Improvements in Post Depositing and Collecting Receptacles, and Locking and Releasing Mechanism therefor.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Jan., 1898-Accepted, 7th May, 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Post Depositing and Collecting Receptacles, and
Locking and Releasing Mechanism therefor.
I, Detalmo di BRAZZA SAVORGNAN, Engineer, of 361, Broadway, New York City,
in the County and State of New York, 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: -
It is well known that in the ordinary methods of collecting mail matter from
street boxes, the street box is opened by the collector by means of a key, and then
the collector manually removes the mail matter from said box and deposits it in
a bag or other receptacle which is at all times open or easy of access. By means
of this method of collecting mail matter it is obvious that a dishonest collector
may abstract and appropriate letters that contain valuables.
The object of my present invention is to provide a means whereby neither the
depositing receptacle nor the collecting receptacle can be opened, excepting when
the two receptacles are placed together. At this time both the depositing receptacle
and the receiving receptacle may be opened so that the contents of the depositing
receptacle will drop into the receiving receptacle, after which the two receptacles
must be locked before they can be separated one from the other. It is to be
understood, however, that a lock section, similar to that of a depositing receptacle,
is to be placed in a general place of deposit, such as a post office, so that the
receiving receptacle may be opened for the removal of collected matter.
My invention comprises a lock consisting of two sections adapted to co-act, one
of said sections being attached to the depositing receptacle and the other of said
sections being attached to the receiving receptacle.
The invention further consists in the construction and novel arrangement of
parts, as will be hereinafter specified and particularly pointed out in the claims.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this
specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts
in all the views.
Figure 1 is a partial front elevation and partial section of a depositing receptacle
and a receiving receptacle embodying my invention;
Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a vertical section drawn on an enlarged scale of the lock sections
employed;
Figure 4 is a section substantially through the line 4--4 of Figure 3;
Figure 5 is a horizontal section of the lock;
Figure 6 is a vertical section showing a modified construction of the depositing
receptacle;
Figure 7 is a vertical section at right angles to Figure 6;
Figure 8 is a vertical section showing still another modification;
Figure 9 is a section at right angles to Figure 8;
Figure 10 is a partial section and partial elevation of a portion of the lock
mechanism:

page_text: Figure 11 is a section at right angles to Figure 10;
Figure 11 is a view of the front portion of a depositing receptacle, showing a
certain locking means employed;
Figure 12 is a sectional detail showing a means for interlocking one jaw of the
receiving receptacle with a portion of the depositing receptacle;
Figure 13 is a section through the line of Figure 3;
Figure 14 is a vertical section showing a modification in the construction of the
depositing receptacle;
Figure 15 is a perspective view of the lower portion of the depositing receptacle,
showing its depending side walls or wings;
Figure 16 is a vertical section of a locking mechanism of modified construction;
Figure 17 is a section on the line 17-17 of Figure 16;
Figure 18 is a partial section and partial elevation of locking mechanism of a
modified construction;
Figure 19 is a section on the line 21-21 of Figure 18.
Figure 20 is a section somewhat similar to the section in Figure 19.
Figure 21 is a partial elevation and partial section showing the receiving
receptacle jaws partly opened;
Figure 22 is a horizontal section;
Figure 23 is an elevation of a portion of the locking mechanism;
Figure 24 is a perspective view of the top portion of a railway mail bag, showing
a lock embodying my invention as applied thereto;
Figure 25 is a top view showing the mail bag as closed and locked;
Figure 26 is a partial section and partial elevation showing the lock mechanism;
Figure 27 is a section substantially on the line 29-29 of Figure 26.
Figure 28 is a vertical section of another modified form of lock;
Figure 29 is a section on the line 31-31 of Figure 28;
Figure 30 is a section on the line 32-32 of Figure 28; and
Figure 31 is a section on the line 33-33 of Figure 28.
I will first describe a depositing receptacle comprised in my invention.
In Figures 1 and 2, 1 designates the box-like body portion of the receptacle,
having at its top a cylindrical shell 2, which however, opens into the interior of
the receptacle 1, and which also has an outward opening through which mail
matter may be inserted into a chute 3, open at its opposite sides and having its
end walls provided with trunnions engaging in bearings in the end walls of the
shell 2. One of the trunnions is extended outward through an end wall of the
shell, and is provided with a hand piece or crank 4.
The chute 3 extends entirely across the shell 2, and when it is in its normal
position its front open end will be coincident with the outward opening through
the shell, and its rear open end will be closed by the rear wall portion of said shell.
To support and maintain the chute in its normal horizontal position, I provide the
shell 2 with an inwardly-extended flange 5, upon which the front under side of
the chute will rest, and I also provide said shell with another inwardly-extended
flange 6, which will be engaged by the upper side of said chute near its inner end.
These flanges 5 and 6 are each provided with a series of transverse ribs 7, designed
when the chute is in its normal position to project through slot openings in the
walls of the chute, and extend a short distance into the chute. The object of these
ribs is to prevent the insertion of a package of a size that would need to be
crowded or forced into the chute to engage the walls thereof, and therefore bind
to such an extent that the package would not drop into the receptacle when the
chute was turned to its vertical position. The under side of the chute 3 is provided
longitudinally with a convex rib 8, which bears against the inner edge of the
flange 5. This rib 8 is designed to form a closure to prevent the insertion of a
wire or similar instrument into the receptacle or between the chute and the inner
edge of the flange 5.
When the chute 3 is turned to its vertical position for dropping mail matter into
the receptacle 1, it is of course necessary or preferable to close the outer opening

page_text: of the shell 2. To such end I provide the chute 3 with a transversely curved
plate 9, having a length somewhat greater than the width of the outer opening of
the shell. When the chute is in its normal position, the plate
will be extended
through a slot in the top of the depositing receptacle and extended into said
receptacle, as plainly indicated in the drawings. When however, the chute is
turned so that its inner open end is extended beyond the inner projection 10 within
the shell 2, the said plate will form a closure to the outward opening through the
shell.
In Figure 14, I have shown a modification in the construction of this depositing
chute. This particular construction is designed more particularly for use in
connection with two depositing boxes, one of which is arranged on the inner side
of a door or other part of a house, and the other receptacle on the outer side thereof.
In this modification 11 indicates a depositing receptacle arranged on the outer side
of a door, and 12 is a similar receptacle arranged on the inner side of a door. From
the boxes 11 and 12 side pieces 13 extend upward and are connected together at
the top by means of a transversely curved plate 14, and the tops of the receptacles 11
and 12 have segmental flanges 15 and 16 respectively. These parts 14, 15 and 16
form substantially a cylinder, which however, is open at its outer and inner sides.
Mounted to rotate in this cylinder is a chute 17, having at its lower end a curved
plate 18, movable over the flange 15, and provided with an outwardly-extended
finger piece 19, and at its lower end opposite the plate 18, is a similar curved
plate 20, which extends upward and against the edge of the plate 14.
In the operation of the device, and assuming that a postman desires to deposit
letters or mail matter in the box 12, he will turn the chute to the position noted
in full lines in Figure 14, and when in this position it will be seen that the curved
plate 18 effectually closes the opening leading into the top of the box 11, so that
the postman is prevented from inserting his hand to remove mail matter that may
be inserted in said box. After depositing the mail matter in the chute 17,
the postman will rotate the chute to the position indicated in dotted lines in
Figure 14; then of course the mail matter will drop into the receptacle 12. If a
person within a dwelling desires to deposit mail matter in the receptacle 11, the
chute will be turned in an opposite direction to that indicated in the drawings,
and then of course, after inserting the mail matter the chute can be slightly rotated
At this time the
so that the said mail matter will drop into the receptacle 11.
plate 20 will form a closure for the opening leading into the receptacle 12.
arranged that it may be opened
Each depositing receptacle has its bottom wall so
for the discharge of mail matter from the receptacle. In Figure 2, I have shown a
bottom wall 21 hinged at its rear edge to the inner side of the rear wall of the
receptacle. Said rear wall, it will be seen, extends a considerable distance below the
front end of the lower wall of said receptacle, the object of which will more fully
appear hereinafter.
In Figure 7, I have shown a swinging bottom wall 22, having a hinge connec-
tion at its forward edge near the front wall of the receptacle 11, and the said
bottom closure or wall 22 is shown as curved rearward and downward. In Figure 9,
I have shown a bottom closure or wall 23, adapted to slide outward in suitable
guideways. It is desirable that the bottom walls or closures shall be opened only
after the connection of a receiving or collecting receptacle with the depositing
receptacle and the operation of lock sections connected to the respective sections.
The receiving receptacle consists of a bag having a flexible side 24 and a
flexible side 25. The flexible side portion 24 is connected to a frame 26, pivoted
to a frame 27 to which the flexible side 25 is attached. This pivotal connection
consists of a rod 28 extending through the jaws or frames 26 and 27, and having
one outwardly-extended end provided with a hand piece 29. The upper ends of
the frame pieces 26 are connected by a casting 30, in which the upper edge of the
5 bag material 24 is clamped. This casting 30 is provided at its central portion

