Mailbox with delivery indicator

Abstract

A mailbox delivery indicator for a standard rural mailbox signals to a resident when the mail carrier has been to his mailbox. When the mailbox door is opened, an actuator arm extends and pushes an active signaling element, causing it to fall by gravity to a hanging position below the mailbox. Once the active signaling element has fallen, a passive signaling element is exposed for remote observation. The active signaling element in the hanging position together with exposure of the passive signaling element indicate to the resident that the mail carrier has been by his mailbox. At this time, the resident can check his mailbox without wasting a trip to the mailbox. After the resident checks his mail, he closes the door and resets the active signaling element to the covering position.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates generally to mailboxes, and in particular to rural mailboxes with mail delivery signaling indicators.

[0002] The conventional rural mailbox has a flag that the resident moves to an upright position to signaling the mail carrier that there is mail to be picked up. The mail carrier will lower the flag after pick-up, thus signaling that a door open event has occurred and indicating at least that the mail carrier has stopped and picked up mail. However, when there is no outgoing mail to be picked up, the resident receives no indication that the mail carrier has visited. The common practice is to either watch for arrival of the mail carrier or check the mailbox repeatedly until the mail carrier has delivered the mail.

[0003] Since the road where the mailbox is located is often quite a distance from the resident's house, it can be quite inconvenient to check the mailbox from time to time until the mail carrier arrives. Moreover, it can be uncomfortable to repeatedly check the mailbox in inclement weather.

[0004] Various mailbox constructions with delivery signalings have been suggested by the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 5,927,596 (Trenier) entitled “Mail Box Including a Visual Deposit Indicator,” discloses a mailbox including a visual deposit indicator for alerting a resident that the mailbox has been opened. Initially, the mailbox door is closed and the signaling device is in the closed position. When the mailbox door is opened, the fastening device and thus the rod are caused to move with the front door. As the rod moves with the front door, the rod disengages from the visual signaling device. When the engagement between the rod and the visual signaling device is broken, the force of gravity causes the visual signaling device to free fall to a lowered position.

[0005] A limitation on the Trenier mailbox is the complexity in resetting the mailbox visual deposit indicator. To reset the mailbox, the visual deposit indicator must be held such that the recess will align with the rod when the mailbox door is closed. This step requires one person to simultaneously align and hold the visual deposit indicator in place with one hand while closing the door with the other hand.

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 4,706,880 (Peters) entitled “Signaling Mailbox,” discloses a rural mailbox structure including a signaling element. Initially, the mailbox door is closed and the signaling element is in the cocked position. When the mailbox door is opened, the end of a spring-loaded trigger rod is released from contact with the door and the trigger rod is moved in translation away from the rear panel under the influence of the spring. This allows the signaling element to swing in rotation by its own weight.

[0007] A limitation on the Peters mailbox is the complexity of the moving parts. The fewer and simpler the parts in a rural mailbox the better. The Peters mailbox requires both a trigger rod and a spring.

[0008] Other mailboxes disclosing a mail delivery signaling element include U.S. Pat. No. 3,194,491 (Parker) entitled “Mailbox Signaling;” and, U.S. Pat. No. 3,026,025 (Hanson) entitled “Mailbox Signaling Apparatus.”

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The invention utilizes a passive signaling element as well as an active signaling element for signaling a door-open event, corresponding with a visit from a mail carrier and deposit of mail within the mailbox. This arrangement provides a simple and reliable solution to the problem of determining when the mail carrier has been by a residence.

[0010] Initially, the mailbox door is closed and an active signaling element is upright, leaning against the rear wall and the passive signaling element is obscured from view. When the mailbox door is opened, an actuator arm extends and pushes the active signaling element away from the leaning position, uncovering the passive signaling element as the active element falls to a downward hanging position below the mailbox. Once the active signaling element has fallen, the passive signaling is exposed and can be observed from a remote location.

[0011] The active signaling element in the hanging position and the exposed passive signaling element indicate to the resident that the mail carrier has been by his mailbox. At this time, the resident can check his mailbox with confidence that his trip to the mailbox will be productive.

