Improvements in and relating to Mail receptacles for Tramway Cars.
Year: 1889

page_text: vate of Application, 23rd Apr., 1889
Specification Accepted, 8th June, 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Mail receptacles for Tramway
Cars.
1, GEORGE BAILEY MCALLISTER, doing business at Number 102 East Lexington
Street, in the City and County of Baltimore, State of Maryland, one of the United
States of America, Real Estate Broker, 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 relates to improvements in receptacles for letters, papers, packages,
etc., and the invention consists, first, in a weather-proof receptacle, the mouth of
which is adapted to receive the letters etc., to be mailed by simply dropping them
into the receptacle from the outside of the car while it is in motion, thus obviating
the use of the ordinary mechanism of a mouth covering.
The invention also consists in an attachment to letter receptacles on the exterior
of a street car, or other vehicle, whereby it is adapted to convenient, safe, and
effective use while the car is in motion, and the invention further consists in the novel
details of construction, and combinations of the several parts, as will be hereinafter
more particularly described and specifically pointed out in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings to which reference is had, and which fully illustrate
my invention wherein
Figure 1, is a perspective view of my improved receptacle and chute ;
Figure 2, is a view of one of a series of inclined conveyer strips of the chute,
showing in dotted lines the course taken by the rain-drip when broken by its gravity
on the beveled or fine edge of the strip;
Figure 3, is a plan or top view of the receptacle the top being removed, showing
the intersecting strips connected together by means of a rod;
Figure 4, is an inner side perspective view of one side of the receptacle and chute
showing the vertical groove for preventing the flow of the rain-drip beyond the
groove;
Figure 5, is a transverse section showing the intersecting and inclined strips;
Figure 6 and 7, are detail views of the inclined strips, the latter, Figure 7, showing
the beveled edges of the strips, a determined number of the strips being shown higher
than the others :

page_text: Figure 8, is a side elevation of a car having my invention connected thereto;
Figures 9 and 10, are perspective views of the attachment or guide on the exterior
of the car running to the mouth of the chute, the latter figure being a modification
of the former;
Figures 11 and 12, are modifications of the chute and receptacle.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures.
Referring to the drawings, A designates my improved receptacle which may be
of any proper construction and material, substantially as shown in the drawings.
Extended from one side of the receptacle is a chute or way, 1, having an inclined
bottom, and opening into the receptacle through its open inner end, and at the outer
end of the chute, 1, is a mouth-piece, 2, arranged substantially vertical, having an
opening, 3, through which the letters &c. are deposited, finding their way down
through the chute into the receptacle. The opening, 3, may be made to suit the
purposes of receiving a limited sized letter, package, or other matter, by inserting
pieces, 4, in the sides substantially as shown; these pieces, 4, also serve to direct the
mailed matter centrally through the chute and prevent such matter from lodging
against the vertical sides of the chute, and at the angle, 4, of the chute a piece of
board, sheet-metal, or a cloth-covered wire-frame or fabric, 44", may be pivotally
suspended to direct the mail matter, as well as protect the interior of the box against
rain, snow or bail heating into it. To carry the mail matter through the chute, and
deliver it free from water contact I arrange in the chute false bottoms, 5, 6. These
preferably consist of a number of thin bars or plates, the meeting ends of which are
intersected as at, 7, and supported on a bar, 8, substantially as shown in Figures 5,
11 and 12, of the drawings. The upper edges of the bars or strips composing these
false-bottoms are beveled to an edge as shown at, 9, and in order that ways may be
formed in the false-bottoms, the upper edges of certain of the bars are made higher
than the others, as shown at, 10, in Figure 7, of the drawings. The false-bottoms, 5,
and, 6, are arranged at different angles of incline as shown; in order that the upper
one may serve to speedily and readily carry off whatever water from rains or other
sources may find its way into the mouth-piece, from whence it trickles down on the
slats of the bottom, 5, and that which fails to fall through the interstices of the false-
bottom, runs down on the bars of the bottom and drops from the projecting lower
ends, 11, into the enclosure below, thus leaving the other portion, 6, of the false
bottom entirely free from moisture, and over which the letters find their way into
the receptacle. The lower end of the part, 6, is arranged to project somewhat above
the entrance to the main receptacle, and projects into the receptacle to carry the
letters into the box, and the lower end of the bottom of the chute stops short of the
receptacle, as shown in Figure 1, of the drawings, in order that the drippings of rain
may find their way into a drip-trough, 12, secured to the side of the chute, as shown
in Figure 1, of the drawings. By means of the beveled edges of the false-bottoms a
very small surface is exposed to the rain, and that finding its way to the inside is
carried down on the sides of the strips forming the false-bottoms, thus presenting a
comparatively dry-runway or floor for the letters to pass over under any circumstances.
If rain strikes down through the open mouth of the device, it passes through the
interstices or strikes on the beveled edges, and is broken, as illustrated in Figure 2,
and runs down on the sides of the strips. To prevent rain from finding its way down
into the receptacle by running down the sides of the chute, I form in the vertical sides
of the chute a stop, 13, which may consist of a rib or a channel, which stop, 13,
directs the drip downward into the rain-receptacle or trough.
In Figures 11, 12, 13 and 14, I have illustrated modifications of my device wherein
the receptacle encloses the chute. The lower false-bottom shown in Figures 11 and
12, being formed as hereto described, but such false-bottom may be dispensed with as
shown in Figures 13 and 14.
In Figure 11, the false-bottom rests upon an inclined piece.
casing is open and exposed to the inclined piece and constitutes an
of the receptacle. The ledge, together with the bottom of the
shelf for the reception of large packages.
The front of the
opening for a door
receptacle forms a

