Vehicular-Themed Ornamental Mailbox

A vehicular-themed ornamental mailbox includes a storage compartment, a lid, a speaker module, a first ornamentation, a second ornamentation, a third ornamentation, and a fourth ornamentation. The storage compartment includes a top panel, a rear panel, a bottom panel, a left panel, and a right panel thus completing an internal storage area. The lid is hingedly connected to the bottom panel so that the storage area can be closed. The speaker module is connected to the storage compartment and provides a specific sound effect when the lid is opened. The first ornamentation is removably mounted to the top panel. The second ornamentation is removably mounted to the left panel. The third ornamentation is removably mounted to the right panel. The fourth ornamentation is removably mounted to the lid. All four aforementioned ornamentations provide a decorative-theme for the storage compartment.

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Description

The current application claims a priority to the U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 63/062,085 filed on Aug. 6, 2020.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to mailboxes and the like. More specifically, the present invention is a mailbox with ornamentations relating to vehicles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In present society, mailboxes have become a staple in almost every community that has a postal service of some sort. Although mailboxes are standardized in some sense, people still find ways to personalize their mailboxes to reflect their interests. For instance, it is common for people to put a flag or a sticker of their favorite sports team on their mailbox. However, there is rarely any ornamentation for mailboxes to reflect a user's interests in vehicles and other related interests. Specifically, there are no ornamentations for mailboxes that accurately replicates an engine of a vehicle in both sound and appearance.

An objective of the present invention is to provide users with a device that is a vehicular-themed ornamental mailbox. The present invention intends to provide users vehicular-themed ornaments that can both be detachable from the mailbox and accurately replicate an engine of a vehicle accurately in both appearance and in sound. The present invention intends to provide a mailbox with a sound box within to play accurately realistic engine sounds when the lid of the mailbox is opened. The present invention intends to provide a mail indicator that is similarly themed like the ornaments of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the present invention with the first ornamentation, the second ornamentation, the third ornamentation, and the fourth ornamentation.

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the present invention without the fourth ornamentation.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the present invention showing the front opening.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the storage compartment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is another perspective view of the storage compartment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing the electrical connections of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing the electronic connections of the present invention.

DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION

All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

The present invention is a vehicular-themed ornamental mailbox so that the users of the present invention can decorate their mailboxes upon their preference. In other words, all of the decorative elements of the present invention function as detachable components so that the users can personalize their mailboxes. The present invention comprises a storage compartment 1, a lid 8, a speaker module 11, a first ornamentation 19, a second ornamentation 20, a third ornamentation 21, and a fourth ornamentation 22 as shown in FIG. 1-2. In reference to the general configuration of the present invention, the storage compartment 1 provides the necessary storage area while the lid 8 function as the access door for the storage area. As a result, the lid 8 is hingedly connected to the storage compartment 1. The speaker module 11 is connected to the storage compartment 1 and provides a specific sound effect when the lid 8 is opened. The first ornamentation 19, the second ornamentation 20, the third ornamentation 21, and the fourth ornamentation 22 are removably mounted to the storage compartment 1 and function as the decorative elements of the present invention.

The storage compartment 1 of the preferred embodiment is designed as a mailbox so that the postal mail can be stored. However, the storage compartment 1 is not limited to a mailbox and can be a letter box, a collection box, a delivery box, and other similar boxes that facilitate storage. In reference to FIG. 5-6, the storage compartment 1 comprising a top panel 2, a rear panel 3, a bottom panel 4, a left panel 5, a right panel 6, and a front opening 7. More specifically, the bottom panel 4 provides the necessary surface area to mount a post for the storage compartment 1 so that the present invention can be elevated from ground level. The left panel 5 and the right panel 6 are oppositely positioned of each other about the bottom panel 4 so that the height of the storage compartment 1 can be delineated. The left panel 5 is terminally connected to the bottom panel 4, and the right panel 6 is terminally connected to the bottom panel 4. The top panel 2 is concentrically positioned to the bottom panel 4 and terminally connected to the left panel 5 and the right panel 6. It is preferred that the top panel 2 is sized slightly larger than the bottom panel 4 such that the perimeter of the top panel 2 be similar to a lip-like feature, as illustrated in FIG. 5-6. The rear panel 3 is perimetrically connected to the left panel 5, the top panel 2, the right panel 6, and the bottom panel 4 so that the storage compartment 1 can be closed from a rear end. The front opening 7 is positioned opposite of the rear panel 3 and delineated by the left panel 5, the top panel 2, the right panel 6, and the bottom panel 4 so that the postal mail can be inserted into the storage compartment 1 via the front opening 7.

