US936215A - Mail-box. - Google Patents

Description

W. BROBERG.

MAIL BOX. Y APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 12, 190s.

Patented Oct. 5, 1909.

A Horn ey WILLIAM BROBERG, DF DAGGETT, MICHIGAN.

MAIL-BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented oet. s, ieee.

Application led September 12, 1908. Serial No. 452,728.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IVILLIAM Bnonnc, a citizen of the United States, residing at Daggett, in the county of Menominee and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail- Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to mail boxes adapted for use in the rural districts, and the object thereof is to provide a letter box embodying a signal apparatus movable' to an operae tive position when mail is inserted, to signal the presence of mail to the collector, and movable to an operative position when the mail is withdrawn by the collector, and embodying also simple and effective means to protect the mail from dampness.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, wherein like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the several figures, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved mail box, illustrating the signaling apparatus in the operative position. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken therethrough. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken therethrough, and, Fig. 4 is a horizontal sec-f tional View through one corner of the box, and illustrating the coin introducing means.

In the practical embodiment of my invention, I provide a letter box comprising a U-shaped mail section 1, forming the sides and top thereof, connected at its edges to a base plate 2, and provided with end plates 3. The base plate 2 is provided with upstanding ribs 4, extending transversely thereof, within the box, and adapted to receive the mail thereon, to prevent contact thereof with said base plate 2, which might become damp by reason of leakage of the joints of the sheet mail section 1 and ends 3.

The section 1 is attached at one side of the box, to any suitable supporting post A, and is provided upon its opposite side, and adjacent its lower edge with an enlarged opening, within which is hinged a mail removingl door 5, provided with a lock G, and having a swinging mail inserting door 7 mounted therein, for the introduction of mail within the box. The material of the section 1, surrounding the locking hinged door 5, is provided with an outstanding flange 8, to prevent the entrance of water at the edges of said door. The box section 1 is further provided above its locking hinged door 5, with an elongated opening 9, and with clips 10 secured upon the internal sur-v face thereof, adjacent the edges of said open ing, for the reception of a transparent section 11, which clips are adapted to receive and maintain against the inner surface of said transparent section, to show therethrough, a placard bearing the name of the owner of the letter box.

A signal flag 12, has its staff 13 provided with an offset portion 14E, rotatively mounted through, and opening in the box section 1, adjacent its locking door 5, with the angular extremity 15 thereof, extending internally of the box whereby the 'said staff 13 may be rotated upon its portion 14 to assume a substantially vertical or hori- Zontal position with relation to the box, the vertical position thereof being its operative or signaling position. The inner end 15, of the staff 13, is engaged between projecting pins 17 of an angular arm 16, forming part of a bell crank lever 18, pivotally mounted upon the internalsurface of the box, adjacent the locking door 5 and provided with a curved arm 19 adapted for engagement beneath a projecting latch 20 carried by one end of said door 5. IVhen the staff 13 is raised to the position shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the lower end 15 thereof, in its swinging movement, causes rocking movement of the bell crank lever 18, and swings its curved end 19 downwardly below the latch 20 as shown, whereby the staff 13 is maintained in its upright or operative position to signal the presence of mail to the collector. On the other hand, when the collector unlocks and opens the door 5, to remove the mail from the box, latch 2O is accordingly moved away from and releases arm 19, whereby the staff 13 may swing downwardly upon its portion 14, to its horizontal or inoperative position, thereby indicating that the mail has been collected.

In case the person depositing the mail within the box through the door 7 may not have postage stamps to place upon letters, I provide the body section 1 of the box with an opening 21, extending therethrough, adjacent its lower front edge, and adjacent one end of the box. Upon the base plate 2, immediately within the said opening 21, is mounted to swing an arm 22, provided with a coin cup 23, at its end, and capable of movement to project said coin cup 23 through said opening 21. Thus, a coin may be placed the box when the letters are placed therein.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that when the signal flag l2 and its staff 13 are moved to the vertical position by the person inserting the letters through the swinging door 7, it will be impossible for the said flag to fall until the locking hinged door 5 is opened. It will also be seen that not only do the upstanding ribs Ll of the base 2, prevent the letters placed within the box from coming in contact with such base, which might be damp or even wet, but they enable the collector to withdraw the letters without removing his gloves in bad weather.

Having fully described my invention, l claim:

l. In a device of the character described, the combination with a letter box provided with a vertically pivoted outwardly swinging door, of a flag staff provided with an oii'set portion near one end thereof, mounted to rotate upon said mail box, a bell crank lever pivotal'ly mounted upon said mail box, a depending latch arranged upon said outwardly swinging door, one end of said bell Crank lever engaging a portion of said flag staff and the `other end arranged to be swung 'within cup 23 and the same swung within l over said latch to assume a permanently locked position beneath the same, when said door is closed.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination with a letter box provided with a vertically pivoted outwardly swinging door upon one side thereof, of a flag staff provided with an offset portion near one end thereof, said offset portion being rotatably mounted through said side `provided with said door, a resilient bell crank lever pivoted upon the inner surface of said side, a depending latch arranged .upon the inner side of said door, one end of said bell Crank loosely engaging the lower portion of said flag staff, the other end being arranged to be swung downwardly in contact with said depending latch and to spring beneath the same, whereby said bell crank lever may be permanently locked in a fixed position when said door is closed.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ILLIAM BROBERG.

Witnesses OSCAR E. BURKLUND, CLAUS FRISK.

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