MAILBOX DELIVERY INDICATOR ASSEMBLY AND METHOD OF USE
A mailbox delivery indicator assembly is provided comprising a flag connected to a rod member, the rod member connected to a spring, the spring connected to a mailbox connection member, and a retention assembly in communication with the rod member. A method of using a mailbox delivery indicator assembly is also provided.
The present invention relates to mailboxes. More specifically, the present invention relates to an delivery indicator assembly which operates in conjunction with a mailbox.
BACKGROUNDMail receptacles for receiving incoming mail at a home, residence or business are known in the art. A mail receptacle may be positioned in a variety of places, including, but not limited to, placement of a mail slot in a door, direct attachment of a letterbox to a building for door-to-door mail delivery, or curbside placement of a mailbox enabling mail delivery from a vehicle.
A curbside mailbox often includes features not present in a mail slot or building mounted letterbox. For example, the Jorolemon mailbox, which is a curbside mailbox design recognizable by its curved, tunnel-shape top, may include a semaphore arm and/or a latching door. These features are directed to streamlining vehicular mail delivery. Specifically, the semaphore arm indicates the presence of outgoing mail to the letter carrier or postal service employee. Further, the latching door provides a postal service employee fast and efficient access to an enclosed tunnel within the mailbox used for holding and protecting outgoing and incoming mail from adverse weather conditions. Unfortunately, curbside mailboxes do not provide features enabling consistent notification or signaling of mail delivery to a mail recipient. For example, while the lowering of the semaphore arm by the postal service employee when outgoing mail is collected may signal mail delivery, if no outgoing mail was placed in the mailbox, the semaphore arm will remain in the lowered position. Accordingly, it would be desirable to have a device which would consistently signal or notify a mail recipient of mail delivery.
A device signaling or notifying a mail recipient of mail delivery can be an important feature for individuals suffering with physical disabilities. For example, traveling to a curbside mailbox can be a difficult and time consuming task for a person who relies upon a wheelchair for mobility. The person must prepare to travel outdoors, which may involve acquisition and placement of additional garments. Further, additional time and preparation is necessary during adverse weather conditions, for example during heavy precipitation or icy conditions. Accordingly, a mail delivery notification device would avoid difficulty and waste of time by an individual preparing and traveling to a mailbox only to learn the mail has not been delivered.
In addition, a mail delivery notification device can be a safety feature for individuals suffering from cognitive disorders. For example, a noticeable symptom of a person suffering from Alzheimer's disease or dementia is short term memory loss. This often arises as difficulty in remembering recently learned facts and the inability to acquire new information. As such, an individual afflicted with such a disorder may repeatedly travel to the curbside mailbox as the individual is unable to remember if the mail has been delivered or the result of the previous trip to the mailbox. With each trip, the afflicted individual may be at risk of injury, for example from oncoming traffic or from a fall. Accordingly, a mail delivery notification device would allow an individual receiving mail to avoid unnecessary exposure to potential injury by providing notification that mail has been delivered.
The use of signaling devices on mailboxes is known in the art. However, each has substantial limitations. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,489,064 to Shively discloses a mail box delivery indicator flag. However, in operation and use, the device disclosed by Shively requires an affirmative act by the postal service employee delivering mail. Specifically, the postal service employee must physically adjust and raise the disclosed flag signaling mail delivery. However, a postal service employee or letter carrier has no duty to take any extra affirmative steps to operate a signaling device, as the letter carrier is only required to deliver mail. This may lead to nonuse of a device similar to the one disclosed in the '064 patent. In addition, it is not practical to place additional burdens or work upon a letter carrier or postal service employee. The United States Postal Service may have regulations limiting what a letter carrier or postal service employee can do while on the job, effectively disallowing a letter carrier from performing non-dictated tasks. Further, due to job reductions, a letter carrier or postal service employee is being asked to carry additional job responsibilities which used to be covered by additional employees. These additional responsibilities result in additional demands on a letter carrier or postal service employee, resulting in a reduction in available time to perform nonessential or unnecessary job functions. Thus a letter carrier or postal service employee may be less likely to perform any task that is not required by their job responsibilities, such as operating a delivery indicator device. Accordingly, it would be desirable to have a device which would automatically signal mail delivery or notify a mail recipient without any extra acts being performed by the letter carrier or postal service employee delivering mail. Further, it would be desirable to have a device which would automatically signal mail delivery or notify a mail recipient when a letter carrier or postal service employee opens a mailbox door.
Further, the other devices in the art do not have signals which are large in size and easy to see from a distance, can be attached to any type or style of mailbox and/or can be placed anywhere on a mailbox. Accordingly, an improved mail delivery indicator device and method of use is provided.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA mailbox delivery indicator assembly is provided for notifying a mail recipient of mail delivery. The assembly includes a flag connected to a rod member. The rod member is connected to a spring. The spring is connected to a mailbox connection member. Further, a retention assembly is in communication with the rod member.