The lid 8 that closes the front opening 7 is hingedly connected to the bottom panel 4 so that the postal mail can be protected from outside elements such as wind and rain. In reference to FIG. 3-4, the lid 8 comprises a cover 9 and a handle 10. More specifically, the cover 9 is hingedly connected to the bottom panel 4 about the front opening 7 so that the storage compartment 1 can be fully enclosed. The handle 10 is mounted to the cover 9 thus allowing the user to easily open and close the cover 9. Furthermore, the present invention may utilize a magnetic fastener, a male and female fastener, a friction fastener, or any other types of easily detachable fasteners to keep the cover 9 in the closed position.

The speaker module 11 is connected to the storage compartment 1 such that when the lid 8 is opened the speaker module 11 emits a specific sound. For example, if the first ornamentation 19, the second ornamentation 20, the third ornamentation 21, and the fourth ornamentation 22 represent a replica of a specific racing car, then the speaker module 11 emits the specific sound that is associated with the corresponding racing car. It is preferred that the speaker module 11 be located within the storage compartment 1 and adjacent to the front opening 7. In reference to FIG. 7-8, the speaker module 11 comprises a speaker 12, a power source 13, a chip set 14, an activation sensor 16, and a housing 15. More specifically, the speaker 12, the power source 13, the chipset 14, and the activation sensor 16 are internally mounted within the housing 15 to protect from outside element such as rain and dust. The housing 15 is positioned adjacent to the front opening 7 and internally connected to the storage compartment 1. The power source 13 is electrically connected to the chipset 14, the activation sensor 16, and the speaker 12 so that the corresponding components can be powered. Depending upon different embodiments of the present invention, the power source 13 can be primary cell batteries, rechargeable batteries, a solar power system, or other type of power supply. The chipset 14 is electronically connected the speaker 12 and the activation sensor 16 so that the speaker module 11 can be operated according to the positioning of the lid 8. It is preferred that the plurality of sensors be utilized as the activation sensor 16 to detect the opening of the lid 8, wherein the activation sensor 16 can include, but is not limited to, a motion sensor, a light sensor, a proximity sensor, and other similar types of sensors.

The present invention further comprises a sleeve 17 and an indicator flag 18 as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 5. The sleeve 17 is laterally connected to the left panel 5 and positioned adjacent to the front opening 7. Even though the sleeve 17 is laterally connected to the left panel 5 in the preferred embodiment, it is considered obvious to that the sleeve 17 can also be laterally connected to the right panel 6 in some embodiments. The indicator flag 18 is slidable engaged within the sleeve 17 so that the user can pull out the indicator flag 18 from the sleeve 17 when necessary. For example, the indicator flag 18 can be pulled out to signal the postal carrier that the mail within the storage compartment 1 needs to be picked up and delivered to its destination. Preferably, the indicator flag 18 is a black and white checkered racing flag so that the present invention can becomes the vehicular-themed ornamental mailbox.

In reference to FIG. 1-2, the first ornamentation 19 is removably mounted onto the top panel 2, wherein the first ornamentation 19 is a supercharger ornamentation 30. As a result, the first ornamentation 19 is able to resemble a supercharger unit that sits on an engine block with the storage compartment 1 mimicking the engine block as the storage compartment 1 becomes the vehicular-themed ornamental mailbox.

In reference to FIG. 1, the second ornamentation 20 is removably mounted onto the left panel 5, wherein the second ornamentation 20 is a left set of pipes ornamentation also known as “headers”. As a result, the second ornamentation 20 is able to resemble a left header unit within the present invention as the storage compartment 1 becomes the vehicular-themed ornamental mailbox.

In reference to FIG. 2, the third ornamentation 21 is removably mounted onto the right panel 6, wherein the third ornamentation 21 is a right set of pipes ornamentation also known as “headers”. As a result, the third ornamentation 21 is able to resemble a right header unit within the present invention as the storage compartment 1 becomes the vehicular-themed ornamental mailbox.