[0012] After the resident closes the mailbox door, he resets the active signaling element by hand to the upright leaning position, thus covering the passive signaling element and making the mailbox ready to signaling the next door open event.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0013] The accompanying drawing is incorporated into and forms a part of the specification to illustrate the preferred embodiments of the present invention. Various advantages and features of the invention will be understood from the following detailed description taken in connection with the appended claims and with reference to the attached drawing figures in which:

[0014] FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of the mailbox of the present invention in the door closed orientation;

[0015] FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the mailbox in the closed door orientation;

[0016] FIG. 3 is a rear elevation view of the mailbox in the closed door orientation;

[0017] FIG. 4 is a side view of the mailbox in the open orientation;

[0018] FIG. 5 is a perspective underneath view of the bottom of the mailbox in the door closed orientation;

[0019] FIG. 6 is a cut-away perspective view of the rear of the mailbox in the door closed orientation;

[0020] FIG. 7 is a front elevation view of the mailbox in the door open orientation;

[0021] FIG. 8 is a rear elevation view of the mailbox in the door open orientation;

[0022] FIG. 9 is a side cut-away view of an alterative embodiment of the mailbox of the present invention;

[0023] FIG. 10 is a side cut-away view of an alternative embodiment of the mailbox of the present invention;

[0024] FIG. 11 is a side cut-away view of an alternative embodiment of the mailbox of the present invention;

[0025] FIG. 12 is a rear elevation view of an alternative embodiment of the mailbox in a closed door orientation; and

[0026] FIG. 13 is a cut-away perspective view of the rear of an alternative embodiment of the mailbox in the open door orientation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0027] Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to various examples of how the invention can best be made and used. Like reference numerals are used throughout the description and several views of the drawing to indicate like or corresponding parts.

[0028] Referring to FIGS. 1-3 and FIG. 5, a rural mailbox 10 of the present invention is illustrated. The mailbox 10 includes a side wall 12, a rear wall 14, a bottom wall 16, a mail access opening 18 and a door 20. The side wall 12 is formed from a single piece of curved metal, resulting in a vault topped box. A standard red flag 22 is located on the side wall 12. The open end 18 of the mailbox 10, located opposite the rear wall 14, provides access for the deposit and removal of mail. The door 20 is hingedly attached to a lower edge 24 of the side wall 12 by a pair of flanges 26. Each flange 26 is secured to the door 20 by a rivet 28. The door 20 is sized and configured to open and close the access opening 18. The door 20 is held closed by a catch spring 30 attached to the side wall 12, which engages a pull handle 32 attached to the door 20.

[0029] An actuator arm 34 is attached to the door 20 by a cam 36 such that the actuator arm 34 is extended and retracted as the door 20 is opened and closed. The actuator arm 34 moves in a plane nearly parallel to the bottom wall 16 of the mailbox 10. The actuator arm 34 is slightly longer than the length of the mailbox 10. An engagement rod 38 is located at the end of the actuator arm 34 opposite the door 20. When the door 20 is opened, the cam 36 fully extends the engagement rod 38 past the rear wall 14.

[0030] The actuator arm 34 is positioned to extend through and slide without friction through a guide eyelet 40 at the rear of the mailbox 10 when the door 20 is opened. The guide eyelet 40 is secured in place by a hub 42 that is attached to the junction of the rear wall 14 of the mailbox 10 and the bottom wall 16 of the mailbox 10. Preferably, the hub 42 is plastic and is attached to the mailbox by a screw or an epoxy deposit. Alternatively, the hub 42 is a metal flange attached to the underside of the mailbox by an epoxy deposit 44 or by a screw fastener.

