US2448225A - Mailbox - Google Patents

Description

R. MALLOY MAILBOX Aug. 31, 1948.

Filed Feb. 13, 1946 0 L w% /M RL 0 K m a m LMNMW M ,l s .10.. m m% H m Y fi l. u 6 V? Patented Aug. 31, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MAILBOX Richard Malloy, Columbus, Ind.

Application February 13, 1946, Serial No. 647,242

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a mail box.

The chief object of this invention is to provide in a mail box an improved arrangement of parts so that when access to the box interior is desired for contents removal, the same are readily accessible and are held in retained relation until removed even though the box be opened for removal, thus preventing dropping of the contents upon opening of the box.

Another chief feature resides in the simplicity of construction and the low cost of same.

Other objects and features of the invention will be set forth more fully hereinafter.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims:

In the drawing Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a mail box embodying the invention and in closed position.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the same in opened position.

in Fig. 2 of the drawings indicates a porch post, wall of a dwelling, etc., to which the box back H is suitably secured by screws I2. An inverted T-shaped strip has its head portion I4 anchored by the upper pair of screws [2 and its stem portion I3 is directed upwardly as shown and above the box and includes a plurality of reversely curved portions forming a magazine and like retainer.

While the cover flap l5 may be hinged to the top of the back or base it is herein preferred to have same hinged to upper cross member l6 connected to the upper rear edges ll of sides H3. The

front I9 is integral with sides l8 and preferably I is formed from one sheet with forward rolled or curved front corners as illustrated, although square or sharp corners are not precluded.

The upper and lower edges 2| and 22 of the sides preferably are inclined downwardly and forwardly and may be parallel if desired. The cover I5 is of such area that the same fully overlies the aforesaid channel structure. Preferably the entrance mouth to the box is formed by the upper edges 2| of thesides 18 and theupper edge 23 of the box front.

When the cover is carried bymember 16 obviously it always closes the mouth except when it is elevated for mail insertion. When the cover is carried by back i I it similarly closed the mouth when the box is closed.

Integral with thelower edge 24 of the front I9 and suitably secured to sides H8 at thelower edges 22 thereof is thebox bottom 25 which is directed upwardly and rearwardly and if desired 2 may at its rear edge have upwardly directedportion 26 although this may be omitted when desired.

An intermediate rear cross member andmail retainer 27 is suitably secured to the sides I8. The back may include, opposite thehinges 28,flanges 29 spaced as at 39 to accommodatemember 21 when the box is closed. Said flanges then nest in the box.

A suitable latch 3| may be carried by the back and operatively associated with a catch, herein shown as anindent 32 in the unhinged side [8. When the box is closed and is to be opened for mail removal, the lower end is grasped and moved while the box projecting portion of the latch is forced inwardly for catch-latch release. When the box is to be closed the forward part is swung rearwardly until the latch is catch associated.

Also shown herein, the lower forward portion ofbottom 25 may be apertured as at 25a for drainage, etc.

It will be obvious from the foregoing that mail deposited in the box and through the mouth aforesaid will fall down and engageinclined bottom 25 and thus settle to the lowest possible position and be inclined upwardly and rearwardly.

When the box is opened the contents tend to further tilt rearwardly and downwardly but are restrained bycross-member 21. Thus the upper ends of the box deposited mail are held in projected relation, when the box is opened, for ready access for removal. If a letter is then replaced in the box when same is closed, the upper edge of such letter will engage the back and travel upwardly along same until the box is fully closed.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in great detail in the drawings and foregoing description. the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character.

The several modifications described herein, as well as others which will readily suggest themselves to persons skilled in this art, all are considered to be within the broad scope of the invention, reference being had to the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:

1. A mail box including a back member and an open box member side hinged together, the back of the box member being open and closable by the back member and the box member having a mail receiving upper open mouth, a cover hingedly connected to one of the said members and adapted to close the mouth when the box is closed, the box member being of closed bottom type, and means connected at opposite ends to the REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 482,292 Brown Sept. 6, 1892

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