US3637178A

US3637178A - Mailbox support

Info

Publication number: US3637178A
Application number: US874119A
Authority: US
Inventors: John C Golden
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1969-11-05
Filing date: 1969-11-05
Publication date: 1972-01-25
Anticipated expiration: 1989-01-25

Abstract

A mailbox support having a generally upright post anchored in the ground and a mailbox support arm movably affixed to the post for movement in a lateral plane as well as in a vertical plane between a locked normal position and a locked servicing position. The mailbox support arm is freely movable in the lateral plane so that the support will not be damaged if the support arm is struck by a passing vehicle.

Description

Unite States Patent Golden 1451 Jan. 25, 1972 54 MAH BQX SUPPORT 1,645,768 10/1927 Morten 1 ..248/l45 1,772,096 8/1930 Diamond... ..287/99 [72] Inventor: John C. Golden, 437 Hudson St., Eau 1 790 123 1 1931 Trimmerm 24 145 Cl ir 5 01 2,406,772 9/1946 Hunter ..287/99 F'l N 5 1969 [22] 1 ed M Primary Examiner-Edward C. Allen [21] Appl. No.: 874,119 Attorney-Cushman,Darby&Cushman 52 us. 121 .248/145 [57] ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl ..A47g 29/12 A mailbox support having a generally upright post anchored in [58] Field of Search ..248/145, 140, 133, 417; the ground and a mailbox support arm movably afi'ixed to the 2 7/9 post for movement in a lateral plane as well as in a vertical plane between a locked normal position and a locked servic- [56] Reference Ci ing position. The mailbox support arm is freely movable in the lateral plane so that the support will not be damaged if the UNITED STATES PATENTS support arm is struck by a passing vehicle. 1,292,421 1/1919 Bickel ..248/l45 1,337,221 4/1920 Hansen ...248/4l7 5 5 Dmwmg F'gms 1,521,963 1/1925 Mclntosh ..248/l45 1| 1 I I I I I 1. .4311.

O A, o 1 20 c f r l l /9 1 ,62 4 s I l x22 l I A8 I I l 62 k 34 34 x {I Z 1 -24 e4 22 PATENILD JAMES I972 INVENTOR MAILBOX SUPPORT The present invention relates to a mailbox support and more particularly to such a support having a mailbox support arm which may be moved in a lateral direction upon its being struck by an object, such as a vehicle, without damaging the support in any way.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a rural mailbox support which is readily movable in a lateral plane so as to avoid injury to the support if the support is struck by an object such as a vehicle.

Another object is to provide a mailbox support having a support arm which is movable in a generally vertical plane between a locked normal position and a locked servicingposition.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a mailbox support having a support arm which is lockable into a normal position and into a servicing position.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art as the disclosure is made in the following description of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying sheets of drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevation of an embodiment of the invention with the support arm shown in the locked normal position;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the invention showing the support arm in the locked servicing position;

FIG. 3 is a detailed elevational view of a portion of the invention showing the relative positions of a movable ring and a stopper ring when the support arm has been moved from its normal position in a lateral direction;

FIG. 4 is a front elevation of another embodiment of the support with parts removed for clarity; and

FIG. 5 is a front elevation of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4 with parts removed for clarity illustrating the position of the movable ring when the support arm has been struck so as to move it in a lateral direction from its normal position.

With reference now to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is shown a generally vertically oriented post which has an upper end with a cap 12 fitted therein and a lower end which is adapted to be anchored in the ground. A stopper ring 14 is affixed to the post by conventional means and a lockring 16 is also conventionally attached to the post. A movable ring is located on the post 10 and between the lockring l6 and the stopper ring 14, and a spring washer I9 is located around the post and between the lockring and the movable ring. The movable ring includes a yoke portion or member 20 integral therewith and the yoke member includes a first surface 22 and a second surface 24. In addition, the yoke member 20 includes aligned apertures 26.

A support arm 28 having a standard rural mailbox 30 mounted thereon has an aperture 32 of predetermined size and shape adjacent a first end thereof. Although the aperture 32 is illustrated as being a circular aperture of larger size than the apertures 26, a slotted aperture 32 could also be provided with the longest dimension of the aperture being generally parallel with the ground. A pin member 34 extends through the aligned apertures 26 and through the aperture 32 to hold the first end of the support arm 28 within the yoke member 20 so that the support arm 28 is able to rotate in a generally vertical plane about the pin member 34.

