Integral Door Patents (Class 232/51)
  • Patent number: 11206940
    Abstract: An apparatus for receiving and preventing unauthorized access to deliveries has an enclosure, a moveable roof on the enclosure, a rotatable basket within the enclosure, and a connecting member coupling motion of the roof and the basket. The basket is rotatable between an upright and an upside-down position. The roof is moveable between an open position in which the basket is accessible and a closed position in which the basket access is blocked. When the roof is moved to the open position, the connecting member rotates the basket to the upright position thereby allowing a user to place the article into the basket. Moving the roof to the closed position rotates the basket to the upside-down position thereby causing the article to drop out of the basket towards the bottom of the enclosure. The enclosure may open into a chute or building for delivering the parcels to a remote location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Inventor: Darryl Reed Kaechele
  • Patent number: 10709275
    Abstract: A wall mount mailbox is provided. A housing includes a front side and a back side. A rotatable mail deposit includes a mail delivery door and an inner panel affixed on a proximate end at an angle to a bottom of the mail delivery door, and is pivotably attached to the front side of the housing. A mail slot is formed as an opening within a front surface of the housing when the rotatable mail deposit is in a fully open position allowing mail to be deposited through the opening over each of the inner panel and the safety arm. A mail retrieval door is located below the rotatable mail deposit and is pivotably attached to the front side of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Inventor: David J. Bolles
  • Patent number: 10111547
    Abstract: A wall mount mailbox is provided. A housing includes a front side and a back side. A rotatable mail deposit includes a mail delivery door and an inner panel affixed on a proximate end at an angle to a bottom of the mail delivery door, and is pivotably attached to the front side of the housing. A mail slot is formed as an opening within a front surface of the housing when the rotatable mail deposit is in a fully open position allowing mail to be deposited through the opening over each of the inner panel and the safety arm. A mail retrieval door is located below the rotatable mail deposit and is pivotably attached to the front side of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Inventor: David J. Bolles
  • Patent number: 9717359
    Abstract: A theft-resistant wall mount mailbox is provided. A housing has a rectangular shape with a front side and a back side. A rotatable mail deposit is pivotably attached to the front side of the housing and includes a mail delivery door, an inner panel affixed on a proximate end at an angle to a bottom of the mail delivery door, and a safety arm affixed at a further angle to a distal end of the inner panel. A mail retrieval door is located below the rotatable mail deposit and pivotably attached to the front side of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Inventor: David J. Bolles
  • Patent number: 9512558
    Abstract: An amusement system and method for adding an element of playfulness to placing used/soiled clothing within a hamper or other clothing container. A non-motorized mechanical flapper mechanism is rotationally coupled to an opening of a clothing hamper. The flapper mechanism is biased into a reception mode such that placement of soiled clothing on a target panel rotates the target panel to deposit the clothing into the hamper and the biasing mechanism returns the target panel to the reception mode automatically after deposit. An F/X module may be used to add effects to the transitions of the target panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Inventor: Scott Eckerman
  • Patent number: 8573473
    Abstract: A receptacle for receiving objects, such as mail or parcels, has a main housing having an input opening through which objects may be placed into the receptacle, and a hopper style door rotatable coupled within the housing. The hopper has bottom for receiving an object and a hopper cover disposed under the bottom. The hopper is rotatable between an open position in which the bottom is accessible through the opening and a closed position in which the hopper cover blocks the input opening. A flap is coupled to the hopper and is rotatable between an up position when the hopper is in the open position in which the flap forms a back wall adjacent the rear edge of the bottom, and a down position when the hopper is in the fully closed position in which the flap allows an object to slide off the bottom and out of the hopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Architectural Mailboxes, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Andrews Farentinos, Craig Ronald Steele
  • Patent number: 8459539
    Abstract: A secure deposit box and method of construction thereof are presented. An inner door is affixed to a top inner surface of a housing and movable on a top edge around a sphere of rotation defined by a bottom edge. An outer door is affixed to a front side of the housing and moveable on a bottom edge. A connecting member is attached on one end to a side edge of the inner door and on the other end to a corresponding side edge of the outer door. An inner panel is fixedly attached to the bottom edge of the outer door, moveable on a proximal edge in the same direction as the outer and inner door, and has a distal edge defining a sphere of rotation which is distinct from the sphere of rotation for the inner door. No overlap exists between the inner door and the inner panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Inventor: David J. Bolles
  • Patent number: 8261966
    Abstract: A receptacle for secure mail and parcel receipt and storage. The receptacle includes a top which provides a roof for the receptacle, a base, and a housing connected to the top and the base. The housing includes an upper compartment into which mail is first placed, a lower compartment into which mail is deposited from the upper compartment, a front door, located on a front of the receptacle, which is opened to provide access to the upper compartment and through which mail is placed into the upper compartment, a trap door, operatively connected to the front door, in the upper compartment, and an access door that includes a lock. The trap door rests in an open position when the front door is closed, allowing communication between the upper and lower compartments. The trap door is moved to a closed position by the opening of the front door, thereby preventing access to the lower compartment from the upper compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Postal Hawk Corporation
