US3580491A

US3580491A - Mailbox

Info

Publication number: US3580491A
Application number: US754846A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ray J Campbell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1968-08-23
Filing date: 1968-08-23
Publication date: 1971-05-25
Anticipated expiration: 1988-05-25

Abstract

A mailbox of simple and economical construction is provided which is easy to open with one hand and is self-closing. The mailbox has a stationary inner container provided with a first opening therein and an outer member rotatably supported around the inner container and having a second opening provided therein and with the outer member having weight means thereon which is acted upon by gravity causing rotation of the outer member in one direction about the inner container until a portion of the outer member is aligned over the first opening with the second opening being angularly displaced from the first opening to define a closed position for the mailbox. The mailbox is easily opened by rotating the outer member in a direction opposite the one direction until the second opening is aligned over the first opening to provide unobstructed access to the interior of the inner container. The mailbox has a stop which limits rotation of the outer member in either direction and has a unique selfdropping signal flag which drops merely by opening the mailbox.

Description

United States Patent [72] inventor [54] MAILBOX 10 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 232/35, 232/45 [51] Int. Cl A47g 29/12 [50] FieldofSearch 232/17, 35, 45, 47, 19, 28, 33

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 680,847 8/1901 Englar 232/34 669,464 3/1901 Lidke 232/35 674,147 5/1901 Wirt 232/17 731,804 6/ 1 903 McClelland 23 2/28 758,446 4/1904 Hoes 232/35 762,332 6/1904 Massey t 232/28 1,045,488 11/1912 Wiltse 232/45 1,295,209 2/1919 Reschm. 232/45 1,362,941 12/1920 Heine 232/28 Primary Examiner-Francis K. Zugel Attorney-Joseph V. Tassone ABSTRACT: A mailbox of simple and economical construction is provided which is easy to open with one hand and is self-closing. The mailbox has a stationary inner container provided with a first opening therein and an outer member rotatably supported around the inner container and having a second opening provided therein and with the outer member having weight means thereon which is acted upon by gravity causing rotation of the outer member in one direction about the inner container until a portion of the outer member is aligned over the first opening with the second opening being angularly displaced from the first opening to define a closed position for the mailbox. The mailbox is easily opened by rotating the outer member in a direction opposite the one direction until the second opening is aligned over the first opening to provide unobstructed access to the interior of the inner container. The mailbox has a stop which limits rotation of the outer member in either direction and has a unique selfdropping signal flag which drops merely by opening the mailbox.

PATENIED HAY25 um SHEET 1 0F 2 INVENTOR. RAY J. CAMPBELL HIS ATTORNEY PATENTED M25197! 3580.491

' SHEET 2 OF 2 III/I/ //\l INVENTOR. RAY J. CAMPBELL 23B BY 0 /M HIS ATTORNEY MAILBOX BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Many mailbox constructions have been proposed heretofore for both rural and door-to-door deliveries; however, such previously proposed mailboxes are either too complicated and expensive to manufacture or require excessive and time-consuming effort on the part of a mail carrier to open such previously proposed mailboxes. Further, some of the most commonly used mailboxes have access doors which project outwardly therefrom which are susceptible to be easily damaged, are comparatively difficult to open and close, and require separate actions to close each mailbox and release a flag which is commonly. used to indicate to a mail carrier, for example, that the particular mailbox has letters which are to be removed.

SUMMARY This invention provides an improved mailbox of simple and economical construction which is easy to open with one hand, is self-closing, has an access door which does not extend beyond the peripheral outline of the mailbox, and has a selfdropping signal flag.

