GB2492004A

GB2492004A - A letterbox assembly with damping control applied to closing flap.

Info

Publication number: GB2492004A
Application number: GB201217078A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Giovanni Laporta
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-06-16
Filing date: 2011-06-16
Publication date: 2012-12-19
Anticipated expiration: 2031-06-16
Also published as: GB2492004B; GB201217078D0

Abstract

A letterbox assembly comprising of at least one flap 12/14 and a frame 16 adapted to be received within a door/panel in use. The said flap is moveable relative to the frame between a closed position blocking the aperture of the letterbox and an open position giving access to the aperture via the flap. The assembly also has a means of damping at least one flapâ s movement between its open to closed positions. Air or torsional means may be used to provide flap damping. The assembly may have a means of locking to prevent the flap from being moved to its open position. The locking means may comprise of a locking member and a corresponding cooperating member, where the locking member may be biased away from the cooperating member in use; it may be possible that the locking member is biased toward the unlocked position. The assembly may have an attachable means for engaging the complementary attachment means of a letter catcher.

Description

I

Improvements to Letterboxes

Field of the Invention

The invention is concerned with improvements in or relating to closure means such as letter plates, for example, letter boxes of the type which are mounted in an aperture in a door or panel for the passage thereth rough of mail and the like.

Background to the Invention

A conventional letterbox comprises at least one hinged flap (also sometimes called a letter plate) adapted to cover a rectangular aperture in a door or panel. In most arrangements the problem arises of sealing the aperture against draughts and rain when not in use. Often, an inner flap is fixed on the inside of the letter box assembly/door, in addition to the outer flap on the outside of the assembly/door, the inner flap providing additional protection against draughts and rain. In order for a letter or similar to pass through the letterbox aperture, the letter must push open the inner flap. Often either or both flaps are provided with strong spring-return devices to bias the flaps in their closed positions. If the letter being passed through the letterbox is not stiff enough, it will buckle up into a concertina shape rather than pushing open the inner flap. As such, it may be very difficult to get a thin letter through the letterbox, without pushing the inner flap open manually with one's hand; this is slow for the postman, and increases the risk of the postman having their fingers caught in the inner flap or perhaps even being bitten by a dog on the other side of the door.

A device that overcomes or reduces the above-described disadvantages is therefore needed.

Sum mary of the Invention According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a device for receipt within an aperture in a door or panel, the device being for linking outer and inner flaps of a letterbox assembly, the outer and inner flaps of the letterbox assembly each being moveable between a closed position in which the flap blocks the aperture and an open position in which the aperture is accessible via the flap, the device comprising linking means for linking the outer and inner flaps such that when one of the inner or outer flaps is moved toward an open position, the other of the flaps will move correspondingly toward its open position and when one of the inner or outer flaps is moved toward its closed potion, the other of the flaps will move correspondingly toward its closed position.

Suitably the inner flap can be opened automatically on opening of the outer flap, thereby avoiding the problems of trying to get letters through the inner flap.

Preferably the linking means comprises a first outer gear wheel attachable to the outer flap and a first inner gear wheel attachable to the inner flap. The first outer gear wheel and first inner gear wheel may engage with one another directly, or be linked indirectly Preferably the linking means comprises a first outer rack-and-pinion assembly and a first inner rack-and-pinion assembly.

Preferably the first outer rack-and-pinion assembly comprises a pinion attached to the outer flap of the letterbox in use and a corresponding rack, and the first inner rack-and-pinion assembly comprises a pinion attached to the outer flap of the letterbox in use and a corresponding rack, the racks of each of the first outer and first inner rack-and-pinion assemblies being coupled in use, such that movement of the rack of the first outer rack-and-pinion assembly drives movement of the rack of the first inner rack-and-pinion assembly and vice versa.

Suitably the first outer and first inner rack-and-pinion assemblies are coupled in use by removable coupling means. Suitably the coupling means can be substituted with a coupling means of differing length to adapt the device for use with doors of differing widths. Although doors are commonly being provided in standard widths between their front and rear faces, door widths may vary, especially in older doors.

By means of having a first outer rack-and-pinion assembly and a first inner rack-and-pinion assembly that are coupled together, the device can be configured for use with any width of door, simply by replacing the component that couples the racks of the first outer and first inner rack-and-pinion assemblies with a component of different length.

Preferably the racks of each of the first outer and first inner rack-and-pinion assemblies are coupled in use by a corresponding drive rod. Suitably, in order to configure the device for use with doors of differing widths, the drive rod can be replaced by a drive rod of suitable length such that the first outer and first inner rack-and-pinion assemblies can be coupled together such that one drives the other and vice versa. The device can be supplied as a kit of parts comprising the device and two or more drive rods of differing lengths. Each drive rod in the kit would correspond to a length required for each common standard door width. UPVC doors tend to be supplied in standard widths of 60 and 70 mm, therefore the kit can be provided with drive rods suitable for use with both 60 and 70 mm width doors.

Preferably the linking means comprises a second outer rack-and-pinion assembly and a second inner rack-and-pinion assembly, the second outer rack-and-pinion assembly comprising a pinion attached to the outer flap of the letter box in use and a corresponding rack, and the second inner rack-and-pinion assembly comprising a pinion attached to the outer flap of the letter box in use and a corresponding rack, the racks of each of the second outer and second inner rack-and-pinion assemblies being coupled in use, such that movement of the rack of the second outer rack-and-pinion assembly drives movement of the rack of the second inner rack-and-pinion assembly and vice versa. Suitably, the device may have a first set of outer and inner rack-and-pinion assemblies on one side of a the device and a second set of outer and inner rack-and-pinion assemblies on the other side, for providing stable opening and closing motion to the letterbox flaps.

Preferably the racks of each of the second outer and second inner rack-and-pinion assemblies are coupled by a corresponding drive rod in use.

Preferably each rack has an aperture for receiving an end of the corresponding drive rod.

Preferably the device further comprises a frame adapted to be received within the door/panel aperture in use. The frame may be made up of different components that are assembled together in use, such as inner and outer housing portions and inner and outer cover plates. Preferably the frame has an opening for passage of mail therethrough. Preferably the outer and inner flaps are each moveable in use with respect to the frame. Preferably the outer and inner flaps are each pivotally mountable with respect to the frame.

Preferably the rack of each rack-and-pinion assembly is movable back and forth within the frame. Suitably each rack is movable between a first position in which the corresponding flap (i.e. the flap to which the corresponding pinion coupled to the rack is attached in use) in the closed position and a second position in which the corresponding flap is in the open position.