In another embodiment of a mailbox delivery indicator assembly, the assembly includes a signal having a channel and a rod member having a first end and a second end, the first end of the rod member is received by the channel of the signal. A biasing member is in communication with the second end of the rod member. A connection member is in communication with the biasing member. In addition, a retention assembly in communication with the rod member.
A method of using a mailbox delivery indicator assembly is also provided. The method includes the steps of opening a mailbox door on a mailbox, applying a force on the mailbox delivery indicator assembly sufficient to place a bias on a biasing member, placing a retention assembly of the mailbox delivery indicator assembly between the mailbox and mailbox door, closing the mailbox door; and compressing the retention assembly between the mailbox door and the mailbox.
The following presents one or more examples of embodiments of a mailbox delivery indicator assembly 100. For ease of discussion and understanding, the following detailed description and illustrations refer to the mailbox delivery indicator assembly 100 for use with a mailbox 140 illustrated as a Jorolemon type mailbox. It should be appreciated that “mailbox” is provided for purposes of illustration, and the mailbox delivery indicator assembly 100 may be used with any type, style or arrangement of a mailbox approved for use by the United States Postal Service or any other postal service governing body.
Connected to the first end 111 of the rod member 101 may be a flag or signal device 102. The flag 102 may include a pocket or channel or sleeve 122 for removably receiving the rod member 101. The sleeve 122 may have an inner diameter sized to correspond and operably mate with the rod member 101, and specifically an outer diameter of the rod member 101. The sleeve 122 may extend the entire height or only a portion of the height of the flag 101. In one or more examples of embodiments, the flag 102 may be connected to the rod member 101 by alternate methods, including, but not limited to, adhesive, a ferrule or ring received by the flag 102 and adapted to receive the rod member 101, or other permanent or semi-permanent attachment method with sufficient strength to allow operation of the indicator assembly 100. The flag 102 may be formed of nylon, polyester, or any other natural or synthetic material. The flag 102 may be any single or combination of colors, including, but not limited to, orange, yellow, red or white. Further, the flag 102 may include reflective material to increase visibility in a low light environment. In one or more examples of embodiments, the flag 102 may be square, rectangular, polygonal or any shape or size sufficient for a mail recipient to see the flag 102 from a distance. Further, in one or more examples of embodiments, the flag 102 may have sufficient rigidity or stiffness to protrude or extend from the rod member 101 while in the delivered position.
Connected to or receiving the second end 112 of the rod member 101 may be a biasing member or spring 103. The spring 103 may be connected to the rod member 101 by weld. In one or more examples of embodiments, the spring 103 may be connected to the rod member 101 by alternative methods, which may include, but are not limited to, bolt and nut, rivet, adhesive, and integrally incorporating the spring 103 and rod member 101 as a unitary member. In one or more examples of embodiments, the spring 103 may be formed of stainless steel, die cast aluminum, injection molded plastic, composite material or by any other known and suitable materials, processes or methods of sufficient strength to support operation of the indicator assembly 100. Further, in one or more examples of embodiments, the indicator assembly 100 may not include the spring 103, and instead may include rod member 101 having an amount of resiliency and able to sustain an amount of bias sufficient to operate the indicator assembly 100 as disclosed herein.
Connected to the spring 103 may be a mailbox connection member 104. The connection member 104 may be integrally formed with the spring 103 as a unitary member. In one or more examples of embodiments, the connection member 104 may be connected to the spring 103 by alternative methods, which may include, but are not limited to, weld, rivet, a threaded assembly and adhesive. In one or more examples of embodiments, the connection member 104 may be a bolt. Further, in one or more examples of embodiments, the connection member or bolt 104 may have a head portion and a shaft portion. In one or more examples of embodiments, the spring 103 is adapted to receive a portion of the connection member or bolt 104. The head portion may have an outer diameter greater than the shaft portion. In turn, a portion of the spring 103 may have an inner diameter which slightly larger than the outer diameter of the shaft portion of connection member or bolt 104, yet smaller than the outer diameter of the head portion of connection member or bolt 104. Accordingly, the spring 103 may receive and retain the shaft portion of connection member or bolt 104. In one or more examples of embodiments, the connection member 104 may be formed of stainless steel, die cast aluminum, injection molded plastic, composite material or by any other known and suitable materials, processes or methods of sufficient strength to maintain a connection between a mailbox 140 and the indicator assembly 100 while supporting operation of the indicator assembly 100. As discussed in greater detail below, the connection member 104 may connect to mailbox 140.
Referring to
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As illustrated in
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In operation and use, engagement and disengagement of the indicator assembly 100 from the mailbox 140 may be accomplished by manual actuation of the retention assembly 105.
