US2936143A - Mailbox support - Google Patents

Description

y 1960 H. o. ANDERSON 2,936,143

MAILBOX SUPPORT Filed Feb. 2, 1956 IN VENTOR ATTORNEY MAILBOX SUPPORT Harry 0. Anderson, St. Paul, Minn. Application February 2, 1956, Serial No. 563,112 Claims. (Cl. 248-445) This invention relates to an improvement in mailbox supports and deals particularly with a type of support which will protect the mailbox from injury in the event it is struck by a moving object.

Mailboxes in rural areas are usually supported on laterally extending arms supported by vertical posts mounted in the shoulder of the road. These boxes are usually supported at a proper height so that the mailman can insert the mail into the box or remove mail to be posted from the box by reaching through the side window of a car or truck. The mailboxes must accordingly be positioned closely enough to the road so that they may be opened from a car and, as a result, mailboxes are often struck by vehicles which for some reason or other are travelling along the shoulder of the road. Furthermore, in climates where snow of considerable depth is found, damage often occurs when snowplows remove the snow from the roads. The snow is usually removed from the body of the road and partially from the shoulder thereof. As these plows are sometimes somewhat difficult to maneuver as in some instances they project laterally from the vehicle pushing the plow, the blades of the plow will strike the mailboxes and bend them out of useable shape and will also oftentimes damage the support beyond repair. In many other instances, the force of the snow being pushed to the side of the road by the snowplows creates enough pressure against the mailboxes to dislodge them from their supports. As a result,

there is often filed against the organization operating the plows, a claim for damages due to injury to the mailboxes. As the amount of the claim is usually relatively small and as it is often difficult to determine the actual cause of the difiiculty, such claims are often paid without investigation.

An object of the present invention lies in the provision of a mailbox support which is safer than those which have been used in the past. When a mailbox is rigidly mounted upon a post adjoining the shoulder of a road, either the vehicle or the mailbox or both, will be seriously damaged upon contact. If a passenger vehicle travelling at highway speed along the highway is forced onto the shoulder of the road, the driver may usually keep the car under control unless it strikes some solid object such as a rigidly mounted mailbox. The impact of such a collision is often just suificient to force the car into the ditch. However, where the mailbox is resiliently supported to swing in a level plane, the effect of the shock is greatly lessened.

A feature of the present invention lies in the fact that the mailbox supporting arm moves in a horizontal plane as it is flexed out of normal position. In the past, mailbox supporting arms have been mounted to swing in an upwardly inclined plane so that it will return to central position by gravity. Unless some means is provided to normally hold the arm centered, friction may prevent the arm from returning to its proper location. As a result, more force is usually required to swing the arm r' by than might otherwise be needed. This objection is obviated by my double acting spring hinge structure.

One of the advantages of this invention lies in the safety it provides for the mail box owner. With mail boxes of conventional type, it is necessary for theowner to stand in the highway to remove mail, or to insert letters to be posted. With the present design, the ann supporting the mail box can be swung into parallel relation to the road, and the mail inserted or removed With safety. This advantage applies both to the user of the mailbox and also to drivers of vehicles on the highway, as it is normal practice for drivers to risk accidents byswinging outwardly around a person standing on or near the highway. As a result, my mailbox also is safer from a motorists viewpoint.

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a mailbox support including a laterally extending arm designed to extend toward the highway from the supporting post and which is pivotally supported by the post. The hinge which swingably mounts this arm contains a double-acting spring which will permit lateral rotation of the arm in either direction. Accordingly, if a force is exerted against the side of the mailbox, or against the supporting arm of the mailbox, the arm and box will be swung laterally out of its normal position and will return to its normal position after the force has ceased.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a spring hinge employed. for mounting the mailbox supporting arm which may be manufactured at an extremely low cost. The hinge includes a bracket portion which is attached to the vertical post. It also includes a pair of hinge plates which are stamped from the same die and which are attached to the upper and lower surfaces of the arm. The two plates mounted on the arm straddle the bracket secured to the post and a spring encircles the pivot connecting these parts. This spring is so arranged that pivotal movement of the arm in either direction will flex the spring out of its normal form so that the spring will return the arm to its normal position after being displaced.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the fact that the structure is so designed that it may be attached to the post and to the arm with a minimum of difiiculty. The plates attached to the arm are so designed that they may be attached to the arm by a single bolt, ears being'provided on the plates to keep the plates from rotating relative to the arm. The ears on the hinge plates also tend to properly locate the arm supporting the mailbox with respect to the hinge.

