SE545086C2

SE545086C2 - Letterbox unit

Info

Publication number: SE545086C2
Application number: SE1951266A
Authority: SE
Inventors: Olle Årman
Original assignee: Aarman Olle
Priority date: 2019-11-05
Filing date: 2019-11-05
Publication date: 2023-03-28
Also published as: FI129974B; FI20206092A1; SE1951266A1; NO20201160A1

Abstract

Provided is a letterbox unit comprising a casing (10) divided into a plurality of letterbox compartments (12) arranged in a column, wherein the casing has an open forward-facing side (10a) arranged to give access to said letterbox compartments. Furthermore, a door assembly (20, 30) is provided which is arranged to, in closed position, cover the open forward-facing side of a column of letterbox compartments. The door assembly comprises a plurality of compartment doors (22, 32) arranged in a column, wherein each compartment door is arranged to, in closed position, cover a corresponding letterbox compartment. The door assembly further comprises a frame (24, 34) that lines the plurality of compartment doors. The door assembly is characterized in that it comprises a single hinge, pivotally connecting the door assembly to one edge of the open forward-facing side of the casing wherein the compartment doors and the frame are separately arranged on said single hinge.

Description

Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates generally to letter boxes and more particularly to letterbox units for apartment buildings.

Background art

[0002] Letterbox units for apartment buildings are known, which comprise a box shaped casing divided into a plurality of compartments, or pigeon-holes, wherein each compartment is assigned to an individual tenant. Each compartment is covered by a lockable door, which may be unlocked by the tenant in question for retrieval of mail in the assigned compartment.

[0003] ln these kinds of letterboxes, the compartments, and thus the doors assigned thereto, are arranged in a plurality of vertical rows, wherein each vertical row comprises a plurality of compartments.

[0004] During mail delivery by a postman, the postman must have access to the compartments in order to deliver the mail to be stored therein. To this end, each door may be provided with an elongated horizontal opening to allow the postman to insert the mail therethrough. Alternatively, the postman may have a central key allowing him or her to open the compartment door, allowing insertion of the mail into the compartment.

[0005] The patent publication EP 0 898 916 A1 discloses a centralized closure device for a collective letterbox comprising a plurality of pigeon-holes laid out in columns and closed by doors capable of being opened individually. A central locking barrel unlocks all the doors of a corresponding column, allowing a postman to thereafter open the individual doors of a column for subsequent insertion of mail into the respective pigeon-hole. However, this takes time and the design is also prone to forced entry into the closure device.

Summary of invention

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a letter box unit of the kind initially mentioned, which is easy to operate and offers high security to forced entry attempts.

[0007] The invention is based on the insight, that a single hinge can be used for the door(s) and the compartment doors of a Ietterbox unit.

[0008] According to the invention, there is provided a Ietterbox unit comprising a casing divided into a p|ura|ity of Ietterbox compartments arranged in a column, wherein the casing has an open forward-facing side arranged to give access to said Ietterbox compartments; the Ietterbox unit further comprises a door assembly arranged to, in closed position, cover the open forward-facing side of a column of Ietterbox compartments, the door assembly comprising a p|ura|ity of compartment doors arranged in a column, wherein each compartment door is arranged to, in closed position, cover a corresponding Ietterbox compartment, and a frame that lines the p|ura|ity of compartment doors, wherein the door assembly comprises a single hinge, pivotally connecting the door assembly to one edge of the open forward-facing side of the casing wherein the compartment and the frame are separately, pivotally arranged on said single hinge. This provides a letter box unit which is easy to operate and offers high security to forced entry attempts.

[0009] ln a preferred embodiment, the frame of the door assembly comprises a first section, a second section and a third section, and wherein one end portion each of the first and second sections are perpendicularly joined to one end portion each of the third section, forming a C-shape framing the p|ura|ity of compartment doors. [0010] ln a preferred embodiment, the single hinge comprises a single rod.

[0011] ln a preferred embodiment, each of the p|ura|ity of compartment doors comprises a through hole in the plane of the door arranged parallel and adjacent to a side of the door, through which the single rod extends, pivotally connecting the compartment doors to the rod.

[0012] ln a preferred embodiment, end portions of the C-shaped frame are provided with through holes in the direction of the third section, through which the single rod extends, pivotally connecting the frame to the rod.

[0013] ln a preferred embodiment, the Ietterbox unit comprises a central vertical wall in the casing dividing the plurality of Ietterbox compartments into a first and a second column and a first and a second door assembly, each arranged to, in closed position, cover the open forvvard-facing side of a corresponding column of Ietterbox compartments.

[0014] ln a preferred embodiment, each of the plurality of compartment doors of a door assembly comprises a compartment lock for locking the respective compartment door to the frame of said door assembly.

[0015] ln a preferred embodiment, the frame of the door assembly comprises a frame lock for locking the frame to the casing.

[0016] ln a preferred embodiment, only the second door assembly comprises a frame lock for locking both the first and the second door assembly to the casing.

