US20170295979A1

US20170295979A1 - Mail Delivery Alert System

Info

Publication number: US20170295979A1
Application number: US15/131,163
Authority: US
Inventors: Karl Appell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-04-18
Filing date: 2016-04-18
Publication date: 2017-10-19

Abstract

A mail delivery alert system includes a mailbox that may receive mail and the mailbox has a door. A sensing unit is positioned within the mailbox and the sensing unit senses light and motion. Thus, the sensing unit detects when the door is opened. The sensing unit generates an alarm sequence when the door is opened. An electronic device is provided. The electronic device is in electrical communication with the sensing unit. Thus, the electronic device receives the alarm sequence from the sensing unit. The electronic device issues an alert when the electronic device receives the alarm sequence. Thus, the electronic device alerts that mail has been delivered to the mail box.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIE THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM.

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

(2) Description of Related Art including information disclosed under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98

The disclosure and prior art relates to alert devices and more particularly pertains to a new alert device for issuing an alert when mail is deposited in a mailbox.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a mailbox that may receive mail and the mailbox has a door. A sensing unit is positioned within the mailbox and the sensing unit senses light and motion. Thus, the sensing unit detects when the door is opened. The sensing unit generates an alarm sequence when the door is opened. An electronic device is provided. The electronic device is in electrical communication with the sensing unit. Thus, the electronic device receives the alarm sequence from the sensing unit. The electronic device issues an alert when the electronic device receives the alarm sequence. Thus, the electronic device alerts that mail has been delivered to the mail box.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective in-use view of a mail delivery alert system according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a right side phantom view of a sensing unit of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a front phantom view a sensing unit of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 4 thereof, a new alert device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.
As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4, the mail delivery alert system 10 generally comprises a mailbox 12 that may receive mail. The mailbox 12 has a door 14 and an inner surface 16. The mailbox 12 may be a mailbox of any conventional design. A sensing unit 18 is coupled to the mailbox 12 and the sensing unit 18 is positioned within the mailbox 12. The sensing unit 18 senses light and motion. Thus, the sensing unit 18 may detect when the door 14 is opened. The sensing unit 18 generates an alarm sequence when the door 14 is opened.
The sensing unit 18 comprises a housing 20 that has a front side 22 and a lateral side 24. The housing 20 is positioned within the mailbox 12 having the front side 22 facing the door 14. An adhesive layer 26 is coupled to the lateral side of the housing 20. The adhesive layer 26 adhesively engages the inner surface 16 of the mailbox 12. Thus, the housing 20 is retained on the inner surface 16.
A processor 28 is positioned within the housing 20 and the processor 28 selectively generates the alarm sequence. The processor 28 may comprise an electronic processor or the like. A sensor 30 is coupled to the front side 22 of the housing 20 and the sensor 30 detects light and motion. The sensor 30 is electrically coupled to the processor 28. The processor 28 generates the alarm sequence when the sensor 30 detects light and motion. The sensor 30 may comprise an electronic light sensor or the like. The sensor 30 may additionally comprise an electronic motion sensor or the like.
A transmitter 32 is positioned within the housing 20 and the transmitter 32 is electrically coupled to the processor 28. The transmitter 32 may comprise a radio frequency transmitter or the like. A power supply 34 is positioned within the housing 20 and the power supply 34 is electrically coupled to the processor 28. The power supply 34 comprises at least one battery 36. A battery cover 38 is removably coupled to the housing 20. The power supply 34 is positioned beneath the battery cover 38.
An electronic device 40 is provided and the electronic device 40 is in electrical communication with the sensing unit 18. Thus, the electronic device 40 receives the alarm sequence from the sensing unit 18. The electronic device 40 issues an alert when the electronic device 40 receives the alarm sequence. Thus, the electronic device 40 communicates that mail has been delivered to the mailbox 12.
The electronic device 40 has a transceiver 42 that is in electrical communication with the transmitter 32. The transceiver 32 may comprise a radio frequency transceiver or the like. The electronic device 40 may comprise a smart phone or the like. The alert may comprise a text message, a notification from an app or other conventional smart phone alert. The electronic device 40 is carried by a user while the user is in a remote location with respect to the mailbox 12. Thus, the user is remotely notified of mail in the mailbox 12.
In use, the housing 20 is positioned within the mailbox 12. The sensor 30 detects light and motion when the door 14 is opened. The electronic device 40 issues the alert when the mail is inserted into the mailbox 12. Thus, the user is notified of the mail in the mailbox 12. The sensing unit 18 inhibits the user from travelling to the mailbox 12 to check for mail when no mail is present.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, system and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.