Preferably the device further includes biasing means for biasing the outer and inner flaps towards their closed positions in use. The device may include biasing means for biasing either the outer or inner flaps or both towards their closed positions in use. Where the device has biasing means for biasing only the outer or inner flap towards the closed position, the other of the flaps will also be biased towards the closed position due to the presence of the linking means linking the outer and inner flaps.

Preferably the biasing means comprises at least one torsion bar, the device further comprising a frame adapted to be received within the door/panel aperture in use, the torsion bar having a first part connected to the frame in use and a second part connected to an outer or inner flap of a letterbox in use, the first and second parts being movable angularly relative to one another about an axis.

Suitably the torsion bar is aligned with the axis about which its parts are moveable aligned with the axis about which the flap is pivotally mounted relative to the frame.

As said flap opens, the torsion bar twists. Suitably, this provides a biasing force, urging said flap back to the closed position when released. Preferably said at least one torsion bar is made of resilient material such as plastic or rubber.

Preferably each rack-and-pinion assembly has a spring biasing the rack towards a position in which the corresponding flap is closed. Preferably the spring is a compression spring. Preferably the spring is a helical compression spring. Suitably the spring may act on a rack of a rack-and-pinion assembly, urging the rack towards its first position (i.e. a position in which the corresponding flap is closed). Where the device has a first outer rack-and-pinion assembly and a first inner rack-and-pinion assembly, only one of the racks needs to be biased towards its first position, in order for both the outer and inner flaps of the letterbox assembly to be biased to the closed position, due to the presence of the linking means.

Preferably the device further comprises damping means for damping movement of either or both of the flaps at least from its open to its closed position.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a letterbox assembly comprising at least one flap and a frame adapted to be received within a door/panel in use, said flap being moveable relative to the frame between a closed position in which the flap blocks the aperture and an open position in which the aperture is accessible via the flap, the assembly further comprising damping means for damping movement of the at least one flap from its open to its closed position.

Suitably, this provides a damper or soft-close' mechanism for closing of the flaps.

Prior art letterbox flaps tend to have a helical spring biasing the flap to its closed position. Therefore, a substantial force must be exerted in order to open the flap when mail is to be delivered. Spring biasing of pivoted flaps also provides a risk that the fingers of the person using the letterbox could get trapped when the flap springs closed under the biasing force. Furthermore, if the flap is released suddenly from the open position, closure can produce a loud noise when the flap hits the letterbox assembly frame. By providing a damper mechanism, these problems may be avoided.

Preferably the damping means comprises at least one air damper.

Preferably the damping means comprises at least one damper, the at least one damper comprising a piston which is slidable in use within a cylinder provided in a rack of the first or second rack-and-pinion assemblies. Suitably the cylinder has an opening, the piston being slidable relative to the opening Preferably the damper includes a seal, the seal making a tight seal with the inner wall of the cylinder as the piston is pushed into the cylinder.

Preferably the piston is coupled non-movably to the frame in use. The piston may be coupled to the frame by a pin.

Preferably the damping means comprises at least one torsional damper having respective parts movable angularly relative to one another about an axis.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a letterbox assembly comprising a device according to the first aspect of the invention and further comprising at least one flap and a frame adapted to be received within the door/panel aperture in use, said flap being moveable relative to the frame between a closed position in which the flap blocks the aperture and an open position in which the aperture is accessible via the flap, the assembly further comprising locking means, the locking means being moveable between an unlocked configuration in which the flap can move between its open and closed positions and a locked configuration in which movement of the flap to its open position is prevented.

Suitably, by having a linking means linking the inner and outer flaps, only one flap needs to be locked in order for both flaps to be prevented from being opened.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a letterbox assembly comprising at least one flap and a frame adapted to be received within the door/panel aperture in use, said flap being moveable relative to the frame between a closed position in which the flap blocks the aperture and an open position in which the aperture is accessible via the flap, the assembly further comprising locking means, the locking means being moveable between an unlocked configuration in which the flap can move between its open and closed positions and a locked configuration in which movement of the flap to its open position is prevented.

Preferably the locking means comprises a locking member and a corresponding cooperating member, the locking member being engageable with and releasably lockable to the cooperating member.

Preferably the locking member comprises a projection receivable in a slot in the cooperating member, the slot having a first portion and a narrower second portion, the projection having a shank portion and a head portion, the head portion being insertable through the first portion of the slot but not the second portion of the slot, such that the head portion can be inserted through the first portion and moved to bring the shank portion into the second portion of the slot to move the locking means into the locked configuration. Suitably the slot may be keyhole shaped.

Preferably the locking member is coupled to and moveable relative to said flap and the cooperating member is on the frame in use. The cooperating member may be integral with or attached to the frame in use Preferably the locking member is biased away from the cooperating member in use Preferably the locking member is biased towards the unlocked configuration.

Preferably the device further comprises a frame adapted to be received within a door/panel aperture in use and attachment means for attaching a letter catcher to the letter box assembly, the attachment means comprising complementary engagement means for engaging in use with respective complementary engagement means on the letter catcher. By means of the complementary engagement means on the device, attachment means are provided such that the letterbox can be attached directly to a letterbox assembly, rather than to the door.

This avoids the need for drilling into the door (which is undesirable, as should it later be decided that the letter catcher is no longer needed, unsightly drill holes will be left in the door). Furthermore, the letter catcher can be retrofitted and/or removed very easily.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a letter catcher for catching mail that passes through a letterbox assembly having a frame adapted to be received within a door/panel aperture in use, the letter catcher having attachment means for attaching the letter catcher to the frame, the attachment means comprising complementary engagement means for engaging in use with respective complementary engagement means on the frame.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a letterbox assembly having a frame adapted to be received within a door/panel aperture in use and at least one flap, the flap being moveable between a closed position in which the flap blocks the aperture and an open position in which the aperture is accessible via the flap, the letterbox assembly further comprising attachment means for attaching a letter catcher for catching mail that passes through the letterbox assembly, the attachment means comprising complementary engagement means for engaging in use with respective complementary engagement means on the letter catcher.

Preferably the letterbox assembly further comprises a letter catcher for catching mail that passes through the letterbox assembly.

Preferably one of the respective complementary engagement means is a lug and the other is a lug receiving aperture, the lug being receivable in the lug receiving aperture in use.

Preferably the lug is on the frame and the lug receiving aperture is on the letter catcher. The lug can be integral with or attached to the frame. There may be two sets of complementary engagement means, one on each side of the letterbox.

Preferably the frame further comprises a cover plate, the cover plate being mounted over the respective complementary engagement means in use.