page_text: with a forwardly and downwardly extended hook 31, so as to be engaged by
locking plates in a lock section carried on the frame portion 27.
I will now describe the lock and its operation. The lock consists, as before
stated, of two sections, one of which is affixed to the depositing receptacle, and the
other of which is attached to one jaw or frame portion of the receiving receptacle.
The section attached to the receiving receptacle comprises a casing 32, having
extended from its inner wall a shelf 33, designed to extend over the hook 31, when
said hook is in its locking position, and thus prevent any tampering therewith.
The section of the lock on the depositing receptacle comprises a casing 34, having
a forwardly-extended wall 35, open at its front and into which the casing 32 is
designed to pass when the two lock sections are placed in operative connection.
Mounted to rotate in the casing 32, near one end thereof, is a shaft 36, having a
crank handle 37 on its outwardly-projected end. The inner end of this shaft 36
is provided with a disk 38, and this disk 38 as here shown, has in its center a guide
pin 39, adapted to engage in a correspondingly shaped depression in a disk 40 on
the outer end of the shaft 41 mounted to rotate in the casing 34, and the disk 38
also has a pin 42 designed to engage in a hole 43 formed in the disk 40 near its
periphery.
Rigidly mounted on the shaft 41 is a gear wheel 44, meshing with a gear
wheel 45 on a shaft 46 mounted to rotate in the casing 34, and on the outer end of
which is a disk 47 having a hole 48 near its periphery into which a pin 49 pro-
jected from the disk 50 is designed to project.
This disk 50 is mounted on a
shaft 51, having bearings in the casing 32, at the end opposite that in which the
shaft 36 rotates. On the shaft 51 is affixed a gear wheel 52, meshing with a
gear wheel 53, mounted on a sleeve 54 adapted to rotate on the shaft 36. This
sleeve 54 carries a disk 55, extended outwardly from which is a ring-shaped
flange 56, the outer surface of which is flush with the outer surface of the disk 38.
On this ring-shaped flange 56 is a pin 57, designed to engage in a hole 58 formed
in a ring-shaped flange 59, surrounding the disk 40 and attached to a disk 60 on a
sleeve 61 mounted to rotate on the shaft 41. On this sleeve 61 is a gear wheel 62,
meshing with a gear wheel 63 on a sleeve 64 mounted to rotate on the shaft 46.
On the sleeve 64 is a flange 65, which bears a ring-shaped flange 66, having a
hole 67 in which a pin 68 on a ring-shaped flange 70 is designed to engage. This
ring shaped flange 70 surrounds the disk 50, and has a flange 71 in connection with
a sleeve 72 mounted to rotate on the shaft 51. On this sleeve 72 is a gear wheel 73,
meshing with a gear wheel 74, mounted on a sleeve 75 adapted to rotate on the
sleeve 54. This sleeve 75 has a disk 76, supported on the periphery of which is a
ring-shaped flange 77 having an outwardly-extended pin 78 adapted to engage in
a hole 79 formed in a ring-shaped flange 80, on a disk 81 mounted to rotate on the
sleeve 61. On this disk 81 is a gear wheel 82 meshing with a gear wheel 83 on
a disk 84 mounted to rotate on the sleeve 04. This disk 84 is provided with a
ring-shaped flange 85, provided with a hole 89, into which a pin 90 on a ring-
shaped flange 91 is designed to pass. This ring-shaped flange 91 is supported on
a disk 92, extended from the sleeve 93 mounted to rotate on the sleeve 72.
It will be seen that the outer surfaces of the several ring-shaped flanges and the
outer surfaces of the disks are flush one with another, and the outer ring-shaped
flanges of each set are mounted to rotate in openings formed in the front walls of
the respective casings.
It will be observed in the drawings that the several gear wheels vary in size, the
idea being to rotate the several disks and ring-shaped flanges at different rates
of speed when one lock section is in connection with the other lock section, and as
the relative rates of speed of each section will be unknown to a person having the
section in charge, it is obvious that he will be unable to operate the several parts of
a section one pant independently of another, to move them in position for releasing
the locking devices to be hereinafter described.
Mounted to rock on a pin 94 and extended upward therefrom, is a series of
tumbler levers 95, 96 and 97. The respective tumbler levers are provided at their

