US1244229A - Mail-box for rural free-delivery routes. - Google Patents

Description

H. L. MO0N- MAIL BOX FOR RURAL FREE DELIVERY ROUTES APPLICATION HLED MAR. 29. 19:7.

Patented Oct. 23,1917.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1 v f g H. L. MOON.

MAIL BOX FOR RURAL FREE DELIVERY ROUTES. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 29. 1917.

1,244,229, 7 Patented 001;. 23, 1917.

2 SHEETSr-SHEET 2.

HAROLD LEROY MOON, 0F FAIRMOUNT, NORTH DAKOTA.

MAIL-BOX non RURAL 'rnnn-nnnlvnn 'nootrns.

Specification of Letters l atent. JPatented Get. 23, 1917,

Application filedMarch 29, 1917. 7 Serial No. 158,268.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HAROLD LEROY MooN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fairmount, in the county of Richlan'd, State of North Dakota, have invented a new and useful Mail-Box for Rural Free-Delivery Routes; and I do hereby declare the followin-g-to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. i

This invention relates to an improved mailbox and signal therefor for use in connection with rural free delivery routes, and

one of the objects of the invention is to provide a simple, eflicient and practical device of this kind, and which may be manufactured at a small expense and sold for a reasonable profit.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved mail box consisting of two sections hingedly united, and one thereof supported on theupper end of the standard or post, there being means locking the two sections together.

A further object of the invention is to providea mail box consisting of a base section and a closure section, the base section having a depression transversely thereof, across which a piece of mail matter may be dis posed, to be engaged by a portion of a signal carried by the closure section, to throw the signal into vision, as the closure section is lowered.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mail operated signal for rural free delivery route mail boxes.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means for holding the closure section open.

In practical fields, the details of construction may necessitate alterations falling Within the scope of what is claimed.

The invention comprises further features and combination of parts, as hereinafter set forth, shown in the drawings and claimed.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a free delivery mail box for rural routes constructed in accordance with the invention, showing the closure section raised.

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation, showing the closure section lowered and locked.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 33 of Fig. 2, showing the flag signal in its lowest position.

Fig. at is a longitudinal sectional view of the mall box illustrating a transverse arm of the flag signal being engaged by a piece of mail matter disposed across a depression of the bottom section, which would hold the flag signal raised. i

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line 5-5 of Fig. l. I Referring more especially to the drawings, l designates an upright column or standard having a mail box supporting base 2'onits upper end. The mail box comprises a bottom base section 3 and a top or closure section 4. The base or bottom section comprises the two side flanges 5 and 6 and an end flange 7 The front end and the top of the bottom section are open. The lower portion of the top or closure section is open, said closure section comprises the side flanges 8 and 9 and the end flanges 10 and 11. Suitable pivot pins 12 are employed to pivotally unite or hingedly connect the closure section to the bottom or base section, the side flanges of the-closure section engage on the outside of the flanges of the bottom section. Theside flange 8 of the top section, near the forward end thereof, has secured thereto, a pair of guide bars '13, angular in cross section, thereby forming a guide for the stafi 14: of the-flag signal 15,- which is carried at the upper end of the staff. Adjacent the guide for said staff, a

slot 16 is formed in the side flange 8 of the closure section. Carried by the staff 14 and projecting through the slot 16 is a pin 17, to

which one end of a spring 18 is connected.