In reference to FIG. 1, the fourth ornamentation 22 is positioned adjacent to the lid 8 and removably mounted to the first ornamentation 19. The fourth ornamentation 22 resembles a vehicular front-end ornamentation that is uniquely different from one vehicle to another. More specifically, the first ornamentation 19 comprises a base 31 and the supercharger ornamentation 30, wherein the supercharger ornamentation 30 is connected to the base 31 and positioned atop the base 31. The fourth ornamentation 22 is removably mounted to the base 31 and positioned above the handle 10 so that the handle 10 can function independent from the fourth ornamentation 22. As a result, the fourth ornamentation 22 is able to resemble a front-end of car as the storage compartment 1 becomes the vehicular-themed ornamental mailbox. Depending upon user preference, the user can select the fourth ornamentation 22 to match different type of vehicles. For example, if the user is fan of 1968 Chevy Corvette, the user can mount a 1968 Chevy Corvette front-end ornamentation onto the cover 9 as the fourth ornamentation 22.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Claims

1. A vehicular-themed ornamental mailbox comprising;

a storage compartment;
a lid;
a speaker module;
a first ornamentation;
a second ornamentation;
a third ornamentation;
a fourth ornamentation;
the storage compartment comprising a top panel, a rear panel, a bottom panel, a left panel, and a right panel;
the lid being hingedly connected to the bottom panel;
the speaker module being connected to the storage compartment;
the first ornamentation being removably mounted onto the top panel;
the second ornamentation being removably mounted onto the left panel;
the third ornamentation being removably mounted onto the right panel; and
the fourth ornamentation being positioned adjacent to the lid; and
the fourth ornamentation being removably mounted to the first ornamentation.

2. A vehicular-themed ornamental mailbox as claimed in claim 1 comprising;

the storage compartment further comprising a front opening;
the left panel and the right panel being oppositely positioned of each other about the bottom panel;
the left panel being terminally connected to the bottom panel;
the right panel being terminally connected to the bottom panel
the top panel being concentrically positioned to the bottom panel;
the top panel being terminally connected to the left panel and the right panel;
the rear panel being perimetrically connected to the left panel, the top panel, the right panel, and the bottom panel;
the front opening being positioned opposite of the rear panel; and
the front opening being delineated by the left panel, the top panel, the right panel, and the bottom panel.

3. A vehicular-themed ornamental mailbox as claimed in claim 1 comprising;

the lid comprising a cover and a handle;
the cover being hingedly connected to the bottom panel about a front opening of the storage compartment;
the handle being mounted to the cover; and

4. A vehicular-themed ornamental mailbox as claimed in claim 1 comprising;

the speaker module comprising a speaker, a power source, a chipset, an activation sensor, and a housing;
the power source being electrically connected to the chipset, the activation sensor, and the speaker;
the chipset being electronically connected the speaker and the activation sensor;
the speaker, the power source, the chipset, and the activation sensor being internally mounted within the housing;
the housing being positioned adjacent to a front opening of the storage compartment; and
the housing being internally connected to the storage compartment.

5. A vehicular-themed ornamental mailbox as claimed in claim 1 comprising;

a sleeve;
an indicator flag;
the sleeve being laterally connected to the left panel; and
the indicator flag being slidable engaged within the sleeve.

6. A vehicular-themed ornamental mailbox as claimed in claim 5, wherein the indicator flag is a black and white checkered racing flag.

7. A vehicular-themed ornamental mailbox as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first ornamentation is a supercharger ornamentation.

8. A vehicular-themed ornamental mailbox as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second ornamentation is a left set of pipes ornamentation.

9. A vehicular-themed ornamental mailbox as claimed in claim 1, wherein the third ornamentation is a right set of pipes ornamentation.

10. A vehicular-themed ornamental mailbox as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fourth ornamentation is a vehicular front-end ornamentation.

11. A vehicular-themed ornamental mailbox as claimed in claim 10 comprising;

the first ornamentation comprising a base and a supercharger ornamentation;
the supercharger ornamentation being connected to the base; and
the fourth ornamentation being removably mounted to the base.
Patent History
Publication number: 20220039580
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 6, 2021
Publication Date: Feb 10, 2022
Inventor: Mark Edwin O'Brien (Yadkinville, NC)
Application Number: 17/396,209
Classifications
International Classification: A47G 29/12 (20060101);