Other details, uses, and advantages of this invention will become apparent as the following description of the exemplary embodiments thereof presented in the accompanying drawings proceeds.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings show present exemplary embodiments of this invention, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating one exemplary embodiment of the mailbox of this invention in its normally closed position with a self-dropping signal flag comprising such mailbox in its raised position;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the mailbox of FIG. 1 in its open position with its signal flag dropped and with the mailbox mounted on a horizontal surface of a supporting post and also showing by dotted lines the manner in which a support for such mailbox may be mounted on a substantially vertical supporting surface while maintaining the mailbox in a horizontal position;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken essentially on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary perspective view particularly illustrating the structural features of the selfdropping flag of the mailbox of FIG. 1 and the structural components associated with such flag;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to corresponding portions of FIG. 3 and illustrating another exemplary embodiment of the mailbox of this invention which utilizes magnetic latch means to latch and lightly hold the mailbox in an open position; and

FIG. 7 is a sectional view illustrating a fragmentary portion of another exemplary embodiment of the mailbox of this invention and particularly illustrating latch means in the form of a spring latch.

DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS Reference is now made to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, which illustrate one exemplary embodiment of the improved mailbox of this invention, which is designated generally by the reference numeral 20. The mailbox 20 has a stationary inner container 21 which has a first opening 22 provided therein and an outer member 23 which is rotatably supported around the inner container 21 and about an axis of rotation 25 for the outer member. The outer member has a second opening 24 provided therein and means is provided in the outer member 23 causing rotation thereof in one direction, i.e., shown as counterclockwise in FIG. 2, about the axis of rotation 25 so that a portion 30 of the outer member 23 is aligned over the opening 22 with the opening 24 in the outer member 23 being angularly displaced from the opening 22 in the inner container by an angle indicated at 31.

The mailbox 20 is easily opened by rotating the outer member 23 in a direction opposite the above-mentioned one direction and in this example of the invention the outer member 23 is rotated in a clockwise direction, causing the opening 24 in the outer member 23 to be aligned over the opening 22 in the inner stationary container 21 to provide unobstructed access to the interior of the inner container 21. Thus, it is seen that the outer member 23 serves a dual purpose of housing the inner container 21 while defining what amounts to a self-closing access door for the opening 22 of the inner container 21 and hence a self-closing door for the mailbox 20.

The mailbox 20 has a support designated generally by the reference numeral 33 and the support 33 is in the form of a mounting bracket having a substantially U-shaped cross-sectional configuration and defined by a bight 40 and a pair of outwardly extending legs each designated by the reference numeral 41. The outwardly extending legs 41 are particularly adapted to support fastening or supporting members 42 which associate with both the inner container 21 and the outer cylindrical member 23, and in a manner which will be described in detail subsequently in the specification, to support the mailbox 20 in position. The bight 40 of the U-shaped support 33 may be easily mounted on a substantially horizontal supporting surface 43 of a supporting member 44 fixed at the top of a post 45, for example, or the bight 40 may be easily mounted against a substantially vertical supporting surface 46 as indicated by dotted lines at 47 in FIG. 2. Thus, it is seen that the support 33 enables the mailbox 20 to be mounted with the axis 25 of the outer member in a substantially horizontal position while mounting the support 33 to either a horizontal supporting surface, a vertical supporting surface, or a supporting surface arranged at any desired angle between a horizontal and a vertical plane.

The outer member 23 of this exemplary embodiment of the invention has a tubular or substantially right circular cylindrical wall 50 and a pair of end closures 51 of circular configuration corresponding to the cylindrical wall 50. The cylindrical wall 50 and end closures 51 may be made of any suitable material, such as sheet metal, and suitably fastened together as by welding. Further, the

members

50 and 51 may be suitably protected against corrosion, or the like.

The inner container 21 may be of any suitable configuration; however, in this example of the invention the container 21 is defined by a roughly semicylindrical wall 53 and a pair of roughly semicircular ends 54. The opening 22 in the inner container 21 is defined by substantially straight edges 55 of the roughly semicircular ends and cooperating

straight edges

91 and 92 of the roughly semicylindrical wall 53. The inner container 21 may also be formed of any suitable material such as sheet metal and may also be made by welding and in a similar manner as previously mentioned in connection with the outer member 23. The roughly semicylindrical wall 53 of the container 21 has a radius which is closely correlated to the radius of the substantially cylindrical wall 50 of the outer member 23 whereby a compact construction of maximum volume is provided. In addition, it will be seen from FIG. 3 that adequate space is provided between inner container 21 and the outer member 23, as shown at 60, to assure unobstructed rotation of the outer member 23.