Claims

1. A mail delivery alert system being configured to issue an alert when mail is delivered into a mailbox, said system comprising:

a mailbox being configured to receive mail, said mailbox having a door;

a sensing unit being coupled to said mailbox, said sensing unit being positioned within said mailbox, said sensing unit being configured to sense light and motion wherein said sensing unit is configured to detect when said door is opened, said sensing unit generating an alarm sequence when said door is opened, said sensing unit including a housing having a front side and a lateral side, said lateral side being flat, said housing being positioned within said mailbox having said front side facing said door;

an electronic device, said electronic device being in electrical communication with said sensing unit such that said electronic device receives said alarm sequence from said sensing unit, said electronic device issuing an alert when said electronic device receives said alarm sequence wherein said electronic device is configured to alert that mail has been delivered to said mail box; and

an adhesive layer being coupled to said lateral side, said adhesive layer adhesively engaging an inner surface of said mailbox such that said housing is retained on said inner surface along a lateral planar vertical face of said mailbox.

2. (canceled)

3. (canceled)

4. The system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a housing having a front side and a lateral side, said housing being positioned within said mailbox having said front side facing said door; and

a processor being positioned within said housing, said processor selectively generating said alarm sequence.

5. The system according to claim 4, further comprising a sensor being coupled to said front side of said housing wherein said sensor is configured to detect light, said sensor being electrically coupled to said processor, said processor generating said alarm sequence when said sensor detects light.

6. The system according to claim 4, further comprising a transmitter being positioned within said housing, said transmitter being electrically coupled to said processor.

7. The system according to claim 4, further comprising a power supply being positioned within said housing, said power supply being electrically coupled to said processor, said power supply comprising at least one battery.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein:

said sensing unit has a transmitter; and

said electronic device has a transceiver being in electrical communication with said transmitter.

9. A mail delivery alert system being configured to issue an alert when mail is delivered into a mailbox, said system comprising:

a mailbox being configured to receive mail, said mailbox having a door and an inner surface;

a sensing unit being coupled to said mailbox, said sensing unit being positioned within said mailbox, said sensing unit being configured to sense light and motion wherein said sensing unit is configured to detect when said door is opened, said sensing unit generating an alarm sequence when said door is opened, said sensing unit comprising:

a housing having a front side and a lateral side, said lateral side being flat, said housing being positioned within said mailbox having said front side facing said door,

an adhesive layer being coupled to said lateral side, said adhesive layer adhesively engaging said inner surface of said mailbox such that said housing is retained on said inner surface along a lateral planar vertical face of said mailbox,

a processor being positioned within said housing, said processor selectively generating said alarm sequence,

a sensor being coupled to said front side of said housing wherein said sensor is configured to detect light and motion, said sensor being electrically coupled to said processor, said processor generating said alarm sequence when said sensor detects light and motion;

a transmitter being positioned within said housing, said transmitter being electrically coupled to said processor, and

a power supply being positioned within said housing, said power supply being electrically coupled to said processor, said power supply comprising at least one battery; and

an electronic device, said electronic device being in electrical communication with said sensing unit such that said electronic device receives said alarm sequence from said sensing unit, said electronic device issuing an alert when said electronic device receives said alarm sequence wherein said electronic device is configured to alert that mail has been delivered to said mail box, said electronic device having a transceiver being in electrical communication with said transmitter.