed the said springs would
assist in forcing the said back of the box out from the said door. I shew in the
drawing two plain metallic springs G preferably of the material known as clock
springs which are placed one on each side of the box and are very suitable for this
purpose but any other kind of springs may also be used when desired either inside
or outside the letter box.
It is sufficiently obvious that I do not limit myself to the shapes and proportions
and details of construction of the box and of the several parts thereof as shewn in
the drawing though I consider the same are very suitable for my purposes as
herein before declared but a letter box can be constructed according to my method
as aforesaid of any shape and proportions and the details of such construction can
be arranged and settled in accordance with the requirements in each case.
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
1. In a door letter box the combination of the rigid back and the flexible sides
and top and bottom for the said box substantially as and for the purposes
hereinbefore described and declared.
2. In a door letter box the combination of the rigid back the flexible sides and
top and bottom for the said box and the spring or springs to expand the said box
substantially as and for the purposes herein before described and declared.
3. The door letter box substantially as hereinbefore described and shewn in the
accompanying drawing.