Mail Box Shield
The objective of the invention is to deflect snow thrown by a snow plow to prevent damage and lack of accessibility to mail boxes. The drawing scale is 1:8. Engineered drawings now completed. A model has been fabricated and constructed. A plastics engineer is required to determine the proper plastic/synthetic materials and the thicknesses of the side walls and bracing. Changes to follow.
The invention is a shield that protects roadside mail boxes from snow plowing damage by deflecting oncoming snow with its leading edge angled front design.
The device is comprised of the following components as pictured in drawings as follows:
Optional—1 Stake and adjustable tension strap (stock item, optional use).
All elements are necessary. Additional optional reflectors, numbers and art work may be affixed.
The leading edge of the Mail Box Shield deflects snow off both sides. Snow accumulating at open side bottoms freezes and adds reinforcement.
Manufacturer must injection mold or press mold the sidewall and rear connector bar and front connector plate of plastic/synthetic material which withstands low temperatures and blunt force. Stake must be formed from extruded or molded similar material.
To erect the shield before ground freezes, level a 24 inch semi-circle on the ground surface on the oncoming traffic side of mail box.
Assemble the Mail Box Shield by attaching the interchangeable 2 sidewalls with the interchangeable 2 rear connector bars and interchangeable 2 front connector plates using the 8 carriage bolts. Position at the oncoming side of the mail box and drive Stakes thru the angled bottom holes in the sidewalls into ground.
After the ground thaws pull the stakes, unbolt the connector bars, and repack and store for spring-summer-autumn season.
Claims
1. Shields roadside mail boxes from snow plowing damage utilizing its leading edge construction.
2. Existing home made devices are unstable, easily destructible and difficult to manage in set-up, take-down and storage.
3. The Shield is medium weight, sturdy, durable, indestructible, easily erected and taken down for storage.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 23, 2013
Publication Date: Mar 13, 2014
Inventor: Charles O. Pickens (Farmington, CT)
Application Number: 13/747,845