Brief Description of the Drawings

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be more particularly described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of the component parts of a of a letterbox assembly in accordance with the present invention, the components being exploded apart from one another (except for the inner and outer cover plate seals which are shown assembled over the inner and outer housing portions respectively); Figure 2 is a rear perspective view of the outer flap of the letterbox assembly of Figure 1 with the corresponding torsion bars and pinions assembled thereto; Figure 3A is a rear exploded perspective view of the slider switch, latch plate and part of the inner flap of the letterbox assembly of Figure 1; Figure 3B is an front exploded view of the components of Figure 3A; Figure 4 is a rear perspective view of the letterbox assembly of Figure 1 with a letter catcher assembled thereto, but with the inner cover plate of the letterbox assembly not shown; Figure 5 is a rear perspective view of the letterbox assembly of Figure 1 with the components assembled and also a letter catcher assembled thereto, and with the letterbox assembly shown installed in the midrail of a UPVC door 100; Figure 6 is a side view of the assembly of Figure 5; Figure 7 is a side view of an assembled letterbox assembly of Figure 1, shown with both the inner and outer flaps open and shown installed in the midrail of a UPVC door; Figure 8 is a rear perspective view of the letterbox assembly of Figure 1 with the components assembled, but without the inner cover plate and slider switch; Figure 9 is a front perspective view of the letterbox assembly of Figure 1 but with damping (i.e. soft close) means installed in the inner housing portion; Figure 10 is an exploded perspective view of damper (including a piston, gasket and fixing pin shown exploded) and the drive rack in which the piston is receivable in use and the top side corner of the inner housing portion; Figure 11 is an exploded perspective view of the damper and drive rack of Figure 10, but with the drive rack shown as transparent to show the recesses within; Figure 12 is a front elevational view of a piston with its corresponding gasket shown assembled thereto, with the gasket shown as transparent to show the structure within.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments

The present embodiments represent currently the best ways known to the applicant of putting the invention into practice. But they are not the only ways in which this can be achieved. They are illustrated, and they will now be described, by way of

example only.

Referring to Figure 1, an exploded view of component parts of a letterbox assembly 10 is shown. Preferably all of the components are removably attachable to one another for ease of replacement/adjustment of a component part if necessary. The letter box assembly is intended to be fitted in a rectangular aperture in a door, although it will be understood that letterbox assemblies are sometimes fitted in non-open ing panels of buildings or the like. It will be understood that references herein to a door include references to a panel or similar, and vice versa. The aperture in the door/panel has a length that is much greater than its height.

The assembly has an inner pivoted flap 12 and an outer pivoted flap 14. The assembly has a frame comprising an outer housing portion 16, an outer cover plate 17, an inner housing portion 18 and an inner cover plate 19. The outer cover plate 17 is attachable to the outer housing portion 16 by means of lugs on the outer housing portion 16 (not visible in Figure 1), which are receivable in holes 21 on the outer cover plate 17. The holes 21 each have a narrow opening, the lugs each having a wide body portion and a narrow neck portion between the body portion and the outer housing portion 16. The narrow opening of each hole 21 is deformable as the body portion of a lug is inserted, the narrow opening then retaining the body portion in the hole. It will be appreciated that other fixing means can be used to fix the outer cover plate 17 to the outer housing portion 16.

The inner cover plate 19 is attachable to the inner housing portion 18 by means of screws or other suitable fixings (not shown), which pass through apertures 22 in the inner cover plate 19 and apertures 23 in the inner housing portion 18. Also attached to the inner cover plate 19 by means of the same fixings is a latch plate 70, which will be described in more detail below, the fixings passing through apertures 71 in the latch plate 70, then through apertures 22 in the inner cover plate 19 and through apertures 23 in the inner housing portion 18.

The outer housing portion 16 has a rear body portion 16a, a flanged portion 16b, and a front enlarged portion 16c. The rear body portion 16a and flanged portion 16b are received within the aperture within the door (not shown in Figure 1), whereas the front enlarged portion 16c is larger than the aperture and abutts against the outside mouth of the aperture. Also shown in Figure 1 is an outer cover plate seal 28, which is substantially rectangular in shape and has a substantially rectangular aperture, sized to fit over the flanged portion 16b (the rectangular perimeter and aperture of the outer cover plate seal 28 has rounded corners in this embodiment). The outer cover plate seal 28 sits between the front enlarged portion 16c and the wall of the aperture in the door (not shown) when the letterbox assembly is installed in a door.

The front enlarged portion 16c has first and second notches 59, one on either side (only one notch is visible in Figure 1). Each notch 59 has a square shaped cross-section and an opening facing towards the front of the assembly. The term front as used herein in relation to a letterbox assembly refers to the side of the assembly towards the outer letter plate 14 and the term rear as used herein refers to the side of the assembly towards the inner letter plate 12. The term side or sides as used herein in relation to the letterbox assembly refers to the left and right hand sides of the letterbox assembly (i.e. the sides of the letterbox assembly adjacent the two opposing shorter sides of the letterbox aperture in the door/panel when installed).

The inner housing portion 18 has a front body portion 18a (which is short and not visible in Figure 1), a flanged portion 18b, and a rear enlarged portion 18c. The front body portion 18a and flanged portion 18b are received within the aperture within the door (not shown in Figure 1), whereas the rear enlarged portion 18c is larger than the aperture and abutts against the inner mouth of the aperture. Also shown in Figure 1 is an inner cover plate seal 27, which is substantially rectangular in shape and has a substantially rectangular aperture, sized to fit over the flanged portion 18b (the rectangular perimeter and aperture of the outer inner plate seal 27 has rounded corners in this embodiment). The inner cover plate seal 27 sits between the rear enlarged portion 18c and the wall of the aperture in the door (not shown) when the letterbox assembly is installed in a door.

The rear body portion 16a of the outer housing portion 16 is telescopically receivable within the front body portion 18a of the inner housing portion 18, and the two housing portions can be fixedly coupled by means of screws or other suitable fixings that pass through apertures 24 in the inner housing portion 18 and then through apertures 25 in the outer housing portion 16. Similar to the front enlarged portion 16c, the rear enlarged portion 18c has first and second notches 59, one on either side. Each notch 59 has a square shaped cross-section and an opening facing towards the rear of the assembly. The notches 59 are each for engageably receiving a corresponding end of a torsion bar, as will be described below.