page_text: cam 105
upper ends with T-heads 98, 99 and 100. One end of the T-head 98 engages
against the periphery of a cam 101 mounted to rotate with the sleeve 75, and the
other end of said T-head engages with a cam 102 mounted to rotate with the
sleeve 93. One end of the T-head 99 engages with the periphery of a cam 103
mounted to rotate with the sleeve 54, and the opposite end of this T-head engages
with the periphery of a cam 104 mounted to rotate with the sleeve 72.
One end of the T-head 100 engages with the periphery of a
mounted to rotate with the shaft 36, and the opposite end of said T-head engages
with the periphery of a cam 106 mounted to rotate with the shaft 51. The several
cams differ in contour, as will be plainly seen in Figure 4, and when the several
cams are together rotated, and as they have different degrees of movements, it is
obvious that the T-heads engaging with opposite cams will not retard their move-
ment; but should a single part be independently rotated, it is obvious that the cam
carried thereby would cause the T-head of a tumbler rod to bind together this
moving cam and the surface of the stationary cam with which said T-head engages,
thus effectually locking the part from further rotation.
This is clearly illustrated in Figure 4, in which it will be noted that by the gear
connections the cam 106 will be rotated twice the distance of the cam 105.
Should an attempt however, be made to rotate the disk 38 independently of the
other parts, the cam 106 remaining stationary, or not recovering the necessary
speed, will cause the T-head to bind between the two cams, for the reason that
co-acting cams have such a relative shape and contour, that the space between
them will be lessened by such movement of a single part.
I will now describe several locking plates for engaging with the locking
hook 31, the plates being actuated by the rotary parts heretofore described.
I have here shown three locking plates 107, 108 and 109, all arranged to slide
longitudinally one upon another. These several plates are extended through a
slot opening 110 in the rear wall of the casing 32. Each plate as indicated in
dotted lines in Figure 5, is provided with a horizontal slot 111 having an outward
opening 112. Each plate has a frame portion 113, extended upward in the
casing 32, and one end of each frame 113 is provided with an upwardly-extended
lug 114, and also near its central portion with an upwardly-extended curved
portion 115.
Moving with each cam 102, 104 and 106 is a tappet 116, adapted to engage with
the lugs 114 of the frames 113 located immediately below them. It will be seen
by this construction, that as the parts are rotated the several lugs 114 will be
engaged successively by their respective tappets 116. When a tappet engages
with the lug 114, the frame 113 will be moved laterally, and consequently its plate
will be moved longitudinally to bring its outer opening 112 coincident with the
downwardly-projected portion 31, and then the next plate will be similarly moved,
and then the third plate will be moved. When all of the outer openings 112 are
coincident with the hook 31, it is obvious that the jaws or frame portions of the
receiving receptacle may be opened. As before stated, however, these several
movements cannot take place without the coaction of the parts in the casing 34.
On the backward movement of each tappet 116 it will engage the upwardly-
extended curved portion 115 of its frame, and the plate carried by this frame will
be moved again to a locking position in connection with the hook 31.
casing 34 also contains locking plates and cams similar to the cams heretofore
described, and also contains tumbler levers co-acting with the cams.
The
Connected with the gear wheel 44 is a cam 117 and connected with the sleeve 64
is a cam 118. Connected with the gear 62 is a cam 119 and connected with the
gear wheel 83 is a cam 120. Depending from a shaft 121 in the upper portion of
the casing 34, is a tumbler lever 122, having on its lower end a T-head 123, the
ends of which gear respectively with the cams 117 and 118, and also depending
from this shaft 121 is a tumbler lever 124, having a T-head 125 at its lower end,
having its ends engaged respectively with the cams 119 and 120. These cams are

page_text: variously shaped, and have various degrees of movement similar to the cams first
described.
Locking plates 126, 127 and 128 are mounted to move horizontally in the
casing 34. These several locking plates have upwardly-extended frame portions 129,
provided with lugs and cam surfaces similar to the lugs and cam surfaces 114
and 115 above described, and adapted to be engaged respectively with tappets 130,
131 and 132. The tappet 130 is mounted to rotate with the gear wheel 45, the
tappet 131 with the gear wheel 63, and the tappet 132 with the gear wheel 83.
The plates 126, 127 and 128 extend upwardly, and the upper surfaces are inclined
downward and inward, as plainly indicated in Figure 3, and each plate is provided
in a portion of its length with a recess or notch 133, which when the plates are in
a locking position are out of line one with another; but when the said plates are
successively moved by the rotation of the parts in the casing 34, these several
notches will be brought into line so that the latch 134 may be moved outward
through an opening in the rear wall of the casing 34.
The lower edge of this latch 134 it will be seen is inclined downward correspond-
ing to the inclination of the top surfaces of the several plates. The latch 134 is
extended from a link 135 pivotally connected to and extended downward from
the free edge of the bottom closure 21 of the depositing receptacle 1. The lower
end of the link 135 is provided with a hook portion 136, which has an outer open-
ing 137, through which a plate 138 carried by the casting 30 on the frame portion 26
is designed to pass.
In operation, when the receiving or collecting receptacle is placed in connection
with the depositing receptacle, by engaging the two lock sections as indicated in
Figure 3, upon rotating the several rotary parts in said lock sections by means
of the crank 37, the several locking plates 107, 108 and 109 will be successively
moved out of locking engagement with the hook 31, and at the same time the
several locking plates 126, 127 and 128 will be moved out of locking engagement
with the latch 134. Then by operating the handle 29, the jaw portion 26 of the
receiving receptacle will be moved to its open position, as indicated in dotted lines
in Figure 2. At the starting of this movement, the plate 138 will pass into the
hook 136, and thus the bottom closure 21 will be carried downward to open the
receptacle 1, allowing the contents thereof to drop into the receiving receptacle.
Of course during this downward or opening movement the plate 138 will have a
rotary motion in the hook portion 136. This is permitted by the fact that the
plate 138 has a space between it and the upwardly-extending wall of the casting 30,
the plate 138 being supported on said casting by means of connections at the ends,
the length of the space between said connections of course being greater than the
length of the hook 136, as plainly indicated in Figure 13.
It is designed in practice that the collections taken into the collecting receptacle
shall be limited to a certain number of depositing receptacles, and therefore I
provide means to prevent an operation of the locking mechanism after said limit
shall have been reached. As here shown, this means consists of a ratchet
wheel 139, mounted to rotate on the stud 94. This ratchet wheel is provided on
its outer surface with a series of figures, here shown as ranging from 1 to 12, and
these numbers may be consecutively seen through an opening 140 in front of the
casing 32. This ratchet wheel 139 is rotated one step at each complete releasing
movement of the locking plate 109, by means of a spring-pressed dog 141 pivoted
to the frame 113 of said plate 109, and adapted when said plate and frame are
moved longitudinally, to engage with a tooth of the ratchet wheel. This ratchet
wheel is held from backward rotation by means of a pawl 142 pivoted to a stud
extended inward from the front wall of the casing 32, and pressed yieldingly
against the ratchet wheel by means of a spring, as plainly indicated in Figure 4.
On the inner side of the ratchet wheel 139 is a disk 143, provided with a
notch 144 into which the free end of an angle lever 145 is adapted to engage when
the ratchet wheel shall have made one complete rotation, therefore it will be seen
that after twelve collections shall have been made, a complete movement cannot be

