US72493A - Improvement in door-plate and letter-box - Google Patents

Description

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD A. HOPKINS, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

IMPROVEMENT IN' DOOR-PLATE AND LETTER-BOX.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 7 2,493, dated December 24, 1867.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDWARD A. HOPKINS,

of Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Door-Plates, called a F Combined Letter-Box and Door-Plate, the purpose' of which is to render that which has hitherto answered the one purpose of a doorplate only also useful in facilitating the .delivery by carriers of letters and papers, secure from loss or damage by the elements or by theft, and also to provide a signal to occupants of the arrival of their mail; and l do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of my invention, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, making a part of this specification.

The construction of my combined letter-box and door-plate is as follows: A A represent the frame of an ordinary metallic door-plate, which is fastened upon the door in the usual manner. B B is an interior frame, also of metal, which fits closely within the larger frame, and is hung thereto upon the inside at the upper and interior angles of A, by means of the metallic rod a a. and hinges b b. Into the frame B are set two plates-the outer of glass, the inner of metal. Between these is inserted a card, inscribed with the name of the occupant, the glass being :first bedded in, then the card inserted, and the metallic plate fastened on by screws or buttons, (as d d d,) or by other means, but always in such a manner as to be easily'removed whenever it is desired to changev the card. This interiorframe B, with the plates thus inserted, forms y the lid of the letter-box.

purpose of impelling the hammer D to strikel the bell when the lid falls. It also serves to keep the lid always tightly closed except when forced open to receive mails. G is a slot cut in the door to allow the lidto be raised.

l. The construction of an ordinary metallic and glass door-'plate with a double frame, A

and B, and the arrangement of B within A, so as to form a letter-box lid.

2. The combination with B of the spring C and hammer D, for the purpose of striking the bell E as the lid falls, all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

EDWARD A. HOPKINS.

In presence of- E. S. JONES, W. E. AMBLER.

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