Title: Mailbox
Abstract: A mailbox includes a housing having a front portion and being formed from transparent material so that a user may view inside the housing from an exterior thereof. A front door is pivotally connected to the housing and preferably includes a transparent portion disposed substantially medially between a perimeter thereof. A cover plate is removably positionable in front of the transparent portion for preventing a person from seeing therethrough and into the housing. A locking mechanism releasably maintains the front door at a closed position. A plurality of members are pivotally connected to the housing and movable between up and down positions for covering the front transparent portion of the housing so that a person cannot see inside the housing when standing at an exterior thereof.
Patent Number: 6,929,174 Issued on 08/16/2005 to Ly
| Inventors:
|
Ly; Tristan (1469 Hilltop St., Albernarle, NC 28001)
|
| Appl. No.:
|
746639 |
| Filed:
|
December 29, 2003 |
| Current U.S. Class: |
232/38; 232/17 |
| Intern'l Class: |
B65D 091/00 |
| Field of Search: |
232/17,38,39,45,29
|
References Cited [Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
| 3243104 | Mar., 1966 | Fillion.
| |
| 3275229 | Sep., 1966 | Turner.
| |
| 4244512 | Jan., 1981 | Wise.
| |
| 4650113 | Mar., 1987 | Hunt.
| |
| 4951905 | Aug., 1990 | Bronson et al.
| |
| 5000380 | Mar., 1991 | Barrios.
| |
| 5123590 | Jun., 1992 | Teele.
| |
| D332166 | Dec., 1992 | Williams.
| |
| 5465902 | Nov., 1995 | Hanson.
| |
| 6629634 | Oct., 2003 | Simmons.
| |
| 6811076 | Nov., 2004 | Engberg.
| |
| 6845904 | Jan., 2005 | South.
| |
| 2003/0213837 | Nov., 2003 | Morgan.
| |
Primary Examiner: Miller; William L.
Goverment Interests
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not Applicable.
REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX
Not Applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
This invention relates to a mailbox and, more particularly, to a mailbox including
a plurality of transparent sections for allowing a user to identify whether the
mailbox contains mail therein.
2. Prior Art
Roadside mailboxes typically include a single door, which faces the roadway
and is used both to deposit mail and to remove mail from the box. The mailbox is
often located a considerable distance from the house, and it is necessary for the
recipient to walk out to the mailbox and check to determine whether the mail has
arrived. Although many mailboxes are equipped with signal flags, they are not used
consistently and do not detract appreciably from the number of trips that must
be made to and from the mailbox.
Mailboxes that are wholly or partially transparent have been proposed so
that the contents of the box are visible from a considerable distance. However,
if a single envelope or several envelopes or other flat pieces of mail are present
in the mailbox, they are difficult to see from a distance because of their horizontal
position on the floor of the mailbox. Another drawback associated with transparent
mailboxes is that persons passing by on the road can see that mail is present and
possibly tamper with it.
The retrieval of mail from conventional mailboxes is especially difficult for
the elderly. It is necessary to walk around to the roadside of the mailbox and
open the door, to stoop down to see if any mail is present, and to reach into the
mailbox to remove the mail. The need to stand on the roadside of the mailbox can
be dangerous, and the need to stoop down and reach into the box is especially difficult
for elderly persons.
Mailboxes having doors on both ends have been proposed so that the mail
can be deposited from the roadside of the mailbox and removed from the house side.
However, the house side access opening is located at the end of the box, and it
is still necessary for the recipient to stoop down to check for the presence of
mail and to reach into the end of the mailbox to remove it. In addition, if the
mail carrier is careless in depositing the mail in the box, it can slide through
the box and fall completely or partially out through the back or house side door.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing background, it is therefore an object of the present
invention to provide a mailbox including a plurality of transparent portions for
allowing a user to determine whether mail has been delivered. These and other objects,
features, and advantages of the invention are provided by a mailbox for maintaining
mail therein and including a housing having a longitudinal axis and including a
substantially planar bottom surface having opposed side edge portions equally spaced
from the longitudinal axis and extending substantially parallel thereto along a
length of the housing.
The housing further includes a non-planar top surface integral with the bottom
surface and extending upwardly from the opposed side edge portions thereof. The
housing may also include a front portion integral with the top surface and formed
from transparent material so that a user may view inside the housing from an exterior thereof.
The present invention preferably includes a support plate including a substantially
planar surface and opposed side edge portions integral therewith extending upwardly
therefrom. The support plate is disposed beneath the housing and connected thereto
for providing reinforcement to the bottom surface. A front door including opposed
bottom edge portions is pivotally connected to the side edge portions of the support
plate. The front door preferably includes a transparent portion disposed substantially
medially between a perimeter thereof.