The outer cover plate 17 has a pair of ribs 31, 32 adjacent one side of the cover plate and a further pair of ribs 33, 34 adjacent the other side of the cover plate, each rib having a curved notch cut out of it. The outer flap 14 has a pair of circular shaped protrusions 35, one protruding from the top left hand side of the flap and one protruding from the top right hand side of the flap. The protrusions 35 are receivable in the corresponding pairs of ribs 31, 32 and 33, 34 on the outer cover plate 17, such that the outer flap 14 can be pivotally mounted for pivotal movement relative to the cover plate 17.

Similarly, the inner cover plate 19 has a pair of ribs adjacent one side of the cover plate and a further pair of ribs adjacent the other side of the cover plate (the ribs are not visible in Figure 1). The inner flap 12 has a pair of circular shaped protrusions 36, one protruding from the top left hand side of the flap and one protruding from the top right hand side of the flap (only one is visible in Figure 1). The protrusions 36 are receivable in the corresponding pairs of ribs on the inner cover plate 19, such that the inner flap 12 can be pivotally mounted for pivotal movement relative to the cover plate 19.

The letterbox assembly 10 includes linking means for linking the outer flap 14 and the inner flap 12 such that when one of the inner or outerflaps is opened or closed, the other of the flaps will move correspondingly to open or close the aperture. The linking means includes four rack-and-pinion assemblies comprising a first outer rack-and-pinion assembly 41 at one side and toward the front of the letterbox assembly, a second outer rack-and-pinion assembly 42 at the other side and toward the front of the front letterbox assembly, a first inner rack-and-pinion assembly 43 at one side and toward the rear of the rear letterbox assembly and a second inner rack-and-pinion assembly 44 at the other side and toward the rear of the letterbox assembly.

Each rack-and-pinion assembly comprises a pinion 45 and a rack 46. Each pinion has a toothed portion 45a and a shank portion 45b, the shank portion 45b being substantially square in cross-section. Each of the circular shaped protrusion 35 of the outer flap 14 and each circular shaped protrusion 36 of the inner flap 12 has a substantially square shaped aperture 35a, 36a, which is shaped and sized to receive a shank portion 45b of a pinion 45 in use. In this way, as the outer flap 14 is pivoted about the outer cover plate 17, the two pinions 45 received in the circular shaped protrusions 35 will rotate. Similarly, as the inner flap 12 is pivoted about the inner cover plate 19, the two pinions 45 received in the circular shaped protrusions 36 will rotate.

Each rack 46 is an elongate bar having a toothed side to toothedly engage with the corresponding pinion 45 of the rack-and-pinion assembly in use. The inner housing portion 18 has first and second rack receiving recesses 48, one adjacent each side of the inner housing portion 18. Each recess 48 has a large opening facing towards the rear of the letterbox assembly and a front wall, with an elongate slot in the front wall (the elongate slot of each of recesses 48 in the inner housing portion 18 are not visible in Figure 1). Similarly, the outer housing portion 16 has first and second rack receiving recesses 47 (not visible in Figure 1), one adjacent each side of the outer housing portion 16. Each recess 47 has a large opening facing towards the front of the letterbox assembly and a rear wall, with an elongate slot 47a.

Each rack receiving recess 47, 48 is longer than the rack 46 to be received therein, such that the rack 46 can move up and down within the rack receiving recess 47, 48. In use, each rack 46 is received in a corresponding rack receiving recess 48, 47, each rack 46 being biased toward the top of its corresponding rack receiving recess 47, 48 by a biasing means comprising a compression spring 53. In the embodiment of Figure 1, each compression spring 53 is a helical spring 53. Each helical spring 53 has a top end located and received in use in a cylindrical recess 46d in the bottom end of each rack (not visible in Figure 1, but visible in Figure 11), the bottom of each spring 53 bearing against the bottom of the recess it is received in use.

The first outer rack-and-pinion assembly 41 is coupled to the first inner rack-and-pinion assembly 43 by a rod 51. Similarly, the second outer rack-and-pinion assembly 42 is coupled to the second inner rack-and-pinion assembly 44 by a rod 52. Each rack 46 has an aperture 46 in its side opposite the toothed side of the rack 46, shaped to receive an end of a rod 51 or 52. The rod 51 has a first end receivable in the correspondingly shaped aperture 46a in the rack 46 of the first outer rack-and-pinion assembly 41 and a second end receivable in the correspondingly shaped aperture 46a in the rack 46 of the first inner rack-and-pinion assembly 43. Similarly, rod 52 has a first end receivable in the correspondingly shaped aperture 46a in the rack 46 of the second outer rack-and-pinion assembly 42 and a second end receivable in the correspondingly shaped aperture 46a in the rack 46 of the second inner rack-and-pinion assembly 44. Preferably the rod ends are retained in each corresponding aperture 46a by means of a friction fit. When assembled, the toothed sides of the racks of the first and second outer rack-and-pinion assemblies face the front of the letterbox assembly and toothedly engage with the corresponding pinions via access though the front facing large opening of recesses 47. Similarly, the toothed sides of the racks of the first and second inner rack-and-pinion assemblies face the rear of the letterbox assembly and toothedly engage with the corresponding pinions via access though the rear facing large opening of recesses 48. The rod 51 can move up and down within corresponding elongate slots 47a and 48a. Similarly, the rod 52 can move up and down within corresponding elongate slots 47a and 48a. It will be understood that rods 51 and 52 match, but have simply been given different reference numerals herein for identifying the two rods, one on each side of the letterbox assembly.

In operation, when a postman (or other person wishing to insert an item of mail through the letterbox) lifts the outer flap 14 to move it from its closed position to an open position, the outer flap 14 pivots relative the outer cover plate 17 and this causes the pinions 45 attached at each side of the outer flap 14 to rotate (i.e. the pinions of the first and second outer rack-and-pinion assemblies 41, 42). Rotation of each pinion 45 transfers rotational motion of the pinion to linear motion of the corresponding rack 46 to which it is toothedly engaged, causing the corresponding rack 46 to move downwards, towards the bottom end of the rack receiving recess 47 in which it is received, against the biasing force of the corresponding compression spring 53. As the rack of the first outer rack-and-pinion assembly 41 moves down, the rod 51 moves down also, causing the rack 46 of the first inner rack-and-pinion assembly 43 to also move down. Linear motion of the rack of the first inner rack-and-pinion assembly 43 is transferred to rotational motion of the corresponding pinion 45, which causes the inner flap 12 to pivot towards its open position.

Similarly, on the other side of the letterbox assembly, as the second outer rack-and-pinion assembly 42 moves down, the rod 52 moves down also, pushing the rack of the first inner rack-and-pinion assembly 44 to move down. Linear motion of the rack of the second inner rack-and-pinion assembly 44 is transferred to rotational motion of the corresponding pinion 45, which causes the inner flap 12 to pivot towards its open position. When the person releases the outer flap 14, each compression spring 53 acts to urge the corresponding rack 46 upwards, thereby causing the outer flap 14 and inner flap 12 to move towards their closed positions by means of the engagement of each rack 46 with a pinion 45 attached to one of the inner or outer flaps.

