EP3100650A1 - Boîte aux lettres intelligente - Google Patents

Boîte aux lettres intelligente Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3100650A1
EP3100650A1 EP15199364.9A EP15199364A EP3100650A1 EP 3100650 A1 EP3100650 A1 EP 3100650A1 EP 15199364 A EP15199364 A EP 15199364A EP 3100650 A1 EP3100650 A1 EP 3100650A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
mailbox
mail
present
transmitter
receiver
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP15199364.9A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Thomas F. Ziemianski
Paula Irvin Usry
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of EP3100650A1 publication Critical patent/EP3100650A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47G—HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT
    • A47G29/00—Supports, holders, or containers for household use, not provided for in groups A47G1/00-A47G27/00 or A47G33/00 
    • A47G29/12—Mail or newspaper receptacles, e.g. letter-boxes; Openings in doors or the like for delivering mail or newspapers
    • A47G29/1209—Rural letter-boxes
    • A47G29/121—Signalling devices
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47G—HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT
    • A47G29/00—Supports, holders, or containers for household use, not provided for in groups A47G1/00-A47G27/00 or A47G33/00 
    • A47G29/12—Mail or newspaper receptacles, e.g. letter-boxes; Openings in doors or the like for delivering mail or newspapers
    • A47G29/1209—Rural letter-boxes
    • A47G29/121—Signalling devices
    • A47G29/1212—Signalling devices comprising electrical parts
    • A47G29/1214—Signalling devices comprising electrical parts including a receiver located remotely from the letter-box and a transmitter
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47G—HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT
    • A47G29/00—Supports, holders, or containers for household use, not provided for in groups A47G1/00-A47G27/00 or A47G33/00 
    • A47G29/12—Mail or newspaper receptacles, e.g. letter-boxes; Openings in doors or the like for delivering mail or newspapers
    • A47G29/122—Parts, details, or accessories, e.g. signalling devices, lamps, devices for leaving messages
    • A47G29/1225—Signalling devices
    • A47G2029/1226—Signalling devices comprising electrical parts

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a mail alert system attached with the mailbox which is operated in connection with mailbox accessories.
  • the mailbox alert signal device has particular utility in connection with mailbox operated with the help of motion sensors.
  • a daily routine in almost every residence across the country is the waiting for the U.S. mail postal delivery. This routine is especially time wasting in households that have a curbside or rural mailbox. The resident must watch for the mail delivery and see if anything is placed in the box. If the person does not watch and just waits until the normal delivery time has passed, they are still not sure if anything was delivered or not other than by taking a trip to the mailbox. This is especially time consuming in hot, cold, and rain or snow conditions. Accordingly, there exists a need for a means by which the delivery of mail to a remote mailbox can be visually or audibly indicated to the resident located in a separate structure. The development of the invention herein described fulfills this need.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 6,694,580 in the name of Hatzold discloses a mail notification system comprising an activator attachment to an inner surface of a mailbox that opens to an extended position and emits radio waves to a receiver. Said receiver has a speaker to emit sounds and is attached to a word display.
  • the Hatzold device does not utilize a motion sensing device integral to a transmitter that is selectively installed with a mounting mechanism thereto an inner surface of a mailbox.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 5,950,919 issued in the name of Adams teaches a remote mail delivery system for signaling to the user when mail is being delivered by using an LED display or speaker and a pressure sensitive transmitter on the cornice of the floor of the mailbox.
  • the present invention utilizes a different means of detection and is designed to be mounted on the sides or rear face of the interior of the mailbox.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 6,459,375 issued in the name of Wallace describes an electronic mail sensor for informing a user that something has been put into a mailbox.
  • the Wallace device differs from the present invention in that the transmitter device is installed therein the mailbox with a clip member as opposed to which enables the transmitter in the present invention to be mounted along any interior face within the mailbox, such that the motion sensing device is positioned to detect a mail delivery event. Additionally, there are no provisions in the Wallace device to provide a resetting function to deactivate an audible or visual indication of said mail delivery event.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 7,786,862 issued in the name of Campbell Eugene L relates to a method and system for remote notification of arrival of postal mail in a mailbox through a wireless transmitter and receiver.
  • the system consists of a battery-powered motion sensor placed within an upper back portion of a standard, approved mailbox thereby a fastening means. When the mailbox door opens, the motion sensor is activated and automatically generates and transmits a wireless signal to a receiver located within a pre-determined proximity.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 5,499,014 issued to Greenwaldt, published Mar. 12, 1996 relates to a security alarm system includes a wireless transmitter unit, a portable control unit, and a receiver unit.
  • the transmitter unit includes a sensor for detecting the opening of a door or window to a protected area and an alarm signal generator for providing an alarm signal wherein the alarm signal generator is controlled by the sensor.
  • the control unit includes an arm signal generator for providing and transmitting an arm signal and a disarm signal generator for providing and transmitting a disarm signal.
  • the receiver unit includes an alarm for indicating unauthorized opening of the door or window to the protected area, a first circuit for receiving the alarm signal from the transmitter unit and activating the alarm when the alarm is armed, a second circuit for receiving the arm signal from the control unit and arming the alarm, and a third circuit for receiving the disarm signal from the control unit and disarming the alarm and for turning the alarm off when the alarm is activated.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 5,060,854 issued in the name of Armstrong discloses a remote indicator system for determining at a remote location when incoming mail is present in a mailbox, comprising a light port that admits ambient light to shine on a photodetector on the bottom of the mailbox, which produces a signal when no mail is present and a signal when the light is interrupted, thereby indicating mail has arrived. Another photodetector disables the first signal when the ambient light is below a given intensity and a switching mechanism is attached to a manually operable flag for determining the difference between incoming and outgoing mail.
  • the Armstrong device differs in scope from the present invention in that the sensing device utilizes different principles and is mounted in a different location.
  • None of the prior art particularly describes a device to effectively notify a user of delivery and/or receipt of mail in a mailbox at a remote location. Accordingly, there is a need for a means by which the a sensing device is positioned such that it detects the presence of delivery of mail, generates a detection signal, transmits said detection signal, receives said detection signal at a remote location, and alerts said user.
  • the present invention provides an improved mail alert system attached with the mailbox.
  • the general purpose of the present invention which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved mail alert system attached with the mailbox which has all the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.
  • the present invention concerns with a new and improved mail alerting system used with structures and residences.
  • the mail notification system comprises a motion sensor that is attached to an inner surface of a mailbox.
  • the mail alert system provides for the wireless notification of mail delivery to a curbside, apartment/office complex, home or rural area mailbox.
  • the system Fig. 1-3 comprising of a battery-powered transmitter/sensor 1 that is mounted inside a foam lined compartment 2 (behind a false back 3 ) of a conventional mailbox (the foam lined transmitter/sensor compartment better protects the unit from weather while offering a level of protection against vibration); a receiver Fig.4 that is located inside of a remote structure or residence, up to several hundred feet away; an indicator LED light and an audible alarm that sounds when the mail is delivered; an access door 4 to replace battery in sensor/transition; a switch is provided to turn the unit on/off or control the volume of the alert system.
  • the use of the innovative system provides for the remote notification of mail delivery in an efficient manner.
  • the mailbox Fig. 1 is depicted as a rural, curbside type mailbox typically located in a user's front yard for purposes of illustration.
  • other type mailboxes such as house mounted mailboxes, apartment style gang mailboxes, or gang mounted rural mailboxes mounted at an end of a street would work equally as well with the system and as such, should not be interpreted as a limiting factor of the present invention.
  • Fig. 2 depicts the cross section image of the mail box.
  • Fig. 3 depicts the back view with the access to the batteries 4 that operated the motion sensor. These sensors are mounted behind a "false back" inside the mailbox, and insulated with foam.
  • Fig. 4 is a front perspective view of a receiver which gives alert to the home owner in audio and visual manner.
  • the receiver is placed inside the home which is approximately 4" in height and 3" wide with audible alarm and LED lights.
  • a 9 volt battery is used which can be easily replaced via the small access panel. Power from a battery is utilized as a source of electricity for the RF transmitter/sensor of the present mail alert system.