[0031] An active signaling element 46 is positioned behind the rear wall 14 of the mailbox 10. The active signaling element 46 is attached to the hub 42 by a hinge 48 such that the active signaling element 46 can lean against the rear wall 14 of the mailbox 10 when the door 20 is closed and rotate from the set position leaning against the rear wall 14 to an off-vertical position which allows it to free-fall by gravity and hang below the rear wall 14 of the mailbox 10 and the hub 42 when the door 20 is opened. Preferably, the hinge 48 is attached to the hub 42 and the active signaling element 46 by a set of screw fasteners. Alternatively, the hinge 48 is attached to the hub 42 and active signaling element 46 by an epoxy deposit 50.

[0032] The active signaling element 46 includes a fin 52, a contact point 54 and a cover plate 56. The fin 52 is visible from a distance from a side view of the mailbox 10. When the door 20 is closed and the active signaling element 46 is leaning against the rear wall 14, the fin 52 is visible from a side view leaning against the mailbox.

[0033] The passive signaling element 58 is a rectangular patch that has a contrasting color and which is dimensioned so that it is covered and obscured from view when the cover plate 56 is in the set leaning position as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 6.

[0034] Referring to FIG. 4, FIG. 6, FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, when the door 20 is open and the active signaling element 46 is hanging below the mailbox 10, the fin 52 is visible from a side view hanging below the mailbox 10, and the passive signaling element 58 is exposed for remote observation.

[0035] Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 4, the actuator arm 34 contacts the contact point 54 of the active signaling element 46 when the door 20 is open and the actuator arm 34 is extended. If the active signaling element 46 is pushed from its resting position to an over-center vertical position leaning away from the mailbox, then gravity will cause the active signaling element 46 to fall downward into a hanging position below the mailbox 10 as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 8.

[0036] Referring to FIG. 3, FIG. 6 and FIG. 8, the passive signaling element 58 is attached to the rear wall 14 of the mailbox 10 such that the passive signaling element 58 is obscured from view by the active signaling element 46 when the mailbox door 20 is closed and the active signaling element 46 is set in a leaning position against the rear wall 14 as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3. Preferably, the passive signaling element 58 is a strip or patch of fluorescent material of bright orange or yellow color fixed to the rear wall 14 by an epoxy deposit.

[0037] Referring to FIG. 8, in an alternative embodiment a thin magnet 60 is mounted on the cover plate 56 and provides magnetic attraction holding force onto the back panel 14 of the mailbox for releasably latching the active signaling element in the leaning set position against the back panel of the mailbox. When engaged, the mailbox magnet 60 prevents the active signaling element 46 from falling inadvertently due to a strong wind. However, the magnetic attraction engagement force is not strong enough to prevent the active signaling element 46 from rotating away from the mailbox and falling to the released signaling position when the door 20 is opened.

[0038] Preferably, the magnet 60 is a thin circular or rectangular permanent magnet. Preferably, the permanent magnet 60 is mounted onto the cover plate by an adhesive deposit. The location of the magnet 60 on the cover plate 56 is preferred, since in addition to the magnetic latching function, it also functions as a counterweight. When the permanent magnet 60 is mounted on the cover plate 56, the cover plate 56 can be constructed of a non-ferrous material, such as aluminum or plastic. When non-ferrous materials are used for constructing the cover plate and the back panel 14 of the mailbox, it is necessary to provide an armature of steel or other ferro-magnetic material on the rear mailbox panel to develop the magnetic latching force.

[0039] Referring to FIG. 9, more preferably, the permanent magnet 60 is mounted on the rear panel 14 of the mailbox, superimposed over the passive signaling element 58, in which case the cover plate 56 should be constructed of a ferro-magnetic material or carry a ferro-magnetic armature plate for developing the magnetic latching force.

[0040] Referring to FIG. 10, according to yet another alternative embodiment, the passive signaling element 58 is constructed of a rectangular section of permanent magnet tape that is attached to the rear side wall 14. More preferably, the passive signaling element is a strip or patch of a highly visible permanent magnet material fixed to the rear wall 14 by an epoxy deposit. The magnetic passive signaling element 58 provides magnetic attraction holding force onto the active signaling element 46 for latching the active signaling element in the leaning position against the back panel of the mailbox. When engaged, the magnetic passive signaling element prevents the active signaling element 46 from falling inadvertently due to a strong wind. However, the magnetic attraction engagement force is not strong enough to prevent the active signaling element 46 from rotating away from the mailbox 10 and falling to the released signaling position when the door 20 is opened.

