US1813516A - Mail box - Google Patents

Description

y 7, 1931. D. H. TEMPLETON MAIL Box Filed June 8, 1928 Zsnvcntor 35 Daniel Hflbmpleton Wflflomeg Patented July 7, 1931 DANIEL H. rnivrrnn'romor MEAD, NEBRASKA MAIL BOX Application filed June 8, 1%) 28. Serial No. 369,397.

This invention relates to an improved mail box and has for its objects to provide a mail box which will conform to all of the requirements of the Postal Department of the United States, and which will be convenient in use for the mail clerk in delivering and collecting rural mail as well as convenient for the patron, said box to be of such'construction that it may be conveniently and economically manufactured. Other objects of the invention will be fully described in the specification.

With the foregoing objects in view and others to be mentioned the invention presents a new and useful construction, combination and arrangement of parts as described herein and claimed and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it being understood that I may make changes in form, size, proportion of parts and minor details, said changes being within the scope of the invention as claimed. I

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a plan view of a mail box embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a front View of the same, the supports at the ends of the box being broken away. Fig. 3 is an end view of the mail box. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail showing an end-portion of an operating-bar providing a latch and a catch provided for the wall of the box.

Referring now to the drawings for a more particular description, the mail box is preferably rectangular in plan and is provided at its ends with trunnions 5 and a hinged lid 6, its front being provided with. a handle 7.

I provide a pair of angular supportingbrackets each having a vertical part 8 adapted to be bolted to a post 9, its upper end being apertured for receiving a trunnion 5, whereby the mail box may have transverse 4 swinging movements between these station ary brackets.

Each angular bracket has a horizontal part 10 extending rearwardly of the mail box at an end thereof. The remaining part of each 4 angular supporting-bracket consists of a part 11 having a terminal projection a, and at 12 is indicated a spool or roller which is pivotally mounted upon and which connects the projections a.

By referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings it will be seen that parts 11 of the pair of supporting-brackets are disposed a sufficient distance rearwardly of the mail box to permit the latter to have swinging movements, this being a matter of convenience for removing mail. r I

' Means are provided for causing the lid 6 to swing rearwardly to permit the mail carrier to use both hands while removing or depositing mail,.said means consisting in part,:of a bell-crank 18 being mounted at 14 to swing from apart 11- of one of the angular brackets mentioned,'a flexible strand or chain 15 being used for connecting the end of the bell-crank and the bottom of the mail box, said chainat all times being in engagement with the spool 12. r The .bell-crank therefore may swing in a' plane parallel with the parts 10 and 11 of the angular supportingsbrackets, said bellcrank moving in a plane somewhat below said parts 10 and 11-so that its movements will be free and unobstructed. I

In operation, it is obvous thatv if the free end of the bell-crank is moved upwardly at theend of the mail box,its opposite end will move toward said box, and this is depended upon for causing the tilting or forwardly swinging movement of the box.

The lid 6 is swung upwardly by the last named action of the bell-crank. Numeral 16 indicates an operating-lever which is disposed upon the lid, the front end being pivotally mounted as indicated at 23 upon the lid at the frontedge thereof, said lever 16 8 having a length suflicient to extend a considerable distance rearwardly of the mail box. Numeral 18 indicates a flexible strand or chain which connects the rear end of the lever 16 with the endof the bell-crank.

It will thus be seen that the lifting of the lid and swinging or tilting movement of the box will be. coincident. 'Also that the forward swinging movement of the box will be in a limited arc.

Numeral 19 indicates a signal which is pivotally mounted on a trunnion. This signal is used by a patron, and is'swung upwardly to indicate that mail matter has been deposited in the'box. When the box is tilted forwardly the signal will leave its holder 20 and will swing downwardly as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

According to the present construction, the lid cannot be lifted from the box by action of wind or other causes incident to its use, consisting of a catch 21 adapted to engage a latch In operation the operating-lever 16 will be swung downwardly from its pivotal mounting which releases the catch from the latch, the pivotal mounting of the catch 21 being indicated at 17, best shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. i

I claim as my invention r 1. A mail box provided at its ends with trunnions and having a hinged lid, a pair of stationary angular supporting brackets each having a part extendingrearwardly of the box, a spool connecting the adjacent ends of said brackets, a bell-crank pivotally mounted on one of said brackets, an operating-lever mounted on the lid, a chain connecting the operating lever with the bellcrank, and a chain engaging the spool and connected with the bell-crank and bottom of the box, said bell-crank being movable for coincidentally causing a swinging movement of the box and a swinging movement of the lid to open position.

2. A mail box having a hinged lid and provided at its ends with trunnions, a spool, an operating lever on the lid, av pair of stationary angular brackets each having a vertical part providing bearings for a trunnion and having horizontal parts extending rearwardly of the box for a connection with said spool, a bell-crankpivotally mounted on one of said brackets, a chain engaging the spool and having a connectionwith thebell-crank and box, a second chain connecting the bellcrank with the operating lever, said bellcrank being movable for causing swinging movements of the box and a swinging movement of the signal.

3. A mail box having a hinged lid, an operating lever disposed transversely of and secured to said lid, a pair of upright stationsupports. a pair of an 'ular'brackets each having a part pivotally connected with an end of the box and rigidly secured to oneof said supports, a spool connecting said brackets, a bell-crank pivotally mounted on one of the brackets, a chain engaging the spool and connected withthe bell-crank and mail box, and a second chain connecting the operating lever with the bell-crank, said bellcrank being movable for causing'a swinging movement of the box and a movement of the lid relative to said box.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature.

DANIEL H. TEMPLETON.

Images