Abstract: A double door mailbox having elongated link rods with lost motion structure, for connecting the front and rear doors of the mailbox so that both doors may be closed at the same time, but only one door at a time can be opened.The mailbox structure is further characterized by a signal member adapted to be moved by the link rods between a protracted position visible through the rear door and a retracted position.

Abstract: A mailbox of the type that is located outdoors and is exposed to all weather conditions has an access aperture with a door adapted to selectively open the aperture for removal of mail in the mailbox. A lock mounting arrangement is provided to permit the mailbox to be locked to prevent unauthorized removal of the mail. In addition, a mail slot sufficiently large to permit the insertion of mail but small enough to prevent access for removal of the mail is provided. A pivoted flap covers the mail slot. Appropriate shielding means, such as the top and sides of a specially shaped mailbox, protect the door, the mail slot and the lock mounting from inclement weather conditions.

Abstract: A mail box is shaped like a post which is to say it has a housing in the shape of a rectangular prism. The letter box pivots at its bottom front from the top of the housing. The amount the letter box pivots outward is adjustable and a weight on the rear of the letter box tends to pull it closed. The letter box is particularly adapted for urban and suburban placement where the mailman delivers the mail from a vehicle or where the mailman does not deliver the mail to a door side box.

Abstract: A signal device for a mailbox comprising a pivotally mounted, weighted arm which is received by the mailbox door in the closed position. When the door is opened, the arm is released, whereby the weight urges the arm away from the box and into the signalling position.

Abstract: A rural mail box is provided having an elongate enclosure and a mail-receiving tray slidable within the enclosure and including an integral front door for the mail box. The tray is hinged part way along its length to permit the front portion thereof to hinge downwardly when the tray is slid part way out to facilitate the positioning of mail in the tray. The mail box is particularly adapted to be formed of plastic material by injection molding.

Abstract: A mailbox for the reception and protection of mail comprises a mail receptacle or container with a door, an alarm system control switch, responsive to the opening and closing of the mailbox door to activate an alarm when the door is open, illuminating means to light an area near the mailbox and intercommunication means for identification of and conversation with a caller or person using the mailbox. The mentioned security features of the mailbox are components of a pre-wired unit and installation is thereby greatly simplified and facilitated.

Abstract: A newspaper delivery box adapted to support and attach a mailbox thereto has a support insert provided therein to lift a newspaper contained in the box away from the bottom of the box to thereby protect the newspaper from water contained thereon. Optionally, at least one divider is provided in the box to retain a plurality of newspapers within the box.

Abstract: The invention provides apparatus for facilitating the removal of mail from a mailbox, particularly the relatively small individual mailbox units which comprise large banks or clusters of such units in post offices, apartment buildings, office buildings, and the like. In one basic embodiment of the invention, a movable bar-like slide disposed within the confines of the mailbox unit is fitted with a handle at the anterior end thereof so that the slide may be readily grasped and withdrawn from the mailbox unit. A lateral bar-like scoop member formed on the posterior end of the slide engages mail in the mailbox unit and withdraws the mail from the unit on forward movement of the slide. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the movable slide is disposed on the floor of a box-like insert or liner which is fitted into the mailbox unit, the movable slide being adapted to move within a groove formed in said floor.

Abstract: A newspaper delivery receptacle or tube having a bottom, sides and a top, closed at one end constituting its back end and open at its front end. The receptacle is mounted in a generally horizontal position on a post by means of a bracket having a vertical leg adapted to be fastened to the post and a horizontal leg extending laterally outwardly from the vertical leg to be slidably engaged with the bottom of the receptacle. This bracket leg has an opening and the bottom of the receptacle has a boss constituting a snap fastener so that as the receptacle is slid into engagement with the bracket the boss will snap into the opening thereby fastening the receptacle to the bracket.

Abstract: A newspaper support for a newspaper delivery tube is provided which comprises a wedge surface having a length greater than one-half the length of the tube. The support may be molded directly in the bottom of the tube, or may be provided with a clamp for insertion into an existing delivery tube.

Abstract: A retractable mailbox assembly includes three concentric cylinders with the outer mounted underground and the middle and inner cylinders telescopically mounted to rise out of the ground in response to air pressure with the middle cylinder mounted to rise linearly a predetermined height and latched at that height by magnetic latches and the inner cylinder mounted to rise an additional predetermined height beyond that of the middle cylinder to permit a rotatable mailbox pivotally mounted at the top of the inner cylinder to be opened by a rack and pinion mechanism to permit depositing or withdrawal of mail. Air pressure to raise the middle and inner cylinders is transmitted from water cooled air storage means, illustratively a plurality of storage pipes, through an air diffuser controlled by a pneumatic solenoid valve.

