US2431171A - Mailbox - Google Patents

Description

NOV. 18,1947. GAULDIN 2,431,171

MAILBOX Filed July 31, 1947 Fig. 4 /0 Robert A. Gnu/din Inventor Patented Nov. 18, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MAILBOX Robert A. Gauldin, Houma, La. Application July 31, 1947, Serial No. 765,168

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to an improved mailbox of a construction wherein the step of inserting and removing letters, and the like, is both simplified and expedited.

Briefly, in carrying out the principles of the preferred embodiment of the invention, I provide a box whose top is closed by a lid-like cover, and whose open bottom is closed in by hingedly mounted panel-like members.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a mailbox of the aforementioned type wherein, due to the presence of the hinged panel members, the postman may insert the mail items upwardly from the bottom of the box in such a manner that the letters will be gripped in a jaw-like manner between said members, whereby upon swinging said members into the box, they will thus become spaced apart and will provide a substantially unobstructed opening, whereby the letters and other items will drop into the hand of the user.

It is another object of the invention to provide a special bottom construction permitting the aforementioned results to be obtained and to also have a suitable lid closure at the top just so that in situations where the bottom members jam and do not work satisfactorily, the mail may be fished from the box by way of the removable cover or lid.

Other objects and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the views:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a mail box constructed in accordance with my ideas;

Figure 2 is a central vertical sectional view through the structure seen in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a central vertical sectional View, at right angles to Figures 2 and 3, said view being taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Referring now to the drawings by distinguishing reference numerals the box proper is denoted by the numeral 6 and is of rectangular tubular form and the open top thereof is closed by a, lid 1. As before indicated, the closure means for the bottom comprises a pair of substantially rectangular duplicate panel-like members or leaves 8. These are suificient in size and so proportioned that they fit within the confines of the lower end portion of the boX. In fact, the lower end portion of the box surrounds the perimeter portions of the 2 leaves and provides a sort of a shielding skirt. The opposite ends of the members are downturned to provide ears or flanges 9 and said flanges serve to reinforce the members and also provide satisfactory ways and means whereby said members are mounted on parallel rocker shafts Ill. The rocker shafts are mounted for rotation in suitable bearings in the end walls of the box. Certain ends project and are fashioned into hand cranks as at II. The numeral 12 designates a package or newspaper clip which is exteriorly mounted on one side of the boX.

It is obvious that the mailman may simply shove the mail up between the hingedly mounted closure leaves or panels 8. In so doing, they swing up and outwardly as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2. This permits the letters to be thus inserted in a package-like group as shown in dotted lines and the leaves then drop down by the force of gravity and provide a jaw-like grip on the letters. This is sufficient to hold the letters in place within the confines of the protective box. When the resident or user of the box comes along to remove the mail, he operates the cranks and then simply reaches up under the box and forces the leaves or members 8 open and allows the mail to drop down into his hand. Or, if preferred he can spread the leaves apart wholly by use of said cranks and cause the contents to drop down into his hand. In case the mail gets jammed, for some reason or other, and may not be conveniently removed by way of the opening between said panel members 8, the lid 1 is removed and the mail is then taken out in a more or less normal fashion through the open top.

By using an open bottom box and closing the open bottom through the medium of a pair of coacting gravity swingable leaves or panels the effect is similar to the formation of a slot in the receptacle enclosing the slot by automatically closable members. It is believed, therefore, that in reviewing the description and claims this sort of an interpretation should be kept in mind.

A careful consideration of the foregoing description in conjunction with the invention as illustrated in the drawings will enable the reader to obtain a clear understanding and impression of the alleged features of merit and novelty suificient to clarify the construction of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Minor changes in shape, size, materials and rearrangement of parts may be resorted to in actual practice so long as no departure is made from the invention as claimed.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A mailbox of the class described comprising a substantially rectangular box, open at its top and also open at its bottom, a rim equipped closing lid mounted on said open top, a pair of spaced parallel rocker shafts mounted for operation in the lower portion of the box, said rocker shafts having end portions extending beyond one wall of the box and formed into hand cranks, a pair of closure panels, said panels being secured to said rocker shafts, having their free swingable edges coacting with each other to form closure means for the open bottom, said panels being swingable upwardly and outwardly, whereby to permit mail to be pushed bodily up between the panels into the box and also to permit the panels to be swung up and away from each other and the mail to drop down from the box between the swingable edges of the panels.

2. In a mail box of the class described, a box proper having its top and bottom portions open and permitting access to be had to the interior for inserting and removing mail from either the top or the bottom of the box, and individual closure devices for normally closing the top and bottom portions of said box, one of said closure devices comprising a pair of coacting hingedly mounted panel-like members mounted on rocker shafts, the rocker shafts having hand cranks and the hand cranks being available for operation outside of the box.

3. In a mail box of the class described, a box proper having its top normally closed and its bottom open to permit access to be had to the interior from the bottom and for inserting and removing mail by way of said bottom, and a closure device for said bottom comprising a pair of coacting hingedly mounted panel-like members, rocker shafts mounted for operation in said box, said panel-like members being mounted on said rocker shafts, corresponding ends of said rocker shafts having hand cranks and the hand cranks being arranged and available for operation from the outside of the box.

4. A mail box of the class described comprising a box, said box being open at its bottom, a pair of spaced parallel rocker shafts mounted for operation in the lower portion of the bottom, said rocker shafts having end portions extending beyond one wall of the box and being formed into hand cranks, a pair of closure panels, said panels being secured to said rocker shafts, having their free swingable edges coacting with each other to form closure means for the otherwise open bottom, said panels being swingable upwardly and outwardly toward the walls of the box to permit mail to be pushed bodily up between the panels into the box and also to permit the panels to be swung up and away from each other and the mail to drop down from the box between the swingable edges of the panels, in the manner and for the purposes described.

ROBERT A. GAULDIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 616,330 Horder Dec. 20, 1898 808,872 Raymond et a1 Jan. 5, 1906 2,414,613 Reutsch Jan. 21, 1947

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