Mail slot

Mail slot

A mail slot (sometimes called a letter box [ [http://www.wikihow.com/Install-a-Mail-Slot How to Install a Mail Slot - wikiHow] ] ) is a mail receptacle designed as an alternative to a mailbox. A mail slot is a hole cut in a door, wall, or garage. The hole is usually covered with a decorative face plate containing a swinging door to allow mail to pass through and to act as a seal when not in use. A mail slot may feature weatherstripping to prevent air from leaking. The mail slot door may be spring loaded or may rely on gravity to keep it closed when not in use. Many mail slots also have a second flap on the inside to offer further protection from the elements. There may also be a small basket or wire cage mounted on the inside of the door to catch the delivered mail.

Mail slots are occasionally hung vertically, but are typically horizontal.

In the United Kingdom

Almost all buildings in the United Kingdom feature letter boxes. They are commonly horizontal slots approximately 30 cm × 5 cm, found in the middle or lower half of a front door.

The British Post Office first encouraged people to install letter boxes to facilitate the delivery of mail in 1849. Before then, letter boxes of a similar design had been installed in the doors and walls of post offices for people to drop-off outgoing mail. An example of such a wall box (originally installed in the wall of the Wakefield Post Office) is dated 1809 and believed to be the oldest example in Britain.

In the United States

A number of designs of mail slots have been patented, particularly in the United States [Frameless mail slot - Patent D480200; Airtight mail slot - Patent 2437319; Mail slot immobilizer - Patent D443125; Mail slot pouch assembly - Patent 4069965; Mail slot alarm - Patent 5382945; etc.] .

References

ee also

*Letter box
*Wall box


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • mail slot — n. A usually horizontal slot in a door through which mail can be delivered. It often has a hinged cover to keep the opening cloised when not in use. [WordNet 1.5 +PJC] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • mail slot — n AmE a ↑letterbox …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • mail slot — noun a slot (usually in a door) through which mail can be delivered • Hypernyms: ↑slot * * * ˈmail slot [mail slot] (NAmE) (BrE …   Useful english dictionary

  • Mail slot (disambiguation) — Mail Slot may refer to: Mail slot, a type of mail receptacle MailSlot, a type of interprocess communication This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the same title. If an internal link le …   Wikipedia

  • mail slot — noun A slot in a wall or door through which mail is delivered. Syn: letter box …   Wiktionary

  • slot — I. noun Etymology: Middle English, the hollow at the base of the throat above the breastbone, from Anglo French esclot hoofprint, of Germanic origin; akin to Middle High German slag blow, hoofprint; probably from its resemblance to a hoofprint… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • mail — Verb: To place a letter or other mail matter, properly enveloped or packaged, addressed and stamped, in a mail slot, mail chute, or mail box, provided by the post office department for the reception of mail, or to deliver a letter or other mail… …   Ballentine's law dictionary

  • mail drop — n. 1. a receptacle or slot into which mail is put for collection 2. a location or an address used for sending or receiving mail, often for secrecy or illicit purposes …   English World dictionary

  • mail drop — mail′ drop n. 1) cvb a receptacle or slot into which incoming mail is placed for pickup 2) cvb drop 13) • Etymology: 1970–75 …   From formal English to slang

  • Mail chute — Inactive mail chutes in the Empire State Building A disused mail chute at Gr …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”