page_text: imparted to the locking plate 109, because the dog 141 will engage with the
ratchet wheel without imparting rotary motion to said ratchet wheel. The angle
lever 145 is pivoted on the lug to which the pawl 142 is pivoted, and this angle
lever has a curved portion 146 extended above its pivot point, and adapted to be
engaged by a boss 147, extended from a cylinder adapted to be rotated by means
of a key inserted through the front wall of the casing 32. As the free end of the
lever 145 is pressed and held yieldingly against the periphery of the disk 143 by
means of a spring, as shown in Figure 4, it is evident that the free end of said
lever will be forced into the notch 144 when said notch reaches the free end of said
lever. Of course the proper official or superintendent at the main office will be
supplied with a key for releasing the lever 145, so that the ratchet wheel may be
rotated or returned to its starting position, and ready for a subsequent collection.
Upon each operation of the locking mechanism it is also designed to operate an
indicator giving information as to when the next collection will be made. This
means consists of a ratchet toothed wheel 148 mounted to rotate on the shaft 121
in the casing 34. This wheel 148 has marked on its outer surface the hours of the
day, which may be seen successively through an opening in the front wall of the
casing 34. To impart a step-by-step motion to this wheel 148, I employ a lever 149
pivoted in the casing 34, and carrying at its upper end a spring-pressed pawl 150
engaging with the teeth of the wheel 148. The pivotal end of this lever 149 is
provided with diverging fingers 151 and 152 designed to be engaged by a pin 153
extended inward from the gear wheel 82. During the rotary movement in one
direction of said gear wheel 82, the pin 153 will engage with the finger 151 and
rock the lever 149, causing the pawl 150 to rotate the wheel 148 one step. On
the backward movement of said gear wheel 82, the pin 153 will engage with the
finger 152, and return the lever 149 to its normal position or engagement with the
next tooth of the series on the wheel 148.
While the several parts of the lock mechanism are in engagement it is desirable
to secure the two sections so that they cannot be separated until the parts are
operated to put them in locking position. As a means therefor I employ a
lever 154, pivoted to the inner side of the casing 32, and having an upwardly-
extending arm 155 passing through an opening in the upper wall of the casing 32
and adapted to be moved into a recess 156 formed in the upper wall of the flange 35.
The free end of this lever has a hook portion 157, which bears on the periphery of
a disk 158 mounted to rotate with the shaft 36. When the parts are placed
together and the shaft 36 rotated in the direction of the arrow a shown on the
disk 158, the said lever will be elevated out of the notch 159 formed in the
periphery of the disk 158, and this upward movement of the lever will of course
move the arm 155 into the opening 156, where it will remain during the entire
movement of the disk 158, and when the parts are reversed to lock the several
devices, the hook end 157 after the complete reverse movement of the disk 158
will drop into the notch 159. This of course will move the part 155 out of
engagement with the opening 156, so that the collecting receptacle with its lock
section may be removed.
As before stated, it is designed that a certain collecting receptacle shall be
employed with a certain number of depositing receptacles, and in order to insure
that the collections shall be made in the consecutive order of the depositing
receptacles, I employ a means which after the unlocking and locking operation
during one collection will be automatically rotated one step, to prepare it for con-
As here
nection with the next depositing receptacle of the series on the route.
shown, this means consists of a ratchet wheel 160, mounted on a shaft 161 having
a bearing through the rear wall of the casing 32, and provided at its outer end
with a disk 162, having a pin 163 extended from it near its periphery. This
disk 162 is seated in a recess formed in the rear wall of the casing so that the outer
side of said rear wall and the face of the disk will be flush. The pin 163 is
adapted to engage in an arc-shaped slot formed in the front wall portion of the
lock section casing 34, and of course the slots of the different depositing receptacles

page_text: will be in positions differing one from another; that is, in the different degrees of
a circle, as indicated in Figures 10 and 11. The arc-shaped slot is to allow for
the movement of the disk to put it in position for connection with the next
depositing receptacle, and it is to be understood that the same result would obtain
with the slot formed in the disk and the pin on the depositing receptacle.
As a means for imparting a step-by-step movement to the ratchet wheel 160 and
consequently moving the pin 163 one step further, to be engaged in the next
succeeding depositing receptacle, I employ a pawl 164 pivotally connected to the
frame 113 of the locking plate 107. This pawl 164 is supported on a pin extended
from said frame 113, and is pressed yieldingly downward by means of a spring 165,
having one end secured to said frame. At each unlocking movement of the
plate 107, the pawl 164 engaging with a tooth of the wheel 160, will rotate it
one step.
On the shaft 161 rearward of the wheel 160 is mounted a toothed wheel 166,
designed in connection with a dog 167 to lock the wheel 160, and prevent its back-
ward or forward movement excepting upon the operation of the locking mechanism.
This dog 167 has a tooth adapted to engage between teeth of the wheel 166, and is
automatically moved into such engagement by means of a spring 168 bearing
against the portion of said dog extended below its pivotal point. To release the
dog 167 from the wheel 160, before the pawl 164 shall have come into operative
connection with the wheel 160, I provide a push rod 169 which extends from the
frame 113 upon which the pawl 164 is mounted. This push rod 169 of course
comes in contact with the lower end of the dog 167 and will force its toothed end
out of engagement with the wheel 160; then on the continued movement of the
frame 113, the wheel will be operated as before described.
I will now describe the modification shown in Figures 6, 7, 8 and 9. In these
figures, the lock operating mechanism is the same as that heretofore described,
the main features of the modification being confined to the bottom closure or door.
In Figures 6 and 7 the bottom closure or door 22 is curved downward and rearward,
and at its front end it has a rigid connection 170 with a bar extended across the
receptacle 1. This rigid connection consists of a plate extended upward from the
closure 22, and then forward, and then turns around the bar which extends across
the receptacle 1, and has a bearing in the side walls thereof. The lower end of
this closure 22 normally engages against the lower portion of the back wall of the
receptacle 1. Mounted to slide on the upper side of the closure 22 is a
locking bar 171. This extends through a suitable guide on the closure 22,
and is designed to engage in a hole or recess formed in the back wall of the
receptacle 1. The opposite end of this locking bar 171 is pivotally connected to a
bell crank lever 172, pivoted to a lug on the upper side of the closure 22, and
having extended from its other arm a bolt 173 which extends through an opening
in the plate 170. This bolt 173 projects through a slot in the rear wall of the lock
casing 34, and in the line of movement of the gear wheel 44, which in this instance
is provided at one side with a radial slot 174. Surrounding the bolt 173 between
the plate 170 and the collar on said bolt is a spring 175, which normally presses
said bolt outward, and consequently forces the locking bar 171 into locking
position. A lug 176 extends upward from the bolt 173 into a hole formed on the
lower side of the plate 170, as plainly indicated in Figure 7.
In operation, after the lock operating wheels shall have made one complete
rotation to unlock the parts, the slot 174 in the wheel 44 will be in line with the end
of the bolt 173, and then after moving the jaw 26 of the collecting receptacle to its open
position by grasping and turning a hand lever 177 on the outer end of the shaft
to which the plate 170 is connected, the bottom closure 22 may be turned down
to the position indicated in dotted lines in Figure 7. Of course at the initial
movement of the hand lever 177, the wall of the hole or opening in the plate 170
engaging against the lug 176, will force the bolt 173 longitudinally through the
slot 174 of the wheel 44, and this movement of the bolt will rock the bell crank
lever 172 and draw the locking bar 171 out of its locking position.