Brief description of drawinqs

[0017] The invention is now described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective overall view of a Ietterbox unit according to the invention, comprising two columns of compartments and corresponding door assemblies, each with nine compartments and corresponding compartment doors, Figs. 2a-d show the left door assembly of the Ietterbox unit of Fig. 1 in plan view, side view, perspective view, and top view, respectively, Figs. 3a-d show the right door assembly of the Ietterbox unit of Fig. 1 in plan view, side view, perspective view, and top view, respectively, and Fig. 4 is a perspective overall view of an alternative embodiment of a Ietterbox unit according to the invention, comprising two columns of compartments and corresponding door assemblies, each with two compartments and corresponding compartment doors.

Description of embodiments

[0018] ln the following, a detailed description of a letterbox unit according to the invention will be given with reference to the drawings. When references are made to directions, such as “left” and “bottom”, these refer to what is shown in the figures for better understanding of the invention and are not limiting to the scope of protection.

[0019] ln Fig 1, a letterbox unit, generally designated 1, is shown. The letterbox unit 1 comprises a casing 10 divided into a plurality of letterbox compartments 12 arranged in two columns, separated by a central wall 14. The casing 10 has an open forvvard-facing side 10a arranged to give access to the letterbox compartments 12. On the other sides, the casing 10 comprises a left side wall 10b, a right side wall 10c, a top wall 10d, a bottom 10e, and a back wall 10f, forming a box-like structure.

[0020] Two door assemblies 20, 30 are arranged to, in closed position, cover the open forward-facing side 10a of the letterbox unit 1. A left door assembly 20 covers the left column of letterbox compartments 12 and a right door assembly 30 covers the right column of letterbox compartments 12. Each of the door assemblies 20, 30 comprises a plurality of compartment doors 22, 32 arranged in a column, wherein each compartment door is arranged to, in closed position, cover a corresponding letterbox compartment 12. The compartment doors 22, 32 are pivotably arranged so that they can be opened and closed, as will be described below. Each of the compartment doors 22, 32 is provided with a compartment lock 22a (not shown), 32a.

[0021] Each of the door assemblies 20, 30 also comprises a respective frame 24, 34 that lines the plurality of compartment doors 22, 32. By means of the compartment locks 22a, 32a, the compartment doors 22, 32 can be locked relatively to the respective frame 24, 34 so that the compartment doors 22, 32 follow the movement of the respective frame 24, 34. Each of the door assemblies , 30 is pivotally connected to the casing 10; the left door assembly 20 to the left side wall 10b and the right door assembly 30 to the right side wall 10c, by means of a respective hinge, as will be described below with reference to Figs. 2a-d and 3a-d. One of the frames 24, 34, the right frame 34 in the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, is provided with a door assembly lock 30a for locking the door assemblies 20, 30 in a closed position. To this end, the door assembly lock 30a is provided with a bolt which extends through the central wall 14 and an opening in the left door assembly 20 in a manner known to the skilled person.

[0022] All parts of the letterbox unit described above are preferably made of steel.

[0023] Turning now to Figs. 2a-d, showing the left door assembly 20 from different views, the left door assembly comprises a single hinge, pivotally connecting the door assembly 20 at the left edge of the open forvvard-facing side of the casing 10, i.e., adjacent to the left side wall 10b thereof, see Fig. 1. The hinge comprises a single rod 26, preferably a steel rod, extending from the top wall 10d to the bottom 10e of the casing 10, wherein the rod 26 is kept in place by being inserted in a hole in the top wall 10d and the bottom 10e, respectively.

[0024] Each of the compartment doors 22 is pivotably journaled on the rod 26, this is for example shown in Fig. 2a. ln the preferred embodiment, this is achieved by providing a vertical through hole between the upper and lower corner of a vertical side of each of the compartment doors 22, and the rod 26 extends through these holes.

[0025] Not only the compartment doors 22 but also the frame 24 is pivotably journaled on the rod 26. As can be seen from Fig. 2c, the frame 24 comprises three straight sections lining the compartment doors 22: an upper horizontal section 24a above the compartment doors, a vertical section 24b right of the compartment doors, and a lower horizontal section 24c below the compartment doors. These interconnected sections 24a-c together form the frame. At the distal end portions of the horizontal sections 24a, 24c, i.e., to the left in Fig. 2c, the frame 24 is provided with vertical through holes, through which the rod 26 extends.

This means that the compartment doors 22 and the frame 24 are separately arranged on the same single rod

[0026] The right door assembly 30 is shown in Figs. 3a-d. This is essentially a mirror image of the left door assembly 20 and comprises a single hinge, pivotally connecting the door assembly 30 at the right edge of the open forward-facing side of the casing 10, i.e., adjacent to the right side wall 10c thereof, see Fig. 1. The hinge comprises a single rod 36 extending from the top wall 10d to the bottom 10e of the casing 10, wherein the rod 36 is kept in place by being inserted in a hole in the top wall 10d and the bottom 10e, respectively.

