Abstract: A shock-absorbing mailbox mounting assembly. The device includes an anchor with a head and a hollow shank, a locking nut, a nail, and a coiled spring. The mailbox is centered on a support beam with its opposing side flanges spaced apart from each side of the beam. The anchor is inserted through one of the side flanges and the locking nut is secured to the anchor, holding the anchor in fixed position against the flange. The spring is placed around the shank of the anchor, between the locking nut and the beam. The nail is driven through the anchor into the beam. The mailbox is attached to the beam by a plurality of such devices, preferably two on each side. When struck, the mailbox slides laterally on the nails but is returned to its nominal position by the restoring action of the springs.

Abstract: A slip joint connector for joining first and second structural elements together. The connector has a first body member attachable to the first structural element and a second body member attachable to the second structural element. The first body member has a male protuberance including a conical portion and the second body member has a conical receptacle for cooperatively receiving the conical portion of the protuberance. The protuberance includes a bridging portion for spacing the conical portion from the remainder of the first body member and the second body member has a well communicating with the conical receptacle for receiving the bridging portion. The conical male portion internally carries a nut while the second body member may receive a bolt through the receptacle to be threadedly received by the nut to secure the first and second body members tightly together.