The present invention may further include a cover plate removably positionable
in front of the transparent portion for preventing a person from seeing therethrough
and into the housing. A locking mechanism releasably maintains the front door at
a closed position. The present invention may also include a plurality of members
pivotally connected to the housing and movable between up and down positions for
covering the front transparent portion of the housing so that a person cannot see
inside the housing when standing at an exterior thereof.
The side edge portions of the support plate are preferably engaged with the top
surface of the housing. The front door may be formed from transparent material.
The plurality of members include top end portions pivotally connected to preferably
the top surface of the housing. The present invention may further include a flag
member pivotally connected to the top surface and movable between down and up positions
for identifying whether the housing contains outgoing mail.
Claims
1. A mailbox for maintaining mail therein and comprising:
a housing having a longitudinal axis and including a substantially planar bottom
surface having opposed side edge portions equally spaced from the longitudinal
axis and extending substantially parallel thereto along a length of said housing,
said housing further including a non-planar top surface integral with said bottom
surface and extending upwardly from said opposed side edge portions thereof, said
housing including a front portion integral with said top surface and formed from
transparent material so that a user may view inside said housing from an exterior thereof;
a support plate including a substantially planar surface and opposed side edge
portions integral therewith and extending upwardly therefrom, said support plate
being disposed beneath said housing and being connected thereto for providing reinforcement
to said bottom surface;
a front door including opposed bottom edge portions pivotally connected to said
side edge portions of said support plate; and
locking means for releasably maintaining said front door at a closed position.
2. The mailbox of claim 1, wherein said side edge portions of said support plate
are engaged with said top surface of said housing.
3. The mailbox of claim 1, wherein said front door is formed from transparent material.
4. The mailbox of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of members pivotally
connected to said housing and being movable between up and down positions for covering
said front transparent portion of said housing so that a person cannot see inside
said housing when standing at an exterior thereof.
5. The mailbox of claim 4, wherein said plurality of members include top end
portions pivotally connected to said top surface of said housing.
6. The mailbox of claim 1, wherein said front door member comprises a transparent
portion disposed substantially medially between a perimeter thereof.
7. The mailbox of claim 1, wherein said front door member comprises:
a transparent portion disposed substantially medially between a perimeter thereof; and
a cover plate removably positionable in front of said transparent portion for
preventing a person from seeing therethrough and into said housing.
8. The mailbox of claim 1, further comprising a flag member pivotally connected
to said top surface and being movable between down and up positions for identifying
whether said housing contains outgoing mail.
9. A mailbox for maintaining mail therein and comprising:
a housing having a longitudinal axis and including a substantially planar bottom
surface having opposed side edge portions equally spaced from the longitudinal
axis and extending substantially parallel thereto along a length of said housing,
said housing further including a non-planar top surface integral with said bottom
surface and extending upwardly from said opposed side edge portions thereof, said
housing including a front portion integral with said top surface and formed from
transparent material so that a user may view inside said housing from an exterior thereof;
a support plate including a substantially planar surface and opposed side edge
portions integral therewith and extending upwardly therefrom, said support plate
being disposed beneath said housing and being connected thereto for providing reinforcement
to said bottom surface;
a front door including opposed bottom edge portions pivotally connected to said
side edge portions of said support plate;
locking means for releasably maintaining said front door at a closed position; and
a plurality of members pivotally connected to said housing and being movable
between up and down positions for covering said front transparent portion of said
housing so that a person cannot see inside said housing when standing at an exterior thereof.
10. The mailbox of claim 9, wherein said side edge portions of said support plate
are engaged with said top surface of said housing.
11. The mailbox of claim 9, wherein said front door is formed from transparent material.
12. The mailbox of claim 9, wherein said plurality of members include top end
portions pivotally connected to said top surface of said housing.
13. The mailbox of claim 9, wherein said front door member comprises a transparent
portion disposed substantially medially between a perimeter thereof.
14. The mailbox of claim 9, wherein said front door member comprises:
a transparent portion disposed substantially medially between a perimeter thereof; and
a cover plate removably positionable in front of said transparent portion for
preventing a person from seeing therethrough and into said housing.
15. The mailbox of claim 9, further comprising a flag member pivotally connected
to said top surface and being movable between down and up positions for identifying
whether said housing contains outgoing mail.
