US606556A - Post-office-box cabinet - Google Patents

Description

2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

J. C. KEITH..

POST-OFFICE B0X CABINET.

Patented June 28,1898.

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2 Sheets-Sheet 2. J. C. KEITH. POST-OFFICE BOX CABINET.

, NO- 606,556'. Patntea June 28 1898.

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UNITED STATI-is PATENT OFFICE.

I .mooi-3pc. KEITH, oF-ELLwooD CITY, PENNSYLVANIA.

POST-OFFICE-BOX CABINET.

- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 606,556, dated June 28, 1898.

Application filed September 8, 1897. Serial No. 650,914. (No model.)

To all whom it may con/cern.-

Beit known that LJACOB C. KEITH, residing at Ellwood City, in the county of Lawrence and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new andnseful Improvement in Post-Ofice-Box Cabinets, of lwhich the following is a specification. K

My invention is an improvement in postoffice-box cabinets and seeks to provide a simple and novel construction by which the boxdoors may be opened from a keyboard under the control 'of the post-oflice ofiicial or may be opened by a proper manipulation of the lock by the holder of the box, the purpose being to put the box under the control of the party who rents it and yet permit the box to be easily opened for vsuch party in case he should nothave the key of the lock or, when combination-locks are used, in case such party should forget the combination.

The invention consists, in connection with a box-door, of means by which the holder of the box may release the bolt of such door, together with catches for engagement by the bolt, and a keyboard and means operated therefrom for freeing the catch and bolts from engagement.

The invention consists, further, in certain novel constructions and combinations of parts, as will be-hereinafter described, and' pointed out in the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure lis a perspective View, partly broken away, of a cabinet constructed according to my invention. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of the keys and connections. Fig. 3 is a partial rear elevation of the cabinet. Fig. 4 is a detail horizontal section of one of the boxes, and Fig. 5 is a detail view. In carrying out my'invention I make the cabinet with a case A, which receives the boxes B, the latter being arranged in vertical tiers and the boxes constituting each tier being formed together, so all the' boxes of any tier may be removed at the same time for the purpose of making any slight repairs or adjustments that may be necessary from time to time. Each box has a door C, hinged at D, a spring E being arranged to automatically open the door when released. On the door I erated or may be arranged for operation by mits access to the box by the holder without necessitating any action on the part of the post-office officials. In order, however, that the door may be released by such ofiicial from a suitable keyboard, I arrange the catch G to be forced out of engagement with the bolt F, and to such end pivot the'catch G at'g and provide a spring g', which operates to draw the catch into engagement with thebolt F and permit its being forced out of such engagement. To depress the catch and so release it from engagement with the bolt to release the door, I provide a wire or connection H, secured'at its upper end to the catch G and at its lower end to one arln ofla bellcrank lever I, which is actuated in one direction by a spring J and in the other direction by a wire or cord K, which leads over a suitable guide-pulley L and connects with its respective key-lever M.

It will be noticed 'that the key-levers are arranged in vertical tiers corresponding to the tiers of boxes whose doors are released by said key-levers, and when it is desired for the postoflice official to open any particular box it is only necessary for him to depress the key-lever corresponding to said box, which will immediately eifectthe depression of the catch G of such box, whose door will then be automatically opened by its spring E. After the holder of the box has removed his mail he Will close the door, the same being automatically locked by the movement of its bolt into engagement with its catch G.

By my invention itwill be seen I'provide, in connection with a keyboard and the doors of a series of post-office boxes, mechanicallyoperating means by which the doors may be released from such keyboard, so the several doors may be under the control of the postoffice attendant.

Having thusdescribed myinvention, what I claim isl. The improvement in post-office cabinets herein described comprising the post-officebox doors, lock-bolts therefor,means by which IOO the holders of the boxes may release the bolts, catches or seats for engagement by thebolts, t keyboard and means operated therefrom under the control of the ofeial for freeing the eateh and bolt from engagement, subbell-era-nk lever, connections between said 1o lever and the eateh, connections between the lever and the keyboard and guides for the latter Connections,substantiallyas described.

l '1 f strtntially as described. JACOL L' BEI l H' 2. The combination of the post-ofliee-box l XVtnesses: door, the look thereon having :L bolt, t enteh FREDERICK E. PAISTER,

for engagement by said bolt, :L keyboard, :L XV. J. LYONS.

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