[0041] Other passive signaling elements include a thin reflector plate, made of metal or glass or plastic. The passive signaling element can also be provided by a painted area of contrasting color. Preferably, the passive signaling element is constructed of a material that has a contrasting color, preferable which is light reflective that can be easily seen by a remote observer.

[0042] In the door closed “set” orientation, shown in FIGS. 1-3 and FIG. 5 the door 20 is latched shut, the active signaling element 46 is at rest in a covering position leaning against the rear wall 14 of the mailbox 10 and the passive signaling element 58 is covered and not visible to a remote observer.

[0043] In the door open “tripped” orientation, shown in FIG. 4, FIG. 6, FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, the door 20 is retracted, the active signaling element 46 is at rest below the hub 42 in a released signaling position and the passive signaling element 58 is visible from the rear of the mailbox 10.

[0044] Referring to FIGS. 1-8, the operation of the mailbox 10 and the mail delivery indicator will now be described in detail. Initially, the mailbox 10 is in the closed orientation. When the door 20 is opened, i.e. a door event occurs, the mailbox 10 is in the open orientation. More specifically, when the door 20 is opened, the pull handle 32 disengages the spring catch 30 and the door 20 is pulled down by the pull handle 32 to a position parallel or nearly parallel with the bottom wall 16.

[0045] As the door 20 is pulled down or opened, the cam 36 causes the actuator arm 34 to move toward the cover plate 46. At a point before the door 20 is completely opened, the engagement rod 38 of the actuator arm 34 engages the contact point 54 of the active signaling element 46.

[0046] As the door 20 continues to be pulled down, the engagement rod 38 applies force to the contact point 54 causing the cover plate 46 and actuator arm 34 to rotate on the hinge 48. Before the door 20 is completely opened, the active signaling element 46 inclines at an angle of less than 90° with the plane of the bottom wall 16. At this time, the counterweight force exerted by the active signaling element 46 allows the active signaling element 46 to fall to a hanging position or a released signaling position below the mailbox 10. Once the door is completely opened, the mailbox 10 is in the open orientation as shown in FIG. 4, FIG. 6, FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, and the passive signaling element 58 is exposed.

[0047] When a mail carrier delivers mail or picks up mail, the door 20 is opened and the mailbox 10 moves from the closed orientation to the open orientation. After the mail carrier delivers or picks up mail, he closes the mailbox door 20 and continues on his mail route. The front door 20 is closed, but the active signaling element 46 remains hanging down and is visible from the side or rear of the mailbox 10. The passive signaling element 58 is uncovered and remains visible from the rear of the mailbox 10.

[0048] The position of the active signaling element 46 or the visibility of the passive signaling element 58 alerts the resident that the mail carrier has been to his mailbox 10. After the resident checks the mailbox 10 for mail, he resets the active signaling element 46. To reset the active signaling element 46, the front door 20 is closed and the active signaling element 46 is manually rotated upward until it is leaning against the rear wall 14 of the mailbox 10 as shown FIG. 1.

[0049] In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the set resting position of the active signaling element should be inclined slightly off-center from vertical, leaning toward the rear wall of the mailbox. In the magnetic latch embodiment shown in FIG. 8, FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 the set resting position of the active signaling element is not critical, and can be parallel with the rear wall or leaning in either direction, since the magnetic attraction force is sufficient to maintain latched engagement in the set position and oppose inadvertent release caused by ground vibrations or by wind forces.

[0050] In an alternative embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 11, FIG. 12 and FIG. 13, the mailbox delivery indicator includes a side wall passive signaling element 62 and the active signaling element 46 includes a side wall cover plate 64. The side wall passive signaling element 62 is a rectangular patch that has a contrasting color and which is dimensioned so that it is covered and obscured from view when the mailbox door 20 is in the closed position.