As previously indicated, the fastening members 42 are provided for fastening the inner member 21 to the support 33 and rotatably supporting the outer member 23 around the inner container 21. The fastening members 42 comprise a pair of fastening bolts each having a square shank 61 and a threaded outer portion 62. Each fastening bolt 42 has its square shank 61 extending through a cooperating square opening 63 provided in an associated end 54 of the inner container 21 so that upon fastening the bolt 42 to support 33 in a manner to be described subsequently the inner container 21 is held by the support 33 in a substantially fixed and nonrotating manner. It may also be desired in some applications of this invention to fix the head of fastening bolt 42 to the inner container 21 in any suitable manner, as by a spot weld shown at 64 in FIG. 4, after inserting fastening bolt 42 through its associated square opening 63 and through an associated opening in the outer member 23 as will now be described. However, it will be understood the bolt 42 need not necessarily be fixed to the inner container 21.

Each end closure 51 of the outer member 23 has bearing surface means provided as a part thereof and in this example of the invention such bearing surface means is provided as a right circular cylindrical inside surface 65 of a cylindrical bearing sleeve 66 which is fixed to an associated end closure 51 in any suitable manner. The bearing surface means 65 defines an opening 70 through the end closure 51 and through which an associated supporting bolt 42 is extended. Each bolt 42 has a right circular cylindrical portion 71 which extends through an opening 70 and its associated bearing surface means 65 supports the outer member 23 on the cylindrical portion 71 for rotation about the inner container 21.

A spacer 72 may also be provided together with a backup washer 73 to assure the provision of adequate spacing indicated at 75 between an associated end 54 of the inner container 21 and an adjacent end closure 51 of the outer member 23.

Each outwardly extending leg 41 of the bracket or support 33 has an opening 76 therein adjacent its outer end and each supporting bolt has its threaded end 62 extended through an associated opening 76. Attaching means comprising a pair of attaching nuts 80 are provided for fastening each fastening bolt 42 to the support 33 and it will be seen that a nut 80 is arranged against the inside'surface of an associated outwardly extending leg 41 after being threaded on the outer portion 62 of a bolt 42 and used as a jamnut.. An outer nut 80 is then threaded in position to clamp the leg portion 41 in position. Both fastening bolts 42 are fastened in position in a similar manner whereby the mailbox is supported on the support 33 while allowing unobstructed rotation of its outer member 23.

The fastening bolts 42 are arranged in aligned relation along an axis coinciding with the axis of rotation of the outer member 23. As previously indicated, means is provided in the mailbox 20 causing rotation thereof about the axis of rotation and from the open position of FIG. 2 to the closed position illustrated in FIG. 1- and such means may be defined by forming the outer member 23 so that its longitudinal axis is slightly off center from the position at which a central longitudinal axis would normally extend. However, in this exemplary embodiment of the invention such means causing rotation of the outer member 23 to the closed position comprises a weighted member fixed to the outer member and such weighted member is in'the form of a weighted handle 82 which is acted upon by gravity to always effectively rotate the outer member 23 to its closed position. However, it will be appreciated that such weighted member need not necessarily be provided as the handle 82 and may be provided in the form of a weighted washer 83, or the like, fastened to at least one of the end closures 51 and as indicated by the dotted lines at 83 in FIG. 2.

The mailbox 20 has stop means shown as a stop 85 provided on the outer rotatable member 23. The stop 85 is formed simply by forming an integral flange in an outer portion of the outer cylindrical member 50. However, it will be appreciated that the stop 85 may be a separate member and suitably fastened in position to the outer member.