page_text: In Figure 12, the receptacle is completely inclosed in front, as shown, having an
opening for a binged or sliding door running beneath the chute. A shelf or conductor
serves to conduct rain-drip to a slot, a, in front of the casing or near its inner end,
and has an upward turn to protect the receptacle, A, from rain-drips falling from the
strips of the first of the intersecting planes.
In Figures 8 and 9, the mouth of the chute is let through the wall of a car as
at, 14. and communicates with the receptacle arranged beneath the car-seat.
In Figure 13, the false-hottom is shown as omitted, the drip being conducted by
the shelf, 18, through slot, a, of a door, a¹8, which door is of such height as to
afford access to the interior of the box above the bottom, 5, of the chute for the
removal of any matter that may accidentally lodge therein. A similar arrangement
being shown in Figure 14, except that the shelf, 18, is constructed in the form
of a grating, 28, giving free egress to the drip, the box or receptacle, A, being made
of less depth below the shelf, 28, as shown.
Secured upon the side and exterior of the car at right angles to the same, and
running horizontally across the mouth of the chute, is a shelf-strip, 15, provided with
a railing, 16, secured to the outer free edge thereof, and running parallel therewith
terminating at a suitable point in front of the mouth of the chute, whereby mail-
matter to be deposited in the receptacle through the mouth of the chute is guided by
the hand of the depositor within the channel formed by the wall or side of the car,
the upper surface of the shelf-strip, 15, and the railing, 16, into the mouth of the
chute; the extension of the railing in front of the chute guarding the mail-matter
falling at this point from the hand of the depositor and thus ensuring the insertion
A curved
of the same into the beveled opening in the wall or side of the car.
piece, 17, having its inner end secured to the side or wall of the car at one side of
the beveled opening leading to the chute, and approximating the curved end of the
railing, 16, serves as a prolongation of said railing for the purpose hereinbefore set
forth.
In practice to prevent mail-matter held in the channel while the car is in motion
from becoming wet in inclement weather and also to prevent snow or hail to accumulate
on the shelf, 15, I may provido a roof therefor.
.
By the guidance of the mail-matter in the channel formed upon the side or wall
of the car to and over the beveled opening to the chute while the car is in motion,
the difficulties attending the awkward and dangerous approach of the hand to the
boveled opening are obviated and the matter directed with certainty to the entrance
of the beveled opening where it drops down the chute to the receptacle below under
the seat of the car.
Another form of guide for guiding the mail matter to the beveled opening in the
side or wall of the car is illustrated in Figure 10, of the drawings, consisting of a
plane of parallel rods secured to said wall or side of the car and inclined relatively to
the wall of the car at an angle of about 45°, and by this construction and arrangement
of guide snow and other foreign matter is prevented from accumlating thereon.
The bottom, 18, of the receptacle is inclined substantially as shown, and on the
bottom are arranged a series of strips, 19, having their edges beveled similar to the
edges in the inclined false-bottoms; the object being to facilitate the motion of
the letters toward the door of the receptacle, or to permit them to be more readily
removed, as affording a ready and convenient manipulation by the party withdrawing
them.
The beveled strip shown in Figure 2, runs entirely to the rim of the receptacle
and its edge may be formed with notches, b, to prevent the rain-drip from coming
down the strip further than the notches.
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. In combination with a letter-receptacle or box, arranged in the car with its
receiving-opening in the opening of the car; of a guide-plate or rib secured to the

page_text: side of the car, and arranged parallel therewith and provided with a guide-bar on
its outer edge, substantially as described.
2. In combination with a letter-receptacle arranged in the car with its receiving-
opening in said opening of the car, of a guide-plate or rib secured horizontally on
the side of the car, and provided with guides to direct the packages in the opening
of the car, substantially as described.
3. The combination in a letter-receptacle, formed with an inclined chute opening
therein, of the false-bottoms arranged at different angles of incline, and consisting of
thin strips having their meeting ends intersecting, substantially as described and for
the purpose specified.
4. The combination of a letter-receptacle, of false-bottoms arranged at different
angles of incline, and consisting of thin strips having their meeting-ends intersecting
and supported on a common bearing, substantially as described.
5. The letter-receptacle herein described, composed of the receptacle, A, inclined
chute, 1, month-piece, 2, partially covered by the pieces, 4, and the false-bottoins
arranged in said chute on different inclines and consisting of strips having beveled
upper edges, substantially as described.
6. A letter-receptacle, having one or more of its walls composed of thin strips
formed with beveled upper edges, substantially as described.
7. A letter-receptacle formed with a chute constructed as described, leading into
the main receptacle, and provided with vertical stop-pieces on the inner surface
of the sides of the chute, whereby rain-drip is prevented from entering the receptacle.
8. The combination with a letter-box or receptacle, A, of a letter-chute, 1, 2, 3,
constructed as herein described, that is of two sections arranged at different angles
of inclination and inclined bottom arranged to stop short of the receptacle, substantially
as set forth.
9. In combination with the receptacle, A, constructed as described, having an
inclined bottom, 18, of a series of beveled slats arranged on the bottom of the receptacle,
as herein shown and specified.
10. The herein described device composed of a receptacle, A, a chute leading
therein, and a mouth-piece opening into the chute, false-bottom in the chute arranged
at different angles of inclination and a bottom in the receptacle composed of strips,
all as specified.
11. In a letter-receptacle, the combination of the false-bottoms, 5, 6, composed of
strips having beveled upper edges formed with notches, substantially as described,
and for the purpose specified.