IMPROVEMENTS IN LETTER- BOXES AND IN BAGS FOR EMPTYING THE SAME
Year: 1883

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Frank Wirth at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 18th September 1883. A communication
from Theodor Maynz and Carl Otto Weber both persons resident at Offenbach
on the Main, in the Empire of Germany.
FRANK WIRTH, of the firm of Wirth and Company, Patent Solicitors, at
Frankfort on the Main, in the Empire of Germany, "IMPROVEMENTS IN LETTER-
BOXES AND IN BAGS FOR EMPTYING THE SAME" [a communication from Theodor
Maynz and Carl Otto Weber both persons resident at Offenbach on the Main in the
Empire of Germany]
This invention relates to letter-boxes provided with bags for receiving the
contents thereof.
In carrying the said invention into practice I provide a letter-box to which is
suspended a letter bag as hereinafter described.
The bottom of the said box is arranged to slide in and out. To the underside of
the said sliding bottom are attached two brackets; a bolt having coiled around it
a spiral spring passes through the said brackets, a second spring, a locking piece,
a collar in which slides the said locking piece, two slots, and a pin with a guide the
pointed end of which projects in the right hand slot
Underneath the sliding bottom and the sides of the letter-box are fixed two rails
which are connected with two curved pieces
The mouth of the letter bag consists of two parts or ribs.
The lock of the ribs comprises a tumbler having a pin, a bolt provided with a
guide to which the catch which effects the closing of the said bag is attached, a slot
and two flat pins. In order to connect the ribs of the bag with the letter box, that
is to say in order to be able to open the said bag when the same is locked a pin of
the rib is pushed upon one of the rails and into the said curved piece. The flap of
the bag on the front of the box is next opened and discloses the said sliding bottom
which is provided with semi-circular grooves and a bolt passing through the said
brackets and having a spiral spring wound around the same.
This bolt enters,
when pushed back; an aperture formed in one of the ribs and after the locking is
effected the said bolt is pressed back into its previous position by means of a
spring. When the locking is effected the bolt with the catch attached thereto is
at the same time pushed forward upon a guide and into the said slots so that the

page_text: said catches come out of the said slots and enter a slot in the sliding bottom
whereby the connection of the ribs of the bag with the said sliding bottom is
effected. In order to unlock the sliding bottom which is fastened by means of
catches at the back of the letter box the pin which is in the right hand slot of the
said slots is pressed back owing to the catches springing forward, and presses the
catches connected with the second spring in a slot and unlocks the sliding piece
from the back of the letter bag, so that the latter can be taken from the letter-box,
and both the letter bag and letter-boxes can be opened. The connection between
the two is such that the letter box, neither in front nor at the back, can be taken
out of the curved piece as the pin which entered the said curved piece at the least
forward motion of the bag turns and presents its widest side to the narrow aperture
of the said curved piece.
When the sliding bottom is drawn out, the bag is at the same time firmly
attached to the underside of the letter box whereas the letters which laid on the
grooves fall into the bag through the front wall of the box. After the said letter
box has been emptied of its contents, the sliding bottom is put back in its place, the
bolt is pushed back in front of the aperture formed in the rib so that the closing
of the letter box is effected, and the various parts come back in their original
position and the bag may be removed.