The stop 85 has a substantially L-shaped cross-sectional configuration with a roughly radially inwardly extending leg portion 90. The stop 85 limits the rotation of the outer member 23 caused by the weighted handle 82 by engaging lower edge 91 of the inner container 21 and assures by its placement that the outer portion of the outer rotatable member 23 is rotated to provide a complete closure over the Q opening 22 in the inner container. The stop also controls, by its placement, the amount that the outer member 23 must be rotated in an opposite or opening direction to enable the

openings

22 and 24 to be arranged in aligned relation. Thus, it is seen that the stop 85 assures that the outer member 23 does not rotate too far in a counterclockwise direction, in this example of the invention, so as to require excessive rotary movement of the outer member 23 in a clockwise direction to open the mailbox 20; and, the stop 85 also engages the upper edge portion 92 of the inner container 21 to limit the rotation of the outer rotatable member in the opposite direction once the

openings

22 and 24 are arranged in aligned relation.

The improved mailbox 20 of this invention has a selfdropping flag 93 the operation of which will be described in detail in connection with FIG. 5 of the drawings. The flag 93 has a staff 94 fixed thereto which is slidably supported for vertical movement in a guide 95 fixed to the support 33. In particular, the guide 95 is fixed to a leg portion 41 of the support 33.

The guide 95 may be of any suitable construction and in this example of the invention comprises an approximately tubular member having a vertical passage 96 extending therethrough and such passage is also open at the lower end of the guide 95 to enable water, dirt particles, etc. to pass therethrough. The passage 96 provides sufficient clearance between the staff 94 and the guide 95 to enable unobstructed vertical movement.

The staff 94 has a supporting surface 100 defined by a cutout or notch 101 in the staff 94. A pin 102 is also provided and fixed to an associated end closure 51 of the rotatable outer member 23. The pin 102 is fixed to such outer member substantially vertically above the guide 95 with the outer member 23 in its closed position. The pin is adapted to be engaged by the supporting surface 100 upon raising the flag 93 and its staff 94 to thereby hold the flag 93 in a raised position. The clearance between the staff 94 and the guide 95 is also such that with the outer member 23 in a closed position the flag and staff may be easily raised and hooked so that the supporting surface 100 holds the flag 93 in its raised position.

The configuration of the notch 101 and hence the supporting surface 100 is such that as a mail carrier opens the mailbox 20 by rotating the outer member 23 clockwise toward an open position the pin 102 is moved away from the supporting surface 100 thereby allowing the flag to automatically drop to a lower position under the influence of gravity. Thus, the mail carrier need only open the mailbox and the flag drops automatically by gravity without requiring the mail carrier to exert any time or effort to lower such flag.

Another exemplary embodiment of this invention is illustrated in FIG. 6 of the drawings. The mailbox illustrated in FIG. 6 is very similar to the mailbox 20; therefore, such mailbox will be designated generally by the reference numeral 20A and parts of the mailbox 20A which are very similar to corresponding parts of the mailbox 20 will be designated by the same reference numeral as mailbox 20 also followed by the letter designation A and not described again. The only difference between the mailbox 20A and the mailbox 20 is that the mailbox 20A has latch means, shown as a magnetic latch 105A, provided as a part thereof. The magnetic latch 105A is suitably fixed to the inner container 21 adjacent the upper end portion 92A thereof. The magnetic latch 105A is preferably of the permanent magnet type and is particularly adapted to engage the outside surface 106A of the leg portion 90A of the stop 85A and such leg portion 90A may be made of any suitable ferrous material.

A single magnetic latch 105A may be provided along the upper edge portion of the inner container 21 or a plurality of spaced magnetic latches may be utilized. The magnetic latch 105A is utilized to latch and lightly hold the outer member 23 in an open position to enable a person to insert mail in the mailbox.

Another exemplary embodiment of this invention is illustrated in FIG. 7. Only a fragmentary view is illustrated in FIG. 7 showing essentially another embodiment of a latch means which may be utilized in a mailbox construction and the mailbox of FIG. 7 will be designated generally by the reference numeral 208. The mailbox 20B is identical to the mailbox 20A with the exception that the latch means is in the form of a spring latch means designated generally by the reference numeral 1108 and thus only such spring latch means will be described in detail. The stop of the mailbox 20B is very similar to the stop 85 of the mailbox 20 and therefore will be designated by the reference numeral 858 and its radially inwardly extending leg portion by the reference numeral 908.

