An Improvement in Letter Boxes.
Year: 1895

page_text: An Improvement in Letter Boxes.
CHARLES JAMES OBERST 38 Kenton Street Brunswick Square London W.C.
General Provision Dealer, 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 is for the better protection of letters in letter & pillar boxes.
The invention consists of
1st. A roller (a Fig. 1) made of wood & cased with tin, (for preference) but, it
can be made of any kind of metal etc. desired.
The roller to be 12 inches long (more or less) and 6 inches in diameter (more
or less).
2nd. A slot (b Fig. 1) must be cut in the roller, the slot to be 10 inches long
(more or less) 2 inches wide (more or less) and 5 inches in depth (more or less)
thus forming a deep receptacle extending through the diameter of the roller to
within one inch (more or less) of opposite side, the said 1 inch (more or less)
forming the bottom of the slot.
3rd. Each end of the roller (a Fig. 1) must be furnished with a steel pin
(c. c. Fig. 1) about 3 inches long (more or less) and 1 inch in diameter (more or
less). The pins to be sunk into the centre of the ends of roller (a Fig. 1) & securely
fastened in by being soldered or otherwise, the protuding 14 inch will thus form a.
strong axel.
4th. One of the pins (c Fig. 1) at one end of the roller (a Fig. 1) will require
to be furnished with a cogged wheel (d Fig. 1) said wheel to have a hollow centre
or ring cut out of middle of cog wheel 1 inch in diameter, so that the wheel can be
fitted over the axel & fastened firmly against the end of roller (a Fig. 1), the.
wheel must be 2 inches in diameter (more or less) & furnished with 3 screw holes
so that it can be screwed on to the end of the roller after being slipped over the
axel.
4th. A square brass rod (Fig. 2) 10 inches long (more or less) and inch square
(more or less) will be required to form the handle from, one end of the rod must
have an iron knob (F Fig. 2) securely fixed to it, the other end of the handle to
have a hole (G Fig. 2) drilled through it for the insertion of a pin as in drawing
(G Fig. 2) said pin to be removable at pleasure. The inside or middle part
of handle (E Fig. 2) to be cut into a rachet with inch (deep) teeth, the
teeth on the rachet of handle (E Fig. 2) to match the teeth on wheel (d Fig. 1).
5th. A strongly made coil spring (H Fig. 2) will also be required, the spring to
be 1 inch long (more or less) inch diameter inside measure (more or less)
the spring must be made so that it will shut up, or compress from a length of
14 inch (more or less) to inch (more or less).
6th. A + sided frame (Fig. 3) made of iron, to be made of metal about 2 inches
wide, (more or less) and inch thick (more or less). The two sides of the frame
(I I Fig. 3) to be 6 inches long, clear inside measure (more or less) & to be pierced
with one round hole (J J Fig. 3) in each, to form bearings for the axel of the
roller (a Fig. 1), the holes to be 1 inch diameter (more or less), holes to be made
in or about the middle (more or less) of the length of the side irons. The back
part of frame (P Fig. 3) to be 13 inches long, inside measure (more or less), one
end of back part of iron frame (P Fig. 3) to have a hole (N Fig. 3) bored or cut
in it for passage of handle (Fig. 2) hole to be made about inch square (more