To place the indicator assembly 100 into an undelivered or unextended or loaded position, as illustrated in
As shown in
Upon mail delivery, a letter carrier or postal service employee will open the mailbox door 150. Consequently, the postal service employee will release the compression upon a portion of the retention assembly 105 applied by the mailbox door 150 and mailbox 140. Further, the postal service employee may open the mailbox door 150 a distance from the mailbox 140 greater than the outer diameter of the retention device 109. In effect, no force will be applied to the retention assembly 105 and the spring 103 will release any bias and return to an unbiased state. Concurrently the attached rod member 101 and flag 102 will move away from the mailbox 140 to the unloaded position, as illustrated in
The foregoing embodiments provide advantages over currently available devices. In particular the mailbox delivery indicator assembly and associated features described herein consistently notifies a mail recipient of mail arrival by extending into a delivered position upon the opening of the mailbox door. This reduces wasted time from unnecessary or repeated trips to the mailbox to ascertain whether mail has been delivered, as the mail recipient may look at the indicator assembly from a distance to determine the status of mail delivery. Further, by signaling mail delivery and eliminating repeated trips to the mailbox by a mail recipient, the indicator assembly reduces the risk of various injury, including, but not limited to, fall, collision or impact from vehicles near a curbside mailbox, and/or exposure to adverse or hazardous weather conditions. In addition, the indicator assembly provides a reminder to a mail recipient suffering from cognitive disorders resulting in short term memory loss, including dementia or Alzheimer's disease. Accordingly, the suffering mail recipient is provided a visual reminder of the status of mail delivery based upon the positioning of the indicator assembly. This results in avoidance of repeated trips to the mailbox caused by failure to remember the mail delivery status from the prior trip. Additionally, actuating the indicator assembly into a delivered position requires no unusual or affirmative acts or steps by a letter carrier or postal service employee. The letter carrier need only open the mailbox door, a standard act or step during delivery of mail, to trigger the indicator assembly into a delivered position. Accordingly, operation of the indicator assembly does not create any additional work for the letter carrier.
Although various representative embodiments of this invention have been described above with a certain degree of particularity, those skilled in the art could make numerous alterations to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventive subject matter set forth in the specification and claims. Joinder references (e.g., attached, coupled, connected) are to be construed broadly and may include intermediate members between a connection of elements and relative movement between elements. As such, joinder references do not necessarily infer that two elements are directly connected and in fixed relation to each other. In some instances, in methodologies directly or indirectly set forth herein, various steps and operations are described in one possible order of operation, but those skilled in the art will recognize that steps and operations may be rearranged, replaced, or eliminated without necessarily departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. It is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not limiting. Changes in detail or structure may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
Although the present invention has been described with reference to certain embodiments, persons skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Claims
1. A mailbox delivery indicator assembly comprising:
- a flag connected to a rod member;
- the rod member connected to a spring;
- the spring connected to a mailbox connection member; and
- a retention assembly in communication with the rod member, such that the indicator assembly signals delivery of mail.
2. The mailbox delivery indicator assembly of claim 1, wherein the mailbox connection member is in communication with a mailbox.
3. The mailbox delivery indicator assembly of claim 2, wherein the mailbox connection member is a bolt connected to the mailbox by a nut.
4. The mailbox delivery indicator assembly of claim 1, wherein the retention assembly includes a retention device.
5. A mailbox delivery indicator assembly comprising:
- a signal device having a channel;
- a rod member having a first end and a second end, the first end of the rod member received by the channel of the signal device;
- a biasing member in communication with the second end of the rod member;
- a connection member in communication with the biasing member; and
- a retention assembly in communication with the rod member.
6. The mailbox delivery indicator assembly of claim 5, further comprising a mailbox in communication with the connection member.
7. The mailbox delivery indicator assembly of claim 6, further comprising:
- the connection member includes a threaded portion;
- the mailbox includes an upper portion, a lower portion, a first side portion, a second side portion, a rear portion, an outer portion and an inner portion, the upper portion having an aperture to receive the threaded portion of the connection member from the outer portion into the inner portion; and
- a threaded fastener to mate with the threaded portion of the connection member in the inner portion of the mailbox.
8. The mailbox delivery indicator assembly of claim 5, wherein the retention assembly comprises a first end and a second end, the first end connected to the rod member and the second end in communication with a retention device.
9. A method of using a mailbox delivery indicator assembly comprising:
- opening a mailbox door on a mailbox;
- applying a force on the mailbox delivery indicator assembly sufficient to place a bias on a biasing member;
- placing a retention assembly of the mailbox delivery indicator assembly between the mailbox and mailbox door;
- closing the mailbox door; and
- compressing the retention assembly between the mailbox door and the mailbox.
10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:
- opening the mailbox door; and
- releasing the bias on the biasing member.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 13, 2009
Publication Date: Apr 14, 2011
Inventor: Larry Curtis (DeWitt, IA)
Application Number: 12/577,894
International Classification: A47G 29/122 (20060101); A47G 29/12 (20060101);