16. A mailbox for maintaining mail therein and comprising:
a housing having a longitudinal axis and including a substantially planar bottom
surface having opposed side edge portions equally spaced from the longitudinal
axis and extending substantially parallel thereto along a length of said housing,
said housing further including a non-planar top surface integral with said bottom
surface and extending upwardly from said opposed side edge portions thereof, said
housing including a front portion integral with said top surface and formed from
transparent material so that a user may view inside said housing from an exterior thereof;
a support plate including a substantially planar surface and opposed side edge
portions integral therewith and extending upwardly therefrom, said support plate
being disposed beneath said housing and being connected thereto for providing reinforcement
to said bottom surface;
a front door including opposed bottom edge portions pivotally connected to said
side edge portions of said support plate, said front door further including
a transparent portion disposed substantially medially between a perimeter thereof, and
a cover plate removably positionable in front of said transparent portion for
preventing a person from seeing therethrough and into said housing;
locking means for releasably maintaining said front door at a closed position; and
a plurality of members pivotally connected to said housing and being movable
between up and down positions for covering said front transparent portion of said
housing so that a person cannot see inside said housing when standing at an exterior thereof.
17. The mailbox of claim 16, wherein said side edge portions of said support
plate are engaged with said top surface of said housing.
18. The mailbox of claim 16, wherein said front door is formed from transparent material.
19. The mailbox of claim 16, wherein said plurality of members include top end
portions pivotally connected to said top surface of said housing.
20. The mailbox of claim 16, further comprising a flag member pivotally connected
to said top surface and being movable between down and up positions for identifying
whether said housing contains outgoing mail.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not Applicable.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
The novel features believed to be characteristic of this invention are set forth
with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both
as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and
advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description
taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a mailbox, in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2
in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an alternate embodiment of the mailbox
shown in FIG. 1; and
FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4
in FIG. 3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference
to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are
shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should
not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these
embodiments are provided so that this application will be thorough and complete,
and will fully convey the true scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.
Like numbers refer to like elements throughout, and prime and double prime notations
are used to indicate similar elements in alternate embodiments.
The apparatus of this invention is referred to generally in FIG. 1 by the reference
numeral
10 and is intended to provide a mailbox including a plurality of
transparent portions. It should be understood that the mailbox
10 may be
used for both residential and commercial purposes.
The mailbox
10 includes a housing having a longitudinal axis and including
a substantially planar bottom surface
11 having opposed side edge portions
equally spaced from the longitudinal axis (not shown) and extending substantially
parallel thereto along a length of the housing. The housing further includes a
non-planar top surface
12 integral with the bottom surface
11 and
extending upwardly from the opposed side edge portions thereof.
Both the top and bottom surfaces
12,
11, respectively, may be
formed from conventional nontransparent and/or transparent material. For example,
the housing preferably includes a front portion
18 integral with the top
surface
12 and formed from transparent material so that a user may view
inside the housing from an exterior thereof.
A support plate
13 includes a substantially planar surface extending across
the bottom surface
11 and includes opposed side edge portions integral therewith.
Such side edge portions extend substantially perpendicularly upwardly from the
planar surface of the support plate
13. The support plate is disposed beneath
the housing and connected thereto for providing reinforcement to the bottom surface
11. In particular, the side edge portions of the support plate
13
are preferably engaged with the top surface
12 of the housing.
A front door
14 including opposed bottom edge portions is pivotally connected
to the side edge portions of the support plate
13 via conventional fasteners
30. The front door
14 is formed from transparent material, in a manner
similar to the front portion
18 of the housing. A pair of brackets
15,
16 are releasably engageable with each other for assisting to maintain the
front door
14 at a closed position. A conventional flag member
17
is pivotally connected to the top surface
12 and is movable between down
and up positions for identifying whether the mailbox
10 contains outgoing
mail. In particular, a control knob
31 helps control the movement of the
flag member
17.
Now referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, an alternate embodiment
10′ is
illustrated wherein the front door
14′ preferably includes a transparent
portion
23 disposed substantially medially between a perimeter thereof.
A cover plate
24 is removably positionable in front of the transparent portion
24 for preventing a person from seeing therethrough and into the housing.
In particular, such a transparent portion includes a plurality of grooves
33
along a perimeter thereof for receiving the side edge portions of cover plate
24.
Of course, the transparent portion
23 and the associated cover plate
24
may be formed in various shapes such as oval and triangular, for example.
Notably, a plurality of members
20,
21 are pivotally connected
to the housing and movable between up and down positions for covering the front
transparent portion
18 of the housing so that a person cannot see inside
the housing when standing at an exterior thereof. The pair of members
20,
21 include top end portions pivotally connected to preferably the top surface
12 of the housing via a conventional elongate hinge
22 disposed generally
medially of the housing apex and aligned with bracket
15. Each member
20,
21 includes a handle portion
25,
26, respectively extending
outwardly therefrom for assisting a user to open and close such members
20,
21.
While the invention has been described with respect to certain specific embodiments,
it will be appreciated that many modifications and changes may be made by those
skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is intended,
therefore, by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and changes as
fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
*