    Inventors: Bobbie Cox, Jeffrey Kalman, Craig Saunders, Lindsey Tufts, Jr., Chuck Hosier, Paul Stephens
  • Patent number: 8220703
    Abstract: A secure mailbox for parcels and method of construction thereof are presented. A mail shelf is affixed to an inner surface of a housing. An inner door is pivotably affixed to a bottom surface of the mail shelf and is rotatably movable on a top edge around a sphere of rotation defined by a bottom edge. A mail deposit having an outer door and inner door is constructed. The outer door is pivotably affixed to a front surface of the housing and is rotatably moveable on a bottom edge. The inner panel is affixed to the bottom edge of the outer door and includes a distal edge defining a sphere of rotation which is rotatably distinct from the sphere of rotation for the inner door. At least one connecting member is rotatably attached on one end to the inner door and on the other end to the mail deposit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Inventor: David J. Bolles
  • Publication number: 20110220708
    Abstract: A secure mailbox for parcels and method of construction thereof are presented. A mail shelf is affixed to an inner surface of a housing. An inner door is pivotably affixed to a bottom surface of the mail shelf and is rotatably movable on a top edge around a sphere of rotation defined by a bottom edge. A mail deposit having an outer door and inner door is constructed. The outer door is pivotably affixed to a front surface of the housing and is rotatably moveable on a bottom edge. The inner panel is affixed to the bottom edge of the outer door and includes a distal edge defining a sphere of rotation which is rotatably distinct from the sphere of rotation for the inner door. At least one connecting member is rotatably attached on one end to the inner door and on the other end to the mail deposit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Inventor: David J. Bolles
  • Patent number: 7988035
    Abstract: A receptacle for secure mail and parcel receipt and storage. The receptacle includes a top which provides a roof for the receptacle, a base, and a housing connected to the top and the base. The housing includes an upper compartment into which mail is first placed, a lower compartment into which mail is deposited from the upper compartment, a front door, located on a front of the receptacle, which is opened to provide access to the upper compartment and through which mail is placed into the upper compartment, a trap door, operatively connected to the front door, in the upper compartment, and an access door that includes a lock. The trap door rests in an open position when the front door is closed, allowing communication between the upper and lower compartments. The trap door is moved to a closed position by the opening of the front door, thereby preventing access to the lower compartment from the upper compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Postal Hawk Corporation
    Inventors: Bobbie Cox, Jeffrey Kalman, Craig Saunders, Lindsey Tufts, Jr., Chuck Hosier, Paul Stephens
  • Patent number: 7946472
    Abstract: A theft-resistant mailbox for parcels and method of construction thereof are presented. An inner door is pivotably affixed to a top inner surface of a housing and is rotatably moveable on a top edge around a sphere of rotation. An outer door is pivotably affixed to a front surface of the housing and is rotatably moveable on a bottom edge. At least one connecting member is rotatably attached on one end to a side edge of the inner door and on the other end to a common side edge of the outer door. An inner panel is fixedly attached to the bottom edge of the outer door and is rotatably moveable on a proximal edge in the same direction as the outer and inner door. The inner panel is comprised of a distal edge defining a sphere rotatably distinct from the sphere of rotation for the inner door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Inventor: David J. Bolles
  • Patent number: 7428980
    Abstract: An apparatus for receiving parcels having a structural frame and a parcel drop having a fully open and a fully closed position is disclosed. The apparatus includes a bin, a first opening between the bin and the structural frame through which patrons may deposit parcels into the bin at least when the parcel drop is in the fully open position. The apparatus further includes a second opening within the bin through which deposited parcels may fall out of the bin at least when the parcel drop is in the fully closed position. The parcel drop is rotatably coupled to the structural frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: United States Postal Service
    Inventors: Donald E. Irwin, Daniel A. Wilson, F. Andrew Better, Edgar T. Bellinger, Jr., Duane C. Hajos
  • Patent number: 7320427
    Abstract: The present invention is a security mailbox utilizing a combination package rest and security panel. A mail slot in the security panel prevents easy access to contents of the mailbox. The present invention may be utilized in situations other than mail delivery where security for contents is desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Inventor: Matthew C. Prestwich
  • Patent number: 5207377
    Abstract: A ground-mounted upright mailbox is provided for receiving and storing therein postal material such as letters and variously-sized packages. The mailbox includes a lower mailbox portion which further defines an inner storage compartment, an upper mailbox portion attached to the lower mailbox portion, and a mounting pipe for securing the mailbox into the ground. A laterally deformable lower bellows member is integrally attached to the mailbox subjacent the lower mailbox portion, the lower bellows member allows the mailbox to laterally deflect from its normal upright position when the mailbox is struck by a physical object. Furthermore, the lower bellows member maintains the mailbox in its deflected position until the mailbox is manually righted. In an alternate embodiment, the upright mailbox is secured to the ground by a plurality of mounting pipes. Each mounting pipe includes a flexible, deformable bellows member protruding from one end and which is adapted for attachment to the lower mailbox portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1993
    Inventor: Frederick R. Brecht