US1707049A - Adjustable mail box - Google Patents

Description

` 4Dllau'h 26,1929. N. COHAN ADJUSTABLE MAIL Box Filed Feb. 24, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l /4 Traa/ve March 26, 1929. N. COHAN ADJUSTABLE MAIL Box 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed Feb. 24, 1927 Patented Mar. 26, 1929.

UNITED STATES `1NFJWILON COIIAN, OF PORTLAND, OREGON.

ADJUSTABLE MAIL BOX.

Application filed. February 24, 1927. Serial No. 1?O,486.

'"his inventionLrelates generally to Inail boxes for 'the purpose of receiving inail from. post-nien, and particularly to aispecial forni of inail box adapted to occupyspace between the studdings of a wall oi'u'ithin the air space of a wall. 1 l

The lirst object of this invention is to provide an exceedingly simple and elicient lorin of mail box which can be put into place within a wall while being built, or can be introduced into a wall alter `it is built.

The second object to provide a special forinof receiving end 'for the box which will. adapt itself for use with wood or plastic exteriors through which it is able to penc- 'trate regardless of their thickness.

The third object is to provide a special `forni of bottoni for the outlet end of the box which will cause the contents to be discharged into the rooin aslrapidly as introduced, as, ior instance, during prolonged absence ott the owner.

The fourth object is to provide a special 'forni of closure for `the inlet openingl which will greatly facilitate `the introduction of inail by'inaking it possible to introduce ina il material with one hand by inerely pushing` saine against the closure.

The lilth object is to so construct the box that lits entire structure will be lexible in the sense that it can be bent sulliciently to allow i intrculuction into the air space ot a wall tlnough an opening' which is 'just large enough for the outlet portion of the box.

These objects are accoi'nplished in the inannerset forth in the followingspecilicatien as illustrated in `the accompanying drawings, in which: l l

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the de- 'vice in place in a wall with portions of the wall and the inail box broken away to disclose the partsp Figure El is a vertical section through the outlet box with the dellector .in position for discharging inail into the room. Fiujure 3 is a vertical. section 'taken alongthe line 3 3 in Figure 1.v Figure Ll isa vertical section through the inlet door and :inlet box. Figure 5 is a 'vertical sec `tion showing` the box being started into the wall space. AIlligure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 showing' the box further advanced into the wall space, but not showing the-box in section. Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure dfshowing tbebox'alnost completely a lower chute and an outlet box.

l Outlet oom.

The outlet box consists of the bottom 10 and sides 11 between which are secured a back 12. Across the upper ends of the open sides of the box is attached an angular side `13 which pivotally joined to the sides 11 .by the rivets Tll. Over the upper edge oi the back 12` is hinged a guard 15 under whose lower edge is inserted a deflector plate 16 whose lower edgeis provided with a handle 17 and whose cornersare provided with notches 18 which engagethe sides of the door casing 19 so that the forward edge 2() of the deflector 116 will project slightly over the door 21 which attached to the casing 19 by inea-ns of the hingesQ. A spring latch 23 secured to the door 21, which also .carries a knob 241- to assist in operating the door. y

` llt is preferable to supply holes 25 in the sides 11 lor Ythe nails 2G by means oitl which the outlet box is secured to the upright studs 27,130 "which are secured the inner plastered walls 28 and the outer walls 29, which may be of brick or tile facing, as indicated in Figure 1, over the wood sheathing 30 or y perhaps lapped siding 81, as indicated in Figures 5 to 8 inclusive.

Lower citate.

The lower chute consists ol. the back 32, the front and sides The lower edgge of the back 32 is hinged to the back 12, and the ilront edge 33 engages the upper edge 36 of the angular side 13. The sides 341 areinside of the sides 11 and these incinbers over-lap at all times.`

U 7921er chate.

rlhe upper chute consists of the bach 37, front 38, the sides 39 and top 10. The lower edge 410i the front 3811s hinged to the trent 33,andethe sides 39 over-lap the inner sides .mil

of the members The sides 39 are provided with horizontal slots 42, the object of which will be described later. The sides 39 are also provided with perforations 43 through which nails may be driven into the 4studdings 27.