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  • Supports Or Holders For Household Use (AREA)
EP15199364.9A 2015-06-04 2015-12-10 Boîte aux lettres intelligente Withdrawn EP3100650A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US14/730,967 US20160353911A1 (en) 2015-06-04 2015-06-04 Smart Mailbox

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3100650A1 true EP3100650A1 (fr) 2016-12-07

Family

ID=54849514

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP15199364.9A Withdrawn EP3100650A1 (fr) 2015-06-04 2015-12-10 Boîte aux lettres intelligente

Country Status (2)

Country Link
US (1) US20160353911A1 (fr)
EP (1) EP3100650A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20170193428A1 (en) * 2016-01-06 2017-07-06 International Business Machines Corporation Method, system and computer product for identifying, coordinating and managing mail
US10297133B2 (en) * 2017-06-22 2019-05-21 Bart Waclawik Mail delivery wireless notification system
US11941962B2 (en) 2021-08-16 2024-03-26 Mark Donald Ludington Mailbox notification system and method of use

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US501270A (en) * 1893-07-11 Letter-box
US5060854A (en) 1991-05-22 1991-10-29 Hugh Armstrong Remote mail indicator system
US5499014A (en) 1994-07-01 1996-03-12 Greenwaldt; Gordon E. Security alarm system
US5950919A (en) 1997-12-11 1999-09-14 Adams; Melvin Remote mail delivery indicator system
US6459375B1 (en) 2001-03-23 2002-10-01 Carolyn Wallace Electronic mail sensor
US6694580B1 (en) 2002-04-12 2004-02-24 Thomas Hatzold Mail alert
US7786862B1 (en) 2006-09-11 2010-08-31 Campbell Eugene L Remote mail indicator
EP2243404A1 (fr) * 2009-04-06 2010-10-27 Hassan Hammoud Système de boîte de courrier électronique

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US501270A (en) * 1893-07-11 Letter-box
US5060854A (en) 1991-05-22 1991-10-29 Hugh Armstrong Remote mail indicator system
US5499014A (en) 1994-07-01 1996-03-12 Greenwaldt; Gordon E. Security alarm system
US5950919A (en) 1997-12-11 1999-09-14 Adams; Melvin Remote mail delivery indicator system
US6459375B1 (en) 2001-03-23 2002-10-01 Carolyn Wallace Electronic mail sensor
US6694580B1 (en) 2002-04-12 2004-02-24 Thomas Hatzold Mail alert
US7786862B1 (en) 2006-09-11 2010-08-31 Campbell Eugene L Remote mail indicator
EP2243404A1 (fr) * 2009-04-06 2010-10-27 Hassan Hammoud Système de boîte de courrier électronique

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US20160353911A1 (en) 2016-12-08

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