Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Mar., 1888
Specification Accepted, 22nd June, 1888
I THOMAS SPEAK of Trinity Cottage Shrewsbury in the County of Salop 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 consists in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter
set forth forming and constituting what is technically known as a letter-box, but
which will in this case be more correctly described as a receptaclo for letters or.
packages.
Figure 1 represents a front elevation of the letter receptacle secured to a broken off
portion of a door.
Figure 2 represents a side view of figure 1.
Figure 3 represents a plan of figure 1.
Figure 4 represents a broken off top corner of the bag-frame.
Figure 5 represents a broken off bottom corner of the bag-frame.
Figure 6 represents the bottom bracket or hinge-bearings that are moveable.
Figure 7 represents the top side-brackets.
Figure 8 represents bottom side-brackets forming hinge-bearings that secure the
bag-frame to the door.
Figure 9 represents a broken section of the loop and knob.
In carrying out my invention I provide an open frame a of any suitable and
convenient dimensions, this frame would by preference be formed out of iron or other
metal, but I do not confine myself to metal as the frame may in some cases be mado
out of wood or out of other suitable rigid material.
At the bottom of the bag-frame a on each side thereof are provided circular
projections or trunnions b. At the top of the bag-frame on each side thereof are
provided, supporting arms c. At suitable and convenient distances on the sides and
ends of the bag-frame a I provide stich-holes; on that face of the bag-frame that
goes against the surface of the door, I sink slots, such slots extending from one stich
hole to the next stich hole, so that the bag can be sewn on to the bag-frame-the
short stiches sinking into the grooves or slots provided to receive them as clearly
illustrated on figure 2.
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page_text: On the top-bar of the bag-frame I provide a projecting knob for the purpose of
using to lift the supporting arms out of, or into their side-bracket-bearings.
On the bottom bar of the bag-frame, I provide a projecting loop, to connect to a
locking chain as hereinafter described.
I next take a sheet of dark coloured calico or other such like material, of suitable 5
dimensions to form a bag. I sew the material on to the bag-frame, the long stiches
being inside the bag frame and the short stiches being drawn into the grooves
provided on the face of the bag frame: I provide a window in or near the bottom of
the bag, this window may be made out of string-net, wire net or other such like
suitable collapsible material, the bag so connected to the bag-frame would be ready
for use.
In mounting the bag and frame in its simplest and cheapest form I should take a
couple of side-brackets of the form shewn at figure 8 and screw them on to the door,
first seeing that the door was pierced with a vertical or longitudinal slit through
which to pass the letters or packages: the side-brackets would be placed over the
trunnions of the bag-frame and would thus secure the bag-frame to the door, the side
brackets being screwed, nailed or otherwise fastened to the door.
I should next take a pair of side-brackets of the form shown at figure 7 and screw
them over the supporting arms c, the bag-frame and bag would then be fixed in a
suitable position to receive letters or packages passed through the longitudinal or
vertical slit provided in the door, any suitable kind of hinged-plate technically known
as a letter-box-clip could be fastened over the slit in the door, but such clip I do not
claim to be part of my invention.
A loop or button-bole would be provided on the bottom of the bag: a nail, hook,
knob or other suitable fastenment would be secured to the door and connected to the
loop or button-hole provided at the bottom of the bag as represented in broken section
at figure 9 and thereby prevent any person (outside the door) from drawing the slack
of the bag through the slit in the door with the view of stealing the letters out of
the bag.
To take the letters out of the bag, the loop or button-hole would be disconnected
from its fastenment, and the bag-frame lifted upwards until the supporting-arms c
passed out of the top side-brackets, the trunions would then form a hinge, on the axis
of which the frame would radiate away from the face of the door into a horizontal
position and so enable any person to remove the letters or packages contained in
the bag.
My invention constructed and used in the manner herein before described is very
simple and inexpensive and it is consequently of great utility, for use by householders
of small means.
For the use of householders or other persons requiring a stronger or larger bag for
holding a large quantity of letters or packages I in some cases provide the following
additional parts and modifications, that is to say, instead of securing the bag-frame
permanently to the door by means of the single, closed, side-brackets similar to figure 8
use double side-brackets similar to figure 6, the double side-brackets are shewn in use
at figures 1 and 2.
1
I also utilize a lock of any convenient pattern or size, the connection being made
by means of a chain, one link of which is connected to the loop provided in the bottom
bar of bag-frame; the other end of chain terminating in a hasp or other suitable
connection to engage with the lock secured to the back of the door, under the bag as
illustrated at figure 1; the bottom of the bag would also be secured to the chain as
represented at figure 2.
The bag and frame could be locked to the door, the trunnions and supporting arms
would then be secured or locked in their side brackets:
To remove the letters or packages, the lock would be unfastened, the hasp removed,
the bag-frame lifted up until the supporting-arms passed out of their side-brackets,
the frame would then be lowered to a horizontal position, the trunnions drawn through
the slots and thus the bag and its contents could be carried away, emptied and

page_text: brought back to the door and reconnected to the side brackets and afterwards locked
in position by means of the hasp and lock as hereinbefore described.
The main feature or novelty of my invention consists in the collapsible bag, secured
to a rigid frame forming a receptacle that can be manufactured at a low cost, the
collapsibility of the receptacle enableing householders to use it on doors that shut
close to passage walls, the bag with a dozen letters in it, not projecting beyond the
space ocupied by door-locks bolts and such like fixings.
I do not confine myself to making the bag out of cheap linen or cloth as it
can be made out of other collapsible fabric or material or out of leather or its
equivalent.
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
1st. The invention as illustrated and described for the purpose described.
2nd. The combination of a collapsible bag with a frame made of metal or other
suitable material in the manner illustrated and described for the purpose described.
3rd. The combination of the supporting arms of the bag-frame with the side-
brackets together with the trunions of the bag-frame, with their side-brackets, for the
purpose described.
31
1
1000