US3194491A - Mailbox signal - Google Patents

Description

J. H. PARKER MAILBOX SIGNAL July 13, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 19, 1963 4 4 a; l 7 4/ 2 a w Z 0 a m /W z 9 2 r. a

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INVENTOR J4 M55 HEAR/(El? ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,11%,491 MAHLEOX SEGNAL James H. Parker, RD. 2, Blossvaie, NY. Filed Aug. 19, 1963, Scr. No. 302,7?1 6 Claims. (l. 232-35) This invention relates to a novel signal for application to and use with conventional rural mailboxes to provide a signal to indicate to a mail carrier when mail is to be picked up from the box, and to also indicate to the box owner when the mailbox has been opened by the carrier for removing mail therefrom or for depositing mail or other matter therein.

Another object of the invention is to provide a signal which requires no action on the part of the mail carrier to actuate the signal other than the opening and closing of the mailbox door, necessary to remove mail or other matter from the box or the deposit of mail or other matter in the box.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a signal for mailboxes which is so constructed and arranged that one part thereof, in one operative position of the signal, will be readily visible to a carrier approaching the box, while another part of the signal, in a different operative position thereof, will be readily visible to the box owner.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mailbox signal most of the parts of which are contained within the mailbox and thereby protected from the elements, and which will be substantially unaffected by adverse weather conditions such as ice and snow.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a mailbox signal of extremely simple construction which may be very economically manufactured, which may be readily attached to a conventional mailbox, and which requires no springs, levers or other mechanisms likely to be subject to wear or other causes of malfunctioning.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter become more fully apparent from the following description of the drawings, illustrating a presently preferred embodiment thereof, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal substantially central sectional view of a conventional mailbox, showing the signal in side elevation applied thereto;

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 but showing-the mailbox door in a partially open position with parts of the signal in a different position from the position thereof as illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view through the upper portion of the mailbox and through the mailbox signal and illustrating another alternate position of certain of the mailbox par-ts;

FIGURE 4 is'an enlarged fragmentary end elevational view looking from right to left of FIGURE 1;

FEGURE 5 is a cross sectional view through the mailbox signal, taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 55 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged cross sectional View taken substantially along the line 66 of FIGURE 1 and showing the signal in end elevation;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 7-7 of FIGURE 6, and

Fl-GURE 8 is a view similar to FIGURE 7 but with certain of the parts turned 90 from their positions of FIGURE 7.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, for the purpose of illustrating the preferred application and use of the signal unit, designated generally 10, and comprising the invention, a conventional mailbox is illustrated in the drawings and designated generally 11 and is of the hiidhl "ice type commonly referred to as a rural mailbox. The mailbox 11 is of elongated construction and includes an end wall 12 defining the rear end thereof, and a door or closure 13 which defines the front end of the mailbox and which is hingedly mounted at its lower end at 14 for outward and downward swinging movement to an open position. The mailbox 11 has a topportion 15 which extends substantially from end-to-end thereof. A conventional spring latch 16 is secured :to the top portion 15 and projects to beyond the forward end of the mailbox to be engaged by a conventional combination handle and keeper 17 which is carried by the door 13 for latching said door 13 in a closed position, as illustrated in PEG- URES 1 and 3. For application of the signal unit it the conventional mailbox 1-1 is only modified to the extent that its top portion 15 is provided with longitudinally spaced openings 18 and its rear wall 12 is provided with a single opening 19 which is located adjacent the top thereof.

The signal unit 10 includes an elongated support 29 which, as illustrated, may constitute a rigid member of inverted channel shape in cross section, as seen in FIG- URE 5. The support 26 includes an end wall 21 which is disposed crosswise of the axis of said support and which constitutes a rear end wall thereof and which is provided with an opening 22. The support 20 includes a front wall 23 which is likewise disposed substantially normal to the axis thereof and which has an opening 24 which aligns with the opening 22. The walls 21 and 23 may, as illustrated, be formed from downturned extensions of the top wall 25 of the support 2d. The corresponding, substantially parallel depending side walls 26 of :the support 23 extend at least to but not beyond the rear wall 21; however, said side walls 26 have complenientary portions 27, as seen in 'FiGURES 7 and 8, which extend beyond the front wall 23, for a purpose which will hereinafter be described.