page_text: When the jaw 26 is in its open position, it is necessary to lock the same to
prevent a person from forcing the said jaw upward and thus gaining access to the
receptacle. As a means therefor, I employ a hook 178 pivoted in a recess formed
in the back wall of the receptacle 1, and adapted to engage in a hole 179 formed
in the casting or cross bar 30 which extends between the frame sections 26. The
hook
inner edge of this hook 178 near its pivotal point is provided with a
portion 180, designed to be engaged by a pin 181 extended from one edge of the
closure 22. When the said closure 22 is in its closed position, the pin 181 will
hold the hook 178 within the recess as indicated in Figure 12. As said closure 22
however, is moved toward its open position, the pin 181, engaging with the hook
portion 180, will move the locking bolt 173 into the slot 179. When the closure 22
is returned to its closed position the pin 181 will engage with the body portion of
the hook 178, and force it back into the recess and consequently out of the hole 179,
so that the jaw portion 26 may be moved to its closed position.
In Figures 8 and 9, the bottom closure 23 is made to move laterally outward in
relation to the receptacle 1. This bottom closure 23 is transversely grooved and
at its upper forward edge it has an L-shaped flange 182, engaging over a slide
flange on the inner side of the receptacle 1, and the lower edge of this closure slides
in a groove formed in the lower end of the back wall of the receptacle. At each
end the under side of this closure 23 is provided with a channel or groove 183,
which extends from the upper to the lower edge of said closure, and into which
lugs 184 on the frame section 26 engage and are adapted to move as the frame
section is moved to its open position. A locking bolt 185 operated vertically
through an opening in the bottom wall of the casing 34 is adapted to pass through
a recess formed in the upper side of the sliding closure 23. After operating the
lock mechanism to raise this bolt 185, and also to release the jaw section 26 of the
collecting or receiving sections, the said jaw 26 may be moved downward, and
during this movement the lugs 184 projecting into the slot 183 will prevent an
outward movement of the closure 23. This outward movement can only take place
after the frame 26 shall have reached the limit of its opening movement; then
said lugs 184 will come in line with the longitudinal groove 186 formed near the
lower edge of the closure 23. At this time by taking hold of the handle 187, the
closure may be drawn outward and the mail matter be allowed to fall into
the receiving receptacle.
In the modifications shown in Figures 16 and 17, I have provided a locking
mechanism adapted to be operated by a key instead of by a crank as in the example
first described. In this modification, a shaft 190 is mounted to rotate in the
casing 32. The inner end of this shaft 190 is provided with a disk 191 having a
pin 192 adapted to engage in a perforation in a disk 193 on a shaft 194 mounted
to rotate in the casing 34. The shaft 190 at its end opposite that having the disk,
is provided with a gear wheel 195, and also with a cam 196. The shaft 194 at its
end opposite that having the disk is provided with a gear wheel 197 and also with
a cam 198. Mounted to rotate on the shaft 190 is a sleeve 199 having at one end
a gear wheel 200 and also a cam 201. At its opposite end this sleeve is provided
with a ring-shaped flange 202 having a pin adapted to engage in a perforation in
a ring-shaped flange 203, mounted on a sleeve 204, mounted to rotate on the
shaft 194. The inner end of this sleeve 204 is provided with a gear wheel 205,
and also with a cam wheel 206. Mounted to rotate on the sleeve 199 is a sleeve 207,
having at its inner end a gear wheel 208 and a cam 209. At its opposite end the
said sleeve 207 is provided with a ring-shaped flange 210 having a pin for engage-
ment in a perforation in a ring-shaped flange 211 on a sleeve 212 mounted to
rotate on the sleeve 204. This sleeve 212 is provided with a gear wheel 213 and
also with a cam 214.
Mounted to rotate on the sleeve 207 is a sleeve 215 having at its inner end a
cam 216 and at its opposite end a ring-shaped flange 217, upon which is mounted
a gear wheel 218. This ring-shaped flange 217 is also provided with a pin to
engage in a perforation in a ring-shaped flange 219, mounted to rotate on the

page_text: a cam 221.
sleeve 212. This ring-shaped flange 219 carries a gear wheel 220 and also carries
Movable horizontally in the casing 32 are locking plates 222, 223, 224 and 225.
The locking plate 222 has a rack portion 226 meshing with a gear wheel 218;
the locking plate 223 has a similar rack portion meshing with the gear wheel 208;
the locking plate 224 has a rack portion meshing with the gear wheel 200, and the
locking plate 225 has a rack portion meshing with the gear wheel 195.
In the casing 34 are horizontally movable locking plates 227, 228, 229 and 230.
The locking plate 227 has a rack portion meshing with the gear wheel 197,
the locking plate 228 has a rack portion engaging with the gear wheel 205; the
locking plate 229 has a rack portion meshing with the gear wheel 213, and the
locking plate 230 has a rack portion meshing with the gear wheel 220.
As in the example first described, the several locking plate operating devices are
designed to rotate at different speeds, or at different distances one relatively to
the other, and for this purpose I employ a key 231, provided with a series of
guards or fingers 232, 233, 234 and 235. Each guard or finger has its end turned
substantially at right angles to its body portion, the said ends being adapted to
engage in cam slots formed in certain of the gear wheels. It may be here stated
that the cam slots of the various gear wheels differ in their trend, or in other
words are so formed that the rotary movement of the key will impart a greater
movement to one gear wheel than to another. One of these cam slots is shown
at 236 in Figure 17. The guard or finger 232 is here shown as engaging in a slot
formed in the gear wheel 197; the guard 233 as engaging in a slot formed in the
gear wheel 213; the guard 234 as engaging in a slot in the gear wheel 218, and
the guard 235 as engaging in a slot in the gear wheel 200.
Of course, the front wall of the casing 32 will be provided with a suitable open-
ing for the insertion and withdrawal of the key. As in the example first described,
the cam wheels of this modification differ in contour one relatively to another, but
as the several cams rotate on the same centre, the means for locking the same,
should an attempt be made to rotate one of the rotary parts independently of the
other, must differ in construction somewhat from the tumbler levers and T-heads
first described. I have shown such devices as consisting of the pivoted levers 237,
each having oppositely extended and converging fingers 238, 239. The finger 238
of one lever engages with the cam 201, and the finger 239 of the same lever engages
with the cam 196. The next lever.237 in the casing 32 has one of its fingers
engaging with the cam 216 and the other of its fingers engaging with
the cam 209. In the casing 34, a similar lever 237 has one of its fingers
engaging with the cam 214, and the other of its fingers engaging with the
cam 221; the other lever of said casing 34 has one of its fingers engaging with
the cam 198 and the other of the fingers engaging with the cam 206. It will be
observed in Figure 17 that the ends only of the fingers engage with the periphery
of the cams.
It has not heretofore been stated, but it is to be understood that the construction
of the lower portion of the receptacle 11 shown in Figure 14, will be similar to
that of the receptacle 1, and that a collecting receptacle is designed to be engaged
therewith.
In the example of my improvement shown in Figures 18 to 31 inclusive, a
section 240 of the lock casing is attached to the depositing receptacle, and a
section 241 of the lock casing is attached to the jaw 242 of the receiving receptacle.
A prime feature of this improvement is to provide a means for securely locking the
casing sections together prior to operating the combination. Movable vertically
in the casing section 241 is a bolt 243, having a portion 244 movable into a keeper
or opening 245 in the casing section 240.
Mounted to rotate in the front of the casing section 241 is a spindle 246, having
an operating handle 247 on its outer end. The inner end of this spindle 246 is
provided with a cam 248, adapted to engage with a finger 249 extended from the
bolt 243. This cam 248 also has a finger 250 normally resting on the upper side

