US2976633A - Mailbox sign - Google Patents

Description

March 28, 1961 SQUIRE 2,976,633

MAILBOX SIGN Filed Nov. 28, 1958 FIG 5 34 40 36 20 INVENTOR.

FRED B. sou/RE EC/WOFF & SL/Ck ATTO NEVS By M X162,

AAALEMBE/P o THE F/RM United States This invention relates to a sign for a rural mailbox.

Rural mailboxes are highly standardized and must comply with the regulations of the United States Post Ofiice Department. In the past, numerous attempts have been made to provide signs for such boxes, but such signs have ordinarily been expensive to manufacture, have not fully complied with Post Oflice regulations, or have required drilling into the box to provide the fastening means.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a sign for a mailbox which is readily attachable to a mailbox with only the use of simple hand tools.

Another object of this invention is to provide a sign for a rural mailbox which does not require drilling or otherwise defacing the box.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a sign for a mailbox which is sturdy, being supported on both ends of the mailbox.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a sign for a mailbox which fully complies with Post Oflice regulations.

In the drawings forming a part of this application:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a mailbox having the sign of the present invention attached thereto;

Figure 2 is a side view of a box with the sign of the present invention in place;

Figure 3 is a front view of the box and sign;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the sign;

Figure'S is a bottom plan View of the slotted fastener used as a portion of the mailbox sign of the present invention;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary section on the lines 6-6 of Figure 5.

Turning now to a description of the drawings by reference characters, there is shown a conventional mailbox 4. Such mailboxes are of a highly standardized design and the back portion of the mailbox has thereon ahead 6 which is formed when the sides and back members of the box are united in conventional metal forming operations. The front of the box has a door 8 to which is attached a lower snap bar 10. This meshes with an upper snap bar 12 which is fastened to the top of the box. It will be noted that the upper snap bar 12 is fastened to the box at a point some distance back from the front edge of box.

In accordance with the present invention, a sign 16 of suitable configuration is provided to be placed on top of the center of the mailbox. Preferably, the sign 16 is slightly shorter than the overall length of the mailbox. The sign 16 may have grooves 18 therein for the receipt of suitable indicia such as the name of the owner and the atent box number. However, the manner of fastening the indicia onto the sign forms no part of the present invention. The sign of the present invention is preferably of generally rectangular shape but it is only essential that the bottom of the sign be substantially flat as at 20 to fit into the top of the mailbox and the upper portion of the sign may be shaped in any desired configuration. At the back portion of the sign, a small relief 22 is provided to clear the head 6. A metal clip is provided at the back of the sign generally designated 24. The metal clip has a flat central portion 26 and is preferably bent over as at 28, to conform to the shape of the sign and to prevent the clip from turning. The bottom end if the clip 24 is bent inwardly as at 30 to provide an attachment member which fastens over the head 6. The clip 24 is held in place by a single screw 32.

At the opposite end of the structure, a slotted clip generally designated 34 is provided. The slotted clip 34 has two elongated holes 36 through which the screws 38 pass. In this manner, the position of the clip 34 can be adjusted'to meet small variations in the size of mailboxes. The oppdsite end of clip 34 is enlarged as at 40 and has a slot 42 therein, the slot 42 being of suitable size that clip may be passed over the upper snap bar 12.

To install the sign of the present invention in place, one starts with screw 32 in a loosened position. After first adjusting the position of the clip 34, if necessary, by loosening the screws 38 and sliding the slotted clip 34 to the desired position and retightening the screws, it is only necessary to slide the slot 42 over the upper snap bar 12 and place the sign in the position shown in the drawing with the turned-in portion 30 of the clip 24 in the position shown. Then the single screw 32 can be tightened, which rigidly fastens the sign to the mailbox.

Because of its low cost and easy workability, it is preferred that the sign itself be made of wood, although other materials such as plastic or metal can be utilized.

It is believed apparent from the above description that I have provided an inexpensive yet sturdy sign which can be applied to a mailbox using only a screwdriver, which does not deface the box in any manner, and which provides an attractive and useful addition to the mailbox.

I claim;

A fixed sign for application to a mailbox of conventional design having a door at one end and a bead at the opposite end and having a snap bar as a fastening element for the door, comprising an elongated sign having a long side adapted to lie in contact with the top of the box,

a first fastening member at one end of said sign said mem-v ber comprising a strap lying fiat on the bottom of the sign and being adjustable relative to the sign and terminating in a slot adapted to pass over the snap bar of the mailbox and a clip at the opposite end of said sign, said clip comprising a flat metal bar having inturned ends adapted to pass over the bead of a mailbox.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 770,553 Booth Sept. 20, 1904 911,783 Traver Feb. 9, 1909 1,989,781 Zak Feb. 5, 1935 2,505,044 Heinrich Apr. 25, 1950 2,607,141 Petersen Aug. 19, 1952 2,872,103 Heard Feb. 3, 1959

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