By having two sets of outer and inner rack-and-pinion assemblies, one on each side of the letterbox assembly, stable movement of the flaps between the open and closed positions can be achieved.

Doors come in a variety of widths (the term width being used to refer to the dimension between the front and rear faces of a door). Although UPVC doors are typically supplied nowadays in standard widths of 60 or 70 mm, users may wish to fit the letterbox assembly to older doors of non-standard widths. The linking means can easily be configured for installation in doors of differing widths by varying the length of the drive rods 51,52. Also a kit can be provided having drive rods 51,52 in at least first and second lengths, suitable for use with standard door widths of 60 and 70 mm for example. Referring to Figure 8, it will be understood that drive rods 51,52 can easily be exchanged for drive rods of a differing length by removing each drive rod from the corresponding apertures 46a in the racks 46 and inserting new drive rods of a differing length in the apertures.

Referring to Figure 1, the letterbox assembly further comprises four torsion bars 55.

Referring to Figure 2, two torsion bars 55 are assembled in use near the top edge of the outer flap 14, one adjacent each side of the outer flap 14. Similarly, two torsion bars 55 are assembled in use near the top edge of the inner flap 12, one adjacent each side of the inner flap 12. Each torsion bar 55 has an elongate cylindrical main portion between a first end 55a and a second end 55b. The first end 55a has a square cross-sectional shape and is larger in cross-section than the main portion.

The second end 55b has a square cross-sectional shape and is larger in cross-section than the main portion.

Referring to Figure 2, during assembly, two torsion bars 55 are received in a channel 56 near the top of the outer flap 44. The channel 56 has a first pair of ribs 57 located on one side of the mid-point of the channel 56 length and another pair of ribs 58 located on the other side of the mid-point of the channel 56 length. Each of the ribs 57,58 has a substantially square shaped notch cut out of it. The first end 55a of a first torsion bar 55 engages in use in the pair of ribs 57, the square cross-sectioned first end 55a of the torsion bar 55 being prevented from moving angularly with respect to the channel 56 by engagement with the ribs 57. The second end 55b of the first torsion bar 55 engages in use in notch 59 in the corresponding side of the front enlarged portion I 6c of the outer housing portion 16 (visible in Figure 1).

The square cross-sectioned second end 55b of the torsion bar 55 is prevented from moving angularly with respect to the notch 59. Similarly, the first end 55a of a second torsion bar engages in use in the other pair of ribs 58 and the second end 55b of the second torsion bar engages in use in notch 59 in the other side of the outer housing portion 16, the first end 55a being prevented from moving angularly with respect to the channel 56 and the second end 55b being prevented from moving angularly with respect to the notch 59.

The torsion bars are preferably made of plastic or rubber, or some other resilient material.

In operation, as a postman (or other person wishing to insert an item of mail through the letterbox) lifts the outer flap 14 to move it from its closed position to an open position, this causes the first end 55a of each of the two torsion bars coupled to the outer flap 14 to move angularly relative to the second ends 55b of each of the two torsion bars, the second ends 55b being fixed to the outer housing portion 16. This twists the two torsion bars. When the person releases the outer flap 14, each of the two torsion bars 55 assembled to the outer flap 14 urges the flap 14 to move towards the closed position. The torsion bars provide further biasing means for biasing the inner and outer flaps towards the closed position. The torsion bars 55 and the helical springs 53 both provide biasing means, biasing the flaps to the closed position. It will be understood that the assembly may include on the torsion bars 55 or only the helical springs 53 as the biasing means for biasing the flaps to the closed position, rather than both the torsion bars 55 and the helical springs 53 as shown in the embodiment in Figure 1.

There is a similar arrangement of first and second torsion bars assembled to the inner flap 12 and inner housing portion 18 in the same way as for the outer flap, and they behave in the same way as the inner flap 12 is moved between closed and open positions.

The torsion bars can also provide a damping or soft-close' mechanism for the inner and outer flaps 12, 14. Although the torsion bars 55 bias the flaps 12, 14 towards their closed position, the flaps 12,14 are urged with less force than prior art torsion springs, by nature of the material used for the torsion bars, thereby providing a soft close mechanism.

Referring to Figures 9 to 12, damping means, which can optionally be included in the letterbox assembly for providing a soft-close mechanism, will now be described.

Referring to Figure 9, the letterbox assembly 10 of Figure 1 is shown, but further including damping means. The damping means comprises first and second dampers 100 coupled to the first and second inner rack-and-pinion assemblies 43,44 respectively. Figure 9 shows a fully assembled letterbox assembly, as if it were installed in place in a door aperture (although the door is not shown). The top of the flanged portion 1 8b of the inner housing portion 18 has first and second piston receiving recesses 101 on either side, in each of which is received a piston 102 of first and second dampers 100 respectively.

Referring to Figure 10, the damper 100 for coupling to the first inner rack-and-pinion assembly 43 is shown, with the damper components exploded. Figure 10 also shows the rack 46 of the first inner rack-and-pinion assembly 43 and part of the inner housing portion 18 (the top side part). Each damper comprises a piston 102, a gasket 104 and a fixing pin 106.

Each piston 102 has an oblong shaped head portion 102a and a cylindrical shaped body portion 102b. There is a protrusion 102d extending from the bottom of the body portion 102b, the piston having a groove 102c, which runs around the circumference of the protrusion 102d. When assembled, the gasket 104 sits around the protrusion 102d, seated in groove 102c (as shown in Figure 12). The gasket 104 is preferably made of rubber or other suitable resilient material. The gasket 104 is ring shaped, having a throughbore 104a into which the protrusion 102d inserts, a shoulder 104b in the throughbore abutting against a shoulder 102e on the protrusion 1 02d in use, to retain the gasket 104 assembled to the piston 102. The outer wall of the gasket 104 has a first sloped surface 104c, sloping towards body portion 102b of the piston, and a second sloped surface 104d, sloping towards protrusion 102d, the second sloped surface I 04d being steeper than first sloped surface I 04c.