page_text: of the projection 249. Having a bearing in the spindle 246 is one end of a
shaft 251, on which is mounted a tumbler wheel 252, and a pin 253 extends from
the cam 248 into an arc slot 254 formed in the tumbler wheel 252, so that there
may be a slight lost motion between the cam and wheel, as will be hereinafter
described. The shaft 251 has an angular end to engage in a correspondingly
shaped opening in a shaft 255 mounted in the section 240 of the lock casing.
Mounted to rotate on the shaft 251 is a sleeve 256 adapted to interlock with the
sleeve 257 mounted to rotate on the shaft 255. Mounted to rotate on the sleeve 250
is another sleeve adapted for locking engagement with a sleeve mounted to rotate
on the sleeve 257, and as plainly shown in the drawings, there are a number of
these sleeves rotating one upon another, and described in the first example of my
improvement. Mounted in the casing section 240 is another shaft 258, on which
are mounted a number of tumbler wheels 259. All of the tumbler wheels shown
in this example are provided with triangular teeth, and the several wheels are of
different sizes.
Below the wheels on the shaft 251 and in the lock casing section 241 is a
shaft 260, on which is mounted a series of tumbler wheels 261. Mounted to rock
on a shaft in the lock section 240 are a number of tumbler levers 262. These
tumbler levers are substantially in the form of escapement levers, that is, they are
provided with teeth at each end to engage with the teeth of the tumbler wheels.
The levers 262 are adapted to engage at one end with the wheels 259, and at the
opposite end with wheels on the shaft 255.
The
On a shaft 263 in the lock casing section 240 is a series of retarding blocks 264,
each designed to hold a lever 262 from operation until such retarding blocks shall
be turned into such a position that fingers 265 on the levers may pass into
notches 266 formed in the lower ends of the blocks. These several blocks are pro-
vided with sleeves surrounding the shafts 263 in such manner that one sleeve may
have a rotary motion on another sleeve. The forward ends of the several sleeves
are provided with oppositely extended arms 267 and 268. These several arms are
designed as a further means for locking the casing sections together.
arms 268 are provided with fingers 269, movable through openings in the casing 240
and through openings in the casing section 241. The arms are rocked to push the
fingers 269 through the openings, and to bring the blocks 264 into position to
allow the movement of the levers 262, thus allowing the combination to be operated
by means of levers 270 mounted to rock on a shaft in the casing section 241, and
cach having a pin 271 which extends into an opening in a curved arm 272 extended
from the bolt 243. Each lever 270 has a finger 273 adapted to engage with an
arm 267; that is, when the bolt 243 is moved upward, the said fingers will pass
through holes in the lock casing sections and engage with the downwardly-turned
ends of said arms 267. This as before stated, will force the fingers 269 into their
locking position. Tumbler levers 278 similar to the levers 262, operate in connec-
tion with the tumbler wheels on the shaft 246 and the tumbler wheels on the
shaft 260.
The operation as so far described is as follows: Upon the first rotary movement
of the spindle 246, the shoulder of the cam 248, by engaging the projection 249,
will move the locking bolt 243 upward to engage in the opening 245; then by a
continued movement, the pin 253 engaging with the end of the slot 254, the
shaft 246 will be rotated, and consequently the shaft 255 will be rotated, and the
parts 264, 267 and 268 will also be operated as before described.
To prevent the bolt 243 from being returned to its unlocked position before it
shall have been sent completely to its locking position, I provide a U-shaped
lever 279, which normally at its upper end rests against one side of a lug 280 on
the bolt 243. When the bolt is moved upward sufficiently to allow the upper end
of the lever to pass under said lug, a spring 281 engaging with the lower portion
of the lever will rock it so as to project said end underneath said lug.
When the several pants are operated to return them to their original or unlocking
position, a shoulder on a wheel 282 mounted on the shaft 260 will engage with an

page_text: upwardly extended arm 283 on the lever 279, and rock said lever so that the end of
the spring 281 will engage in a notch thereof. This of course will move the
upwardly extended portion of the lever out of the line of movement of the lug 280
and then the bolt 243 may be moved downward. As it approaches its extreme
downward position, pins 284 and 285 on the bolt will engage with said lever 279
at opposite sides of its pivotal point, and release it from the spring 281 and also
return it to its normal position, as indicated in Figure 20. During the upward
movement of the locking bolt 243 a dog 286 carried on said lever will engage
with a tooth of a ratchet wheel 287, and rotate a disk 288, on which is a pin 289
adapted to engage in a slot formed in a disk secured to the lock casing section 240.
The object of this pin 289 is to insure the collector visiting the several boxes succes-
sively, that is, the slots of the successive boxes will be differently arranged, or at
different points of a circle. The operation of the lock mechanism will set the
pin 289 in a position to be engaged with a slot of the next box.
At the time of operating the lock bolt 243, a pointer 290 is turned one step to
indicate when the next collection is to be made. This pointer 290 is mounted on
the spindle of a ratchet wheel 291 arranged within an upward extension of the
lock casing section 240. On the outer side of this upward extension are figures
and letters indicating the hours of the day. The wheel 291 is held from backward
rotation by means of a dog 292, and it is operated with a step-by-step rotary
motion by means of a dog 293 mounted on the upper end of a bar 294, having a
projection 295 adapted to be engaged with and operated by a cam 296 on the
shaft 255. The cam 296 is similar to and operates like the cam 248 before
described, and it has a finger 297 adapted to engage with a projection 295 when
the bar 294 is to be moved downward.
Arranged to move vertically in the casing section 241 above the wheels on the
shaft 260, is a series of three bars 298. Each of these bars on its under side has a
pin 299 adapted to pass into a notch formed in a disk 300 mounted on the
shaft 260. Of course these bars cannot fall until the notches of the several disks
are in line. These bars have link connections 301 with blocks 302 pivoted on the
upper portions of the jaw sides 242. These blocks coacting with other parts are
designed to hold the jaws 242 and 303 of the collecting receptacle in a locked
position when they are not in connection with the delivery receptacle.
On the jaw 303 are tubular sleeves 304, designed to be moved into alignment
with tubular portions in a rod 305 connected to arms 306 pivotally connected to
the forward portion of the swinging bottom 307 of the collecting box. Locking
bolts 308 are movable in the tubular parts 304, and are adapted to engage in the
tubular portions of the bar 305. A bar 309 has its ends extended through
slots 310 formed through the jaw portion 303. These ends are in the form of
fingers which engage in annular channels provided in the bolts 308. In its
central portion the bar 309 has an opening 311, and against the side walls of this
opening a tappet 312 mounted on the shaft 260 is designed to engage, to move
said bar in a desired direction for moving the bolts 308 into or out of their locking
engagement. The blocks 302 are provided at their free ends with downwardly
and outwardly inclined openings 313, designed to receive tongues 314 which are
inclined downward and outward from the upper portion of the jaw sections 303.
Movable vertically in the rear portion of the lock casing are locking bolts 315.
These locking bolts 315 are designed to prevent the opening of the bottom 307
when the mail bag or receiving receptacle is disconnected therefrom. These
locking bolts 315 have cross bars 316, extended downward from the lower ends of
which are legs 317. Mounted to swing in the casing are dogs 318, having inclined
shoulders 319, with which inclines or lugs extended from the bottom 307 are
designed to engage, to hold the said bottom in its locked position. While in such
locked position, the locking bolts 315 will be in their lowermost position, so that
the cross bars 316 will be engaged by the inner lower edges of the dogs 318, thus
preventing a swinging movement. When the locking bolts 315 are in their

