Deposit and collection receptacles – Letter boxes – Auxiliary – cooperating
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-22
2001-05-22
Browne, Lynne H. (Department: 3628)
Deposit and collection receptacles
Letter boxes
Auxiliary, cooperating
C232S017000, C232S038000, C232S045000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06234387
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to mail boxes and the like and more particularly to a mail box insert assembly for use with an existing mail box housing having an open front end in connection with an existing mail compartment; the mail box insert assembly including a housing insert portion integrally formed with a facade plate assembly; the housing insert portion having a curved top portion and a rectangular bottom portion and is sized to frictionally slide completely into the open front end of the existing mail box housing and into the existing mail compartment thereof defined by existing housing sidewalls; the rectangular bottom portion having opposed vertical sidewalls that are each provided with a thumb screw securing assembly including a threaded opening formed through the vertical sidewall and a thumb screw including a threaded shaft portion companionately threaded to engage the threaded opening of the vertical sidewall and a knob portion; the threaded shaft being of sufficient length such that a tip end of the threaded shaft is threadably extendable past an exterior side surface of the vertical sidewall at least one-half inch so as to contact the existing housing sidewalls and secure the housing insert portion within the existing mail compartment; the facade plate assembly being integrally formed with a front edge of the housing insert portion and including a pivoting access door in connection with a mail receiving cavity formed within the housing insert portion, a decorative facade plate defining an access opening in connection with the mail receiving cavity of the housing insert portion, and a mail flag pivotally attached to the facade plate.
BACKGROUND ART
Mail boxes are often permanently bricked into a decorative structure. Although the bricked in mail box looks good for a period of time, as time passes, the bricked in mail boxes can begin to rust or otherwise become unattractive. It would be desirable, therefore, to have a mail box insert that included a decorative facade plate and that could be inserted into the existing mail receiving compartment of the existing mail box housing and secured in place to refurbish the appearance of the combined mail box and brick decorative structure.
GENERAL SUMMARY DISCUSSION OF INVENTION
It is thus an object of the invention to provide a mail box insert assembly for use with an existing mail box housing having an open front end in connection with an existing mail compartment; the mail box insert assembly including a housing insert portion integrally formed with a facade plate assembly; the housing insert portion having a curved top portion and a rectangular bottom portion and is sized to frictionally slide completely into the open front end of the existing mail box housing and into the existing mail compartment thereof defined by existing housing sidewalls; the rectangular bottom portion having opposed vertical sidewalls that are each provided with a thumb screw securing assembly including a threaded opening formed through the vertical sidewall and a thumb screw including a threaded shaft portion companionately threaded to engage the threaded opening of the vertical sidewall and a knob portion; the threaded shaft being of sufficient length such that a tip end of the threaded shaft is threadably extendable past an exterior side surface of the vertical sidewall at least one-half inch so as to contact the existing housing sidewalls and secure the housing insert portion within the existing mail compartment; the facade plate assembly being integrally formed with a front edge of the housing insert portion and including a pivoting access door in connection with a mail receiving cavity formed within the housing insert portion, a decorative facade plate defining an access opening in connection with the mail receiving cavity of the housing insert portion, and a mail flag pivotally attached to the facade plate.
Accordingly, a mail box insert assembly for use with an existing mail box housing having an open front end in connection with an existing mail compartment is provided. The mail box insert assembly includes a housing insert portion integrally formed with a facade plate assembly; the housing insert portion having a curved top portion and a rectangular bottom portion and is sized to frictionally slide completely into the open front end of the existing mail box housing and into the existing mail compartment thereof defined by existing housing sidewalls; the rectangular bottom portion having opposed vertical sidewalls that are each provided with a thumb screw securing assembly including a threaded opening formed through the vertical sidewall and a thumb screw including a threaded shaft portion companionately threaded to engage the threaded opening of the vertical sidewall and a knob portion; the threaded shaft being of sufficient length such that a tip end of the threaded shaft is threadably extendable past an exterior side surface of the vertical sidewall at least one-half inch so as to contact the existing housing sidewalls and secure the housing insert portion within the existing mail compartment; the facade plate assembly being integrally formed with a front edge of the housing insert portion and including a pivoting access door in connection with a mail receiving cavity formed within the housing insert portion, a decorative facade plate defining an access opening in connection with the mail receiving cavity of the housing insert portion, and a mail flag pivotally attached to the facade plate.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 365189 (1995-12-01), Dennis
patent: 3107848 (1963-10-01), Penta
patent: 4244512 (1981-01-01), Wise
patent: 4368842 (1983-01-01), De Lange, III
patent: 4375869 (1983-03-01), Hatch
patent: 4600143 (1986-07-01), Hailow, Jr. et al.
patent: 4813595 (1989-03-01), Johns, Jr. et al.
patent: 4875622 (1989-10-01), Lents
patent: 5361977 (1994-11-01), Ogrodnick, Jr.
patent: 5524818 (1996-06-01), Patry et al.
patent: 6123257 (2000-09-01), Guidicy
Cuthbert Gilda V.
Cuthbert Julius
Breaux Joseph N.
Browne Lynne H.
Miller William L.
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