US702479A - Mail-box. - Google Patents

Description

Patented lune l7, I902. J. M. REASUNER.

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(Application filed Jan. 7, 1902.)

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(No Model.)

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(Application filed Jqn. 7, 1902.)

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an PETERS 60., Moro-Limo. WASHINGTON o c 7 {No Modek) UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES M. REASONER, O FMATTHElVS, INDIANA.

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SPEGIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 702,479, dated June 17, 1902.

Application filed January 7 1902. Serial No. 88,772. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatL'JAMEs M. REAsoNER, a citizen of the'United States, residing at Matthews, in the county of Grant and State of In- 5 diana,have invented new and useful Improvements in Mail-Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates'to mail-boxes; and the object of the same is to provide a simple and effective device of this class having compartments for receiving letters, parcels, and money, which are rendered conveniently accessible by means of a drop-door, whereby a mail-collector may easily reach the contents of the box, which are fully exposed to view when the door is opened, the box as an entirety being strong and durable and serving as a safe mail-depository.

The invention consists in the construction and arrangement of the several parts,which will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a mail-box embodying the features of the invention and shown open. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section through the same. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

The numeral 1 designates the body of the box,which may be of any shape and constructed from suitable material. It is obvious that the box will be more durable andserve the purpose for which it is intended much better if it is constructed of metal; but in some instances wood may be used or a combination of wood and metal. The body shown is substantially rectangular in form and has an inclined shed covering or roof 2, adapted to cast the water therefrom in opposite directions, and at the apex or ridge has an upstanding strip 3, which may be used for displaying instructive mat:

ter, such as the hours of collection or a street name or number. The body 1 is interiorly divided into three compartments 4, 5, and 6 by vertical partitions 7 and S, the central compartment 5 being adapted to receive parcels or large packages, such as newspapers. The one end compartment 4 receives letters, and the opposite end compartment 6 is arranged to receive money, either in coin form ,sertion of the shackle of a lock.

or otherwise. The compartments 4, 5, and 6 are rendered accessible for the purpose of collection by means of a drop-door 9, hinged at its lower edge to the bottom portion of the body 1 and provided with a central angle-clip 10 at its upper edge to coact with a rigid hasp 11, secured to the top portion of the device, the clip and hasp being apertured for the in- The door 9 might in some instances be replaced by means at either end of the box for gaining access to the interior thereof; but for convenience in exposing all the compartments the form of door shown is preferred. When the door 9 is closed and locked, the mail-matter and money may be inserted in the box through slots 12, 13, and 14, communicating, respectively, with the compartments 1, 5, and 6 and of such dimensions as to permit the mail-matter to be unobstructivelyinserted in the said compartments.

Each of the compartments 4 and 6 is supplied with a supplemental bottom 15,and movably mounted on that forming a portion of the compartment 4 is a slide16, carrying a tray 17, consisting of a sheet-metal strip upturned at the opposite sideportion and closely bearing against the side walls of the said compartment 4. Extending upwardly from the inner end of. the tray is a back guard 18, as clearly shown bydotted lines in Fig. 2, said guard rising above the plane of the slot 12 and operating to draw the mail-matter or letters within the compartment 4: toward the outlet of said compartment when the door 9 is lowcred, so as to fully relieve the compartment of mail-matter or draw it outwardly within convenient reaching distance. On the supplemental bottom 15 of the compartment 6 a tray 19 is slidingly mounted and has a directing block or enlargement 20 at the rear thereof, with a front downwardly-inclined side 21, the block 20 rising above the plane of the upper edge portions of the tray 19 and serving to direct the coin or other money deposited in the compartment 6 through the slot 14 into the tray 19. This tray 19 snugly fits within the compartment 6 in a manner similar to the tray 17 in the compartment 4, both of said trays being free for sliding movement, but in close enough relation to the side walls of the said compartments 4 and 6 to prevent the let- ICO ters and money from lodging between the opposite side portions of the trays and said side walls of the compartments. The slide'16 and its tray and the tray 19 are simultaneously drawn outwardly from the compartments 4 and 6 when the door 9 is lowered. This operation is accomplished through the medium of pull-rods 22 and 23, having outer hooked ends 24, loosely engaging eyes 25 on the inner side of the door 9. The pull-rod 23 is connected to the rear or inner extremity of the slide 16 or to the guard 18 and has an inner angular end 26, slidably mounted in a horizontal slot 27, formed in the inner wall of the compartment 4. The inner end of the rod 22 is also formed with an angular member 28, freely slidable in'a slot 29 in the inner wall of the compartment 6, said slot 29 having an extent equal to and at the same elevation as the slot 27. The inner angular member 28 of the rod 22 is secured to the inner extremity of the member 19 byengaging the block 20, and both rods are retained in operative relation to the parts with which they engage by loosely passing through guide-loops 30, adjacent to the slots 27 and 29, and extending into the compartment 5. As the door 9 is opened the slide 16 and its tray 17 and the tray 19 and directing-block 20 will be drawn outwardly, as shown by Fig. 1, and the contents of the compartments 4 and 6 will thus be made readily removable. When the door 9 is closed, the slide 16 and its tray and the tray 19, together with the block 20, will be moved backwardly into the compartments 4 and 6 and disposed in normal position. It will also be seen that when the door 9 is opened the compartment 5 will be fully exposed and mail-matter such as packages, parcels, or papers-therein contained can be easily removed.