The piston 102 of each damper is received in a corresponding piston receiving recess 101 in the housing (in Figure 10, a corresponding recess 101 in the flanged portion 18b of the inner housing portion 18 is shown). The piston receiving recess 101 has an oblong shaped recessed portion lOla, shaped to receive the head portion 102a of the corresponding piston 102, the underside of the head portion 102a abutting a planar base lOIb of the recess. The piston receiving recess 101 further comprises a circular shaped aperture lOlc which communicates with the rack receiving recess 48 in the inner housing portion 18. The rack 46 has a cylindrical shaped bore 46b at its top end, the bore having a first end, which is an open end, and a second blind end 46c. Referring to Figure 11, the second end 46c is conical in shape, the conical shaped end 46c being shaped to correspond to the protrusion 102d of the piston. There is a small hole 109 at the apex of the conical shaped second end 46c of bore 46b, hole 109 communicating with the rod receiving aperture 46c in rack 46.

When the rack 46 is installed in place in the rack receiving recess 48, and the piston 102 is installed in the inner housing portion 18, the body portion 102b of the piston will extend into the rack receiving recess 48 and into the cylindrical recess 46b of the rack.

Fixing pin 106 is used to securely attach the piston 102 to the inner housing portion 18. Fixing pin 106 has a head portion 106a and a shank portion 106b. Piston 102 has a transverse throughbore 108 for receiving the shank portion 106b of the pin in use. Transverse through bore 108 has an axis that is perpendicular to the axis of the body portion 102b of the piston. The shank portion 106b of the fixing pin 106 is receivable in a corresponding hole 107 in the inner housing portion 18, and then in a transverse throughbore 108 in the body portion of piston 102, to secure the piston 102 to the housing.

In operation, as a postman or other person lifts the outer flap 14 to move it from its closed position to an open position, as described above, each rack 46 of the letterbox assembly will move downwards, towards the bottom of the respective rack receiving recess 48. The rack 46 will therefore move in a direction away from the corresponding piston 102 (the piston being fixed to the housing), such that the second end 46c of the cylindrical bore 46b moves away from the piston 102. When the person releases the outer flap 14, the outer flap 14 will move towards the closed position due to the action of the biasing means (the compression spring 53 and/or the torsion bars 55). Furthermore, due to the linking means coupling the motion of the inner and outer flaps 12,14, the racks 46 of the first and second inner rack-and-pinion assemblies will also be caused to move upwards, moving the inner flap 12 towards the closed position. The second end 46c of the cylindrical bore 46b will thus move towards the fixed piston 102. The outer wall of the gasket 104 is shaped such that it forms a tight seal with the inside of the cylindrical bore 46b as the second end 46c of the cylindrical bore 46b moves towards the fixed piston 102, preventing air from escaping out of the open first end of the cylindrical bore 46b.

This dampens the movement of the rack 46 towards the piston 102. As the second end 46c of the cylindrical bore 46b moves towards the fixed piston 102, air can escape through hole 109, but due to the small size of hole 109, air can only escape slowly, thus slowing the movement of the rack 46 towards the piston 102. The damper could be described as an air damper or pneumatic damper. Suitably, this provides a damper or soft-close' mechanism for closing of the flaps. This avoids the flaps slamming due to the force of the closure biasing means, avoiding the loud noise of slamming flaps and people potentially getting their fingers trapped in a slamming letterbox flap. The size of hole 109 will determine how much air is released from the cylindrical bore 46b during closing of the letterbox assembly flaps.

The outer wall of gasket 104 is shaped such that there is a loose connection between the outer wall of the gasket 104 and the inside of the cylindrical bore 46b as the second end 46c of the cylindrical bore 46b moves away from the fixed piston 102. Therefore, during opening of the letterbox assembly flaps, air can flow into the cylindrical bore 46b.

Referring to Figure 10, similarly there is a second damper on the other side of the inner housing portion from that shown in Figure 10. In this embodiment, there are no dampers coupled to the first or second outer rack-and-pinion assemblies, as the use of damping means coupled to the first and second inner rack-and-pinion assemblies dampens the closing movement of both the inner and outer flaps due to the linking means coupling the movement of the inner and outer flaps. However, if desired, dampers could be coupled to the first or second outer rack-and-pinion assemblies (Figure 1 shows piston receiving recesses 101 in the outer housing portion 16).

If it is desired that the outer flap 14 of the letterbox assembly 10 should be useable as a door knocker, then the dampers can easily be uninstalled. This is done by removing the pin 106 from the housing such that the piston 102 can be removed from the housing.

The letterbox assembly further includes locking means to lock the inner flap in its closed position. Referring to Figures 3A and 3B, the locking means comprises a locking member comprising a slider switch that is slidably moveable relative to the inner flap 12 (and the frame of the letterbox assembly) between a locked configuration in which the inner flap 12 is prevented from moving away from its closed position and an unlocked configuration in which the inner flap can move between its closed and open positions. The slider switch 60 has a projection 61 that projects from a front face 60a (i.e. a face that faces towards the front of the letterbox assembly when the letterbox is assembled) of the slider switch. The projection 61 has a shank 61a and a flanged head 61b. The slider switch is coupled slidably to the inner flap 12 by means of a pin 62. Referring to Figure 1, the pin 62 is shown exploded from the slider switch 60. In Figures 3A and 3B, the pin 62 is shown assembled to the slider switch 60, the pin 62 being received in a throughbore 63, the throughbore having a longitudinal axis that is perpendicular to that of projection 61 and also perpendicular to the axis of sliding movement of the slider switch 60 (the axis of sliding movement of the slider switch 60 is shown by arrow A in Figure 3A).

The inner flap 12 has a recess 75 near its bottom edge shaped to receive the lock slider switch 60 in use. Referring to Figure 3B, the inner flap 12 has a slot 65, close to the bottom edge of the flap, having front surface walls 64 around the perimeter of the slot 65. When the slider switch 60 is assembled to the inner flap 12, the projection 60 projects through slot 65 and the pin 62 bears against the front surface walls 64 around the slot 65, preventing the slider switch 60 from being removed from the inner flap 12.

The projection 61 is configured to engage with a cooperating member attached to the inner cover plate 19 in use, the cooperating member comprising a latch plate 70.

Referring to Figure 1, the latch plate 70 is attached to the inner cover plate 19 by means of screws or other suitable fixings (not shown) that pass through apertures 71 in the latch plate 70, through apertures 22 in the inner cover plate 19, and through apertures 23 in the inner housing portion 18. In Figures 3A and 3B, the latch plate 70 is shown between the slider switch 60 and the inner flap 12 for ease of viewing the various elements of the component parts, however when assembled, the inner flap 12 sits between the latch plate 70 and the slider switch 60 (as shown in Figure 1), the slider switch 60 being moveably coupled to the inner flap 12 in use.

