Abstract: A dual access mailbox 2 has front and rear closures 20 and 22 which actuate a signal member 28 from a non-signalling position to a signalling position and from a signalling position to a non-signalling position. A first arm 52 is pivotally mounted to the front closure and a second arm 54 is pivotally mounted to the second closure. Both arms are pivotally and slidably mounted to the signal member. As the front closure is moved to the open position, the first arm engages the signal member and pivots the signal member to the signalling position, and as the second closure is moved to the open position, the second arm engages the signal member and pivots the signal member to the non-signalling position.

Abstract: A security mailbox in which the conventional single door, rural mailbox is provided with a high strength enclosure and a latching lock so that when engaged the door of the mailbox may only be opened by a key. The door may also be held in a closed but unlocked position by a sliding magnetic catch that holds the door closed without engaging the latch but allows the door to be manually urged into the fully locked position. In the closed but unlocked position the door may be manually opened by the postal carrier. The postal carrier may manually close the door so that it moves past the closed but unlocked position and engages the latching lock in the fully locked position. A dual function mounting bracket is provided which has both a set of aligned holes for mounting the mailbox to a metal post with bolts and a set of offset holes for mounting the mailbox to a wooden post with screws.

Abstract: A handle for an 1170/K-type United States Postal Service mail collection box which is configured and positioned so as to cause a hand which grasps its end to have enhanced access to the opening of the box, so that the same hand which opens the collection box can also effect a deposit.

Abstract: The top door of the letter locker mailbox covers both the incoming mail chute, and the outgoing mail tray. This configuration provides the mail carrier with one or two less significant arm movements in servicing the mailbox. The door, chute and tray are weather protected by a solid, two inch weather shield. The top door is secured by a full length one inch magnetic strip. The bottom mail receiving and storage compartment is secured by a locking door, secured at the top center by a mail handling utility lock. The door is protected from theft by prying, by the weather security shield above, and weather security shields on both sides. The bottom door stainless steel rod hinge is permanent, secured in the assembly at the time of manufacturing, and cannot be pried. The construction and design of the entire mailbox is a unique, superior improvement. The entire compartment of the mailbox is constructed of Electro-galvanzied steel, 4 to 6 gauges heavier than comparable mailboxes.

Abstract: An apparatus for mail transfer including a hood including a vertical elongated slot defining an axis of the slot to receive mail and a mobile shutter to protect the mail against rain; an elongated mail transfer conduit connected to the hood defining an axis of the conduit that is substantially parallel to the axis of the slot; a receiving box connected to the mail transfer conduit; a deflector connected to the receiving box; and a receiving plate located in the receiving box.

Abstract: The invention comprises a mail access section sufficiently dimensioned for receiving and supporting letters and packages for pickup and delivery by a mail carrier. A mail containment section supports the access section above the ground and receives the mail which is inserted through the access section. The combined length of the access section and containment section are selected so that someone cannot reach through the access section down into the mail containment section. However, the access section is appropriately dimensioned so that mail can be easily placed or tossed into the containment portion. In a alternative embodiment of the invention, a slidable table is located within the access section to provide additional storage space for outgoing packages allowing the structure to operate as a normal, non-security mailbox. In addition, a multi-user security mailbox is described that can be used for multiple residences.

Abstract: A rural mailbox which has an access door provided with a concealed counterweight to assure that the door closes after use is disclosed. Optionally, the lower surface of the mailbox floor may have a magnet secured to it and positioned so as to contact the counterweight when the door is fully open to temporarily hold the door open. The door further optionally has a covered slot for mail and may be securely locked. The box in one embodiment has an auxiliary covered receptacle mounted on one side to hold mail to be picked up.

Abstract: A mailbox having a mail receiving end, a mail storage end, and an inclined intermediate body portion therebetween. The mail receiving end has an outgoing mail holding shelf provided therein and a pivotably attached door attached thereto. The mail storage end holds the received mail therein and includes a lockable mail access door for removal of the mail therefrom. The back side of the mail storage end is flat and includes an upper extending flange, such construction allowing for placement of the mailbox on a conventional mailbox post. The inclined body portion is long enough and angled to thereby prevent removal of mail by reaching into the mail receiving end.