The support arm 28 has a locking pin 36 extending therefrom at'a predetermined position for normally engaging the first surface 22 of the yoke member when the support arm is in the normal position and for engaging the second surface 24 of the yoke member when the support arm 28 is placed into the servicing position. An extendable support means is coupled between the post 10 and the support arm 28 and includes a tubular member 38 having an end portion 40 which extends through the cap 12 and into an aperture 42 therein. A coil spring 44 is affixed to the tubular member 38 in a conventional manner at 46 and is affixed to the support arm 28 at 48.

In one embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 the stopper ring includes a notch 50 therein and the movable ring includes a projection 52 thereon for normally seating in the notch 50 when the support arm 28 is in the normal position in a lateral lane. In another embodiment, illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, a coil spring 54 is located around the post It) and a first end of the spring is affixed to the post by conventional means at 56 while a second end of the spring engages the movable ring 18.

In the operation of the support as illustrated in FIGS. l-3, the support arm 28 is normally held in the position shown in FIG. I. The projection 52 is seated within the notch 50 and the coil spring 44 retracts the arm 28 into the normal locked position with the locking pin engaging the first surface 22. In the event that a snow plow or other vehicle strikes the support arm 28 the rounded projection 52 is caused to move up the side of the notch 50 and onto the surface 60 of the stopper ring. This is most clearly shown in FIG. 3. As the vehicle passes by, the support arm 28 will be moved in a generally lateral plane and will freely rotate about the post 10 so that damage to the arm 28 and to the post is avoided. Using this embodiment it is then necessary to manually move the arm 28 back into the normal position so that the projection 52 again seats in the notch 50.

If the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 is utilized the arm 28, as connected to the movable ring 18, will move in a generally lateral plane if struck by a snow plow or other vehicle in the same manner as described with respect to the embodiment illustrated in plane. 1-3. However, the coil spring 54 is used in place of the projection 52 and the notch 50 so that the arm 28 is permitted to freely rotate about the post 10 until the vehicle passes. After the vehicle has passed the action of the spring 54 against the movable ring 18 will cause the ring and the arm 28 to return to the normal position as illustrated in FIG. 4.

When the mailman wants to insert mail into the box 30 it will often be desirable for him to be able to pull the box 30 in a downward direction so that the box will be located adjacent to the window of the vehicle used by the mailman. In this way he can readily place the mail into the box. This vertical movement of the support arm 28 and of the box 30 is facilitated by the pin 34 which permits rotation of the arm 28 in a generally vertical plane. In addition, the locking pin 36 is so placed on the arm 28 that it engages the first surface 22 when the arm 28 is in the normal position. Thus, the pin 36 together with the tubular member 38 and spring 44 act to hold the support arm 28 in the normal position. However, when the mailman desires to place mail into the mailbox 30 he need only grasp the end 62 of the arm 28 or the mailbox so as to first move the arm 28 in a generally linear direction perpendicular to the axis of the post 10. This movement permits the aperture 32 to move relative to the pin 34 and permits the locking pin 36 to clear the corner 64 of the yoke member 20 when the arm 28 is rotated in a generally downward direction. The mailman can then release the arm 28 and the tubular member 38 together with the spring 44 will cause the locking pin 36 to engage the second surface 24 of the yoke member 20 so that the arm 28 is locked into the servicing position.

After the mail has been deposited into the box 30 the mailman can again grasp the end 62 of the support arm 28 so as to extend the spring 44 and to cause the aperture 32 to move relative to the pin 34. This movement again permits the locking pin 36 to move relative to the comer 64 of yoke member 20 to clear the comer and the support arm 28 is returned to the normal position by the contracting action of the spring 44.