Inlet 603m.

v The inlet box includes the lintegral to o 44 and sides 45 between whose lower en s is pivotally attached by means of the rivets 46 n the bottom A47 whose edge 48 is downturned fio thereby forminga water shed for the opening.

The weight of the door is so distributed y as to cause same to urge the door to a closed position, as shown in Figure 4, which action 'can be overcome by a slight push against the portion 55 which can be accomplished by pressing the mail matter about to be deposited Vin the box against the portion the door returningto its original position as lsoon as the mattei' has passed into the box.

To each side 45 is attached a nut 58 which passes partially through the side itself and a pin 59 passes through the nut, as indicated,'which is then soldered into place making 4it impossible for the nut to become detached from the side 45, Screws 60 pass through the casingv 57 and the nuts 58. The casing 19 around the outlet opening is held in place bymeans of the screws 61, which `pass through the opening 62 in theV sides 11.

y the modification shown in Figure 8 the partsare identical with those in the other igures, except 'that the hinge along the edge 41 isV omitted and the upper and lower chutes are integral.- In this modification the floor 63 rof the inlet box is integral with the side 64 of the chute and its turned up edge 65 holds the floor 63 in rigid relation to t e chute. However, the box 66 being hinged on the rivets 67 is capable of angular adjustn ment with relation to the side 64 to accomrto modatethe device to various thicknesses of walls. The'type of box shown in Figure 8 is usable only for new constructions work, whereas the type shown in the remaining tiguresis as easily introduced into existing buildings as it would be in the new.

yIn order to install this mail box it is necessary to collapse same by pushing the inlet box `as vfar as possible into the upper chute and after having formed an opening 68 for the inlet box and an opening 69 for the outlet box in their respective walls it is only necessary to slip the smaller inlet end upwardly through the hole 69, as shown in Figure 5, bending the chutes and outlet box with relation to each other as required to secure a free passage into the air space of the wall until they approach the position shown in Figure 7, after which the inlet box is pulled out until it penetrates the material 29 or 31 sufliciently to permit the attachment of the casing 57. 'l'he outlet box is now swung into position in the opening 69 and its door casing 19 is put into place.

By this construction it is possible to secure the maximum depth and thickness of mail boxes for a given depth of air space in a wall, and to make it possible to penetrate a relatively thick outer wall without sacrificing the capacity of the mail chute itself.

It will also be noticed that in inserting this box into existing walls that it is not necessary to cut an opening any larger than can be covered by the casings which are to be used around such opening, making it unnecessary to repair the walls before or after the box is installed and making it extremely easy for even the inexperienced mechanic to properly install this device.

As above suggested, if a user of the box contemplates a prolonged absence he merely opens the door 21 and pulls out the dellector plate 16, as shown in Figure 2. This allows the postman to insert the mail into the box as before, but prevents any acclnnulation of mail in the box, with an accompanying opportunity for the unauthorized removal of same through the inlet opening.

By the use of the special type of inlet door described one of the main objections to ordinary mail boxes is overcome, inasmuch as only one hand is required to easily insert a piece of mail of any suitable character into the box.

It will also be noted that the thickness of the walls does not affect the use of the device since it readily adapts itself to varying thicknesses of wall, and at all times leaves a free and smooth chute through which the mail can pass without injury or danger of stoppage.

Attention is drawn to my co-pending application Number 116,058, over which this device is an improvement.

I claim:

1. A Inail chute having an outlet box provided with a door at one side thereof, the back of said box having a deflector plate slidably mounted therein, said deflector plate being arranged to have its lower edge moved forwardly for the purpose of ejectiner mail through said chute outwardly throng 1 said door.

2. A mail chute having an outlet box provided with a side opening, the easing around said opening having a. door hinged to the lower Side thereof, said door having u1 open top; a vguard hung from the top of the side opposite Said door; and :L deflector plate Slide-bly placed between the ends of said boX having its upper end behind said guard and its lower end adapted to be moved away from the back of said boX toward the front thereof and to overlap the hinge of said door 10 for the purpose of ejeeting mail passing downwardly into said box.

NEWTON COHAN.

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