US982206A - Mail-box. - Google Patents

Description

E.- D'fH'ALE.'

MAIL Box. APPLICATION FILED JAH. 171 1910.

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Patented Jan. 17,1911.

ERASTUS D. HALE, OF BELLEVUE, OHIO.

MAIL-BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 17, 1911.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, ERAsTUs D. HALE, citizen of the United States, residing at Bellevue, in the county of Huron and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvement-s in boxes or receptacles for mail of the type adapted to be erected at the roadside and commonly termed rural mail boxes. In devices of this kind it is desirable to provide a receptacle that will hold package, newspaper and letter mail and protect same from rain and snow and from interference or removal by unauthorized and mischievous persons. It is also important to provide for easy access to the box by the mail carrier as he sits in his wagon and leans out to collect and leave the mail. It becomes important too to so construct the box and its appurtenances that it will be strong, durable and inexpensive. All of these conditions I have observed in the mail box appliance which forms the subject matter of this application besides obtaining other advantages and utilities which will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon the examination of the accompanying drawing in the light of the following detailed description.

In the drawing the following figures appear :-Figure 1 is a front elevational vi-ew of my improved mail box connected with a supporting post, and with portions broken away to more clearly disclose the construction and operation of the device; Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the device with the signal removed; Fig. 3 is an elevation showing the signal in position, and portions of the device removed, and Fig. 4: is a fragmentary detail of portions of the locking levers.

Referring to the details of the drawing, 5 represents a post which supports my improved mail box in connection with the braces 5a.

6 represents a semi-cylindrical sheet metal hood which is rigidly secured to the top of the post and projects from the front side thereof.

7 and S are the two rails which form a direct support and slideway for the mailreceptacle 10. These rails have their ends cut and bent outwardly and downwardly as at 7a, to form a wide flaring entrance to the slideway to facilitate the insertion of the box therein. These track members are spaced apart and joined at intervals by metal straps 9 riveted thereto.

Secured to the member S at points on opposite sides of the post, are downwardly extending brackets 11, near the outer ends of which are pivoted at 1Qb and 13b flat metal bars, the locking levers 12 and 13 respectively. A longitudinal slot 12a is cut in the lower portion of the lever 12 and in an onoset portion below the slotl is a hole 12C (see Fig. 4). The lever 13 is provided with a hole 13a in its lower end to register with the hole 12C and with a rivet 13c which loosely lits the slot 12a. The upper ends of the levers are twisted and bent downwardly and outwardly as at 14C to furnish stops to limit the endwise movement of the box 10. The hasp of a padlock 15 may be inserted through the openings 12, 13, and when locked, will prevent the movement of the levers and thus serve to lock the box against removal from beneath the hood 6.

The free edges of the hood and track member 7 are spaced apart suliiciently to permit the operator to grasp the box handle 10@L and slide the box endwise, but are close enough to prevent the rotation of the box, when in position, and thus makes diflicult obtaining access to the box either by removing the cover 10b or otherwise, the space between the hood and box being very slight nd the ends of the hood overhanging the As a signal, l attach to the post 5 at a point in the rear of the center of the box, preferably, a rod 16 which is partially rotatable in clips 17. The upper portion of this rod is bent over as at 16EL to form a clip to engage a sheet metal signal plate 16b which may be colored if desired to increase its visibility. The lower end of this rod is bent on an outward curve and is frictionally engaged by the free end of a spring 18 with sufficient pressure to maintain the rod in position. Rigidly secured to the rod 16 is a lug 17, which projects in a direction parallel to the plane of the signal 16h, and when the box is outside the hood and the plate in the position shown in Fig. 3 the said lug will project into the path of the box and if the latter is now slid beneath the hood it will engage the lug and carry the signal to the position shown in Fig. 1. W'hen the box is empty it is allowed to 'remain outside the hood and the signal turned in the direction shown in Fig. 2 to indicate that foot.

It Will be noted that as both ends of the slideway are flaring the box can be inserted at either end, and when in place and the padlock 15 locked in the levers, the box cannot be pushed in either direction. It will also be observed that all possibility of rain or snow entering the box is precluded by the sliding cover l()b and the overhanging hood 6. As the track or slidevvay 7 8 extends a considerable distance beyond the ends of the box, the latter can be slid out sul'liciently to permit access to it Without removing the box thus facilitating the introduction and removal of the mail.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is Y l. A mail receiving appliance comprising a box, a track adapted to slidably support said box7 levers having their ends projecting into the slideway of said track and adapted to limit the longitudinal movement of the box and means for locking said levers.

2. A mail receiving appliance comprising a box, spaced members arranged to support said box and form a slideway therefor, levers having portions projecting into said slidevvay and adapted to limit the longitudinal movement of the box, a hood arranged to extend over said box When the latter is in position and adapted in coperation with a track member to prevent the rotation of said box, and means for locking said levers.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of tWo Witnesses.

ERAsTUs D. HALE.

Vitnesses:

J. B. MILLER, J. L. PAINTER.

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