The spring latch 110B has a resilient or flexible springlike portion 111B which may be defined as an integral part of the leg portion 908. The portion 1118 is adapted to engage a cooperating arcuate portion 112B adjacent the terminal end edge 92B of the inner container 21. Thus, once the outer member 238 is rotated to an open position, as illustrated in FIG. 2 for the mailbox 20, the flexible portion 111B engages the arcuate surface 1128 to provide a mechanical spring latch to lightly hold the outer member 238 of the mailbox 208 in an open position.

The latches 105A and 1108 for the mailboxes 20A and 208 respectively are easily disengaged by rotating their associated outer members a small amount whereupon the particular mailbox automatically closes in a similar manner as in the mailbox 20.

The improved mailbox 20 of this invention can be readily opened by a mail carrier, for example, holding mail between his fingers and thumb and engaging the back of his hand against the handle 82. Once the

openings

22 and 24 are arranged in aligned relation the mail carrier simply releases the mail and moves on whereupon the outer member 23 is selfclosing and rotates to its closed position.

lt will also be appreciated that the openings are concealed and arranged in the improved mailbox of this invention so that water is not likely to collect and cause the mailbox to freeze shut during cold weather. In fact, the only likely area where freezing might occur would be around the bearing surface means 65. However, freezing in this location is highly unlikely because of the arrangement of such bearing surface means. Nevertheless, even if freezing occurs around the bearing surfaces 65, it will be appreciated that only a small surface area is involved and a person desiring to open the mailbox would simply lift the handle 62 whereby a comparatively large moment arm defined essentially by the radius of the cylindrical wall 50 would be effective to provide easy opening of the mailbox.

By contrast, the mailboxes in most common use today have comparatively large openings closed by access doors which are easily damaged and provide comparatively large peripheral surface areas which in the event of freezing would be practically impossible to open by only pulling thereagainst.

Although latch means has been presented in this disclosure of the invention for latching and lightly holding each exemplary mailbox 20A and 208 in an open position, it will be appreciated that, if desired, the mailbox of this invention may be provided with similar latch means to hold it in a closed position. In addition, a single latch means such as a magnetic latch, for example, may be carried by the outer rotatable member 23 and such single latch means may cooperate with associated portions of the inner container 21 of the mailbox 20 and operate to hold such outer rotatable member latched closed as well as hold such outer rotatable member latched open.

While present exemplary embodiments of this invention have been illustrated and described, it will be recognized that this invention may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced within the scope of the following claims.

lclaim:

l. A mailbox comprising a stationary inner container having a first opening provided therein, an outer member having an axis of rotation and being rotatably supported around said inner container, said outer member having a second opening provided therein and having means causing rotation thereof in one direction about said axis of rotation so that a portion thereof is aligned over said first opening and with said second opening being angularly displaced from said first opening, said mailbox being easily opened by rotating said outer member in a direction opposite said one direction causing said second opening to be aligned over said first opening to provide unobstructed access to the interior of said inner container, said outer member serving the dual purpose of housing said inner container and defining a self-closing door over said first opening of said inner container, a support supporting said inner container while allowing unobstructed rotation of said outer member about said axis of rotation, a substantially vertically arranged guide fixed to said support, a flag having a staff slidably supported for vertical movement by said guide, said stafi" having a supporting surface provided as a part thereof, and a pin fixed to said outer member substantially vertically above said guide with said outer member in its closed position, said pin being adapted to be engaged by said supporting surface upon raising said staff to hold said flag in a raised position and upon rotating said outer member in said opposite direction to open said mailbox said pin is moved away from said supporting surface allowing said flag to automatically drop to a lower position under the influence of gravity.

2. A mailbox as set forth in claim 1 in which said guide comprises an approximately tubular member adapted to slidably receive and support said staff therewithin for vertical sliding movement and said supporting surface is defined by a notch in said stafi.

