Improvements in Letter Boxes.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 21st June, 1889-Accepted. 19th Oct., 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
· Improvements in Letter Boxes.
I WILLARD DELMONT DOREMUS Mechanical Expert of Post Building Corner
10th & D Streets, N.W. Washington in the county of Washington and District of
Columbia, United States of America do hereby declare the nature of my 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 an improvement in Letter Boxes. The object of the inven-
tion is to provide against unwarranted and unauthorized tampering with the mails
while awaiting collection and further to provide against any exposure of the contents
to rain, fire or other calamity. With these ends in view my invention consists in
certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts as will be herein-
after fully described and pointed out in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of my improved
letter box with the lower door open. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view through
the upper part of the box; and Fig. 3 is a detached view of the pivoted Letter tray.
Fig. 4 is a transverse section of the upper part of the box showing the tray in its
open position. Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line xx.
A represents the body of the box.
It is of usual construction and form and its
top is rounded in the usual fashion. The walls at the top are restricted into a narrow
upper chamber band over this the roof c is secured. One side of this upper chamber b
is removed thus furnishing an opening for the reception of letters and parcels of
ordinary size. The connected mechanism for opening and closing this side of the
chamber constitutes an essential feature of my present invention and hence a detailed
description of this part will follow.
A flat or straight plate c¹ preferably of metal, is pivoted to the roof of the box to
one side of its center so that the plate is divided into a narrow and wide portion.
The narrow portion constitutes the lid of the box and it is adapted to normally close
the opening in the chamber 6 owing to the greater weight of the wider portion of
the plate which acts as a counterpois to always keep the lid in a vertical position.
At its ends the lid is provided with flanges ƒ which lap over the edges of the end
walls of the chamber b thus making the fit of the lid close at its ends. To still
further insure against the admission of water, a plate g is secured to the roof of the
box with one edge projecting upward into line with the axis of the lid. Being thus
arranged even when the lid is locked, the plate 9 and lid always retain the same
positions relatively. An angle plate h is secured to the lid over and adjacent to the
plate g in such position that one flange h¹ projects outward and normally serves as
a weather strip to shed rain but on the other hand when the lid is opened, it acts as
a stop to limit the opening of the lid by abutting against the plate g. It may be
well to mention the fact right in this connection that the roof of the chamber b
projects over the lid when the latter is closed and thus water is kept out at this
point. The lid is operated by a handle i projecting from its face.
The plate
is provided on its inner side flush with the upper edge with a plate j
curved concentric with the axis of the plate. From the ends of this curved plate
segments k extend along the ends of the plate tapering to a point at their ends.
Thus the inner side of the plate forms a kind of tray for receiving the letters and
parcels which are inserted through the openings in the chamber b. The bottom of
this tray just reaches across the chamber when the lid is opened, it having sufficient
clearance so that the tipping of the plate is unobstructed and yet so that there is
not sufficient space left between it and the wall of the box to permit anything to
pass.
•
Inside of the box a curved plate k¹ is located. This plate projects downwardly

page_text: concentric with the axis of the plate c¹ and its position is such that when the lid is
open, the curved plate on its back and this plate k are diametrically opposite each
other.
The advantages of the construction are numerous. In the first place the box is
made fire and water proof. Again it will be observed that whatever the position
assumed by the tray it will be absolutely impossible to insert anything in the box by
which to extract the contents of the box for as soon as the lid is partially opened and
before the curved plate j is drawn out its full width the inner edge of the tray has
passed up by the lower edge of the curved plate ¹ so that the very moment the lid
is open wide enough to receive anything, however thin, the bottom of the tray
together with the plate k¹ forms a partition which prevents anything from passing
beneath as long as the lid is open. In other words anything placed in the opening
must first stop in the tray and here it remains until the lid is closed which it auto-
matically does the minute it is released when the article drops off into the receptacle
below.