The latch plate 70 has a keyhole shaped slot 72 having a substantially circular first portion 72a and a narrower elongate second portion 72b in communication with the first portion. The head 61 b of the projection 61 is receivable through the first portion 72a of the slot 72, but not through the narrower second portion 72b. The shank 61a of the projection 61 is receivable through both the first and second portions 72a,72b of the slot 72 on the latch 70.

Referring to Figure 3A, the locking means has a helical compression spring 74 disposed in use between the front face 60a of the slider switch 60 and the rear wall of the recess 75 of the inner flap 12 (i.e. the wall facing the rear of the letterbox assembly). The recess 75 includes a spring receiving portion 76 (visible in Figure 3B) that is further recessed in the inner flap, in which an end of the compression spring 74 is located in use. Spring 74 biases the slider switch 60 away from the inner flap 12 when assembled.

Referring to Figure 3B, the locking means further has a latch return spring 77. The latch return spring 77 is located over a pin 78 arranged on the front side 60a of the slider switch 60, the pin 78 extending away from protrusion 61, parallel with the axis A of sliding movement of the slider switch. The latch return spring 77 biases the slider switch towards the locked configuration, as will be described further below.

Referring to Figure 3B, the slider switch 60 has a detent 81 on its front face 60a.

The detent 81 has a sloped surface 81a that slopes towards the front face 60a in the direction that the slider switch moves when moving to its locked configuration and an upright surface 81b that projects substantially perpendicularly from the front face 60a. The inner flap 12 has a detent receiving recess 82 in the rear of recess 75. On the right hand side of the detent receiving recess 82 as viewed in Figure 3A, is a wall having a sloped surface 82a, the sloped surface 82a sloping towards the base of the recess 75 in the direction that the slider switch 60 moves when moving to its unlocked configuration. The wall also has an upright surface 82b that projects substantially perpendicularly from the base of recess 75.

In operation, when the inner flap 12 is in the closed position and it is intended to lock the inner flap closed, the slider switch 60 is pushed in, towards the letterbox assembly, against the force of spring 74, to push the head 61b of projection 61 through first portion 72a of slot 72 of the latch plate 70. The slider switch 60 is then moved by the user to the left, when viewing the rear of the letterbox assembly, along the direction of axis A in Figure 3A. This moves the head 61b of projection 61 behind second portion 72b of slot 72 in latch plate 70, thus temporarily fixing the inner flap 12 (to which the slider switch 60 is attached) to the latch plate 70, which is fixed to the cover plate 19 (and which is fixed to the letterbox assembly housing).

This therefore fixes the inner flap 12 to the letterbox frame. The user slides the slider switch 60 until detent 81 inserts into detent receiving recess 82. The latch return spring 77 biases the slider switch 60 back toward the unlocked configuration, but the upright surface 81 b of detent 81 bears against upright surface 82b of the wall of recess 82, preventing the slider switch from returning to the unlocked configuration.

When the inner flap 12 is locked closed, the outer flap 14 is also locked closed, by means of the linking means linking the inner and outer flaps. If a person tries to open the outer flap 14 when the inner flap 12 is locked closed, they would not be able to as the rack and pinion of the first and second outer rack-and-pinion assemblies 41,42 will be prevented from moving since the first and second inner rack-and-pinion assemblies 43,44 to which the first and second outer rack-and-pinion assemblies 41,42 are linked respectively are prevented from moving by locking of the inner flap 12. In this way, both flaps of the letterbox assembly can be easily locked from the inside.

When it is intended to unlock the letterbox assembly, the user will push the slider switch 60 slightly further in the direction of travel for moving it into the locked configuration (i.e. in the direction of arrow A in Figure 3A). This frees detent 81 from engagement in the detent receiving recess 82 and spring 74 pushes the slider switch 60 away from the inner flap 12 such that detent 81 can no longer engage in the detent receiving recess 82. Once detent 81 has been freed from the detent receiving recess 82, the latch return spring 77 urges the slider switch 60 towards the unlocked configuration (i.e. the slider switch is caused to slide back to the right hand side when viewing the letterbox assembly from the rear, in the direction of arrow B in Figure 3A). Once the slider switch 60 has returned to the unlocked configuration, the head 61b of projection 61 will line up with first portion 72a of slot 72 in the latch plate 70, such that the head 61 b can move freely in and out of first portion 72a of the slot 72 and inner flap 12 is no longer fixedly attached to the cover plate 19.

It will be understood that the locking means described herein could of course be used to lock a flap of a letterbox assembly which only has one flap, or a letterbox assembly which has two flaps but no linking means linking the inner and outer flaps.

It will be understood that the locking means as described above is optional and that the letterbox assembly may have no locking means. Furthermore, it will be understood that other locking means may be used with a letterbox assembly having the linking means described above. For example, a shootbolt type locking means may be used to lock the inner flap to the letterbox assembly frame. Such a shootbolt type mechanism would have a slider switch directly coupled to a shootbolt coupled to the flap, which on actuation of the slider can move into and out of a keep on the letterbox frame.

Referring to Figure 4, the letterbox assembly may have a letter catcher 90 (also known as a mail catcher) for catching mail that passes through the letterbox. The letter catcher 90 is an optional feature of the letterbox assembly that can be easily retro-fitted to the letterbox assembly 10. Referring to Figure 4, the mail catcher provides a container portion 91 for receiving the letters. In this embodiment, the container portion 91 is cuboidal in shape, but it can be any suitable shape. In this embodiment, the letter container portion 91 is rigid, however it need not be rigid, but could be a bag for example. The letter catcher 90 and letterbox 10 assembly have means for removably attaching the letter catcher 90 to the letterbox assembly 10.

The letter catcher 90 is intended to be mounted on the rear side of the letterbox assembly 10, such that it catches mail that passes through the letterbox from the outside.

The letter catcher 90 has on its front side (the side closest to the letterbox assembly when assembled) two projecting tabs 92, one on each side (only one tab is visible in Figure 4). Each tab 92 has an aperture 93. The inner housing portion 18 of the letterbox assembly has two recesses 94, near its bottom edge, one on each side, facing the rear of the letterbox assembly. Each recess 94 has a projecting lug 95, projecting away from the inner housing portion 18, towards the rear of the letterbox assembly. Each lug 95 is shaped and sized to be received within a corresponding aperture 93 in a tab 92 of the letter catcher 90. In this embodiment the lugs 95 and apertures 93 are substantially rectangular in shape, but it will be understood that any suitable shape can be used for the cooperating lug and aperture pairs. Each lug 95 and corresponding aperture 93 is sized and shaped such that the lug 95 can be retained in the corresponding aperture 93 via a friction fit. The letter catcher 90 is further secured to the letterbox assembly by fixing of the inner cover plate 19 over the inner housing portion 18 (the cover plate 19 is not shown in Figure 4). The cover plate 19 securely fixes onto the inner housing portion 18, preventing the letter catcher 90 tabs 92 from detaching from the corresponding lugs 95. The inner cover plate 19 has two notches cut out on its front side, on its bottom edge, one on each side of the cover plate 19, such that the tabs 92 can be received under the inner cover plate 19 when the inner cover plate 19 is fixed to the inner housing portion 19.

