US1122855A - Mail-box. - Google Patents

Description

L. S. GHADWICK.

MAIL BOX.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 30, 1912 1,122,855. Patented Dec. 29, 1914.

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Wrfnesses 'HL' Name! ."ETI RS CO PHOTO-LHHO WASHINGTON. av r' L. S. GHADWIGK.

MAIL BOX.

APPLIOATION FILED mm 30. 1912. 1, 1 212,855. Patented Dec. 29, 1914.

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MAIL BOX.

APPLICATION FILED DEG.30, 1912. 1, 1 22,855. Patented Dec. 29, 1914.

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LEE S. CHADWICK, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

MAIL-BOX.

Application filed December 30, 1912.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, LEE S. CHADWICK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in MaiLBoxes, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being ha d to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to boxes or receptacles and especially to mail boxes of the kind. that are employed in connection with the rural free delivery system.

It is the general object of this invention to provide a box or receptacle of this character which, while exceedingly convenient and etlicient in operation, will be economical of production.

Further and more limited objects of the invention are to produce an article of this character having a special construction of door or cover; a particularly eiiicient latching means for holding the door or cover closed, also a particular construction of target or indicator and supporting means therefor.

Further objects of the invention will appear in connection with the detailed description of the drawings forming part hereof wherein Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a box constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 an enlarged transverse section through the box, and looking toward the front thereof; Fig. 3 a similar view looking toward the rear of the box; Fig. 4 a central vertical sectional view through the box; Fig. 5 a sectional detail of the front end of the box, the cover being in open position; Fig. 6 a detail of the target or indicator and its supporting arm; Fig. 7 a front elevation of a modified form of the box shown in the preceding views; Fig. 8 a vertical sectional view through the front end of the box shown in the preceding view; and Fig. 9 a view, similar to Fig. 2, of the modified form of my invention.

Describing the parts by reference characters and with special reference to Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, 1 denotes the body of a box of the character referred to hereinbefore, the body being preferably cylindrical in shape. At its, rear end, it is provided with a closure 2 which may be conveniently applied to the body by means of interengaging flanges 3 and 4. The closure 2 is provided with in- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 29, 1914.

Serial No. 739,230.

wardly pressed portions 5 forming therebetween a rib 5 by means of which said closure is stifiened and the box conveniently secured to the supporting post 6 as by bolts 7 pro ecting from the post through the rib 5 and provided with nuts 8. The front end of the box is provided with a wired edge 9, back of which there is located an inwardly directed rib or bead 10. Beneath the lower front edge of the box there is riveted a strap 11, said strap being provided with a pair of lateral extensions 12 constituting downwardly extending lugs to which the door is pivoted. The door consists generally of a sheet metal body 13, generally circular in outline but having a downward extension 14. The body and extension are provided with a rearwardly projecting flange 15 having a wired edge 16. The lower ends of the flange 15 are substantially vertical, as shown at 15 and are pivotally connected to the lugs 12, as by means of the rivets 17. The strap 11 and the end portion of the box thereabove are provided with alined drain openings 18, located between the front edge of the bottom of the casing and the bead 10. At its upper end, the door is provided with a hand-grip 19, which is of general U shape in cross section, the hand grip being secured to the door by means of flanges 20 and rivets 21. The upper end of the hand grip is provided with an angular locking projection 22 which is adapted to pass beneath and be engaged by the outer looped end 23 of a spring latch 24 secured to the casing 1. The outer end of this spring latch has an inclined surface 23 which is adapted to engage the correspondingly inclined surface of the projection 29. and is rounded adjacent to such surface, whereby the angular projection may easily pass beneath the outer end of the latch but be positively engaged and locked thereby when the cover is in closed position. The operator can open the cover conveniently by grasping the hand grip and merely pulling outwardly on the same. Secured to the inner surface of the cover are the spring clips 25. These clips form a convenient means for retaining letters, etc, which it is desired that the carrier shall collect. In order to prevent interference with the hand or sleeve of the operator the clips may be secured to the door with their free or receiving ends directed downwardly. Cooperating with the cover is a target. This arget comprise nam indi t r body 26 having a sleeve 27 at one end which is adapted to be slid upon the upper end of the target arm 28. This target arm may be conveniently formed of sheet metal the body 29 whereof is flattened to afford a suitable bearing upon and connection with the door,

the arm or extension being conveniently formed by rolling the sheet metal upon itself to form a tube, the tubular portion 30 being received within the sleeve 27 of the indicator body 26. The target arm is pivotally connected to the door by means of a rivet 31, which may conveniently extend through the door and through a plate 32 on the rear or inner face of the door. This rivet 31 is rigid with the target arm and forms in effect a shaft operated thereby, and the rear or inner end of this shaft is rigidly connected with the plate 32. The plate 32 is provided with a pair of stop projections, said projections being formed as angularly spaced flanges 33 and 34. The flange 31 is adapted to engage the forward inner surface of the casing 1 when the target arm is in the position shown in the drawings and the flange 33 is adapted to engage such surface when the target arm is depressed about 90. Forthe purpose of limiting the throw of the target arm, the plate 32 is provided with an arcuate slot 35 through which there extends a rivet 36.