[0051] Preferably, the side wall passive signaling element 62 is a strip or patch of fluorescent material of bright orange or yellow color fixed to the side wall 12 by an epoxy deposit.

[0052] The side wall cover plate 64 is coupled to the active signaling element with rivets 66 and transversely oriented to the cover plate 56. Alternatively, the side wall cover plate 64 can be integrally formed with the cover plate 46. In a closed orientation, shown in FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, the cover plate 46 and side wall cover plate 64 are at rest, in a covering position, leaning against the rear wall 14 of the mailbox 10 and covering a portion of side wall 12, respectively. The passive signaling element 58 is covered by the cover plate 46 and not visible to a remote observer. The side wall passive signaling element 62 is covered by the side wall cover plate 64 and not visible to a remote observer.

[0053] In the open orientation, shown in FIG. 13, the door 20 is retracted to allow access, the active signaling element 46 and side wall cover plate 64 are at rest below the hub 42 in a released signaling position. The passive signaling element 58 is visible from the rear of the mailbox 10, and the side wall passive signaling element 62 is visible from the side of the mailbox 10.

[0054] Again referring to FIG. 11, FIG. 12 and FIG. 13, when a mail carrier delivers mail or picks up mail, the door 20 is opened and the mailbox 10 moves from the closed orientation to the open orientation. After the mail carrier delivers or picks up mail, he closes the mailbox door 20 and continues on his mail route. The front door 20 is closed, but the cover plate 46 and side wall cover plate 64 remain hanging down and are visible from the side or rear of the mailbox 10. The passive signaling element 58 is uncovered and remains visible from the rear of the mailbox 10. The side wall passive signaling element 62 is uncovered and remains visible from the side of the mailbox 10.

[0055] Often in a rural setting, a resident will be driving home and passing his mailbox as he turns into his drive way. Often the mailbox is located a far distance from the residence, and it would be inconvenient to drive to the house and return to the mailbox on foot. Additionally, it would be quite inconvenient to get out of the car and check the mailbox only to discover the mailman has not yet arrived. Very often, only the side of the mailbox is visible from the road or driveway. The alternative embodiment with the side wall passive signaling element 62 and side wall cover plate 64 enables the resident in his car to check his mailbox without making an unnecessary trip to the mailbox.

[0056] From the above discussion it can be seen that the mailbox of the present invention is able to overcome the limitations of the prior art by providing a mechanically and operationally simple delivery indicator which reliably alerts a resident that a door open event, consistent with mail delivery or pick-up, has occurred.

[0057] Although the invention has been described with reference to certain exemplary arrangements, it is to be understood that the forms of the invention shown and described are to be treated as preferred embodiments. Various changes, substitutions and modifications can be realized without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A signaling device for attachment to a conventional rural mailbox having a side wall, a rear wall, a bottom wall, an open end, a door sized and configured for closing the open end, said door being mounted for pivotable movement from a closed orientation to a open orientation, comprising:

a) an actuator arm;

b) a cam coupled between the actuator arm and the front door for extending and retracting the actuator arm as the door is opened and closed;

c) a hub attached to the mailbox for guiding the actuator arm as it is extended and retracted;

d) a passive signaling element attached to the mailbox; and

e) an active signaling element movably coupled to the mailbox for movement from a set position in which the active signaling element is overlying the passive signaling element and is engagable by the actuator arm in the extended position, and movable to a released position in response to engagement by the actuator arm in which the passive signaling element is uncovered and exposed for viewing by a remote observer.

2. A signaling device according to claim 1, including a hinge linking the active signaling element and the hub so that the active signaling element can be inclined in a leaning orientation against the mailbox in the set position, and so that the active signaling element is pushed by engagement of the actuator arm to an off-center position leaning away from the mailbox when the front door is moved to the open position.

3. A signaling device according to claim 1, wherein the passive signaling element is attached to the rear wall and the actuator arm is supported for extension and retraction beneath the bottom wall.