There yet remains another important feature of my invention and that consists
in the indicator dial m and the connected parts. This dial is supported on a central
pivot in one end of the box so that it projects a little over the lower opening of the
box where it may be turned by the mail collector while the lower door is open. This
dial is provided with numerals and characters to indicate different hours of the day
and these characters are all arranged on the dial at the same distance from its center
in order to be seen from the outside through the small opening n. This opening or
window n is preferably covered with glass and above it may be found the expression
"Next Collection" of words of similar import to indicate the time of next collection
which of course may vary at different seasons hence rather than having a regular
bulletin it has been found more practical for the collector to indicate this according to
orders. For example supposing he is removing the contents of the box into his bag
at 12 o'clock and the next collection is to take place at 2 P.M. he simply turns the dial
to indicate that time so that anyone depositing articles may always know accurately
when the next collection is to take place by looking through the opening or
window n.
The lower door is of the usual construction, i.e., it is hinged at its lower edge to
the box and provided with the wings p which serve to prevent the letters from
dropping out when the door is opened and also to prevent the door from being
opened too far. When this door is closed it may be held by a hasp and padlock and
to provide against anyone forcing a knife or other instrument in over the door to
turn the dial, a plate is secured inside the box between the dial and the box to
cover the crack formed between the meeting edges of the box and door. Importance
is attached to the fact that this dial is wholly within the box where it is protected
and entirely covered, except the portion opposite the opening, and even this is pro-
tected by the glass. So not only is the dial kept entirely from exposure to the
weather but also it is proof against being interfered with by any one except
proper authorities. A strip r over the door o prevents rain from running down into
the latter.
In conclusion I may say that not only does my invention possess all the advantages
and superiorities mentioned but many other also are apparent to one skilled in testing
letter boxes and while the description has been confined to the device shown it is
evident that slight changes might be resorted to in the form and arrangement of the
several parts described without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention
and hence I do not wish to limit myself to the particular construction herein set
forth, but,
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :

page_text: adapted to close the same, said plate having a curved flauge an one edge, and a
curved guard plate projecting into the body of the box diametrically opposite the
curved flange on the pivoted plate, substantially as set forth.
2nd. In a letter box, the combination with the body and a restricted chamber on
top of the latter, said chamber having an open side, of a plate pivoted in the body at
the lower edge of the opening, a curved flange on one side of the pivoted plate con-
centric with the axis of the latter, tapering segments at the end of the pivoted plate,
and a curved plate projecting from the body diametrically opposite the curved plate
on the pivoted plate and concentric also with the axis of the latter, substantially as
set forth.
3rd. In a letter box, the combination with the body having an opening in its side,
of a lid pivoted in the body, said lid having flanges at its ends adapted to lap over
the adjacent edges of the body, substantially as set forth.
4th. In a letter box, the combination with the body of the box, and a restricted
chamber at the top having an opening in its side, of a lid having a counterpoise at
one edge, flanges at the ends to lap over the edges of the body and an angle plate
projecting laterally from the lid and adapted to act as a stop to abut against the
body and thereby prevent the lid from being opened too far, substantially as set
forth.
5th. In a letter box, the combination with the body of the box, and a restricted
chamber at the top having an opening in its side, of a lid pivoted in the body at the
lower edge of the opening and provided at its upper end with an inwardly projecting
flange, an angle plate projecting out at right angles from the outer face of said lid
and adapted to abut against the adjacent surface of the body of the box, and serve
as a stop to prevent the lid from being opened too far, substantially as set forth.
6th. In a letter box, the combination with the body having an opening therein,
and the lower door, of a dial supported on a pivot within the body with its edge
projecting over the lower opening, said dial having characters to be exhibited through
the opening, and a flange located between the dial and the body and projecting over
the crack formed between the meeting edges of the body and door, substantially as
set forth.
Dated this 21st dow of Iun 1000
HUGHES, ELI & HUGHES,
76, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.