The letterbox assembly 10 includes attachment means for attaching the letter catcher 90 to the letterbox assembly 10. Therefore, the letter catcher 90 need not be fixed directly to the door, avoiding the need for drilling into the door. Drilling into the door is undesirable, as should it later be decided that the letter catcher 90 is no longer needed, unsightly drill holes will be left in the door.

In order to assemble the letterbox assembly of the embodiment of Figure 1 to a door, firstly a substantially rectangular shaped apertures is cut in the door, sized to receive the flanged portion 16b of the outer housing portion 16, but not the front enlarged portion I 6c of the outer housing portion 16 or the rear enlarged portion I Bc of the inner housing portion 18. The letterbox assembly is supplied with the outer housing portion 16, outer cover plate seal 28, outer cover plate 17 and outer flap 14 assembled, with the first and second outer rack-and-pinion assemblies 41,42 housed in the outer housing portion 16. With the drive rods 51,52 installed in the racks 46 of the first and second outer rack-and-pinion assemblies 41,42 respectively, this outer assembly is inserted in the aperture in the door, from the front, with the outer cover plate seal 28 around the outer housing portion 16, such that the outer cover plate seal 28 butts up against the front side of the door when the outer housing portion 16 is installed. The inner housing portion 18 is inserted in the aperture in the door, with the first and second inner rack-and-pinion assemblies 43,44 housed in the inner housing portion 18 and with the inner cover plate seal 27 around the inner housing portion 18. The inner housing portion 18 is pushed into the aperture until the free ends of rods 51,52 insert into the apertures 46a in racks 46 in the first and second inner rack-and-pinion assemblies 43,44 respectively and until the inner cover plate seal 27 butts up against the rear side of the door when the inner housing portion 18 is installed. The inner housing portion 18 is then fixed to the outer housing portion 16 via suitable fixing means that pass through apertures 24 and 35. The letter catcher 90 may optionally be fixed to the inner housing portion 18 before fitting of the inner cover plate 19. The cover plate 19 (with inner flap 12 assembled thereto) and the latch plate 70 are then fixed to the inner housing portion 18.

Claims

Claims 1. A letterbox assembly comprising at least one flap and a frame adapted to be received within a door/panel in use, said flap being moveable relative to the frame between a closed position in which the flap blocks the aperture and an open position in which the aperture is accessible via the flap, the assembly further comprising damping means for damping movement of the at least one flap from its open to its closed position.
2. A letterbox assembly according to claim 1, wherein the damping means comprises at least one air damper.
3. A letterbox assembly according to claim I or 2, wherein the damping means comprises at least one torsional damper having respective parts movable angularly relative to one another about an axis.
4. A letterbox assembly comprising a device according to any preceding claim and further comprising at least one flap and a frame adapted to be received within a door/panel aperture in use, said flap being moveable relative to the frame between a closed position in which the flap blocks the aperture and an open position in which the aperture is accessible via the flap, the assembly further comprising locking means, the locking means being moveable between an unlocked configuration in which the flap can move between its open and closed positions and a locked configuration in which movement of the flap to its open position is prevented.
5. A letterbox assembly comprising at least one flap and a frame adapted to be received within the door/panel aperture in use, said flap being moveable relative to the frame between a closed position in which the flap blocks the aperture and an open position in which the aperture is accessible via the flap, the assembly further comprising locking means, the locking means being moveable between an unlocked configuration in which the flap can move between its open and closed positions and a locked configuration in which movement of the flap to its open position is prevented.
6. A letterbox assembly according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the locking means comprises a locking member and a corresponding cooperating member, the locking member being engageable with and releasably lockable to the cooperating member.
7. A letterbox assembly according to claim 6, wherein the locking member comprises a projection receivable in a slot in the cooperating member, the slot having a first portion and a narrower second portion, the projection having a shank portion and a head portion, the head portion being insertable through the first portion of the slot but not the second portion of the slot, such that the head portion can be inserted through the first portion and moved to bring the shank portion into the second portion of the slot to move the locking means into the locked configuration.
8. A letterbox assembly according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the locking member is coupled to and moveable relative to said flap and the cooperating member is on theframein use.
9. A letterbox assembly according to any of claims 6 to 8, wherein the locking member is biased away from the cooperating member in use
10. A letterbox assembly according to any of claims 6 to 9, wherein the locking member is biased towards the unlocked configuration.
11. A letterbox assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the device further comprises a frame adapted to be received within a door/panel aperture in use and attachment means for attaching a letter catcher to the letter box assembly, the attachment means comprising complementary engagement means for engaging in use with respective complementary engagement means on the letter catcher.
12. A letter catcher for catching mail that passes through a letterbox assembly having a frame adapted to be received within a door/panel aperture in use, the letter catcher having attachment means for attaching the letter catcher to the frame, the attachment means comprising complementary engagement means for engaging in use with respective complementary engagement means on the frame.
13. A letterbox assembly having a frame adapted to be received within a door/panel aperture in use and at least one flap, the flap being moveable between a closed position in which the flap blocks the aperture and an open position in which the aperture is accessible via the flap, the letterbox assembly further comprising attachment means for attaching a letter catcher for catching mail that passes through the letterbox assembly, the attachment means comprising complementary engagement means for engaging in use with respective complementary engagement means on the letter catcher.
14. A letterbox assembly according to claim 13, wherein the letterbox assembly further comprises a letter catcher for catching mail that passes through the letterbox assembly.
15. A device, letter catcher or letterbox assembly according to any of claims 11 to 14, wherein one of the respective complementary engagement means is a lug and the other is a lug receiving aperture, the lug being receivable in the lug receiving aperture in use.
16. A letter catcher or letterbox assembly according to claim 15, wherein the lug is on the frame and the lug receiving aperture is on the letter catcher.
17. A letterbox assembly according to any of claims 11 or 13 to 16, wherein the frame further comprises a cover plate, the cover plate being mounted over the respective complementary engagement means in use.
18. A letterbox assembly or letter catcher as hereinbefore described with reference to any suitable combination of the accompanying drawings.