US3498255A - Mail delivery signal - Google Patents

Description

A. G. HAEBERLE MAIL DELIVERY SIGNAL March 3, 1970 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ma Dec. 26, 19s? March 3, 1970 A. G. HAEBERLE MAIL' DELIVERY SIGNAL 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 26, 1967 v INVENTOR.

March 3, 1970 A. e. HAEBERLE 3, 9

MAIL DELIVERY SIGNAL Filed ne 26, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. 410/5 6. AMA-'AEZLE United States Patent 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE In combination with an conventional, Rural-District mail box having a pivoted vertically swinging door adapted to close upon the entrance thereof when disposed in a vertical position in respect thereto, of a mail delivery signal comprising a flag, associated integrally with the upper end of an arm member, said member in turn being pivotedly associated with a spring loaded mechanism, said mechanism being disposed in detachably secured relation with the inner face of the left-hand side wall of said mail box, as when observed through the entrance thereof, in a manner whereby said arm member will be disposed adjacent the outer face of said wall, said mechanism having holding means for releasably securing said arm member in a nonindicating horizontal position parallel to the axis of said mail-box, as when said door is disposed in a closed position, said mechanism further including triggering means for releasing said holding means; whereby, said arm member will be influenced to swing radially in a clock-wise direction, from its initial said position, to an upstanding position in respect thereto; thereby said flag signal will be disposed above the dome of said mail-box, as when said door is swung into an open position in respect to said entrance, and wherein said flag signal may be visually observed by the user when spaced radially and remotely therefrom.

This invention relates to an observation signal for a conventional type Rural-District mailbox, that automatically alerts the recipient of a mail delivery that may have been deposited in his mailbox, and more particularly to a signal that is triggered into visual observation by the opening of the mailbox door.

The invention resides in a pretensioned mechanism that is adapted to actuate a signal that moves from a first subtantially hidden position in respect to the mailbox, to a second observable positon, when the said mechanism is triggered by the opening of the mailbox door.

A mail delivery signal for a conventional type Rural- District mailbox is of course not new. It appears from the past activity which has developed in connection with this line of endeavor that there is a generally recognized need for a device of the aforementioned nature. Since, however, these devices are not in widespread use leads one to believe that a wholly satisfactory and acceptable construction has not apparently been perfected. It follows, therefore, that it is the main object of my invention to structudally, functionally, and otherwise improve upon similarly performing prior art devices.

In carrying out the principles of my invention, a simple practical, and economical appliance has been evolved and produced, the same being characterized by effectively associated components, whereby providing a construction in which the users thereof, will find their respective requirements amply and satisfactorily met.

With the aforesaid and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel means employed for the operation thereof, as will hereinafter be described in detail, and so illustrated within the several views of the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a conventionaltype rural-district mailbox that is shown to include my visual signal, with the action thereof being illustrated in broken lines.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary portion of FIGURE 1 shown in a perspective view, whereby illustrating the positioning of the signal actuating device in respect to the mailbox.

FIGURE 3 is a plan view in longitudinal section taken substantially on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged view of the signal actuating device shown in perspective, wherein certain outer portions have been removed to reveal certain inner elements of construction.

Referring now in detail to FIGURE 1 of the drawing there is shown a conventional-type rural-district mail box 10 that is defined by an elongated rectangular base wall member 11, that supports the pair of upstanding and spaced side walls 12, and- 13, in fixed relation therewith, and carried integrally by the upper longitudinal edges of the side walls there is provided a dome shaped top wall 14, and serving to seal one open end of the mailbox there is provided a closure wall 15, and serving to alternately seal the opposite open end thereof, there is provided the door 17 that is adapted to swing radially in a vertical arcuate plane to and from the entrance 16 of the mailbox by virtue of the pivoted door ears 18, and for the purpose of releasably secured the door 17 with the mail box there is provided the latching mechanisms 19. The mailbox 10 may be elevated from the ground to a conventional height by the standard 20 that carries a flat rectangular plate 21 upon which the mailbox is removably secured by the conventional fasteners 22.

Now with reference being had to FIG. 2 there is substantially shown a rectangular housing 24 that constitutes the signal actuating device of my invention, and which housing 24 comprises an elongated rectangular base wall member 33, that supports a pair of parallel spaced and upstanding integral side Walls 34 and 35, and carried by the free longitudinal edges of the side walls there is provided an integral top wall member 36. The housing 24 further includes an end wall closure 42 that is recessed in flush relation with the forward edges 43 thereof, and which closure Wall 42 is provided with a lower lateral foot member 38 that is secured with the base wall 33 by the conventional threaded fastener 39, further, there is provided a partition wall 37 that serves to divide the housing 24 into a fore and aft pair of compartments 40 and 41 respectively, with the partition wall being secured to the base wall 33 in a manner similar to that of the end wall closure 42.