4. The mailbox according to claim 1, in which the passive signaling element is a strip or patch of reflective material.

5. The mailbox according to claim 1, in which the passive signaling element is a strip or patch of fluorescent material.

6. The mailbox according to claim 1, in which the passive signaling element is a painted area of contrasting color applied to an external surface of the mailbox.

7. The mailbox according to claim 1, wherein the passive signaling element is composed of a permanent magnet material.

8. The mailbox according to claim 1, including a permanent magnet attached to the active signaling element for providing a magnetic force of latching engagement with the mailbox when the active signaling element is in the closed orientation.

9. The mailbox according to claim 1, further comprising:

a) a side wall cover plate coupled to the active signaling element; and

b) a side wall passive signaling element attached to the side wall of the mailbox.

10. The mailbox according to claim 9, in which the side wall passive signaling element is a strip or patch of reflective material.

11. The mailbox according to claim 9, in which the passive signaling element is a strip or patch of fluorescent material.

12. A method for remotely signaling a door open event during the operation of a standard rural mailbox of the type including a side wall, a rear wall, a bottom wall, an open end, an access door sized and configured for closing the open end, the access door being mounted for pivotable movement from a closed mailbox position to an open mailbox position, comprising the steps:

a) attaching a passive signaling element onto an external surface of the mailbox;

b) covering the passive signaling element with a movable signaling element;

c) moving the access door to the open mailbox position;

d) moving the active signaling element away from the covering position in response to movement of the access door to the open position such that the center of gravity of the active signaling element shifts and gravity draws the active signaling element downward to a signaling position; and,

e) exposing the passive signaling element for viewing from a remote location in response to movement of the active signaling element to the signaling position.

13. A method for remotely signaling a door open event, as recited in claim 12 further comprising:

a) attaching a second passive signaling element onto an external surface of the mailbox; and

b) covering the second passive signaling element with a second movable signaling element.

14. A method for remotely signaling a door open event, as recited in claim 12, further comprising:

attaching a magnet to the movable signaling element.

15. A signaling device for attachment to a standard rural mailbox having a side wall, a rear wall, a bottom wall, an open end, an access door sized and configured for closing the open end, the access door being mounted for pivotable movement from a closed mailbox orientation to an open mailbox orientation, comprising a cover plate mounted on the mailbox and movable to and from a set position and a released signaling position in response to movement of the access door, a passive signaling element attached to the mailbox which is exposed for remote observation in response to movement of the cover plate from the set position to the signaling position, and which is covered and hidden from view by the cover plate when the cover plate is moved from the signaling position to the set position.

16. The mailbox according to claim 15, in which the passive signaling element is a strip or patch of reflective material.

17. The mailbox according to claim 15, in which the passive signaling element is a strip or patch of fluorescent material.

18. The mailbox according to claim 15, in which the passive signaling element is a painted area of contrasting color applied to an external surface of the mailbox.

19. The mailbox according to claim 15, including a permanent magnet attached to the cover plate for providing a magnetic force of latching engagement with the mailbox when the cover plate is in the set position.

20. The mailbox according to claim 15, wherein the passive signaling element is composed of a permanent magnet material.

21. A signaling device for attachment to a conventional rural mailbox having a side wall, a rear wall, a bottom wall, an open end, a door sized and configured for closing the open end, said door being mounted for pivotable movement from a closed orientation to an open orientation, comprising:

a) an actuator arm;

b) a cam coupled between the actuator arm and the front door for extending and retracting the actuator arm as the door is opened and closed;

c) a hub attached to the mailbox for guiding the actuator arm as it is extended and retracted;

d) a first passive signaling element attached to the rear wall;

e) a second passive signaling element attached to the side wall;

f) an active signaling element movably coupled to the mailbox for movement from a set position to a released position in response to engagement by the actuator arm in which the first passive signaling element and second passive element are uncovered and exposed for viewing by a remote observer; and,

g) wherein the active signaling element includes a first cover plate covering the first passive signaling element in the set position and a second cover plate covering the second passive signaling element in the set position, the second cover plate being transversely oriented with respect to the first cover plate.