US729110A - Rural-delivery letter-box. - Google Patents

Description

No. 729,110. PATENTED MAY 26, 1903.

G. P. YOUNG.

RURAL DELIVERY LETTER Box.

I APPLICATION FILED EBB. 17, 1903- NO MODEL.

WITNESSES INVENTOR Patented May 26 1963-.

PATENT OFFIcn.

CHARLES P. YOUNG, OF YORKQPENNSYLVANIA.

RURAL-DELIVERY LETTER-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 729,110, dated May 26, 1903.

Application filed February 17, 1903. Serial No. 143,856. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that 1, CHARLES P. YOUNG, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at York, county of York, and State of 5 Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rural-Delivery Letter-Boxes, of which the following is a-full, clear, and exact description, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved box, showing it open; Fig. 2, a vertical transverse section of the same, showing it open in full lines and closed in dotted lines; Fig. 3, a detail perspective view of the inner wall of the tray, showing the letter-clip attached thereto; and Fig. 4, a perspective view of the front piece and tray, showing the manner of forming it from one piece of sheet metal.

The object of this invention is to provide an extremely light and strong box which shall be entirely waterproof and which shall be easily opened and closed and shall afford full protection for the mail-matter against the elements when either open or closed, as more fully hereinafter set forth.

The box is constructed of two sections, the main section or box proper being constructed bent so as to form the bottom, the rear wall,

the top wall, and a portion of the front wall of the box. The forward edge 0 of the bottom portion terminates short of the front edge of the box, and the other edge of the sheet of metal is carried a short way down on the front of the box, terminating in the edge e, and between this edge and the top of the box the sheet is folded closely upon itself to form an outward-projecting flange (1, running the full length of the box.

The movable front wall f of the box is formed integral with a tray, which extends into the box and rests upon its bottom, this tray consisting of the bottom part g, rear wall 1', and side pieces 71., the front f and these parts being bent up from a single piece of sheet metal and riveted together at the corners of the tray. This tray f is adapted to slide back into the box and to be drawn out when the of two substantially rectangular end parts a,

box is opened, as shown. The tray rests upon the bottom of the box and is guided in its back-and-forth movements by inward-extend= ing flanges m, fastened to the inner sides of the end pieces at, these flanges extending over the end pieces h and preferably inclining up= ward .toward the front of the box, and to prevent the tray from being drawn out of the box the flanges m are each provided near its front end with a stop it, against which the corners of the tray strike. To further prevent the tray from being drawn out of the box and to assist in guiding it, each end piece h is provided with a horizontal slot j, which works over a headed pin 0, secured in the front wall a. The vertical edges of the front wall f have flanges f, which embrace the front edges of the end walls a when the boxis closed, and thereby prevent ingress of water, and the top edge of the wall f is provided with an outward-extending flange Z, which fits up under the flange d when the box is closed and assists the flange d in preventing the ingress of moisture to the box. To look the front wall and attach the tray in place, a suitable lock is fastened to the inner side of the wall f a little below its upper edge, so that its bolt may be engaged behind the edge 6 when the front wall is closed.

It will be observed that access may be had to thefcontents of the box by simply drawing out the front wall and the tray and lowering them as they are drawn out. As the tray slides out its bottom rides down on the front edge 0 of the bottom of the box and its upper flanges 'n, and slots 7' serve to guide the tray and the front wall easily into place.

To the rear wall of the tray I attach a lettor-clamp 19, so that the first-class mail-matter maybe entirelyshielded from the elements, whether the box be opened or closed. Any number of these clips may be used, and any suitable construction of clip may be employed. The tray itself, as is obvious, may be used for letters, as well as the clips; but it is especially adapted for newspapers and packages.- In

one corner of the box a suitable stamp and coin shelf 1" may be located, if desired, and any suitable signal device may be employed.

I The signal device I show consists of a signalbox is opened the signal "is released and allowed to fall.

It will be observed that by constructing the box of sheet metal in the manner shown it will be extremely light and durable and strong and will fulfilall the requirements of the Post- Office Department.

Having thus fully described my invention,

. what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an outdoor mail-receptacle, the combination of a box proper constructed of end walls and bottom, rear and top walls, the front edge of the top wall being extended down in front, as at 6, this downward-extending part being provided with an outward-extending flange d formed by folding upon itself a part of said downward-extending portion, and a movable front wall and tray, said front wall being provided with a look at its upper edge which is adapted to engage said downward-extending part.

2. In an outdoor mail-receptacle, the com-- bination of a box open in front, a front wall carrying a tray portion extending in and resting upon the bottom of the box, means for slidingly and pivotally connecting said tray to the ends of the box, and means for limiting the outward movement of the front wall and attached tray, whereby the same may be drawn out and let down for the purposes set forth.

3. In combination with a box having an open front and its bottom wall terminating short of the front edge of the box, a movable front wall adapted toclose the front of the box, a tray attached to the lower edge of this front wall and adapted to slide in and out of the box and rest upon the front, set-back edge of the bottom of the box when opened, and means for guiding the tray and restricting its outward movement.

4:. In combination with a box having an open front, and a bottom whose front edge is set back from the front of the box, of a front wall adapted to close said open frontand carrying a tray extending into the box, means for restricting the outward movement of the tray and permitting it to fall and rest on said set-back front edge as it is opened, and means on the inner wall of the tray for temporarily clamping the letters thereto.

5. In combination with a box having an open front and a bottom whose front edge is set back from the front edge of the box, a movable front wall carrying a tray fitting within the box, the end walls of this tray being slotted, headed pins carried by the box and extending through the slots, and flanges on the end walls of the box adapted to engage the upper edge of the tray, for the purposes set forth.

6. In a mail-receptacle, the combination of a box having an open front, a movable front wall carrying a tray portion extending back into the box, inward-extending flanges m attached to the ends of the box and extending over the sides of the tray, and means for pivotally attaching the tray portion to the ends of the box, for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses, this 14th day of February, 1903.

CHARLES P. YOUNG.

Witnesses:

LESTER P. GRoss, ELI H. NEIMAN.

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