3. A mailbox comprising a stationary inner container having a first opening provided therein for easy access from a side thereof, an outer member having an axis of rotation and being rotatably supported around said inner container, stop means on said outer member for limiting rotation of said outer member in either direction, said outer member having a second opening provided therein and having weight means thereon which is acted upon by gravity causing rotation of said outer member in one direction about said axis of rotation until said stop means engages a part of said inner container and a portion of said outer member is aligned over said first opening with said second opening being angularly displaced from said first opening to define a closed position for said mailbox, said mailbox being easily opened by rotating said outer member in a direction opposite said one direction until stop means engages another part of said inner container and said second opening is aligned over said first opening to provide unobstructed access to the interior of said inner container, and latch means for latching and lightly holding said outer member in an open position after rotation thereof in said opposite direction, said outer member serving the dual purpose of housing said inner container and defining a self-closing door over said first opening of said inner container.

4. A mailbox as set forth in claim 3 in which said latch means comprises magnetic latch means.

5. A mailbox as set forth in claim 3 in which said latch means comprises spring latch means.

6. A mailbox comprising a stationary inner container having a first opening provided therein for easy access from a side thereof, said inner container comprising a roughly semicylindrical wall and a pair of roughly semicircular ends with said first opening in said inner container being defined by a first and a second straight edge comprising said semicylindrical wall and a cooperating pair of straight edges comprising said semicircular ends, an outer member having a substantially cylindrical wall provided with a pair of oppositely arranged end closures and having a second opening provided therein, said outer member being rotatably supported around said inner container and about a substantially horizontal axis of rotation, a flange on said outer member for limiting rotation of said outer member in either direction, said flange extending inwardly within said outer member at a location adjacent an edge of said second opening, said outer member having a weighted member attached thereto which is acted upon by gravity causing rotation of said outer member in one direction about said axis of rotation until said flange engages said first edge to close said mailbox by aligning a portion of said outer member over said first opening and with said second opening being angularly displaced from said first opening, said mailbox being easily opened by rotating said outer member in a direction opposite said one direction until said flange engages said second edge and said second opening is aligned over said first opening to provide unobstructed access to the interior of said inner container, said outer member serving the dual purpose of housing said inner container and defining a self-closing door over said first opening of said inner container; a guide supported adjacent said outer member, and a flag device slidably supported for movement by said guide and having a supporting surface thereon, said flag device being adapted to be moved upwardly along said guide and its supporting surface supported on a portion of said outer member with said outer member in a closed position, and upon rotating said outer member in said opposite direction to open said mailbox said portion of said outer member is moved away from said supporting surface allowing said flag device to automatically drop to a lower position under the influence of gravity.

7. A mailbox comprising a stationary inner container having a first opening provided therein, said inner container comprising a roughly semicylindrical wall and a pair of roughly semicircular ends with said first opening in said inner container being defined by cooperating substantially straight edges of said semicylindrical wall and semicircular ends, an outer member having a substantially cylindrical wall and a pair of oppositely arranged end closures, said semicylindrical wall of said inner container having a radius which is closely correlated to the radius of said cylindrical wall of said outer member to provide a compact construction of maximum volume while assuring unobstructed rotation of said outer member around said inner container, said outer member being rotatably supported around said inner container and about a substantially horizontal axis of rotation, said outer member having a second opening provided therein and having means causing rotation thereof in one direction about said axis of rotation so that a portion thereof is aligned over said first opening and with said second opening being angularly displaced from said first opening, said mailbox being easily opened by rotating said outer member in a direction opposite said one direction causing said second opening to be aligned over said first opening to provide unobstructed access to the interior of said inner container, said outer member serving the dual purpose of housing said inner container and defining a self-closing door over said first opening of said inner container, a support supporting said inner container while allowing unobstructed rotation of said outer member about said axis of rotation, a substantially vertically arranged guide fixed to said support, a flag having a staff slidably supported for vertical movement by said guide, said staff having a supporting surface provided as a part thereof, and a pin fixed to said outer member substantially vertically above said guide with said outer member in its closed position, said pin being adapted to be engaged by said supporting surface upon raising said staff to hold said flag in a raised position and upon rotating said outer member in said opposite direction said pin is moved away from said supporting surface allowing said flag to automatically drop to a lower position under the influence of gravity.