Now best referring to FIGURES 3 and 4 in the drawing there is shown a plunger 62 that extends axially from the aft compartment 41 through the end wall closure 42, of the housing 24, and which plunger 62 comprises at the forward end portion thereof a shaft 66 of circular cross section, and which shaft 66 is disposed slidably and extensible the medial bore 69 provided in the end wall 42, and extending co-axially with the inner end portion of the shaft 66 and in slidable relation therewith, there is provided the sleeve member that is disposed slidably and extensible the bore 64 provided in the partition wall 37, wherein the inner end portion 63 of the sleeve member 75 transverses in weldingly secured relation a fiat rectangular and upstanding plate element that constitutes a cam-follower 61 having the upper longitudinal edge thereof spaced substantially from the top wall 36 for a henceforth described purpose. Disposed slidably in the sleeve member 75 there is provided a coiled compression spring 65 that interposes in abutting relation both the closed inner end 63 thereof, and the transverse end portion of the shaft 66 that is disposed in telescopic relation with the outer end portion of the sleeve 75, and to prevent the loss of connection between the former and the latter there is for this purpose provided a pair diametrically opposed axial slots 76, 76, that are disposed in the outer end portion of the sleeve 75, and which slots 76, 76, serve to slidably secure therein the opposite end portions of a pin 77 that is accommodated to pass press-fittingly through a transverse body portion of the shaft 66, whereby it being apparent that a fixed depressing force as may be applied on the beveled end portion 70 will be translated into a yieldable force on the camfollower 61, as when the cam-follower is in a fixed position, and to prevent the total collapse of the spring 65, as by the inner movement of the shaft 66 in respect to the sleeve 75, there is for this purpose provided a stop, that constitutes a collar 73 that is disposed slidably on the extensible end portion 68 of the shaft 66, and in turn the outer slidable movement of the collar in respect to the shaft 66 is prevented by the cotter-key 74 that is accommodated to transverse a body portion of the said extensible end portion 68 of the shaft 66, wherein the cotter-key 74 abuts the outer transverse face of the collar 73, further, and included with the plunger 62 there is provided the second coiled compression spring 78 that is disposed in surrounding relation with both the outer end portion of the sleeve 75 and the inner end portion of the shaft 66, and which spring 78 is further shown to abut the partition wall 37 and the collar 79 that is disposed slidably on the shaft 66, with the outer slidable movement of the former in respect to the latter being prevented by the second cotter-key 80 that is accommodated by the shaft 66 to pass transversely a body portion thereof, and which spring serves to normally bias the plunger 62 to move outwardly the housing 24, and accordingly, the cam-follower is normally disposed in contiguous relation with the partition wall 37, however, when the plunger 62 is depressed by a force that counters the yieldable force produced by the second coil spring 78, the cam-follower 61 is in turn biased to move into contiguous slidable relation with the peripheral surface of a camwheel 49.