page_text: uppermost position however, the said blocks 318 may be swung toward the said
bolts 315, as the blocks are provided with notches 320 into which the cross bars
may pass. At the sides of the blocks 318 are pivoted other notched blocks 321,
in the notches of which lugs 322 extended from the arms 306 are designed to engage.
These blocks 321 have fingers 323 adapted to engage pins 324 extended from the
locking bolts 315.
Pivoted in the lower portion of the casing is an angle lever 325, having a
finger 326 engaging with a pin extended from the legs 317 of the bolts 315. The
outer curved surfaces of these angle levers are designed to be engaged by the
bottom 307 during the time of closing, so as to force the bolts 315 downward and
move the locking devices comprising the parts 318 and 321 into their locking
position, as indicated in Figure 19. The locking bolts 315 are connected one
with the other by a bar 327.
In operation, when the collecting receptacle is placed in position on the letter
box, as indicated in Figure 21, and the lock mechanism is manipulated, the disks
controlling the bars 298 will be moved to bring their slots in line with the pins
on these bars; then the said bars will fall, as will also the blocks 302, as indicated
in Figure 23, and at the same time the bolts 308 will be placed in their locking
position; then the jaw portion 303 is to be moved open, which it may readily do,
as the blocks in their downward movement will release the fingers 314. During
this slight opening of the jaw, the arms 306 will be swung inward so that the
lugs 322 will tilt the blocks 321 and cause them. to move the locking bolts 315
upward. This will bring the cross bars 316 in line with the openings 320 in the
blocks 318, allowing said blocks to swing and release the projections extended from
the bottom 307; then of course the said bottom of the jaw may be moved to the
open position. Upon closing the jaws, the angle levers 325 will be rocked to force
the locking bolts 315 downward, before which movement, however, the blocks 318
will be moved to their locking position by the lugs on the bottom 307 engaging
therewith.
The bar or bolt 294 is movable through an opening in the bottom of the casing,
as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 21, and is designed to engage in a slot or
notch formed in the plate connecting the arms 306, and thus hold said part in
a locked position.
The mail bag 328 shown in Figure 24 has a top frame consisting of four
sections 329, 330, 331, 332. The adjacent ends of these several sections are hinged
together, so that when the frame is opened, it will be substantially in rectangular
form. The sections 329 and 330 however, are somewhat shorter than the
sections 331 and 332, so that said first named sections may fold in between the last
named sections. Each section is provided with an upwardly-extended lug 333,
having a hook end and when the sections are folded these several lugs will be in
alignment. Hinged to one of the sections is a lock casing section 334, in which
is journaled a shaft 335, upon which is mounted a series of gear wheels 336, which
will be of different sizes so as to permit of different rates of speed to gear
wheel 337 mounted on a shaft 338. Mounted on the shaft 338 is a series of.
tumbler wheels 339, the teeth of which are substantially triangular, and engaging
with these teeth are tumbler levers 340 and 341, which are mounted to swing on
the shaft 335. There is a tumbler wheel connected to each gear wheel 337, and
also connected to each gear wheel 337 is a disk 342 having a notch 343 in its
periphery. Mounted to swing in the lock casing is a latch plate 344, having a
hook end adapted to engage with the hooks of the lugs 333. Extended from this
plate 344 are a number of fingers 345, equal in number to the number of disks 342.
These fingers are designed to pass into the notches 343 when said notches are in
alignment, to allow the plate 344 to be forced out of engagement with the lugs.
This lock mechanism will be operated by a companion lock mechanism in a
similar manner to the lock heretofore described; that is, upon operating with a
certain combination, the several notches 343 will be brought in alignment, so that
by pulling upward on the lock casing, the latch plate 344 will be disconnected from

page_text: the lugs. It will be noted that the hook portion of the plate and the hook portions
of the lugs are slightly rounded, so that the parts may be easily drawn apart.
The lock shown in Figures 28, 29, 30, & 31 comprises a casing 346, designed to
be attached to mail depositing receptacle and a case 347 attached
to the collecting receptacle. In the casing 346 is a shaft 348, on which
are loosely mounted tumbler or gear wheels 349, 350, 351, 352, 353, 354 and 355.
The gear wheels 349 and 350 are connected together; the gear wheels 351 and 352
are connected together and the wheels 353 and 354 are also connected together.
Meshing with the gear wheel 349 is a rack 356; meshing with the gear wheel 350
is a rack 357; with the gear wheel 351 a rack 358; with the gear wheel 352 a
rack 359; with the gear wheel 353 a rack 360; with the gear wheel 354 a rack 361,
and with the gear wheel 355 a rack 362 engages.
In the casing 347 is a shaft 363, on the outer end of which is an operating handle.
On the shaft and in the casing, and secured to said shaft is a gear wheel 364,
a gear wheel 365 loosely mounted on the shaft; a gear wheel 366 attached to the
gear 365; a gear wheel 367 also loosely mounted on the shaft and attached to a
gear wheel 368, and gear wheels 369 and 370 attached together and connected to
rotate with the shaft. A rack 371 meshes with the gear wheel 364 and a rack 372
with the gear wheel 365; a rack 373 with the gear wheel 366; a rack 374 with the
gear wheel 367; a rack 375 with the gear wheel 368; a rack 376 with the gear
wheel 369; and a rack 377 with the gear wheel 370. By this construction it is
obvious that the tumbler racks are to have a vertical motion, and that in operation,
the racks in one casing must operate with the racks in the other casing.
The bottom of the casing 346 is provided with slots in line with the several racks,
and the top of the casing 347 is also provided with slots for the passage of the
racks. The bottom of the lower casing will also have slots through which certain
of the racks may be moved. It will be noted that the gears are of various sizes,
so that there will be a difference of speed in the movements of the several racks.
The several racks are designed to lock and release certain locking bolts which it
has not been deemed necessary to show in these figures, as the main object is to
illustrate the movement of the tumblers or racks and pinions.
In operation, by rotating the shaft 363, the gear wheel 364 will move the
rack 371 upward, and this rack engaging with the upper rack 356, will move it
upward, rotating the gear wheel 349, which through the connected gear 350 will
move the rack 357 downward, engaging with the rack 372, moving it downward,
so that the gear 366 will move the rack 373 upward, engaging with the rack 360
to move it upward, which by rotating the gear 354 will move the rack 361 down-
ward, causing it to force the rack 376 downward, rotating the gears 369, 370 to
move the rack 377 upward in engagement with the rack 362 to move it upward.
Of course by a reverse rotation of the shaft 363, the several parts will be returned
to their original position.
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 depositing receptacle for mail matter, comprising a box having a cylindrical
portion at its upper end, the said cylindrical portion having an outward opening,
a chute mounted to rotate in said cylindrical portion, the said chute being open at
its sides, and a curved plate carried by the chute to close an opening, substantially
as specified.
2. A depositing receptacle for mail matter, comprising a box having a cylindrical
portion at its upper end, an open-sided chute mounted to rotate in said cylindrical
portion, an inwardly-extended flange in the said cylindrical portion with which the
lower side of said chute is designed to engage, an inwardly-extended flange in said
cylindrical portion with which the upper side of said chute is designed to engage,
and a curved plate on the chute movable through a slot in the top wall of the box,
substantially as specified.

