Deposit and collection receptacles – Closures and chutes – Letter box
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-22
2001-05-22
Browne, Lynne H. (Department: 3628)
Deposit and collection receptacles
Closures and chutes
Letter box
C232S017000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06234388
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to mailboxes generally, and more particularly to a security mailbox which prevents the theft or the destruction of the mail and packages deposited therein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Conventional mailboxes are typically not secure by design. When a letter carrier delivers correspondence or small packages to a conventional mailbox, the items deposited therein remain within easy reach, and sometimes even within obvious view, of casual passers-by. Anyone desiring to examine or to procure the contents of such a mailbox need overcome no significant physical barriers in order to gain access to incoming or outgoing mail placed there.
Conventional mailboxes are also typically not designed to hold more than one or two days' mail deliveries. During even a short vacation or hospital stay, mail can fill an absent homeowner's conventional mailbox and overflow such that further deliveries by the letter carrier are no longer practical or possible.
Though many mailboxes are equipped with doors, flaps, or other closure elements, they are nevertheless inadequate with respect to protecting their contents from inclement weather when the mailbox is very full such that the door cannot close properly.
There has been a continuing need, therefore, for an effective enclosure for receiving and temporarily storing delivered mail in such a way as to protect it from the elements and to prevent its theft. A security mailbox designed to meet these needs should be simply constructed with minimal moving parts and at the same time should be made to conform with the strict requirements of the postal service.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention is a mailbox which secures the items deposited therein from theft and protects its contents from the elements. The security mailbox generally comprises an enclosure having an incoming chamber adapted for receiving mail through a mail delivery opening in its front end and a secured chamber having an access door for selectively accessing delivered mail items secured therein. A rocker plate is pivotally mounted on a pivot axis within the enclosure and has a rear section on one side of the pivot axis and a front section on the other side of the pivot axis.
The rocker plate separates the incoming chamber from the secured chamber and pivots between a receiving position, in which the front section of the rocker plate is disposed proximal the front end of the incoming chamber for receiving mail deposited through the opening, and a drop position, in which the front section-of the rocker plate is raised relative to its back section, causing the items placed upon the rocker plate to slide into the secured chamber.
The rocker plate is biased toward the receiving position, and a stop interacts between the enclosure and the rocker plate for stopping the rocker plate in the receiving position. The security mailbox of the present invention is adapted such that the front section of the rocker plate may be manipulated by hand to pivot the rocker plate into the drop position.
The enclosure, the chambers, and the rocker plate are so dimensioned as to prevent a would-be thief from gaining access to the contents of the secured chamber through the mail delivery opening in the front of the incoming chamber. In the receiving position, the rocker plate is substantially horizontal and closes off most of the secured chamber, thereby restricting access to the secured chamber from the opening in the front of the incoming chamber. In the drop position, the rocker plate closes off most of the incoming chamber, thereby restricting access to the secured chamber from the opening in the incoming chamber.
In an exemplary embodiment, the invention provides a door for closing the opening in the front end of the incoming chamber to protect the contents of the enclosure from inclement weather.
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Browne Lynne H.
Miller William L.
Tervo Calif
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