Improvements in Letter Boxes Designed for use on Streets of Cities for the Distribution of Mail.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Sept., 1892-Accepted, 22nd Oct., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Letter Boxes Designed for use on Streets of
Cities for the Distribution of Mail.
I, LYMAN TRUE LIGHT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Covington,
County of Kenton, and State of Alabama, U.S.A., Agriculturist, 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 :-
My invention consists in a new and improved letter-box, which is specially
designed for distributing mails throughout cities or in suburban towns, and it can
be used to great advantage in hotels, flats, boarding-houses, and the like; and the
invention will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.
Referring to the accompanying drawings;
Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the series of doors used by the box
renters;
Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the large postman's door;
Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through the device;
Referring to the several parts by their designating numerals ;
My new and improved letter box, 1, in its general appearance, resembles some-
what the ordinary drop letter box now generally used in cities, but it is divided
longitudinally by vertical and transverse partitions 2, 3, into a series of horizontal
boxes 4, which extend entirely through from end to end of the main letter box.
One end of each horizontal box is closed by a small hinged door 5, which is
numbered on the outside and provided with a lock and key similar to the boxes for
rent in post offices, each renter of the box having a key to his own box.
The other end of the letter box 1 is closed by a large single hinged door 6
which closes the ends of all of the separate boxes 4, and is secured when fastened
by a padlock and key.
The postman distributes the mail by opening the large door 6, when the names
of the several renters of the boxes appear on the horizontal ledges of the boxes,
and places the mail of each person in his box, then closes and locks the door 6.
The renters of the boxes visit the letter box 1 at any desired time, and each opens
the door 5 of his box with his own key and removes his mail therefrom.
letter box can be attached to a lamp post, or telegraph pole by two iron bands
bolted to the box, or the box can be supported in any preferred way.
The
From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying
drawing, the construction and advantages of my new and improved letter box will
be readily understood. The box is preferably made of sheet iron and can be made
of any desired size. Three sizes, a large, medium, and small size being usually
manufactured.
"
It will be seen that these letter-boxes will dispense with one-half the labor of the
letter carrier and will be perfectly safe, as the letters placed therein will be under
the care of the Postal Laws. Each box attached to a lamp post or stationed in a
building is to be designated by the words "Station- by a number, or by a
letter, for reference. The device will prevent the letters intended for persons in
private houses or hotels from being delivered to careless servants and possibly lost
or mislaid. The device is very simple in its construction and can be manufactured
at a comparatively small cost.
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 :-
1. A letter box consisting of a box divided by partitions into a number of
senerate compartmento
cories of snall doors closing these compartments at one

page_text: of their ends for the use of the renters of the boxes and a single door closing
the other ends of the boxes for the use of the postinan, substantially as set
forth.
2. The herein described letter box, consisting of the box 1, the vertical and
transverse partitions 2, 3, dividing the interior of the same into the separate
horizontal boxes 4, the small hinged doors 5 closing these separate boxes at one
of their ends, and the large dccr 6, provided with a suitable lock and closing the
boxes 4 at their other ends, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 20th day of September 1892.
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.