page_text: 3. A depositing receptacle for mail matter, comprising a box having a cylindrical
portion at its upper end provided with an outward opening, an open-sided chute.
mounted to rotate in said cylindrical portion, a flange extended inwardly in said
cylindrical portion and against which the front under side of the chute is designed
to rest, and a series of transverse ribs on said flange adapted to pass through slot
openings in the wall of the chute and to project into said chute, substantially as
specified.
4. A depositing receptacle for mail matter, comprising a box having a cylindrical
portion at its upper end provided with an outward opening, an open-sided chute
mounted to rotate in said cylindrical portion, a hand piece for rotating said chute,
a flange extended inward within said cylindrical portion, and upon which the lower
side of the chute is designed to engage, transverse ribs on said flange designed
to pass through slot openings in the lower wall of the chute, another inwardly-.
extended flange in said cylindrical portion, transverse ribs thereon adapted to pass
through slot openings in the upper wall of the chute, and a rib on the lower wall
of the chute adapted to move against the inner edge of the first named flange,
substantially as specified.
5. A depositing receptacle for mail matter, comprising a box having a cylindrical.
portion at its upper end provided with an outward opening, an open-sided
chute mounted to rotate in said cylindrical portion, means for supporting said chute
at a normally horizontal position, and a transversely curved plate on said chute,
movable through a slot opening in the upper side of the box and adapted to close
the outward opening of the cylindrical portion, substantially as specified.
G. A depositing receptacle for mail matter, comprising a box, a wall portion
thereof being adapted to be moved relatively to the box, a receiving receptacle
having hinged jaw frames adapted for connection with said box, a shaft on which
the jaw frames are hinged, a hand piece on the shaft, a lock mechanism on the
box, and a lock mechanism on the receiving receptacle adapted for co-action with
the lock section on the box, substantially as specified.
7. A mail collecting device, comprising a depositing receptacle having a bottom
wall adapted to open, a collecting receptacle having hinged jaw portions, a lock
section on the depositing box, for locking the bottom closure thereof, a lock section
on the receiving receptacle, for locking the jaws thereof, the said two locking
sections being adapted to coact one with the other, and means consisting of a
rotary shaft carrying the jaws for simultaneously opening the bottom closure of
the depositing receptacle and the jaws of the receiving receptacle after operating
the locking mechanism, substantially as specified.
8. A lock, comprising two separable casings, rotary parts in each casing com-
prising ring-shaped flanges, the rotary parts in one casing being dependent on
the rotary parts in the other casing, differentiating gear wheels for operating the
several rotary parts at different rates of speed, and locking devices operated by the
rotary parts in each casing, substantially as specified.
9. A lock, comprising two separable casings, rotary parts in each casing, the
rotary parts in one casing being dependent on the rotary parts in the other casing,
differentiating gear wheels carried by the rotary parts for operating said rotary
parts at different rates of speed one relatively to another, rotary cams and swinging
levers for locking the rotary parts should one rotary part be moved independently,
and locking devices operated by the rotary parts in each casing, substantially as
specified.
10. A lock, comprising two separable casings, rotary parts in each casing, the
rotary parts in one casing being dependent for operation on the rotary parts in the
other casing, means for operating the rotary parts together at different rates of
speed, cams carried by certain of said rotary parts, swinging tumbler levers adapted
to engage with opposite cams, and locking plates operated by said rotary parts,
substantially as specified.
11. A lock, comprising two separable casings, rotary parts in each of said
casings, the rotary parts in one casing being dependent for operation upon the

page_text: rotary parts in the other casing, means for operating said rotary parts together at
different rates of speed, locking plates movable by said rotary parts, a consecutively
numbered ratchet wheel, a spring-pressed dog carried by one of the locking plates
and adapted to impart a step-by-step motion to said ratchet wheel, and means for
automatically locking said ratchet wheel after it shall have made a complete rota-
tion, substantially as specified.
12. A lock, comprising two sections consisting of rotary parts, the rotary parts
of one section being dependent for operation upon the rotary parts of the other
section, means for operating the several rotary parts together and at different rates
of speed, locking plates operated by the rotary parts, a toothed wheel having a
series of figures on its outer side, a dog carried by one of said locking plates and
adapted for engagement with a tooth of said wheel, a pawl for holding said wheel
from backward rotation, a notched disk carried by said wheel, and a pivoted angle
lever adapted for engagement with said notch upon a complete rotation of the
wheel, substantially as specified.
13. A lock, comprising two separable casings, rotary parts in each of said
casings, the rotary parts in one casing being dependent for operation upon the
rotary parts in the other casing, means for operating said rotary parts together,
locking plates operated by said rotary parts, a disk mounted to rotate in one of the
casings and having an outwardly-extended pin near its periphery, a ratchet wheel
on the shaft of said disk, means carried by one of the locking plates, for imparting
a step-by-step motion to said ratchet wheel, and a locking device for said ratchet
wheel operated in one direction by a movement of the locking plate, substantially
as specified.
14. A lock, comprising two separable sections, rotary parts in each of said
sections, the rotary parts of one section being provided with projections to engage
in openings in the rotary parts in the other section, and means operated by one of
the rotary parts for locking said sections together, substantially as specified.
15. A lock, comprising two casings, rotary parts in each of said casings, the
operation of the rotary parts in one casing being dependent upon the operation of
the rotary parts in the other casing, locking plates operated by the rotary parts
in each casing, a lever pivoted in one of the casings, an arm extended therefrom
and adapted to engage with a portion of the other casing, and a disk on one of the
rotary parts for controlling the movements of said lever and locking arm, sub-
stantially as specified.
16. A depositing receptacle for mail matter, comprising a casing, a swinging
bottom closure therefor, a link connected to said bottom closure, a lock section on
said receptacle having locking plates for engagement with said link, a collecting
receptacle adapted for engagement with the depositing receptacle, a lock section
on said collecting. receptacle, locking plates for securing together the jaws of said
collecting receptacle, and means for simultaneously operating the two locking
devices, substantially as specified.
17. A lock, comprising two casings, rotary parts in each casing, the said rotary
parts of each casing being mounted to rotate one upon another, and the rotary
parts in one section being dependent for operation upon the rotary parts in the
other casing by an interlocking engagement of the parts in one casing with those
of the other, substantially as specified.
18. A locking device, comprising two separable casings or sections, rotary
movable parts in each of said casings or sections, said movable parts being movable
only when the two casings or sections are in connection, the rotary parts of a
section having intermediate gear wheels, and locking plates or devices movable
only when the two sections or casings are in connection, substantially as specified.
19. A depositing receptacle for letters or the like, having a door-closed opening
and a door therefor consisting of one portion having a swinging connection with
the receptacle, another section having a swinging connection with the first
named section, a receiving receptacle having jaws, and means for connecting one

page_text: of said jaws for movement with the door of the depositing receptacle, substantially
as specified.
20. A depositing receptacle for letters or the like, having a door-closed opening
and a door therefor consisting of one portion having a swinging connection with
the receptacle, another section having a swinging connection with the first named
section, a receiving receptacle having jaws, means for connecting one of said jaws
for movement with the door of the depositing receptacle, and side walls or leaves
depending from the depositing receptacle to prevent access to either of the recep-
tacles when open, substantially as specified.
21. A series of depositing receptacles, a receiving receptacle adapted for engage-
ment with each one of the series of depositing receptacles, locking devices on the
receptacles, a movable part on the receiving receptacles and operated by the locking
mechanism thereof, and means for providing a pin and slot engagement between
the movable part and a depositing receptacle, substantially as specified.
22. A mail box, having a central partition forming two compartments, side
pieces extended upward from the box, a curved plate connecting the side pieces at
the top, segmental flanges at the tops of the compartments, the space between the
flanges providing communication with the compartiments, a chute open at both
its sides, and curved plates on the lower side of said chute, both adapted to close
the communicating openings of both compartments, substantially as specified.
23. A mail bag having a top frame consisting of hinged sections adapted to fold
together in parallelism, and a lock having a swinging connection with one of the
sections and adapted to engage with the other sections, substantially as specified.
Dated this 18th day of January 1898.
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
Chartered Patent Agents, 53, Chancery Lane, London.
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
Chartered Patent Agents, 53, Chancery Lane, London.