US2356020A - Mailbox - Google Patents

Description

1944- I H .1.v A. WESTERFIELD I 2,356,020

MAIL BOX File'd Aug. 26. 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor mes/wrfivaszyw g J. A. WESTERFIELD 2,356,020

MAIL BOX 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 26. 1942 1 I m/entor (famesfllerillasiefikld M Mmmgs Aug. 15, 1944.

Filed Aug. 26, 1942 J. A. WESTERFIELD MAIL BOX 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inventor Patented Aug. 15, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT I OFFICE James Albert Westerfield, Beaver Dam, Ky.

1 Claim.

This invention relates to ,new and useful improvements in mail boxes especially adapted for rural use.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a mail box having a signal flag for indicating that mail has been deposited in the box by the mailman.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a mail deposited indication flag adapted to be automatically operated by the usual mail box closure.

These and other important objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to the reader of the following description:

In the drawings:

Figure 1 represents a side elevational view of the mail box showing the large flag in position indicating that the box is empty.

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a front elevational view of the box.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary enlarged detailed sectional view taken substantially on line 44 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary enlarged detailed sectional view taken substantially on line 55 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 6-6 of Figure 1.

Figure '7 is a perspective view of the ratchet arm.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary detailed sectional view taken substantially on line 8-8 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like numerals designate like parts, it can be seen that numeral 5 generally refers to the box proper which comprises a hood-like shell 6 provided with a back end wall I and preferably a wooden bottom 8 having a sheet metal covering {1. Numeral Ill denotes a flanged closure for the front end of the shell 6 and this is swingably connected at its lower portion to the bottom 8, as at H. A suitable handle I2 is provided for the closure l and the closure In is held in place by an elongated spring member l3 at the top of the box. This spring member 13 has one end riveted as at M to the top of the shell 6 while its free end isin a position to tensionally engage the flange of the closure ill, in a manner shown in Figure l. A pin extends downwardly through an arm !6 which supports a small signal flag I! and also downwardly through an opening in the spring l3 and an opening in the top of the shell 6, the

lower end of this pin I5 has a nut and washer I9 and between this and the inner side of the shell 6 is a compression spring 20. This tensioning assembly serves to hold the spring arm l3 snugly against the closure It! in the manner shown in Figure 1, and also hold the flag IT in any position desired by its arm IS. The fiag ll serves to indicate to the mail delivery man the fact that the box holder has mail to be sent.

The flag I1 is preferably of a color distinctive from the color of a second and larger flag 2|, which is preferably in the form of an elongated plate having its upper edge portion reinforced by being bent upon itself as at 22. The intermediate portion of the flag 2| has a vertical row of horizontal slits defining straps which can be forced laterally to the end that the upper end of a rod 23 can be woven therethrough and to the end that friction alone will be sufiicient to hold the flag 2| rigidly on the rod 23, or, if desired, spot welding may be resorted to.

A substantially U-shaped bracket 2-- is secured to the lower portion of one side of the shell 6 with its leg portion disposed horizontally. The upper leg portion of the bracket 24, which is denoted by reference character a, has its free end portion disposed backwardly and upwardly to define a pair of lugs b, b, adapted to have rest thereon the crotchet portions of a toothed hollow collar 25.

A crown type ratchet wheel 26 is splined on the lower portion of the rod 23 and normally rests upon the lower leg portion 0 of the bracket 24. It will here be seen that a cotter key or the like 21, at the lower end of the rod 23, permits rising of the rod above the lower leg portion 0.

Numeral 2B denotes a ratchet arm twisted at its forward end portion and secured to the closure ID by a pin 29, which pin is preferably welded to the front side of the closure l6 The rear end of the arm 28 is formed to provide an elongated guide leg 36 and a downwardly disposed ratchet wheel engageable tooth 3|. The leg 30 is of sufficient length so that it always rides the top of the crown type ratchet wheel 26 in a manner so as to permit the tooth 3| to engage the shoulders of the ratchet wheel 25.

It can now be seen that in the event the box holder has a parcel or other mail matter to give to the postman, he simply turns the small flag I! to align with the longitudinal disposition of the box.

When the postman arrives, he will find the flag 2| in the position shown in Figure 1. He opens the closure l0 and inserts the mail and in doing so the arm 28 moves forwardly, the tooth 3| engaging one of the shoulders of the ratchet wheel 26 and rotating the rod 23 ninety degrees, thus setting the flag 2| at right angles to the disposition of the box 5 so that it can be clearly visible from the box holders house. This saves many trips to an empty mail box.

While the foregoing specification sets forth the invention in specific terms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, size and materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and. scope of the, invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having described the invention what is claimed as new is:

Signalling apparatus of the class described for use on a mail box having a swingable closure,

said apparatus comprising a bracket adapted to be mounted on said box and having a pair of upper and lower horizontal arms, a post rotatably mounted in said arms and vertically slidable therein, a flag fast on said post for rotation into different positions by rotation of said post, a pawl and ratchet drive for rotating said post comprising a ratchet wheel on the post intermediate said arms, and a pawl arm adapted to be pivoted to said closure for operation thereby to operate said wheel, and devices on said post and the upper arm, respectively, co-acting under vertical sliding movement and rotation of the post to yieldingly detain the post in difierent angular positions.

JAMES ALBERT WESTERFIELD.

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