page_text: or less). The front, of the frame (K Fig. 3) must be curved to the same shape as
the roller (a Fig. 1).
The front (K Fig. 3) must be 16 inches long (more or less) and 5 inches deep
(more or less), and must have two holes (R R Fig. 3) bored in each end.
A hole inch square (more or less); marked, (M Fig. 3) must be cut in the front
of the frame (K Fig. 3) for the passage of the handle (Fig. 2).
Having thus fully described the different parts of the invention, the next thing
will be to describe the way to fit it up and use it.
Having fitted the roller (a Fig. 1) with axels (o o Fig. 1), slot (b Fig. 1) and also
the cogged wheel (d Fig. 1), so that it is fitted complete as, (Fig. 1) the
whole of (Fig. 1) must. be then mounted in the frame (Fig. 3) in the following.
manner..
The axels (cc Fig. 1) must be fitted in the holes. (J J Fig. 3) the back of the
frame (P Fig. 3) & the curved front. frame. (K Fig. 3) must then be placed in
position as (Fig. 4), & the whole of the frame etc. must then be firmly and strongly
soldered together.
This will then be quite ready to fix inside the letter or street pillar box.
The method of fixing in the box will be as follows:
First the, sloping framework, which surrounds the, letter slit in the street pillar
boxes will have to be cut away & the letter slit enlarged so as to be the same
size as, the slot (b Fig. 1), in the roller, (a Fig. 1) so that when the rollen is
placed in, position in the letter box, the whole of the slot ( Fig. 1) in the
roller (a Fig. 1) will be visible to, the eye through the slit in the face of letter box,
and of easy, access, for the passage of a mans hand to the bottom of slot (6 Fig. 1);
in roller (a Fig. 1) & so as to allow room for a good number of letters to be posted:
at one pull of the handle (Fig. 2)..
After having cut away the part of slit & enlarged it as above, four holes (more
or less), marked (O Fig. 6), must, be drilled through the face of the pillar box, just
below the slot, for the purpose of bolting the whole of (Fig. 4) in position, sail
holes in pillar box to be drilled so as to meet the holes marked (R R Fig. 3).
The whole affair (Fig. 4) is then to be fastened to, the inside of pillar box by
means of holts passed, through the holes. (O Fig. 6) & (R R, Fig. 3) from outside
the letter box, and made fast. & secure by being nutted on, the inside of box.
A square hole (S Fig. 6.) must then be cut through the wall of the letter-box.
said, hole to be. inch square (more or less) and in a line with the holes (N & M
Fig. 3), already in position,, so that the handle (Fig. 2) may be passed through the
3 holes (S Fig. 6) & (N and M Fig. 3), the toothed part of handle (E Fig. 2)
being at the same time fitted into, the teeth of cogged wheel (d Fig. 1), the end
of the handle containing the hole (G Fig. 2) having passed through the hole
(N Fig. 3), the spring (H Fig. 2) must then be placed round the end of the handle
(Fig. 2), which projects about 13 inch beyond the back of frame (P big. 3) & the
whole, of the handle & spring must, then be kept in position by means of a metal
pin, being placed in the hole (G Fig. 2).
Care must be taken when fitting the handle, in position, that the slot (b Fig. 1)
in the roller (a Fig. 1), is exactly facing the letter slit in pillar box.
(Fig. 5), shows a side view of my invention, when fitted inside a street
pillar box.
(Fig. 6) shows a front view of the same invention..
The way to work the invention is as under.
The letters are passed through the slit in letter box, into, the slot, (b Fig.)
in the roller,, (a Fig 1) the knob (F Fig. 2) of the handle (Fig. 2), is then pulled
out, which causes the rachet (E, Fig. 2), to move forwards, at the same time
the teeth of rachot, (E. Fig. 2) engages, the teeth of cogged wheel (Fig. 1)
which said wheel being, fastened on to the roller (a Fig. 1) causes, the roller to,
revolve
Ive of its diameter (more or less), the slot (Fig. 1), thus moving away
from opening, in the letter box, into the inside of the letter box & is forced to
discharge its contents into the body of the letter box, the slot in the meantime

page_text: being closed as a means of entry to the inside of letter box, by the solid face of
the roller being turned round to it, on releasing the knob however, the handle flys
back into its original position, & the roller turns back to its first position with the
slot (6 Fig. 1) facing the slit in letter box ready for the next letters.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, & in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1st. The slotted roller as described in (Fig. 1) & used for the purpose of con-
veying letters to the inside of the letter box, & also as a means of continually
guarding the entrance to the inside of letter-box, so as to prevent the theft of
letters.
2nd. The curved metal front as described in (Fig. 3)
to the surface (under surface) of the roller (Fig. 1) gives
contents of box.
Dated thie de 9th of Anril 1905
which when fitted close
greater security to the
CHARLES JAMES OBERST,
Applicant.