The support 2% is adapted to be disposed within the mailbox 1-1 and longitudinally thereof, with the rear wall 21 abutting the inner side of the upper portion of the rear mailbox wall 12 and with the opening 22 thereof in alignment with the opening 19. When the support '20 is thus disposed its top portion 25 is in contact with the top portion 15 of the mailbox, and said top portion 25 has tapped openings 28 which align with the openings 18 for receiving screw fastenings 2% which extend through the openings 18 and threadedly engage in the openings 28 for securing the support 20 immovably within the mailbox. When the support 20 is thus disposed the substantially parallel wall portions 27 thereof extend to adjacent the internally rolled beading 39 which defines the open front of the mailbox body and against which the door 13 abuts, in the closed position thereof as seen in FIGURES 1 and 3.

A shaft 31 of the signal unit 19 extends through the openings 22 and 24 and is thereby mounted by the support 20 for rotational and reciprocating movement relative to said support and to the mailbox 11. A rear portion of the shaft or rod 31 extends outwardly through the opening 19 and terminates in a threaded rear end portion 32 which carries nuts 33 and 34 and a lock washer 35. The threaded shaft portion 32 also extends through an opening 36 of a hub portion 3'7 of a signal member, designated generally 38. The hub portion 3'7 fits turnably on the shaft portion 32 and is disposed between the nut 33 and lock washer 35, so that by tightening the nut 34 the signal member 38 can be secured immovably to the shaft 31, for a purpose which will hereinafter become apparent.

A square head 3? is mounted on and secured immovably to the opposite forward end of the shaft 31, and a permanent magnet 40 is secured immovably to an outer face of the head 38'. The magnet l-tl is of a width apamass proximately corresponding to the spacing between either 39 is slightly less than the spacing between the wall portions 27, so that said head can fit between said wall portions 2'7 and against the front wall 23 in any one of four positions of rotation of the head 39 with the shaft 31, for a purpose which will hereinafter become apparent, and when so disposed said head will cooperate with the wall portions 27 to provide means for nonrotatively connecting the shaft 31 to the support 20. It will also be noted, as seenin FIGURES 1 and 3, that whenever the head 39 is abutting the front wall 23, as seen in FIGURES 1, 3, 7 and '8, that the magnet 40 will be in contact with the door 13, if said door is in a closed position.

The signal member 38 includes two signal elements .or flags 41 and 42 which extend in opposite directions to one another from the hub 37 and which thus extend transversely in opposite directions from the shaft 31. The signal element 41 is disposed in a plane normal to the axis of the shaft 31 while the signal element 42 is disposed ina plane at approximately right angle to the plane of the signal element 41 and substantially parallel to the axis of the shaft 31. The signal element 41 at least on the outer side thereof which faces away from the rear wall 12, is preferably inscribed with an arrow 43 which may be yellow in color and which may extend to the hub 37, as seen in. FIGURE 4. The signal element 4-2 has a shape which is dissimilar from the shape of the signal element 41, as seen in FIGURES l and 4, and is preferably of a distinguishably different color than the arrow 43, said signal element 42 preferably being colored red, The signal member 38 is clamped to the shaft 31 so that its longitudinal axis is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the magnet 46. This can be accomplished by positioning the head 39 between the wall portions 27 with the magnet in'an upright position, as seen in FIGURES 6 and 7, and while holding the signal member 33 positioned asseen in FIGURE 4, the nut 34 can be tightened to immovably clamp said signal member to the shaft 31. The signal element 42 is made heavier than the signal element 41, preferably by the application of a weight 44 thereto, so that when the head 39 is displaced forwardly'away from the wall 23 and out of engagement with the wall portions 27, as seen in FIGURE 2, the signal member. 38 will cause the shaft 31 to rotate to permit the signal member 33 to assume its position of FIGURE 2.

