US1211425A - Mail-box. - Google Patents

Description

I C. F. FARRAR.

MAIL BOX.

Patented Jan; 9,1917.

CHARLES F. FARRAR, OF HOWELL, MICHIGAN.

MAIL-BOX.

Application filed June 17, 1916. Serial No. 104,155.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES F. FARRAR, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Howell, in the county of Livingston and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Boxes, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to mail boxes, and more particularly to that type of boxes stationed along rural routes for collecting and delivering mail matters.

The primary object of my invention is to furnish a mail box of the above type with an automatic device, which will indicate to a carrier that the box contains mail, and will also indicate to a subscriber that the carrier has placed mail matter therein.

Another object of my invention is to provide a rural mail box with a mailing door which, when opened to put in mail, releases a semaphore signal that automatically assumes a display position at the top of the box to indicate that mail has been placed therein and after having taken mail from the box should the carrier place mail therein through a mailing door provided for that purpose, the signal will be automatically set to indicate to the owner that mail has been delivered to him.

A further object of my invention is to provide a mail box of the above type wherein the parts are constructed with a View of reducing the cost of manufacture and at the same time retaining the features by which simplicity of construction, durability, and protection of mail matter are secured.

With such ends in view, my invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter specifically described and then claimed, and reference will now be had to the drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of the mail box; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same, showing the lid open and the signal in a retracted position; Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the mail box with the lid in a closed position and the signal. retracted, and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of the mail box.

In the drawing, 1 denotes a mail box or casing having end walls 2 and 3, a front wall at, a rear wall 5, and a hinged lid or top 6. The end walls 2 and 3 have the upper edges thereof inclined to support the lid 6 at an inclination to drain rain and other matter off of the top of the box, and to fully protect the contents thereof, the lid 6 has depending end'and front flanges 7. To connect the lid 6 to the rear wall 5, said rear wall has the upper edge thereof inturned, as at 8 and provided with barrels 9 adapted to alinewith barrels 10 of the lid 6 and receive-pivot pins or pintles 11. By refer ence to. Fig. 3, it will be observed that the upper edge of the lid is rolled and by engaging the inturned upper edge 8 of the rear wall 5 establishes a non-leakable connection between the lid and the box, thus preventing rain and foreign matter from entering the box and injuring mail matter placed therein. The end wall 3 has an opening 12 normally closed by a door 13 hinged, as at 14, to the wall 3 at the upper edge'of the opening 12.- The lower edge of the door 13 is outturned to afford a hand grip 15 by which the door'13 may be easily swung to an open position.

On the outer side of the door 13, at the rear edge thereof, is an arm 16 extending to a slot or opening 17 in the wall 3 contiguous to the rear wall 5. Extending through the slot or opening 17 and connected to the arm 16 is a chain or flexible connection 18, said chain having the inner end thereof attached tothe upper end of a spring or resilient member 19, carried by the inner side of the end wall 3.

Fulcrumed on or pivotally connected to the inner side of the rear wall 5, as at 20, is a lever 21, said lever having the short arm thereof provided with a. comparatively flat weight 22 having a convex edge or face 23 normally engaged by the spring or resilient member 19, said spring or member holding the lever 21 in an adjusted position.

The long end of the lever 21 is pivotally connected as at 24, to the lower end of a fiat semaphore arm 25, slidable in a guide 26 on the inner side of the rear wall 5. The

the short arm of the lever 21 will be elevated V and thereby retract the semaphore arm 25.

The end wall 2 01 the mail box cooper ates with the front wall 4 in supporting a tray 29 within an end of the box, and this tray will readily hold stamps, money or small matter placed within the mail box.

Provision may be made, as at 30, in connection with the lid 6 and the door 13 for locking the lid and door in closed positions should occasion require it. When a rural route subscriber opens the door 13 to place mail matter within the box, the chain 18 pulls upon the resilient member 19 and releases the weighted end of the lever 21, thus raising the semaphore arm 25 to display a visible signal exteriorly of the box. When the door 13 is closed, the resilient member 19 will engage the weight 22 and cooperate therewith in holding the semaphore arm 25 in a raised position, thus indicating to a carrier that the box contains mail matter or other matter for his attention. 7

When the carrier opens the lid 6 to obtain the contents of the box, the lid automatically raises the weight 22 and retracts the semaphore arm 25. The resilient member 19 will engage the weight 22 and hold the semaphore arm 25 in a retracted position, thus allowing the lid 6 to be closed and the box may remain in this condition until mail matter is deposited in the same.

Assuming that the carrier delivers mail at the same time as receiving mail, the carrier after closing the lid, may open the door 13 and thereby release the weight 22, which will raise the semaphore arm 25 to indicate to a subscriber that the carrier has placed mail within the box. 7

The mail box in its entirety may be made of light and durable metal finished to protect the same from forces of nature and to present a neat and attractive appearance. The semaphore arm 25 may be finished to present a bright color'that may be easily distinguished at a distance thus signaling to a subscriber or carrier the condition of the mail box and thereby obviating useless trips or examinations of the box.

One embodiment of my invention has been illustrated, but it is to be understood that the structural elements are susceptible to such variations and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claim.

What I claim is A mail box having end walls with one of said walls provided with a door opening and a slot, a rear wall having the upper edge thereof inturned, a lid hinged to the upper inturned edge of said rear wall, a semaphore arm in said box projecting through the inturned upper edge of said rear wall and adapted to be raised and lowered relative to said wall, a i'ulcrumed lever in said box connected to said semaphore arm, a resilient member in said box engaging said lever to hold said lever in adjusted positions, a hinged door for the doorway of said end wall, and a flexible connection between said resilient member and said door and extending through the slot of said endwall adapted for moving said resilient member when said door is open.

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

G. E. MoGRANN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained. for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patent-,

Washington, 13.6.

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