US1828417A - Mail holder - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 20, 1931. KELEHER 1,828,417

MA I L HOLDER Original Fi l J n 5, 1929 iwucmtoz MT 4?. KeZehea Patented Oct. 20, 1931 UNITED STATES PA EN OFFICE MICHAEL RAYMOND KELEHER, 0F NORFOLKLNEBRASKA, ASSIG-NOR TO EMMA- KELEI-IER, OF NORFOLK, NEBRASKA MAIL HOLDER Application filed June 5, 1929, Serial No. 368,657. Renewed. March 12, 1931.

This invention relates to a mail holding device and more particularly to a device of this character adapted to be mounted outside a residence or other building and serve to hold magazines, letter and other matter dellvered by a letter carrier.

One object of the invention is to provlde a mail holder which may securely hold letters or magazinesjand the like and may not only firmly hold the same but accommodate itself to the size thereof. 1

Another object of the invention is to eliminate the necessity of thrusting letters and the like through a passage into a box with resulting likelihood of the letters becoming torn and to also allow the mail to be easily removed from the holder without it being necessary to release a door or similar closure.

Another object of the invention is to so form the improved mail holder that letters and magazines can be easily thrust mto the same or removed therefrom without danger of injuring the hands.

Another object of the invention 1s to provide a device of this character which is simple in construction and not liable to need repairs.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein: I

Figure 1 is a perspective v1ew of the 1mproved mail holder.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the 1mproved mail holder.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view through the mail holder, taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2. V This improved mail holder consists chlefly of a back plate 1 and jaws 2 and 3 WlllCl'l are pivotally connected with the back plate and normally urged toward the same by springs 4 and 5. l

The back plate 1 consists of a sheet of metal of suflicient thickness to impart the desired rigidity thereto and this sheet or plate, is formed with openings through which screws or equivalent fasteners 6 are passed, the heads of the screws being preferably countersunk so that there will be no dan er of a persons hands catching against the eads of the screws when delivering or removing mail matter from the holder.

The lower end portion of the back plate or sheet 1 is bent toextend'forwardly, as shown at 7, and along its lower edge the back plate is cut to define tongues rolled to form hinge ears 8. The jaws 2 and 3 are also formed of sheet metal having their lower end portions bent to extend inwardly, as shown in Figure 3, and having their upperor free end portions bent to formlips 9 and 10 which are rolled outwardly, as shown in Figure 3, so that" magazines and letters can be easily inserted, as shown in Figure 1. The lower ends of the jaws are formed with tongues rolled to provide hinge ears 11 and 12 andthrough the hinge ears of the back plate and the two jaws is passed a pivot rod or pin 13. Therefore, the jaws will be hingedly connected with the back plate and may have swinging movement toward and away from the same. It should also be noted that, the two jaws may be moved independently of each other and, therefore, the aw 3 may have pivotal movement relative to the; jaw 2. The springs Land 5 which urge the jaws toward the back plate are each of U- shape formation and these springs are disposed in straddling relation to the lower end portions of the jaws and back plate withtheir arms extending upwardly and secured against the back plate and jaws by rivets or equivalent fasteners 14, the heads of which are preferably countersunk so that there will be no danger of a person catching the hands agalnst the rivet heads when delivering or removing mail.

When the improved mail holder is in use it is disposed in an upright position against a sultable support such as a porch post or the front of a building where it is secured by thescrews or equivalent fasteners 6. The springs 4 and 5 normally hold the jaw 3 agalnst the jaw 2 and the upper ends of the aw 2 against the back plate but these jaws may be swung outwardly so that a magazine 15 may be slid into place between the back plate and the jaw 2 and aletter 16 slid into place between the jaws 2 and 3. It will be obvious that more than one magazine or letter may be placed in they holder at one time and it will also be understood that unusually large or thick letters may be placed inrthe magazine holding portion of the device. After the letters and magazines have been thrust into place the springs will urge the two jaws toward their original positions and the letters and magazines will be firmly gripped but they may be easily drawn outwardly when it is desired to remove them. In view of the fact that the two jaws have rolled upper ends there will be no danger. of tearing the mail either when; delivering it. or while it is held in the holder or being removed therefrom.

What is claimed is:

1. A holder of the character specified comprising a back plate having its lower end curved forwardly, other plates disposed one in front of the other and having their lower ends curved toward the back plate and in- V dependently hinged to the forwardly curved lower end thereof, and springs exterior 50 the hinge joint between the plates and independently connecting the outer plates to the back plate.

2. A holder of the character specified comprising a back plate having its lower end curved forwardly and terminating in hinge elements, other plates disposed one in front of the other andhaving their lower ends curved toward the back plate and terminating in hinge elements, a rod passing through the hinge elements and pivotally connecting the several plates, and U-shaped springs spanning the hinge joint between the plates and independently connecting the outer plates to the back plate and permanently at tached to the respective plates.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

MICHAEL R. KELEHER. [n s.]

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