Abstract: The invention is directed toward an improved mailbox that allows the recipient of mail to view from a distance the incoming mail chamber and determine if there is mail to pick up. In addition, the mailbox comes with a lockable incoming chamber and a protection flange that keeps out the hands of those that may tamper with the mail.

Abstract: A mail drop box includes four sides, a top and an open bottom, which together form a rectilinear sexahedron. A door on the top is slideably engaged in between a pair of opposed horizontally aligned channels for preventing the door from opening when the box is moved from a first vertical position to a second horizontal position. A plurality of brackets affix the box to a vertical surface, such as a garage door. Means for altering the height of at least portions of the sides are provided.

Abstract: An intrustion-secure mail box is described as being particularly suited for rural and suburban delivery. A pair of vertically offset doors are provided, through the upper of which mail intended for delivery is inserted, and through the lower of which--lockably openable by the user--the delivered mail is retrieved. A "slide" arrangement is incorporated internal of the mail box--both to direct the delivered mail inserted through the upper door towards the lower door opening, and to act as a bar to prevent an unauthorized retrieval by a person trying to gain access by a reaching through the upper door to get at mail acculumations aggregated at the area of the locked lower door.

Abstract: A closure for the open end of a tubular newspaper delivery receptacle is made largely from a flexible fabric sheet. A drawstring at the peripheral edge of the sheet draws the closure tightly against the end of the receptacle. An elastic member affixed to the sheet gathers the central region of the sheet into a series of ruffles surrounding and essentially closing access opening through the closure. A flap on the inside of the closure assists in closing the opening to the elements. The closure may include a hood projecting forwardly from the open end of the receptacle to further shield the opening.

Abstract: A mail facing device mounted behind and adjacent to a Post Office wall having a standard mail drop slot. Indicia is provided on the front of the wall adjacent the slot indicating the proper orientation of a letter for deposit and instructing the customer on how to insert the mail into the slot. A chute is provided between the slot and a bin for conveying the properly orientated mail to the bin where it is maintained in a properly orientated stack to facilitate further processing by the postal personnel.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a door assembly comprising a door and removable matching panels spaced to the side of the door forming the front wall of a side panel assembly. The side panel assembly includes an interior passage for placing accessories or appliances on the front wall. A novel mail box slot is also described.

Abstract: A storage mail box is set forth wherein a conventional rural type mail box is formed with a hingeably mounted false floor including an overlying hingedly mounted door is positionable in a first position overlying an opening in said false floor and pivotal to a second position securable to a wall of the mail box to provide access to the false floor. The false floor includes a directed chute wherein the chute is angulated and oriented to direct mail positioned within the mail box into a central hollow support post wherein the mail drops to enable selective access through a rear locked access door of the post.

Abstract: A mailbox or receptacle for mail, newspapers, and the like, has two compartments: an unsecured upper compartment and a secure, locked lower compartment, with a partition between the two compartments. A door in the partition allows access to a chute extending downwardly from the upper into the lower compartment. The chute is set at angles which allow mail and papers to pass from the upper to the lower compartment, but prohibits arms or hands from extending into the lower compartment.

Abstract: A document storage container for holding documents, such as a run ticket or a swimming pool maintenance record, comprises a receptacle having an open-ended cavity defined therein and a removable lid which can be completely separated from the receptacle. Attached to the lid is a document retaining member, such as a clipboard, against which the document can be retained and which is simultaneously moved into the cavity of the receptacle when the lid is placed on the receptacle to close the open end into the cavity and which is simultaneously moved out of the cavity when the lid is removed from the receptacle to open the open end of the cavity.

Abstract: An indoor mail slot cover that can be weather-stripped is provided to prevent heat loss through mail slots. The mail slot cover has a cover flap, separable hinge sections connected to the cover flap and separable lug sections connected to the hinge sections. In a preferred embodiment the cover flap, lug sections and hinge sections can be formed from a rectangular plastic plate. The plate is provided with grooves, which form the hinge and lug sections in the plate and which permit portions of the cover flap, hinge sections and lug sections to be broken off and discarded to thereby reduce the size of the mail slot cover in accordance with the size of the mail slot. An adhesive ferrite strip and an adhesive magnetic strip arrangement can be provided to secure the cover flap in a closed position. Attachment tabs can additionally be provided to secure the mail slot cover to the building structure.