A further feature of the present invention lies in the provision of a mailbox support including a vertical post and including a laterally extending arm secured to the post at a point spaced from the upper end thereof. An attaching bracket is secured to the top of the post with a single screw or the like and a chain extends from this bracket to the laterally supported arm at a point spaced substantially from the hinge point. This chain acts to support the arm so that much of the twisting action normally exerted upon the hinge is eliminated. A further feature of the present invention lies in the construction of the bracket plate supported at the top of the post. This bracket plate is formed of a single piece of sheet metal or the like having portions bent down from the plane thereof to engage against an edge of the post to prevent this bracket from twisting relative to the post when attached by a single screw.

These and other objects, and novel features of the present invention, will be more fully and clearly set forth in the following specification and claims.

In the drawings forming a part of the specification:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the assembled mail- 3 box support showing the general relationship of parts therein.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the hinge at taching the laterally extending arm to the vertical post.

Figure 3 is a sectional view through the hinge construction illustrated in Figure 2, the position of the section being indicated by the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the portion of the hinge which is attached to the vertical post.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of one of the two hinge plates connected to the laterally extending arm.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the bracket plate designed for attachment to the top of the post.

The mailbox support includes two main parts, one of which comprises the hinge structure indicated in general by the letter A, and the other of which comprises a flexible arm support which is indicated in general by the letter B. The mailbox support isdesigned to support a mailbox of the type used in rural areas, this mailbox being indicated in general by the letter C.

In general, the structure includes a vertical supporting post It! to which a part of the hinge structure A and a part of the flexible support B are attached. The hinge A acts to support a lateral-1y extending arm 11 which in turn forms a support for the mailbox C. According to postal regulations, the laterally extending arm 11 must be of a pre-determined length, and this arm must be supported at a pre-determined elevation from the ground. These specific distances are not mentioned as they are obviously subject to change.

The hinge structure A incorporates the bracket 12 best illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawings. In general, this bracket includes a channel shaped body having outwardly extending flanges. Top and bottom flanges 13 and 14 respectively are connected to laterally extending channel sides 15 and 16 respectively. The sides of the channel '15 and 16 are connected at the end thereof most remote from the flanges 13 and 14 by a connecting strip 17 which forms the base of the channel. In the preferred form of construction, the channel strip 17 is of considerably less width than the channel sides 15 and 16, these sides being tapered in form.

Apeitures 19 and 20 are provided in the flanges 13 and 14 to accommodate screws or bolts designed to secure the bracket 12 to the post 10. Vertically aligned apertures 21 and 22 are provided in the channel sides 15 and 16 to accommodate spacing sleeve 13, which in turn encloses a pivot bolt.

The hinge plates which are secured to the hinged end of the arm 11 are best illustrated in Figure 5 of the drawings, these plates being identical but one plate being inverted with respect to the other. Each hinge plate 23 comprises an elongated strip of sheet metal or the like preferably having a rounded end 24. A pivot bolt hole 25 extends through the rounded end 24 at substantially the center of arcuation thereof. The central car 26 is struck upwardly from the body of the hinge plate 23 intermediate the side edges of this plate and at a point spaced from the pivot hole 25. A pair of laterally spaced ears 27 and 29 are struck upwardly from the side edges of the plate 23, these ears being spaced a greater distance from the rounded end 24 than the ear 26. A bolt hole extends through the hinge plate 23 between the ears 27 and 29 and the end of the plate opposite the rounded end and designated by the numeral 31. Ears 28 struck from plates 23 hold the sleeve 18 concentric with the apertures 25.