8. A mailbox comprising a stationary inner container having a first opening provided therein, said inner container comprising a roughly semicylindrical wall and a pair of roughly semicircular ends with said first opening in said inner container being defined by cooperating substantially straight edges of said semicylindrical wall and semicircular ends, an outer member having a substantially cylindrical wall and a pair of oppositely arranged end closures, said semicylindrical wall of said inner container having a radius which is closely correlated to the radius of said cylindrical wall of said outer member to provide a compact construction of maximum volume while assuring unobstructed rotation of said outer member around said inner container, said outer member being rotatably supported around said inner container and about a substantially horizontal axis of rotation, said outer member having a second opening provided therein and having means causing rotation thereof in one direction about said axis of rotation so that a portion thereof is aligned over said first opening and with said second opening being angularly displaced from said first opening, said mailbox being easily opened by rotating said outer member in a direction opposite said one direction causing said second opening to be aligned over said first opening to provide unobstructed access to the interior of said inner container, said outer member serving the dual purpose of housing said inner container and defining a self-closing door over said first opening of said inner container, a support, bearing surface means provided in each of said end closures, a pair of fastening bolts each having a square shank and a threaded outer end and each extending through a cooperating square hole in an associated end of said inner container, said fastening bolts being arranged in aligned relation along an axis coinciding with said axis of rotation and each fastening bolt having a right circular cylindrical portion extending through an associated bearing surface means and supporting said outer member about said inner container, and an attaching nut for attaching each of said fastening bolts to said support.

9. A mailbox as set forth in claim 8 in which said support comprises a mounting bracket of substantially U-shaped crosssectional configuration having a bight and a pair of outwardly extending legs, each of said legs having an opening adapted to receive the threaded end of an associated fastening bolt therethrough to enable threading an associated fastening nut in a fastening position, and said bight being easily mounted on a substantially horizontal surface as well as on a substantially vertical surface while maintaining said mailbox with said central axis in a substantially horizontal plane.

10. A mailbox as set forth in claim 7 in which said means causing rotation of said outer member in said one direction comprises a weighted member fixed to said outer member and being acted upon by gravity.

Claims

1. A mailbox comprising a stationary inner container having a first opening provided therein, an outer member having an axis of rotation and being rotatably supported around said inner container, said outer member having a second opening provided therein and having means causing rotation thereof in one direction about said axis of rotation so that a portion thereof is aligned over said first opening and with said second opening being angularly displaced from said first opening, said mailbox being easily opened by rotating said outer member in a direction opposite said one direction causing said second opening to be aligned over said first opening to provide unobstructed access to the interior of said inner container, said outer member serving the dual purpose of housing said inner container and defining a self-closing door over said first opening of said inner container, a support supporting said inner container while allowing unobstructed rotation of said outer member about said axis of rotation, a substantially vertically arranged guide fixed to said support, a flag having a staff slidably supported for vertical movement by said guide, said staff having a supporting surface provided as a part thereof, and a pin fixed to said outer member substantially vertically above said guide with said outer member in its closed position, said pin being adapted to be engaged by said supporting surface upon raising said staff to hold said flag in a raised position and upon rotating said outer member in said opposite direction to open said mailbox said pin is moved away from said supporting surface allowing said flag to automatically drop to a lower position under the influence of gravity.

2. A mailbox as set forth in claim 1 in which said guide comprises an approximately tubular member adapted to slidably receive and support said staff therewithin for vertical sliding movement and said supporting surface is defined by a notch in said staff.

9. A mailbox as set forth in claim 8 in which said support comprises a mounting bracket of substantially U-shaped cross-sectional configuration having a bight and a pair of outwardly extending legs, each of said legs having an opening adapted to receive the threaded end of an associated fastening bolt therethrough to enable threading an associated fastening nut in a fastening position, and said bight being easily mounted on a substantially horizontal surface as well as on a substantially vertical surface while maintaining said mailbox with said central axis in a substantially horizontal plane.