Improvements in Letter Boxes.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 18th July, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 18th May, 1893-Accepted, 24th June, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Letter Boxes.
HENRY IVAN GOULD, Engineer 11 Lawson Street Newington, Surrey, & JAMES
WILLIAM BENNETT, Advt. Contractor, 41 Eastcheap E.C. do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
A construction upon the inside of letter boxes to prevent the abstraction of
letters papers &c. through the mouth or aperture through which they are inserted.
A formation or shape of the back part of the letter box in connection with said
construction upon the interior.
The construction consists of a piece of flat metal or other substance sloping from
the front of the letter box from just below the mouth or slot at about right angles
towards the back & having its lower edge toothed.
The back of the letter box is projected outwards about midway from the top
allowing the sloping piece of metal or other material above referred to, to project.
some distance beyond the line of the upper part of the back part of the box and
leaving sufficient space only for a small parcel or newspaper to pass.
Dated this 18th day of July 1892
HENRY IVAN GOULD.
J. W. BENNETT.
⚫ COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Letter Boxes.
We, HENRY IVAN GOULD of No. 11 Lawson Street, Newington in the County
of Surrey, Engineer and JAMES WILLIAM BENNETT of 41 Eastcheap in the City
and County of London, Advertisement Contractor 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:-
Our invention relates to an improved construction of letter boxes, and has for
its object the prevention of the withdrawal of letters or the like by any means after
these are deposited in the box, through the mouth or aperture.
In order that our said invention may be clearly understood, we have appended
the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which the figure represents an oblong
letter box or pillar made in accordance with our improvements, and shewn with
the top and one side removed for the better illustration of the invention.
In carrying our invention into effect, we use an aperture or slot e with a weather
guard as ordinarily constructed. The box or receptacle is projected outwards,
about midway from the top, said projection or extension being shewn in the
drawing by b. A flat metallic or other suitable plate a is fitted below the
aperture e and slopes therefrom towards the extension into which it projects.
The free edge of said plate a is toothed or serrated, and the serrations may or may
not be so shaped or ground as to present a sharp or razor edge. The space
between the lower serrated edge of a and the wall or side of the extension is
only sufficient to admit of the passage of an ordinary letter packet or book that
may be passed through the aperture. Two interior walls or partitions c and c¹ are
fitted within the box, and arranged so as to enclose a space equal or approximately
equal to the width of the aperture from the top down to the plate. The ordinary
accessories appertaining to letter boxes in general use, or others that may be found
expedient, may be used in combination with the device herein described without
detriment to the essential features of our said invention.

page_text: The application of the device in accordance with our invention may be described
as follows;-
Letters and papers are usually in such cases of theft as are on record, abstracted
through the aperture, by means of a flexible cord, wire or the like. Such means,
to be effective must be so arranged that the end of the flexible cord or the like
may drop in a direct vertical line upon the contents of the box. This, according
to our improvements, is prevented by the fact of the projection of the plate a into
the extension b, and the serrated or toothed edge prevents the withdrawal of any
of the contents of the box, and probably destroys the cord or instrument used, by
the act of sucli withdrawal.
Our invention is applicable to any letter box, of whatsoever shape, conformation
or exterior construction.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
First. In letter boxes the improved construction of the interior substantially as
herein described and illustrated by the appended drawing.
Second. In letter boxes, the combination of a serrated sloping plate a projecting
into an extension with an aperture and a receptacle for letters and the like
substantially as herein described with reference to the appended drawing.
Third. In letter boxes the use or employment of a plate a with sharp toothed
or serrated edges, in combination with an extension 6 substantially as herein
described.
Dated this 16th day of May 1893.
H. I. GOULD,
J. W. BENNETT,
Applicants.