Abstract: A newspaper support is provided which comprises a horizontally corrugated wedge of about one-half the length of a newspaper delivery tube and at least one-half the interior width thereof. The support possesses a reversely turned forward clamp portion to engage the lower front edge of the tube and at least one drainage hole at each trough of the corrugated surface.

Abstract: Each of the opposite ends of a basically conventional mailbox is provided with a hinged closure which operates a signal device which is pivoted on the side of the mailbox so as to be elevated by the opening of the entry or deposit end of the box and to be lowered upon the opening of the exit or removal end of the mailbox. The entry closure operates a spring mounted rod to lift the signal device and the exit closure operates a small chain to drop the signal device back to its normal lowered position.

Abstract: An insert bracket is provided for insertion into a newspaper tube of one-piece elongated, generally cross-section, hollow body construction, open at one end and closed at the other, which insert comprises three descending legs connected at the top, two of which are opposing legs which follow generally the interior contours of the tube terminating at about the lower interior sides of the tube, and the third lying flat against the rear of the tube; from the connection of the legs is attached a spring steel newspaper support member which first descends to about the middle of the tube then forms a wide ascending arch nearly to the top of the tube terminating near the front of the tube in a reverse bend to act as a finger hold to lower the clip when placing a newspaper between the insert bracket and the inside top of the tube.

Abstract: A bracket for attaching a sign or box to a mailbox of conventional design having a door at one end and a panel at the other, said panel terminating in a bead co-planar with the panel, such bracket comprising a bar adapted to lie in contact with the top of the box, a first fastening member at one end of the bar comprising a slot adapted to pass over the upper snap bar of the mailbox and a second fastening means at the other end comprising a V-shaped assemblage of bars attached to the aforesaid bar at the apex of the V and at right angles thereto and having inturned sides near the open end of the V adapted to pass over the bead of the mailbox, said V-shaped assemblage of bars adapted to lie in contact with the mailbox end and of such length that the bars co-act with the bead at a point below the curved portion of the mailbox end.

Abstract: A portable, open top, mail collecting container constructed and shaped from lightweight material for removable insertion inside of a mail collection box through the box access door. The upper edges of the container incline downwardly from the rear end wall towards the front end wall to facilitate insertion in and removal through the restricted access opening in the side of a mailbox. A moisture impervious bottom wall on the container is provided with liquid drainage apertures and is supported on vertically extending projections to permit any liquid which might fall into the container to drain through the bottom and to protect mail collected in the container from exposure to moisture when the container is rested on the ground in the course of handling.

Abstract: A mail box having a conventional hood portion and tilt-type inlet chute and a base portion which includes a frame and a receptacle removably received in the frame, the hood portion being hinged to the frame at the rear thereof and having an extension at the front adapted to retain the receptacle in the frame when the hood is closed, a lock being provided to hold the hood releasably in closed position. The receptacle is intended to be removed, with its contents, at regular collection times, and replaced by an empty receptacle.

Abstract: A door for a mailbox that has an open end to be selectively closed by the door, the mailbox being of the free standing type most frequently encountered in rural areas, is pivotally mounted on the mailbox by an improved hinging arrangement. A solid flat bar is secured to the door by an appropriate fastening arrangement, such as rivets. Transversely extending supporting arms, one at each end of the flat bar, are pivotedly connected to opposite sides of the mailbox by an appropriate mounting structure, such as rivets that are not completely tightened. The supporting arms may be integrally formed with the flat bar, and a transversely extending flange may also be integrally formed with the bar to provide additional strength.

Abstract: A mailbox having a platform for receiving mail and a cover for providing weather protection is disclosed. The cover is pivotably mounted to the center of the platform and may be opened by a latch on either side thereof. When either latch is opened, the cover rotates to provide access to the platform, and the latch on the opposite side drops free of the platform.

Abstract: A rural delivery type mailbox having an elongated hollow container with a single mail receiving compartment therein, the container normally mounted adjacent a roadway and having a front end with a door therein for the insertion of mail into the compartment, and provided with a door in the rear wall of the container to permit removal of the mail from the compartment without having to force an individual to step into the adjacent roadway and expose himself to oncoming traffic. The rear entrance includes a door hinged at the bottom whereas the front entrance has the hinge at the top such that access to the mail compartment may be gained from both ends of the mailbox.

Abstract: A mailbox for the reception and protection of mail comprises a mail receptacle or container with a door, an alarm system control switch, responsive to the opening and closing of the mailbox door to activate an alarm when the door is open, illuminating means to light an area near the mailbox and intercommunication means for identification of and conversation with a caller or person using the mailbox. The mentioned security features of the mailbox are components of a pre-wired unit and installation is thereby greatly simplified and facilitated.