The other end of the spring is connected to a pin 19 extending inwardly from the side flange 8. The outer face of the stafi near its lower end is provided with a weight 20. The side flange 5 of the bottom or base section is provided with a cutout portion 21. The bottom wall of the base section, near the forward end thereof is so bent or depressed as to form a deep depression 22, which adjoins the cut out portion 21 and extends transversely of the base section. The lower end of the staff terminates in a right angle extending arm 23. The stafi and its guide, the cut out portion 21 and the depression 22 are so arranged relative to one another, that when the closure or top section is lowered, the right angle extending arm 23 will move through the cut out portion, that is, in a downward direction, and engage the deep depression 22. This engagement of the arm 23 in the depression is attained only when the flag signal is below and flush with the upper surface of the closure section. he flag signal is utilized to signal when there is mail matter in the box. Byvirtue of the combination of the actions of the weight and the spring, the upper edge of the flag signal is held flush with the upper surface of the closure surface. The pin 17 limits the stud in its downward moven ent, with the flag signal flush with the upper surface of the closure section. However, when a piece of mail matter is placed in the mail box, it is intentionally arranged over the depression. Hence, when the closure section is lowered, the right angle extending arm 23 will contact with the mail matter, as shown in Fig. A. Therefore, the staff will be moved upwardly through its guide against the -actions of the weight and the sprin Thus, it is obvious that the flag signal will protrude above the surface of the closure section when it reaches the limit of its lowered position, thereby indicating that mail matter is contained in the box. it is evident that the weigh may be utilized, and the spring dispensed with, and vice versa. However, both are illustrated, in order to insure operation of the flag signal. The lower portion of the forward end flange of the closure section has secured thereto, as shown at 24, an angle plate 25 having an aperture 26. Secured to the bottom wall of the base section, at its forward end, as shown at 27, is a plate 28 having an aperture 29. T he angle plate and the plate 28 are so arranged, that their apertures will register, when the closure section is lowered, whereby said apertures are permitted to receive the shackle of a suitable padlock 30, to lock the two sections closed. The side flange 5 of the base section, at its rear end, has a depression 31. The side flange 8 of the closure section has a flanged opening 32, for the reception of a headed pin'33, designed to engage the depression 31, to hold the closure section raised. A. suitable cap 34; is threaded at 35 to the flange of said opening 32, as shown in Fig. This cap 3% constitutes a suitable housing for the coil spring 36, which is interposed between the head of the pin and the closed end of the cap, thereby so tensioning the pin that when the closure section is raised, the rounded end 37 of said pin will be held seated in the depression 31, thereby firmly supporting the closure section raised. By virtue of the screws 38 penetrating the bottom of the base section and the mail box supporting base 2, the mail box is held secure.

The invention having been set forth, what is claimed as new and useful is 1. In a mail box, the combination of a base section and a closure section having a guide, of means for hingedly uniting the two sections, a flag menace signal mounted in a guide of the closure section, and provided with inetns adapted to engage a piece of mail matter to actuate the signal to protrude beyond the box.

2. In a device as set forth a stationar 'mem'ber, a pivotally movable member mounted thereon ant having a guide, and a signal having a staii' mounted in a guide of the movable member, of a sliding movement in the guide, said staff having means to engage a device in its path, for throwing the signal into vision when the pivotal. member is loweree. V

3. In a device as set forth, a stationary member,a pivotally m-ovablemember mounted thereon and having a guide, and asignal having a staff mounted in a guide of the movableinember, of, a sliding movement in the guide, said stafi having means to ena device in its path, for throwing the signal into vision when the pivotal member is lowered, and means for holding the pivotal section raised.

In a device as set forth, a stationary member provided with a depression, a pivotal movable member mounted on the stationary section and having a guide, a signal having a staff mounted in a guide of the pivotal movable section, and means carried by the staff adapted to enter said depression normally, but designed to engage a device in its path and across the depression to move the signal into vision when thepivotal movable member is lowered.

5. In a device as set forth, astation'ary member provided with a depression, a pivotal movable member mounted on the stain its path to move the signal into vision when the pivotal movable member is lowcred, and means to lower the signal stafi in its guide when the pivotal movable mem her is raised.

6. In a signaling device for mail boxes, a stationary member having a depression, a gravity actuated member mounted thereon having a guide, a stalf having a signal and mounted in said guide, means for hold the staff lowered in its guide when the gravity actuated member is raised,-said staff having a right angle extending arm to normally enter said depression when the gravity actuated member is lowered, but adapted to contact with a device in the path to raise the stall and throw the signal into vision against the action of said means, when the gravity actuated member is lowered.

7. In a signaling device for mail boxes, a stationary member having a depression, a gravity actuated member mounted thereon tionary section and having a guide, a signal having a guide, a staff having a signal and mounted 1n said guide, means for holding the stafi lowered in its guide when thegravity actuated member is raised, said staif having a right angle extending arm to normally enter said depression when the gravity actuated member is lowered, but adapted to contact with a device in the path to raise the staff and throw the signal into vision against the action of said means, when Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing Washington, D. G.

the gravity actuated member is lowered, andmeans for holding the gravity actuated member in a raised position.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of 15 the Commissioner of Patents,

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