Avertically-movable slide 31 is located adjacent to the slot 12 and held in a guide 32 above said slot and also in an end slot 33 in the roof or top covering 2. The upper ex tremity of the slide 31 is in the form of a lateral-projecting head 34, which acts as a stop to the downward movement of the said slide and will also be used as an indicator to notify those approaching the box that mailmatter is being withdrawn therefrom when said head is lowered, as shown by Fig. 1, and during such lowered position of the head 34 the body of the slide 31 below will be pulled downwardly over the slot 12 to prevent the insertion of letters through the said slot into the compartment 4. The head 34 may also be supplied with suitable designating matter. The lower end of the slide 31 is formed with a seat 35 to fixedly receive a horizontal arm 36 of a pull-rod 37, the said arm being in continual engagement with the seat 35. The pullrod 37 is suitably curved and moves through a guide-loop 38, the outer end of said rod being secured to the outer side of one extremity of the door 9. As the door 9 is opened the pull-rod 37 is drawn downwardly through the guide 38 and simultaneously moves the slide 31 downwardly over the slot 12. When the door 9 is closed, the slide 31 is elevated to clear the slot 12.

The mail-box herein disclosed is particularly adapted for use in locations or communities where the money for postage can be inserted in the box, and will be particularly useful in rural districts at a distance from the post-office, though it is not confined to this application.

Changes in the form, size, proportions, and minor details may be resorted to without de parting from the principle of the invention.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new is- I 1. A mail-box comprising a body divided into three compartments each having means for depositing matter therein from the exterior, the one .side of the box being primarily left fully. open to give access to the compart ment, a door hinged at its lower edge to the bottom of the side of the box primarily left open and adapted to close said side, trays slidingly mounted in the end compartment and horizontally disposed to receive the matter deposited in said compartments, and connecting devices between opposite ends of the door and the said trays, whereby the latter will be moved outwardly and inwardly simultaneously with the corresponding movement of the door.

2. A mail-box comprising a body divided into three compartments with slides leading thereinto from the exterior, supplemental bottoms in the end compartments,a slide on one of the said supplemental bottoms carrying a tray having its opposite side portions closely bearing against the side walls of its compart ment, a tray slidingly mounted on the other supplemental bottom and provided with a directing-enlargement at the rear, a drop-door hinged to the body, and connecting means be tween the movable parts in the end compartments and the said door whereby said movable parts will be drawn outwardly from and moved inwardly into their compartments simultaneously with the opening and closing movements of the door.

3. A mail-box having a money-receiving compartment at one end, a supplemental bottom in the said compartment, a tray slidingly mounted on the supplemental bottom and provided with a directing-enlargement at the rear end that inclinesat the front downwardly to ward the tray, the said tray being at all times maintained in a true horizontal position in its movement over the supplemental bottom, a drop-door hinged to one side of the box to expose the said compartment, and connecting means between the tray and the door whereby said tray will be drawn outwardly from and pushed inwardly into the box simultaneously with the opening and closing movements of the door.

4. A mail-box having an end compartment with a supplemental bottom therein, a door hinged over one side of the box, a slide mountment, a slide vertically movable over the said slot and having an upper laterally-proj eoting head, and means between the said slide and door for moving the slide simultaneously with I 5 the door.

In testimony whereof I afix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES M. REASON ER.

Witnesses:

PAUL E. RUDD, E. K. HARDIN.

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