A New or Improved Apparatus for Attachment to Doors, Letter- boxes and the like, for the purpose of Writing Messages thereon and Depositing such therein.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Oct., 1890-Accepted, 20th Dec., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Apparatus for Attachment to Doors, Letter-
boxes and the like, for the purpose of Writing Messages thereon
and Depositing such therein.
We JEAN PAPE of 1 Antonplatz Professor and MAX WERMANN of 7 Ferdinand-
strasse Bookbinder both of Dresden in the Kingdom of Saxony and German Empire
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:-
This invention relates to an appliance capable of being used either alone or in
combination with a letter box which will enable a visitor to leave a written message
for the occupant of any particular dwelling. This is effected by means of a tablet
safely enclosed both before and after writing and withdrawn from inspection when
written upon.
The apparatus is illustrated in Figures 1 to 7 of the accompanying sheet of
drawings in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
Figure 1 shows a section of the apparatus and
Figure 2 shows the same combined with a letter box.
Figure 3 shows our apparatus without a drum and
Figures 4 to 7 show details.
As seen in Fig. 1 the appliance consists of a casing a attached to the door c of a
house or apartment, the casing being shaped like a letter box and having a projecting
portion at its lower end. That part of the casing which forms an extension of the
projecting portion of casing a is inclined downwards and enters a slot in the door c.
Inside the casing
a is an open receptacle d the front e of which is so cut away that
its foremost edge projects somewhat over the edge of the drum f presently to be
described.
In the sides of this receptacle d is journalled the spindle f¹ of the drum f, which
is four or more sided and is free to rotate, in the space formed by the projection b of
the casing a and the back of receptacle d. To this end the projection of the
casing a is cut away at i (Figs. 2 and 3) to such an extent that one side only of the
drum becomes visible at a time.
Narrow supports s are also provided in the casing d (Figs. 3 and 6) which are
somewhat shorter than the diameter of the drum and are placed in line with the
drum when the latter is in the position shown in Figure 1. At its horizontal edges
the drum has ledges (Fig. 7) and from its ends project pins h.
Over the cut away part of the projection is fitted a convenient curved lid k with
a button n so mounted on the spindle of the drum (projecting beyond the casing a)
see Fig. 4, as to hide or disclose the cut away part according as it is raised or
lowered. In order that the lid may readily return to its proper position when
lowered, it is connected with the spring of a spring casing keyed upon the spindle
of the drum (Figs. 4 and 5). A hook jointed to the lid k engages with the
aperture in casing a (not entirely closed by the lid) and surrounds one of the
projections. Into the receptacle d are introduced plates of cardboard, porcelain,
glass, slate, paper, etc. through the lid a' with which the casing a is fitted for the
purpose. These plates or tablets rest upon the carriers s and one face of the drum,
and a flat spring o on the lid a' exerts a slight pressure upon the same.
The apparatus works as follows: When the parts are in a suitable position for
working as in Fig. 1, the hook of lid & engages with one of the pins of the drum f
whilst the lowermost plate m is between the two ledges g on the drum f.
If a message is to be left by the caller for the occupant, the button n is seized
the lid k pulled downwards and held against the opposing force of the spring in the

page_text: casing. In this operation the hook
moves the drum rotating the same.
The
ledge during this movement holds the lowermost plate m in position whilst
the other plates are by the pressure of spring o successively tilted and fall upon the
supports when the other plate is facing the aperture i Whilst the plate m is
being written upon with the pencil y the drum may be held in place by the device
shown in the drawing, say a flat spring. In this case the spring would be arranged
in the front of casing a so as to bear against one of the ledges g of the drum.
As soon as the plate m is written upon the lid is released and it will forthwith
return to its original position again engaging a pin by means of the hook 1. The
further movement of the plate in is produced by renewed use of the apparatus.
When a fresh caller moves the lid k, the rotating drum drops the plate which,
sliding along the inclined bottom of casing a as shown in Fig. 1, passes through the
slit in the door and if desired may pass into another box (not shown), whilst a fresh
plate is carried by the drum in front of the aperture. This fresh plate is thus ready
for another inscription.
Figs. 2 and 3 show our appliance in connection with a letter box, being however
so far modified that the lid & covering the aperture i is dispensed with and the drum
is turned by the hand. The lid a¹ of the casing a has a slit a" through which letters
are passed. It also has a back c¹ and a bottom el joined to the latter. The end
of the projection passes over the bottom el so that the letters throw through the
slit a as well as the memorandum plates fall on the bottom and may be removed
by a door not shown in the drawings.
b
Instead of a square drum as shown, a triangular or polygonal drum may be used.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed declare that what I
claim is
1. In an apparatus or appliance to be attached to doors windows letter boxes and
the like for the purpose of enabling a person to write thereon and deposit therein a
letter or message the use of a revolving three or more sided drum automatically
receiving consecutive plates or tablets upon one of its sides presenting such to the
person using the apparatus and finally depositing said plate or tablet in a receptacle
provided for the purpose substantially as herein described and as illustrated by the
accompanying drawings.
2. The apparatus or appliance for attachment to doors windows letter boxes or
other convenient objects or places for the purpose of recording and receiving
messages and the like substantially as herein described and as illustrated by the
accompanying drawings.
Dated this 13th day of October 1890
POPPLEWELL & Co.,
17 & 18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.