[0027] Each of the compartment doors 32 is pivotably journaled on the rod 36 in the same way as the compartment doors 22 of the left door assembly

[0028] The frame 34 is pivotably journaled on the rod 36. As can be seen from Fig. 3c, the frame 34 comprises three straight sections lining the compartment doors 32: an upper horizontal section 34a above the compartment doors, a vertical section 34b to the left of the compartment doors, and a lower horizontal section 34c below the compartment doors, together forming the frame. The frame 34 is provided with a door assembly lock 30a arranged on the vertical section 34b. The right frame 34 is journaled to the rod 36 in the same way as the left frame 24 so that the compartment doors 32 and the frame 34 are separately arranged on the same single hinge in the form of the rod

[0029] The letterbox unit is operated as follows. The door assemblies 20, 30 are usually closed and locked by means of the lock 30a. This is also true for the compartment doors 22, 32, which are locked to the frames 24, 34 by means of the respective compartment lock 22a, 32a. During mail delivery by a postman, the postman accesses the compartments in order to store the mail to be delivered therein by unlocking the door assembly lock 30a. This allows him or her to open the door assemblies 20, 30 in order to get access to all the compartments 12. After having inserted the mail into the compartments 12, the mailman closes and locks the door assemblies 20,

[0030] When a tenant or other person is to retrieve the mail stored in the compartment 12, he or she unlocks the compartment door 22, 32 by means of the compartment lock 22a, 32a and opens the compartment door, thereby having access to the compartment 12 behind this door. After having retrieved the mail, the compartment door 22, 32 is locked.

[0031] A perspective view of a second embodiment of a Ietterbox unit according to the invention is shown in Fig. 4. This comprises two columns of compartments 12, but each column comprises only two vertically spaced apart compartments. ln all other aspects, this Ietterbox unit is designed in the same way as the one shown in Fig.

[0032] Preferred embodiments of a Ietterbox unit according to the invention have been described. lt will be realized that these may be varied within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the inventive idea. Thus, the Ietterbox unit has been described with a casing, but it is realized that the door assembly can be arranged in front of a recess in a wall or the like, acting as a space for the Ietterbox compartments.

[0033] Letterbox units with two columns of compartments have been shown and described. lt will be realized that the inventive idea is not limited to this. Thus, a Ietterbox unit with just a single column of compartments falls within the scope of the invention, in which case the single door assembly is provided with a main lock for locking and unlocking the single door. Also, more than two columns of compartments may be provided, in which case each pair of columns forms a unit like the ones described herein.

Claims

1 _

A Ietterbox unit comprising a casing (10) divided into a plurality of Ietterbox compartments (12) arranged in a column, wherein the casing (10) has an open forward-facing side (10a) arranged to give access to said Ietterbox compartments (12); a door assembly (20, 30) arranged to, in closed position, cover the open forvvard-facing side (10a) of a column of Ietterbox compartments (12), the door assembly (20, 30) comprising - a plurality of compartment doors (22, 32) arranged in a column, wherein each compartment door (22, 32) is arranged to, in closed position, cover a corresponding Ietterbox compartment (12), and - a frame (24, 34) that lines the plurality of compartment doors (22, 32), characterized in that the door assembly (20, 30) comprises a single hinge, pivotally connecting the door assembly (20, 30) to one edge of the open forward-facing side (10a) of the casing (10) wherein the compartment doors (22, 32) and the frame (24, 34) are separately, pivotally arranged on said single hinge.
The Ietterbox unit according to claim 1, wherein the frame (24, 34) of the door assembly (20, 30) comprises a first section (24a, 34a), a second section (24b, 34b) and a third section (24c, 34c), and wherein one end portion each of the first and second sections are perpendicularly joined to one end portion each of the third section, forming a C-shape framing the plurality of compartment doors (22, 32).
The Ietterbox unit according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the single hinge comprises a single rod (26, 36).
4. The Ietterbox unit according to claim 3, wherein each of the plurality of compartment doors (22, 32) comprises a through hole in the plane of the door arranged parallel and adjacent to a side of the door, through which the single rod (26, 36) extends, pivotally connecting the compartment doors (22, 32) to the rod.
5. The Ietterbox unit according to claim 4 when depending on claim 2, wherein end portions of the C-shaped frame (24, 34) are provided with through holes in the direction of the third section, through which the single rod (26, 36) extends, pivotally connecting the frame (24, 34) to the rod (26, 36).
6. The Ietterbox unit according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising: - a central vertical wall (14) in the casing (10) dividing the plurality of Ietterbox compartments (12) into a first and a second column; - a first and a second door assembly (20, 30), each arranged to, in closed position, cover the open forward-facing side (10a) of a corresponding column of Ietterbox compartments (12).
7. The Ietterbox unit according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each of the plurality of compartment doors (22, 32) of a door assembly (20, 30) comprises a compartment lock (22a, 32a) for locking the respective compartment door (22, 32) to the frame (24, 34) of said door assembly (20, 30).
8. The Ietterbox unit according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the frame (24, 34) of the door assembly (20, 30) comprises a frame lock (34a) for locking the frame (24, 34) to the casing (10).
9. The Ietterbox unit according to claim 8 when depending on claim 6, wherein only the second door assembly (30) comprises a frame lock (34a) for locking both the first and the second door assembly (20, 30) to the casing (10).