Thus, this invention provides for a mailbox support, a portion of which is freely movable in a lateral direction to prevent damage to the support as a result of being struck by a snow plow or other type vehicle. In addition, the support of this invention provides for the movement of the mailbox from a normal position to a servicing position whereby the box can easily be locked in either of these positions.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within. the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

arm in said servicing position;

What is claimed is: 1. A rural mailbox support comprising:

a P having agenerally venicfil axis, an PP end and a 5 position and exerting a force urging said support arm l w r Sald lowel end b61118 adapted to be anchored towards said post so as to hold said support arm in either f ground? said servicing or normal position by the engagement of a mallbox upp f having an aperture of Predetel'mmed said locking pin with said first or second surfaces, respecsize and shape ad acent a first end thereof; tively, and

alockrmg fixedly attached to F P means operatively associated with said movable ring for a stopper nng spaced from said lockring along said post and normally maintaining said movable ring in said norma] fixedly attached to said post; position a movabl? located on Said said P 2. A mailbox support as in claim 1 wherein said stopper ring and sad f and movable havmg Integral includes a notch therein and wherein said movable ring has a k member least fi and Second adjacent? l5 projection thereon for normally seating in said notch to mainterlor surfaces extending at different angles to the vertical min Said Support arm in said normal position and aliglied apef'mres in said sald ahgned aper' 3. A mailbox support as in claim 2 further including: tures being of different size from said support arm apera Spring washer located around said post between Said ture' a pin member extending through said aligned apertures and gg zr g g jzfi g or norma y urgmg Sal through said Support arm aperture to hold first end of 4 A mailbox support as in claim 1 wherein said maintaining said support arm within said yoke member so that said mensinclud can move linearlyinaplane roughly perpendicular to a spring located around said post with a first end of the san post;

a locking pin extending from said support arm for normally zz g z lfig 33 5 3 and a second end of the spnng er{gaging i first Surface? of said r m-efnber fgrfmain- 5 A fria ilbix support as in cl im 1 further including" taming sai support arm in a norma position an or engaging said second surface when said support art is cap 252: g sgg zi irggg g zi g 'i gggg iig f i linearly moved and then rotated about said pin member p0 br 0 t t ther g movable fin of to cause said locking pin to move along said first surface mg oge n g l g to said second surface and along said second surface to a sand Support arm m a genera y Onzoma position such that said locking pin maintains said support extendable support means coupled between said post and said support arm for enabling the movement of said sup port arm between said normal position and said servicing

Claims

1. A rural mailbox support comprising: a post having a generally vertical axis, an upper end and a lower end, said lower end being adapted to be anchored in the ground; a mailbox support arm having an aperture of predetermined size and shape adjacent a first end thereof; a lockring fixedly attached to said post; a stopper ring spaced from said lockring along said post and fixedly attached to said post; a movable ring located on said post between said lockring and said stopper, said movable ring having an integral yoke member with at least first and second adjacent exterior surfaces extending at different angles to the vertical and aligned apertures in said member, said aligned apertures being of different size from said support arm aperture; a pin member extending through said aligned apertures and through said support arm aperture to hold said first end of said support arm within said yoke member so that said arm can move linearly in a plane roughly perpendicular to said post; a locking pin extending from said support arm for normally engaging said first surface of said yoke member for maintaining said support arm in a normal position and for engaging said second surface when said support art is linearly moved and then rotated about said pin member to cause said locking pin to move along said first surface to said second surface and along said second surface to a position such that said locking pin maintains said support arm in said servicing position; extendable support means coupled between said post and said support arm for enabling the movement of said support arm between said normal position and said servicing position and exerting a force urging said support arm towards said post so as to hold said support arm in either said servicing or normal position by the engagement of said locking pin with said first or second surfaces, respectively, and means operatively associated with said movable ring for normally maintaining said movable ring in said normal position.

2. A mailbox support as in claim 1 wherein said stopper ring includes a notch therein and wherein said movable ring has a projection thereon for normally seating in said notch to maintain said support arm in said normal position.

3. A mailbox support as in claim 2 further including: a spring washer located around said post between said movable ring and said lockring for normally urging said projection into said notch.

4. A mailbox support as in claim 1 wherein said maintaining means include: a spring located around said post with a first end of the spring affixed to said post and a second end of the spring engaging said movable ring.

5. A mailbox support as in claim 1 further including: cap means affixed to said upper end for movably receiving a portion of said extendable support means and for enabling movement together with said movable ring of said support arm in a generally horizontal direction.