When the hinge is assembled, as is best illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 of drawings, a pivot bolt extends through the pivot openings 25 in the top and bottom hinge plate 23, this bolt also extending through the pivot openings 21 and 22 in the bracket sides 15 and 16. Preferably the bearing ears 27 and 29 are interposed between the top and bottom sides 15 and 16 of the bracket 12 and the hinge plates 23 to reduce friction when the hinge plates are rotated relative to the bracket. A torsion spring 34 encircles the pivot bolt 35 between the top and bottom sides 15 and 16 of the bracket =12. This spring 34 includes a top arm 36 and a bottom arm 37 which extends in generally parallel relation when the spring is in place. These arms are in crossed relation with the upper arm 36 extending on one side of the channel base 17 and the downwardly extending ear 26 of the upper hinge plate while the lower arm 37 extends on the opposite side of the channel base 27 and of the upwardly projecting ear 26 of the bottom hinge plate. As a result of this arrangement, the hinging of the arm 11 in a clockwise direction from the position illustrated in full lines tends to swing the spring arm 36 in a clockwise direction, increasing the tension on the torsion spring. Similarly, swinging movement of the arm 11 in a counter-clockwise direction would cause the lower ear 26 to engage the arm 37 and to swing this spring arm in a counter-clockwise direction while the strip 1'7 holds the arm end 36 from rotation. Thus, regardless of the direction in which the arm 11 is swung, increased torsion is applied to the spring 34 tending to return the arm to its neutral central position. The arm 11 is further supported from the post It) by means of a flexible member such as a chain 39. This chain is connected to the arm 11 at a point spaced from the hinge A by means of an eye bolt 40 or other suitable means. The upper end of the chain 39 is secured to the top of post 10 by means of a bracket plate best illustrated in Figure 6 of the drawings and indicated in general by the numeral 41.

The plate 41 is constructed of sheet metal or similar material and includes a fiat anchoring portion 42 having an aperture 43 extending therethrough through which a screw or similar means may be inserted to hold the plate to the top of the post. A fiat extension 44 extends in one direction from the plate 42 and is provided with an aperture 45 extending therethrough through which an end of the chain 39 may extend. The extension 44 is arranged centrally with respect to the plate 42 and flanges 46 and 47 are connected to the central extension 44 and extend downwardly therefrom to provide shoulders 49 and 50. When the plate 42 is secured to the top of post 10, the shoulders 49 and 50 engage against the same side of the post 10 as thatto which the hinge bracket A is secured. As a result the single bolt 51 extending through the aperture 43, combined with the shoulders 49 and 50, prevent the bracket plate from pivoting relative to the post.

The flexible member 39 helps to support the arm 11 and to hold this arm in horizontal position, in the event the arm is swung out of its normal position in either direction. The constructionof the bracket plate 41, the hinge plates 23, and the hinge bracket 12 are such as to permit construction at a minimum of cost and to provide effective results. While the hinge bracket and the flexible support for the arm 11 are more expensive than attaching the lateral arm 11 direction to the post 10, the cost of the bracket and support is less than the cost of the mailbox C by a considerable amount and accordingly saving the mailbox from destruction has a considerable advantage from a monetary standpoint. Due to the fact that the arm 11 will return to its normal position after being swung out of this position, the mailbox support is of advantage both for the owner and for those serving the public.

In accordance with the patent statutes, 1 have described the principles of construction and operation of my mailbox support, and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that obvious means may be used within the scope of the following claims without departing from the' spirit of this invention.

I claim: a

1. A mailbox support including a supporting post, a

bracket secured to said post, said bracket including spaced superimposed parallel substantially horizontal plates having one edge adjacent said post and connected between their opposite edges by a connecting strap, a substantially horizontal arm having vertically spaced parallel hinge plates secured in superimposed relation thereof, a pivot extending through said bracket plates and said hinge plates to hingedly connect said bracket and said arm, a torsion spring encircling said pivot, end arms on said spring extending on opposite sides of said connecting'strap, and means on each of said hinge plates engageable on one said end arms on said spring for increasing torsional stress on said spring as said arm pivots in either direction.

2. The structure described in claim 1 and in which said means on each of said hinge arms comprises ears struck from said hinge plates and extending in opposed relation.

3. The structure in claim 1 and in which said hinge plates include laterally spaced ears on said hinge plate engaging the ends of said arm.

4. The structure described in claim 2 and including clamping bolt means extending through said hinge plates and said arm for holding the same connected, and laterally spaced ears on said hinge plates engageable with the end of said arm for holding said hinge plates from pivoting relative to said arms.

