Improvements in Flap Inlet Boxes for Letters or other similar purposes.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 10th July, 1899
Complete Specification Left, 30th Mar., 1900-Accepted, 5th May, 1900
Improvements in Flap Inlet Boxes for Letters or other similar
purposes.
We, JOSEPH GRUNDON, of 63, Salisbury Road, Cape Hill, Engineer, and
ERNEST GREGG, of 164, Montague Road, Cape Hill, Engineer, both of Smethwick,
in the County of Stafford, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in boxes for the reception of, letters,
but which may be used for other similar purposes, and consists broadly in the
construction and arrangement by which the movement of the flap of the insertion
aperture shall be utilized to operate a radially segmentul chamber in combination
with guard plates in such a manner that the article when inserted is received
direct into the segmental chamber and then by the part rotative movement of
the said chamber is passed beyond a guard plate into the box proper, there being
no inlet access to this said box by any other means.
Its construction broadly is as follows:-The box or frame is made of a suitable
shape and size to accommodate the operating mechanism as hereinafter described,
and having an insertion slot opening with interiorly opening flap, after the usual
manner. Within this box is carried a horizontal spindle having thereon two
wings or plates set at a given angle to each other, say about 120 degrees (more
or less), such space forming a reception chamber. One of these wings. is made a
little longer than the other. Above this and secured to the box is a curved guard
plate circumferentially arranged to travel of the edge of the one wing. Below
the insertion slot is a second similarly arranged curved guard plate, past which
travels the edge of the lower wing until the upper wing reaches it, and by reason
of its being a little longer than the lower wing, rests upon it, and forms a stop
to its travel in that direction. At such a position however the lower wing has
been made, to travel sufficiently far beyond the lower curved guard plate to afford
an opening thence into the main part of the box below.
of
The movement of 'the wings and their spindle is effected by a coupling up
such spindle to the flap upon the inside of the insertion slot. This may be done
by means of wheel gearing, or by levers and links, or both combined as may be
most convenient, which may be supplemented by spring or counterweight to
bring the various parts back into their normal position. If desired the wing plate
spindle may be operated by means of an independent push slide or the like, whose
exterior is carried to the outside of the box, and terminating in the form of a
knob or other suitable shape, and its interior connected to the wheel gearing or
lever arrangement as the case may be, so that a positive operation may be made
thereby if required.
Hence its operation is somewhat as follows:-In its normal position, the re-
ception chamber formed between the two wing plates is below the slot and flap,
with its lower part open to the lower main part of the box. As the flap is pushed
inwards however for the insertion of a letter &c. the chamber is turned around

page_text: until it is opened to receive the said letter, but closed to the lower compartment.
After insertion has taken place and the flap is allowed to drop, such movement
causes the reception chamber to close to, the slot, but open downwards to the lower
compartment.and.allow the article to fall thercinto.
Date : 101 L
PT T
1000
CHARLES T. POWELL,
Applicants' Agent.
Improvements in Flap Inlet Boxes for Letters or other similar
purposes.
We, JOSEPH GRUNDON, of 63, Salisbury Road, Cape Hill, Engineer; and
ERNEST GREGG, of 164, Montague Road, Cape Hill, Engineer, both of Smethwick,
in the County of Stafford, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and as-
certained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to improvements in boxes for the reception of letters,
but which may be used for other similar purposes, and consists broadly in the
construction and arrangement by which the movement of the flap of the insertion
aperture shall be utilized to operate a radially segmental chamber in combination
with guard plates in such a manner that the article when inserted is received
direct into the segmental chamber and then by the part rotative movement of
the said chamber is passed beyond a guard plate into the box proper, there being
no inlet access to this said box by any other means.
In order to more clearly explain this our invention, we have appended hereunto
an illustrative drawing upon which are figures and numbers of reference, similar
numbers referring throughout the several views to the same thing or part.
Such portions of the letter box only are shown, as may be necessary to explain
the invention:
Fig. 1, is a front view of the upper part of a box constructed according to this
our invention.
Fig. 2, is a sectional view of the box on line AB (Fig. 1) showing the insertion
flap closed.
Fig. 3, is a similar view to Fig. 2, but showing the flap opened, as it would
appear during the insertion of a letter.
Fig. 4, is a front sectional view of the box' on line C-D in the direction of
arrow (see Fig. 3).
Fig. 5, is a side sectional view on line E-F in the direction of arrow, (see
Fig. 4).
Its construction broadly is as follows:-The box or frame 8, is made of a suit-
able shape and size to accommodate the operating mechanism as herein after
described, and having an insertion slot opening. 9, with interiorly opening flap 10,
.after the usual manner. Within this box is carried a horizontal spindle 11,
having thereon two wings or plates 12, and 13, set at a given angle to each other,
say about 120 degrees (more or less), such space inside forming a reception
chamber. The wing. 12, is made a little longer than the other. Above this and
secured to the box is a curved guard plate 14, circumferentially arranged to the
travel of the edge of the one wing 12. Below the insertion slot is a second
similarly arranged curved guard plate 15, past which travels the edge of the lower
wing 13, until the upper wing reaches it (as shown in Fig. 2), and by reason of

page_text: its being a little longer than the lower wing, rests upon it, and forms a stop to its
travel in that direction. At such a position however the lower wing has been
made to travel sufficiently far beyond the lower curved guard plate to afford an
opening thence into the main part of the box below.
The movement of the wings and their spindle is effected by a coupling up of
such spindle to the flap upon the inside of the insertion slot. This may be done
by means of wheel gearing, or by levers and links, or both combined as may be
most convenient, which may be supplemented by spring or counterweight to
bring the various parts back into their normal position. Such mechanism. is
located preferably in a small compartment 16, at the side of the box proper.
Upon the outer end of the spindle 11, is.secured the pinion 17, which gears witli
the segmental lever 18, is pivoted at 19, whose outer end is coupled to the arm 20,
by means of link 21. The arm 20, is secured to the insertion flap rocking
spindle 22, which is extended for that purpose. The flap is kept closed by
spring 23.
If desired the wing plate spindle may be operated by means of an independent
push slide 24, or the like, whose exterior is carried to the outside of the box,
and terminating in the form of a knob 25, or other suitable shape, and its
interior connected to the arm 20, so that a positive operation may be made
thereby if required.
Hence its operation is somewhat as follows:-In its normal position as seen
in Fig. 2, the reception chamber formed between the two wing plates 12, and 13,
is below the slot and flap, with its lower part open to the lower main part of the
box. As the flap is pushed inwards however for the insertion of a letter &c. as.
seen in Fig. 3, the chamber is turned around until it is opened to receive the
said letter; but now closed to the lower compartment. After insertion has taken
place and the flap is allowed to drop, sucli movement causes the reception chamber
to close to the slot, but open downwards to the lower compartment as shown in
Fig. 2, and allow the article to fall thereinto.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
wo claim is:
1. In letter or other similar reception boxes the construction and arrangement
of a part rotative two wing body 12 and 13 in combination with guard plates 14
and 15 and operated by suitable mechanism connecting such wings with the
opening and closing flap 10, substantially as set forth and shown.
2. In letter or other similar reception boxes operating the chamber forming
wings 12 and 13, by means of pinion 17, actuated by lever 18, connecting rod 21;
arm 20, and flap 10, all combined substantially as set forth and shown upon the
drawings.
Dated this 29th day of March 1900
CHARLES T. POWELL,
Applicants' Agent.
158, Edmund Street, Birmingham. ·