Assuming that the owner of the mailbox II has deposited mail or other matter therein to be picked up by the mail carrier. After this is accomplished and before closing the door 13, the shaft 31 which will be displaced forwardly to its position of FIGURE 2 is rotated 180 in either direction from its position of FIGURE 2 to its position of FIGURE 1, and is then displaced rearwardly to position the head 39 between the wall portions 2,7,as

seen in FIGURE 7, and with the magnet st) in an upright position, as seen in FIGURE 6, to nonrotatively connect the shaft 31 to the support 20, after which the door 13 is swung to a fullyv closed position, as seen in FIGURE 1. The mailbox 11 is positioned perpendicular to a roadway along which the carrier would travel toward the mailbox, and with the door 13 facing said roadway. Consequently, the signal element or flag 42 in its upwardly extending operative or signaling position, as seen in FIGURE '1, is disposed with its plane substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the mailbox 11 and crosswise of said roadway, not shown, so that it will be readily visible to the mail carrier.

When the mail carrier stops to remove the contents of the mailbox 11 he will open the door in a conventional r r l- 7 manner. The material of the door 13 is such that it is attracted by the magnet dil'. Thus, the door 13 constitutes an armature to which the magnet' lil adheres bycontact therewith when the door is in a closed position, as seen in FIGURE 1. As the door 13 is swung outwardly and downwardly toward anopen position the magnet as retains engagement therewith and is pulled outwardly thereby for displacing the shaft 31 and parts carried thereby forwardly or from right to left from their positions of FIGURE 1 to their positions of FIGURE 2; When the nut 33 strikes the wall 12 the shaft 31 is held against fur- V ther forward movement and the door 13 then swings out 'ofengagement with the magnet 4i and out. of the influence of its magnetic field. \Vnen this occurs, the weight 44 causesthe signalmember 33 to revolve and with it the shaft 31 through an arc of 180 to its position of FIG- URE 2. The weight idsuiiiciently unbalances the signal member 33 and shaft SI so that said parts will cease oscillating before the door I3 can be fully opened, the contents removed therefrom and the door returned to its closed position. Accordingly, when the door is returned to its closed position it will strike the magnet dhto force the shaft 3]. and parts carried thereby-rearwardly to return the head 39 to a positionfbetween the wall portions 27, fornonrotatively connecting the shaft 31 to the support 2t and with'the signal element or flag 41 in' an upright signaling position above the mailbox II, as seen in FIGUREZ. It will be noted that the plane of the signal element or flag d1 is disposed crosswise of the longitudinal axis of the mailbox II so that it can be readily seen by the mailbox owner from his dwelling which is normally located behind and at a distance from the mailbox, to indicate that the'mail carrier has stopped at the mailbox and thatthe mailbox should be checked for any mail or other matter which may have been left therein by the carrier. v 7

When the owner of the box opens the door 13 to remove any mail or other matter which may haverbeen left therein, the shaft 31 and parts carried thereby will be displaced forwardly, as previouslydescribed, due to the magnet dd adhering to the door 13, but since the weight 44 is below the shaft 31, no rotation of said shaft and the parts carried thereby willoccur. If the mailbox owner has nothing to deposit in the mailbox, before closing the door 13 he will grasp the niagnet iti and rotate the shaft 31 ninety degrees in either direction to its position of FIGURES 3 and 8 and will then displace the shaft 31 rearwardly until the head 39 engagesnonrotatively between the wall portions 27. The door 13 is then closed with the signal member 38 disposed as seen in FIGURES with the flags 41 and'd thereof disposed with their longitudinal axes substantially horizontal. On the next mail delivery, if the carrier has nothing to deposit in the box 11 it will notbe necessary for him to stop to open and check the box, since the flag 42 being in a horizontal 'nonsignalingposition will indicate. that the box'contains nothing to be picked up. 7 Since the signal member will be left in its horizontal. position, the box owner can visually determine by viewing the horizontal signal element that no mail or other matter has been left in the boxby the carrier. 7

From the foregoing it willbe readily apparent that the carrier is not required to perform any operation in connection with the manipulation of the signal unit 16 :as the only manual operation thereof is accomplished by the mailbox owner, and the operation of the signal unit by the carrier is accomplished automatically simply by the carrier opening and closing the mailbox door. 7

It will also be noted that a substantial part of the signal unit is disposed and protected by the mailbox ill from the elements. Ice or snow will not accumulate sufficiently on the part of the shaft 31 which is exposed between the wall 12 and nut 33 to prevent forward movement of the shaft 31 when. the door 13 is opened, so that operation of the signal unit is not adversely affected by ice or other weather conditions.