' Should the owner of the box have any letters or other articles therein for the carrier, he will open the door and raise the indicator arm so that the flange 3% can engage the front end of the casing. By closing the door the arm will remain in its elevated position. By opening the door, the arm may be set so that the other flange will engage the inner surface of the casing and the arm be supported in a substantially horizontal position to indicate that there are no letters or other articles in the box for the carrier. Should it be desirable, a pad lock may be inserted through the adjacent portions of the handle 19 and the latch loop 23 to lock the door shut. As will appear from an inspection of Figs. 1 and 4, when the 'door is closed, the flange 15 thereof will overhang the end of the box. Should any moisture enter the frontend of the casing, there is little probability thatit will get beyond the bead 10, which serves as a water shed to direct the moisture toward the drain openings 18. The casing may also be provided with a bead 10 at the rear thereof, for purposes of strength and to balance the front end of the box.

Reference has been made to the modification shown in Figs. 7, 8, and 9. In this modification, the body 1 of the box is con structed in the same manner as the body of the box described hereinbefore, the main differences between the two embodiments of the invention residing in the target construction and in the door closing and looking means. In the embodiment of the in vention shown in Figs. 7 to 9, the door 13 is provided with an extension 1 1 and with a flange 15 which is substantially identical with like designated parts on the preceding figure. The strap 11 in the second modification, however, contacts with the casing 1 at its central portion only, leaving the ends 11 free to yieldcupwardly when occasion may require, the strap 11 being formed of spring metal. The lugs 12 have the flange 15 pivotally connected thereto,'as is the case with the first modification. The door is latched in place by means of the upper portion 15 of the rearwardly projecting flange 15. This upper portion is provided with a bead 15 which is adapted to slip over the wired front edge 9 of the casing 1, the yielding ends 11 of the hinge strap l1 permitting this action. For the purpose of locking the door closed, a strap 37 may be provided having an aperture 38 in its upper end which aperture is adapted to aline with an aperture 39 in a vertical extension 4-0 of a strap 41 secured to and projecting upwardly from the top of the casing 1. In this modification, the cover handle 42 is preferably a U-shaped strap having its ends riveted to the front of the door. The target with which the door is provided consists of a light metal arm 42 having the indicator 43 formed therewith and projecting at an angle therefrom. The arm 42 is pivoted to the door 13* in identically the same manner as the arm in the preceding modification, and the various parts constituting the pivoting and supporting means are designated by the same numerals as appear in connection with the first embodiment.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is: i v

1. In a device of the character set forth, the combination, with a casing having a door, of a target arm pivoted to said door, and a member movable with said arm and having angularly spaced projections adapted to engage the casing and to retain the target arm in varying positions.

2. In a device of thecharacter set forth, the combination, with a casing, of a door pivoted to one end of said casing, a target arm pivoted to said door, and angularly spaced projections carried by the doorand movable with said arm and adapted to engage the casing end when the door is closed.

3. In a device of the character set forth, the combination, with a casing, of a door pivoted at one edge to said casing, a shaft journaled in said connected with said shaft, and a member on the inner surface of the door rigidly connected with the shaft and having angularly spaced flanges adapted to engage the adjacent end of the casing when the door is closed. v

4. In a device of thecharacter set forth,-

door, a target arm rigidly the'combination of a casing, a door for said casing, a shaft pivoted in said door, a target arm rigidly connected to said shaft .on the outer surface of the door, a plate movable with the target arm and having a pair of angularly spaced flanges adapted to engage the adjacent end of the casing when the door is closed, said plate having an arcuate slot therein, and a pin carried by the door and extending through said slot.

5. In a device of the character set forth, the combination with a casing, of a door hinged to said casing, a target arm pivoted to said door, a member movable with the target arm and having a projection which is adapted to engagethe casing when the door is closed, and means for arresting the movement of said member when its projection is in a position to engage the casing.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for 6. In a device of the character set forth, the combination with a casing, of a door hinged to said casing, a target arm pivoted to said door, a member movable with the target arm and having two projections, either of which is adapted to engage the casing when the door is closed, and means for arresting the movement of said member in either direction when one of its projections is in a position to engage the casing.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

LEE S. GHADWICK.

WVitnesses:

J. B. HULL, BRENNAN B. WEST.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0.

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