5. A mailbox support comprising an upright supporting post, a channel shaped bracket including upper and lower horizontal channel sides, a vertical connecting strip integral with said sides and vertical anchoring flanges secured to said post at a locus spaced beneath the upper end thereof, a horizontal arm, vertically spaced upper and lower hinge plates projecting horizontally from one end of said arm, each hinge plate having a vertical ear extending toward the other hinge plate in vertical alignment with each other, a pivot bolt extending through said hinge plates and said channel sides, a torsion spring encircling said pivot bolt having its upper end engaging one edge of said connecting strip and the corresponding edge of the car on the upper hinge plate and having its other end engaging the opposite edge of said connecting strip and the corresponding edge of the ear on the lower hinge plate whereby pivotal movement of said arm in one direction will cause the upper ear todeflect the upper end of said spring away from said connecting strip to cause the lower end of said spring to reactively bear against said opposite edge of the connecting strip and pivotal movement of the arm in an opposite direction will cause the lower ear to deflect the lower end of said spring away from said connecting strip to cause the upper end of said spring to reactively bear against said one edge of the connecting strip, a mailbox mounted at the free end of said arm, a horizontal bracket element projecting from the upper end of said post, and a chain connected between the projecting end of said bracket element and a locus intermediate the upper hinge plate and said mailbox for maintaining said arm in a horizontal position.

6. The structure described in claim 5 in which said hinge plates are each provided with a pair of additional ears directed toward the other pair of ears for abutting said one end of the arm, said hinge plates having an additional aperture for the accommodation of an anchoring element fastened to said arm in order to assure retention of each pair of ears against said one arm end to thereby prevent pivotal movement of either hinge plate relative to the arm.

7. The structure described in claim 6 in which said horizontal bracket constitutes a plate having integral, downwardly inclined flanges on its projecting portion, the ends of said flanges adjacent the post bearing thereagainst and said plate having an aperture for the accommodation of an anchoring element fastened to the upper end of said post to assure retention of said ends of the flanges against said post to thereby prevent pivotal movement of said horizontal bracket plate.

8. The structure described in claim 7 including quadrantly spaced ears struck on the lower face of the upper hinge plate and the upper face of the lower hinge plate, and a sleeve intermediate said pivot bolt and said torsion spring, the upper and lower edges of said sleeve being engageable by said quadrantly spaced ears.

9. A mailbox support comprising an upright supporting post, a channel shaped bracket including upper and lower horizontal channel sides, a vertical connecting strip integral with said sides, and vertical anchoring flanges secured to said post at a locus spaced beneath the upper end thereof, a horizontal arm, vertically spaced upper and lower hinge plates projecting horizontally from one end of said arm, each hinge plate having a vertical ear extending toward the other hinge plate in vertical alignment with each other, a spacing sleeve extending through said upper and lower channel sides of each bracket and holding said hinge plates in properly spaced relation, a pivot bolt extending through said sleeve and clamping said hinge plates against the ends of said sleeve, a torsion spring encircling said sleeve having its upper end engaging one end of said connecting strip and the corresponding edge of the car on the upper hinge plate and having its other end engaging the opposite edge of said connecting strip and the corresponding edge of the car on the lower hinge plate whereby pivotal movement of the arm in one direction will cause the upper ear to deflect the upper end of the spring away from said connecting strip to cause the lower end of said spring to reactively bear against the opposite edge of the connecting strip and pivotal movement of the arm in an opposite direction will cause the lower ear to deflect the lower end of said spring away from said connecting strip to cause the upper end] of said spring to reactively bear against said one edge of said connecting strip, and a mailbox mounted at the free end of said arm.

10. The structure of claim 9 and including rounded ears projecting downwardly from the under surface of the upper hinge plate to engage the upper channel side and similar upwardly projecting ears on. the upper surface of the lower hinge plate to engage the lower channel side.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 188,642 Jones Mar. 20, 1877 661,146 Henry Nov. 6, 1900 1,321,257 Stearns Nov. 11, 1919 1,384,260 Kanter July 12, 1921 1,645,768 Morten Oct. 18, 1927 1,703,059 Carpenter Feb. 19, 1929 1,888,111 Brown Nov. 15, 1932 1,930,606 Bousfield Oct. 17, 1933 2,050,280 Dean Aug. 11, 1936 2,145,782 Townsend Jan. 31, 1939 2,587,856 Jung Mar. 4, 1939 2,634,454 Altenburger Apr. 14, 1953

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