Various modifications and Changes are contemplated and may be resorted to, without departing from the function or scope of the invention as hereinafter defined by the appended claims.

I.claim as my invention:

1. In combination with a mailbox having a rear wall and a closure pivotally mounted for outward and downward swinging movement to an open position and constituting a front wall and door of the mailbox; a signal unit comprising a support disposed within and secured to the mailbox, a shaft reciprocably and rotatively mounted in said support including a rear portion protruding from said rear wall, a signal member secured to said rear shaft portion and supported thereby externally of the mailbox, means carried by the shaft and engageable with a part of the support for retaining the shaft against rotation in at least two positions of rotation of said signal member, and means releasably attaching said shaft to said closure to effect sliding movement of the shaft with the closure during initial movement of the closure toward an open position for releasing said first mentioned means from said part of the support.

2. In a combination as defined by claim 1, and means effecting an unbalancing of said shaft for causing rotational movement of the signal member from one position thereof when said first mentioned means is released.

3. In a combination as defined by claim 1, said signal member including signal elements projecting transversely in opposite directions from the shaft, said first mentioned means, when in engagement with said part of the support, retaining the shaft against rotation with either signal element in an upright position relative to the shaft or with the two signal elements disposed in substantially horizontal positions, and means effecting an unbalancing of said shaft for causing one of the signal elements to assume an upright position when first mentioned means is released.

4. In a combination as defined by claim 3, said signal elements being of dissimilar appearance and being disposed in planes located at an angle to one another.

5. In combination with a mailbox having a rear wall and a closure pivotally mounted for outward and downward swinging movement to an open position and constituting a front wall and door of the mailbox; a signal unit comprising a support disposed within and secured to the mailbox, a shaft reciprocably and rotatively mounted in said support including a rear portion protruding from said rear wall, a signal member secured to said rear shaft portion and supported thereby externally of the mailbox, means carried by the shaft and engageable with a part of the support for nonrotatively connecting said shaft to said support for retaining said signal member in a plurality of selected positions relative to the mailbox, and means releasably attaching said shaft to the closure to effect a limited sliding movement of the shaft relative to the support during swinging movement of the closure toward an open position for releasing said first mentioned means from said part of the support, and means effecting an unbalancing of the shaft to cause rotational movement of the signal member to one position thereof when said first mentioned means is released.

6. In a combination as defined by claim 5, said last mentioned means comprising a magnet connected to the other forward end of said shaft and supported thereby in a position such that the closure is magnetically attracted to the magnet in a closed position of said closure to cause the magnet and shaft to be pulled forwardly by the closure as the closure is swung toward an open position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,573,879 11/51 Seibel 23235 2,654,534 10/53 Van Meter 23234 3,017,073 l/62 Piergovanni 23235 3,080,107 3/63 Lindahl 23235 3,081,024 3/63 Sickler 23234 FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A MAILBOX HAVING A REAR WALL AND A CLOUSRE PIVOTALLY MOUNTED FOR OUTWARD AND DOWNWARD SWINGING MOVEMENT TO AN OPEN POSITION AND CONSTITUTING A FRONT WALL AND DOOR OF THE MAILBOX; A SIGNAL UNIT COMPRISING A SUPPORT DISPOSED WITHIN AND SECURED TO THE MAILBOX, A SHAFT RECIPROCABLY AND ROTATIVELY MOUNTED IN SAID SUPPORT INCLUDING A REAR PORTION PROTRUDING FROM SAID REAR WALL, A SIGNAL MEMBER SECURED TO SAID REAR SHAFT PORTION AND SUPPORTED THEREBY EXTERNALLY OF THE MAILBOZ, MEANS CARRIED BY THE SHAFT AND ENGAGEABLE WITH A PART OF THE SUPPORT FOR RETAINING THE SHAFT AGAINST ROTATION IN AT LEAST TWO POSITIONS OF ROTATION OF SAID SIGNAL MEMBER, AND MEANS RELEASABLY ATTACHING SAID SHAFT TO SAID CLOSURE TO EFFECT SLIDING MOVEMENT OF THE SHAFT WITH THE CLOSURE DURING INITIAL MOVEMENT OF THE CLOSURE TOWARD AN OPEN POSITION FOR RELEASING SAID FIRST MENTIONED MEANS FROM SAID PART OF THE SUPPORT

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