The cam-wheel 49 is shown to include a peripheral sector 'body portion that is disposed eccentrically from the central and longitudinal axis thereof, and which sector body portion constitutes a bill member 50, that affords a shoulder 51 at the under-side thereof, further, the camwheel 49 includes a drive shaft 29 that is accommodated to pass slidably through the said central and longitudinal axis thereof, and which shaft 29 is in turn journaled in the co-axially aligned bores 47 and 48, that are provided in the medial portions of the side walls 34, and 35 therethrough respectively, wherein, it is shown that the shaft 29 includes an extensible end portion 52 that includes a reduced threaded terminal portion 31 that is provided with a flattened portion 28 that serves for a henceforth described purpose. The flattened portion 28 of the shaft 29 is adjusted and secured in co-planor relation with the shoulder 51 of the cam-wheel 49, by a set-screw 53 that is disposed inwardly the complementary bore 54 that is provided radially with a sector body portion of the cam-wheel 49, wherein the set-screw is accommodated to bear on the shaft 29 in fixed relation therewith, and when the cam-wheel 49 is driven by the drive shaft 29 is a counter-clockwise direction as may be observed through the window as shown in FIGURE 4, the cam-follower 61 will intercept the movement thereof, through the medium of the bill shoulder 51, as when the cam-follower is disposed in the previously described contiguous relation with the peripheral surface of the cam-wheel 49, wherein the latched relation between the cam-wheel and the cam-follower will correspond to an axial position of the shafts flattened end portion 28 in respect to the central and longitudinal axis of the housing 24. The cam-wheel 49 is further adapted in a manner whereby it will be spaced substantially from the wall 35 of the housing 24 whereby a ribboned torsion coil spring 55 can be interposed therebetween, and which coil spring 55 is adapted to be tensioned when wound in a clockwise direction, which may also be observed through the window in FIGURE 4, as when the end portion of the first convolution thereof is secured slidably in the transverse slot 56 that is provided in the end portion 57 of the shaft 29, as when the spring 55 is disposed substantially in concentric relation therewith, wherein the opposite end portion of the spring 55 is provided with a loop portion 58, that is secured pivotly on the pintle 59,-that is disposed inwardly the housing 24 and secured in lateral relation as at 60 with the side wall 35, it being apparent that regardless of the amount of force acting on the cam-wheel 49 by the previously described action of the cam-follower 61 as when disposed in contiguous relation therewith, will in no way in itself prevent the tensioning of the torsion coil spring 55 by the medium of the drive shaft 29, as it has been described that the acting force thereon is yieldable by virtue of the first compression spring 65, and it follows, that when the force is removed from the drive shaft 29, as manually applied thereon for tensioning the torsion coil spring 55, the cam-wheel 49 will be free to move in a converse direction until such time that the bill-shoulder 51 as associated with the cam-wheel 49 latches on the top longitudinal edge of the cam-follower 61, whereby the tension as has been said to be stored in the torsion coil spring 55 may be retained until the holding force as served on the cam-follower 61 by the medium of the plunger 62, is removed therefrom, and by virtue of the second compression spring 78, the cam-follower 61 will be biased to move from the cam-wheel 49 and thereby release the bill shoulder 51, whereby the cam-wheel 49 will be biased to move in the last said converse direction by the unwinding of the torsion coil spring 55; and now it can be described how the afore-stated action of the mechanism may readily serve to operate a visual signal for the mailbox 10.

Referring to both FIGURES l and 2 there is shown a visual signal 25 that includes a head member simulating a flag 26, from which depends the arm member 27, and which arm is provided with a transverse slot medially the free end portion thereof, and which slot is accommodated by the flattened end portion 28 of the shaft 29 to pass slidably on the extensible end portion 31 thereof, and thereby the signal 25 will be keyed with the shaft 29, and as there was a shoulder afforded between the varying diameters of both the drive shaft 29 and the reduced threaded end portion 31 then it is apparent that the signal 25 may be secured against slidable movement thereon, as when moved into abutting relation with the shaft shoulder by virtue of the complementary locknut 32, and as it has been previously described that the flattened portion 28 of the drive shaft 29 is fixed in co-planor relation with the bill shoulder 51 as associated with the cam-wheel 49, then it is apparent that the longitudinal axis of the arm member 27 as associated with the signal 25 will be disposed perpendicular thereto, and it follows, that when the bill shoulder 51 is disposed in a reverse manner from its initially disposed position, as when latched on the camfollower 61, the signal 25 will assume a substantially upright ad vertical position in respect to the mailbox 10 and thereby the flag 26 will be disposed above the dome of the mailbox 10, as the arm member 27 is of a greater length then the distance between the shaft 29 and the top of the mailbox dome 14, and further, the arm member 27 serves to tension the torsion coil spring 55 as when rotated in a counter-clockwise direction of at least two revolutions whereby the force stored within the spring 55 will be sufficient to swing the signal 25, as when the said winding force is removed from the arm member 27, in a converse direction, and in as much as the invention contemplates the movement of the signal 25 from a substantially horizontal non-indicating position to a vertical upstanding indicating position in respect to the mailbox side wall 12, then it is apparent that a substantial amount of force may be stored in the torsion coil spring 55 for consecutive operations of the signal 25 without the further requirement of tensioning the torsion coil spring 55, as the stop pin 83 which is secured in lateral relation with the mailbox side wall 12, and which is disposed substantially from the right-hand side of the vertical axis of the shaft 29, and adjacent the mailbox dome 14 will serve to stop the clock-wise rotation of the signal 25, and thereby the signal will be disposed in the previously described indicating position, and when the signal 25 is moved in a converse direction and as it has been previously described, with the plunger 62 depressed by the closing action of the mailbox door 17 then it is apparent that the bill shoulder 51 will follow accordingly and thereby latch on the camfollower 61, wherein the signal will be disposed in the previously described horizontal non-indicating position, with the further manual movement of the signal 25 in the last said direction being restricted by the second stop pin 81 that is secured in lateral relation as at 82 with the side wall 12, and which stop pin 81 is disposed substantially below the horizontal axis of the drive shaft 29, and spaced radially from the first stop pin 83, whereby completing the installation of the signalling device, and the opera tion and use thereof is as follows:

Normally the signal 25 is disposed adjacent the stop pin 81, which corresponds to the closed and latched position of the door 17 in respect to the mailbox 10, and when the door 17 is manually released from the latching device 19 and swung to an open position, as when mail is to be deposited in the open chamber of the mailbox, the action thereof triggers the plunger 62 to move outwardly from the housing 24 by virtue of the compression spring 78, and in as much as the cam-follower 61 moves in unison therewith then it is obvious that the cam follower will move outwardly from the underside of the bill shoulder 51, and thereby release the camwheel 49 that has been mentioned to be in tension by virtue of the torsion coil spring 55, through the medium of the drive shaft 29, and in as much as it has been mentioned that the spring 55 was adapted to be tensioned when wound in a clockwise direction as when observed through the window of FIGURE 4 then it being apparent that the cam-wheel 49 will move rotatably in a converse direction, when similarly observed, and as the cam-shaft 29 is fixed with the cam-wheel then the signal 25 will move in unison therewith, as it has been mentioned that the signal is fixed with the cam-shaft, and thereby the signal will move in a clock-wisedirection as when observed in both FIGURES 1 and 2, wherein the signal arm member 27 will be intercepted by the stop pin 83 and the signal flag 26 will be orbited above the mailbox dome 14 and thereby be observable to the recipient of the mail, and now the converse action of the device will be described, and which follows:

Upon removal of the mail from the mailbox as by the recipient thereof, and following the normal procedure of latching the door 17 with the mailbox, the action of the upward swinging movement of the former in respect to the latter was intercepted yieldingly by the beveled end portion 70 of the plunger 62 which has been said to be disposed in the path of the door wall 72, wherein the plunger will be depressed inwardly the housing 24, and accordingly the cam-follower 61 will move into contiguous yieldable relation with the peripheral surface of the camwheel 49, by virtue of the spring 65 which has been mentioned as being interposed between the plunger shaft 66 and the sleeve 75, and when the signal 25 is manually moved in a counter clock-wise direction as when observed in both FIGUR'ES 1 and 2 then the cam-wheel 49 will move in unison therewith, and when the arm member 27 of the signal 25 is disposed adjacent the stop pin 81 the bill shoulder 51 will be disposed slightly above the plane of the upper longitudinal edge of the cam-follower 61, and thereby the cam-follower will be permitted to slide thereunder, and when the holding force is released from the signal 25 then the signal will be biased to move in a converse direction by the tension of the torsion coil spring 55, and thereby the bill shoulder 51 will latch on the cam-follower 61, and the signal will now be prepared for the next consecutive operation as has been hereinbefore described.

A careful consideration of the foregoing description in conjunction with the invention as illustrated in the drawings will enable the reader to obtain a clear understanding and impression of the alleged features of merit and novelty sufiicient to clarify the construction of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Minor changes in shape, size, materials and rearrangement of parts may be resorted to in actual practice so long as no departure is made from the invention as claimed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In combination with a conventional-type Rural-District mail box having a pivoted vertically swinging door adapted to close on the entrance thereof when disposed in an upstanding vertical position in respect thereto; of a visual mail delivery signal having an actuating mechanism disposed substantially within the interior of an elongated rectangular housing adapted to be supported in axial contiguous relation with a lower forward portion of the left-hand side wall of said mail box spaced inwardly the entrance thereof, a partition wall disposed medially and transversely within the confine of said housing serving to provide a fore and aft pair of respective compartments therewith, a drive shaft disposed in said aft compartment in journalled relation with the opposite medial portions of the side walls of said housing respectively, and adapted to extend from said left-hand side wall of said mail box, said signal including a flag at the upper end portion of an integral and elongated flat rectangular arm member, adapted to be secured in fixed radial relation with said extensible end portion of said shaft at the opposite medial end portion thereof, said arm member adapted to orbit said flag above the dome of said mail box when swung radially by said drive shaft, a torsion coil spring disposed substantially in concentrically fixed relation with an inner end portion of the free journalled terminal portion of said drive shaft having the opposite end portion thereof secured pivotably to a transverse pin extending in lateral relation with the adjacent side wall of said housing, said torsion spring adapted to be tensioned by the counter clockwise movement of said signal when manually rotated in respect thereto, an elongated plunger of circular cross section disposed axially in said housing having a for-ward body portion extending slidably from the said fore compartment through an end wall of said housing adjacent said mailbox en trance, and an inner body portion extending slidably through said partition wall into said aft compartment, a flat rectangular upstanding plate constituting a cam-follower disposed in transverse fixed relation with the rim shoulder of said plungers inner body portion, a helical compression spring disposed in said fore compartment in surrounding relation with said plunger, and in abutting expansible relation with both the said partition wall of of said housing and a collar disposed in fixed relation on an inner end portion of the said for-ward body portion of said plunger, whereby biasing said plunger to move substantially from said housing into extensible relation with the said mail box entrance, as when said door is disposed in an open position in respect thereto, wherein said plunger positioning corresponds to the abutting relation of said cam-follower and said partition wall, a cam wheel secured in fixed relation with an intermediate body portion of said drive shaft having a peripheral body portion thereof disposed in tangible relation with said cam-follower as when said cam-follower moves in unison with said plunger inwardly said housing by the depressing force moving on the said extensible end portion of said plunger by the closing action of said mailbox door thereon, means to translate said depressing force acting on said cam wheel through the medium of said cam-follower into a yieldable force whereby said cam wheel may be freely rotated by the medium of said signal when winding a tension in said torsion coil spring, means provided with said cam wheel and adapted to latch with said cam-follower whereby preventing the pre-mature movement of said signal by the unwinding of said torsion coils spring, as when said signal is disposed in a left-hand horizontal position in respect to said left-hand side wall of said mailbox, and means to stop the converse movement of said signal when disposed in an upstanding vertical said indicating position in respect thereto, as when said plunger is triggered by the opening movement of said mail box door to move outwardly the entrance thereof, whereby the movement of said cam follower in unison with said plunger releases the movement of said cam wheel by the simultaneous release. of said latching means.