Abstract: A roadside mail box formed of an L-shaped tubular member erected with the "L" inverted and having a mail compartment in its horizontal leg. In a preferred embodiment, a closure sleeve, closed at one end, is coaxially, rotatably disposed on the horizontal leg. Respective elongated openings on the side of the horizontal leg and in the sidewall of the sleeve, register at one rotational position of the sleeve to permit access to the mail compartment and, in other rotational positions of the sleeve, are out of registration to close the compartment. Detents establish open and closed positions of the sleeve which is pendulously urged to the closed position. In alternative forms of construction the closure sleeve is absent and a sliding or hinged door closes the opening to the mail compartment.

Abstract: A mailbox having a mail carrier door and an owner's door with a signal flag moveably mounted thereatop to indicate the presence or absence of mail therein. A mechanism within the mailbox has a pair of slidable members mounted to a downwardly extending bracket with a flag rod extending through each member and moveable thereby. A pair of springs urge the first member toward the mail carrier door and the second member against the owner's door. A pivotable extension mounted to the mail carrier door is engaged by the mechanism to prevent opening thereof until the owner's door is open allowing the second member to slide therethrough releasing the extension.

Abstract: A double-door security rural mailbox having oppositely faced front and rear closures permitting safe, easy access thereto by the rural mail carrier and the owner of the mailbox. The mailbox has a locking mechanism including a key operated lock for locking the rear closure. The front closure is provided with a locking mechanism which allows the front closure to be freely opened and closed once by the mail carrier before securing in a locked position. Thereafter, the front closure may only be unlocked by unlocking and opening the rear closure. Once the rear closure is again closed and locked, the front closure may again be opened and closed once by the mail carrier before securing in a locked position.

Abstract: A mailbox and method of making same are provided wherein such mailbox comprises a plurality of enclosing walls, shear pins fastening the enclosing walls together, and a readily opened and closed access door with each of the shear pins having a strength which is substantially less than the strength of the enclosing walls and door so that upon subjecting the mailbox to high impact loads the shear pins shear resulting in disassembly of the mailbox while keeping the enclosing walls and door substantially intact.

Abstract: A mail box gang apparatus which utilizes the construction of a mail box as an inherent structural component of the gang to achieve uniformity in mail box appearance, greater strength and permanency. The apparatus may include two horizontal rows of mail boxes mounted one upon the other, the boxes being affixed to one another at both the upper and lower portions to form an integral beam type structure of substantial strength. To facilitate such ganging in the manner described, the mail boxes are modified to include a new flagging system which advises the mail man of the presence of outgoing mail. This flag system affixed to the door of the box includes a panel which is merely rotated to disclosed a flag indication and is automatically reset upon opening of the box. In the preferred embodiment, the mail box door is modified to facilitate mounting of the flag and includes a novel latch device together with a pleasing appearance.

Abstract: A roadside mailbox is adapted to be opened and closed by movement of a mail service vehicle past it. The box has a door hinged along its bottom edge to the bottom of the mailbox. A lever arm, which is made of spring wire, projects outwardly from the door and is engageable by a slanted actuating rod mounted on the vehicle. As the vehicle approaches the box, engagement of the actuating rod with the arm opens the mailbox. As the vehicle leaves the box, the rod becomes disengaged from the arm and the door is closed by a spring. The lever arm resists bending in a vertical plane, and has substantially greater flexibility to bend in a horizontal plane toward and away from the mailbox. The actuating rod includes telescoping sections and may be quickly detached from its support on the side of the vehicle. A signal flag on the box, if raised is automatically lowered by opening the door. The signal flag may also be manually raised and lowered even with the door closed.

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: An inner door is pivotally mounted adjacent one of the sides of a newspaper tube in the newspaper tube at a predetermined distance from the open mouth thereof and is rotatable perpendicularly to the top and bottom of the tube. A spring-biased device abuts the inner door and urges it to its closed position perpendicular to the sides of the tube. An outer door is pivotally mounted adjacent the top of the newspaper tube adjacent the open mouth of the tube between the inner door and the open mouth and is rotatable perpendicularly to the sides of the tube. The outer door is restrained in its open position by a lip extending perpendicularly from an edge of the inner door adjacent and parallel to the top of the tube and extending toward the open mouth of the tube. The lip of the inner door abuts the outer surface of the outer door in the area of the top edge of the outer door when the inner door is closed.

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 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 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.