2. As claimed in claim 1, wherein the means to translate said fixed depressing force as acting on said plunger 'by the closing movement of said mailbox door, in respect to the entrance thereof, into a yieldable force acting on said cam wheel by its tangible relation with said cam follower, whereby said cam wheel may be freely rotated by the manual rotation of said signal through the medium of said drive shaft, whereby the torsion coil spring may be initially wound in tension, comprises a sleeve member on the inner end portion of said plunger, and a shaft on the outer end portion thereof, said shaft having an intermediate inner end portion disposed in telescopic and slidable relation with an intermediate outer end portion of said sleeve, and serving to bias said shaft to move from said sleeve there is provided a second helical compression spring that is disposed slidably within said sleeve, and in abutting expansible relation with both the closed end of said sleeve member and said shaft member, and serving to prevent the loss of connection between said members there is provided a pair of elongated diametrically opposed co-axial slots that are provided in the outer end portion of said sleeve member, which serves to slidably secure therein the opposite end portions of a cross pin that is accommodated to pass press-fittingly through a transverse body portion of the inner end portion of said shaft member.

3. As claimed in claim 1, wherein the means provided with said cam wheel which is adapted to latch on said cam follower whereby preventing the pre-mature movement of said signal as when disposed in a left-hand horizontal non-indicating position in respect to the lefth'and side wall of said mailbox, by virtue of the tension stored within the torsion coil spring acting on said drive shaft, comprises an integral upwardly inclined arcuately shaped body portion that is disposed eccentrically with the circular periphery of said cam wheel, and which body portion simulates a bill-member that affords a shoulder at the underside thereof that is disposed in lateral relation with the periphery of said cam-wheel, whereby the shoulder when moving in one direction with the cam wheel permits the cam follower to slidably ride the contour thereof, and when the cam wheel moves in a converse direction said shoulder is intercepted by the upper longitudinal ledge of the cam follower, as when the cam follower is biased to move into tangible relation with said cam wheel by the said depressed plunger.

' 4. As claimed in claim 1, wherein the stop means to limit the converse movement of said signal when dis- I posed in an upstanding vertical saidv mail delivery indicating position in respect to said left-hand side wall of said mailbox, wherein the signal flag will be observable above the dome thereof, as when said signal is biased by said torsion coil spring to move substantially simultaneously from its first horizontally disposed nonindicating position with the opening outward movement of said mailbox door, and the recall movement of said plunger and said cam follower whereby effecting the simultaneous release of said latching means, comprises a stub pin that is secured in lateral relation with said left-hand side wall and which pin is disposed adjacent said mailbox dome, and in abutting relation with the right-hand side of said signal arm member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,292,050 1/1919 Raney 23235 2,551,915 5/1951 Turner 232- 35 3,026,024 3/1962 Holmgren et al. 23235 3,026,025 3/1962 Hanson 232-35 3,291,386 12/1966 Van Fleet 232-35 LOUIS J. CAPOZI, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 23235

Images