A receiving and pick-up arrangement for postal items with a foldable housing. When the arrangement is not in use, the housing can be folded up to save space. For this purpose, the side walls are foldable, so that the side walls are arranged or stowed between the top wall and the bottom wall in the folded up state. In the folded up state, the arrangement does not have a receiving chamber for receiving postal items. In operation, the housing is unfolded. In the unfolded state of the housing, the postal item can be placed into the receiving chamber then formed between the side walls via the first opening or the second opening and removed again at a later stage. Also, a method for receiving and a method for picking up a postal item with such an arrangement.

The mailbox delivery notification system is configured for use with a mailbox and a personal data device. The mailbox delivery notification system monitors the mailbox. The mailbox delivery notification system transmits a message to the personal data device when the mailbox delivery notification system detects that the mailbox door has been opened to deliver the mail. The mailbox delivery notification system comprises a housing, a reed switch, and a control circuit. The housing contains the control circuit and a portion of the reed switch. The reed switch electrically connects to the control circuit. The reed switch generates an electric signal indicating that the mailbox door is open. The control circuit monitors the reed switch. The control circuit transmits a message to the personal data device when the control circuit detects the electric signal indicating that the mailbox door is open.

A retractable arm device, system, and method with a locking mechanism for preventing items placed in a device or receptacle from getting stuck, damaged, or torn. The retractable arm includes an inner tube, a pawl, and an outer tube surrounding the inner tube. The inner tube slides within the outer tube and the pawl preventing the retractable arm from moving into an extended position under particular conditions. The retractable arm may be placed in a receptacle for items to prevent the door from being reopened before the door is fully closed.

A retractable arm device, system, and method with a locking mechanism for preventing items placed in a device or receptacle from getting stuck, damaged, or torn. The retractable arm includes an inner tube, a pawl, and an outer tube surrounding the inner tube. The inner tube slides within the outer tube and the pawl preventing the retractable arm from moving into an extended position under particular conditions. The retractable arm may be placed in a receptacle for items to prevent the door from being reopened before the door is fully closed.

A kit for assembling a blow molded post cover including a sleeve and a base. The sleeve having an open bottom end and a hollow interior for receiving a post. The base including a top cap having a first through-hole for receiving the sleeve; a bottom cap having a second through-hole for receiving the sleeve; and a plurality of side panels securable to the top and bottom caps. Each of the plurality of side panels having a first side end, a second side end, and one or more protrusions on a rear surface such that each of the one or more protrusions bears against the sleeve when the base is installed on the sleeve. The first side end of any one of the plurality of side panels is configured to interlock with the second side end of any other one of the plurality of side panels.

A mailbox portal device, the device including a front, top, bottom, left side, right side, at least one chute in the front of the mailbox portal, where the chute opens, the at least one chute is removably connected to a pliable bag located within the mailbox portal device, a clasp connected to the pliable bag, where the clasp is in an open position to receive at least one package and the clasp is closed when disengaging the pliable bag from the mailbox portal. A method for storing and carrying packages, including opening a chute of a mailbox portal, depositing at least one package into the chute, where each package travels down the chute and into a pliable bag, disengaging the pliable bag from the mailbox portal, and closing the pliable bag for transport.

A lock can include attack-resistant and/or weather-resistant features. Attack-resistant features can include a sacrificial link between a locking mechanism and an external keyway covering an exterior face of the locking mechanism. The sacrificial link can break during a torque attack on the lock such that the full force of the torque attack is not applied to the locking mechanism. Weather-resistant features can include drain openings in one or more housing components external to the locking mechanism to facilitate drainage of liquid matter from the lock before the liquid matter reaches the locking mechanism.

Described and shown is a method for delivery and/or collection of at least one mailing. In order to reduce the associated cost and effort a vehicle (1) is drives to at least one receptacle (3) through public traffic at least in part and the at least one mailing to be delivered is taken from the vehicle (1) and placed into the receptacle (3) by a transfer device attached to the vehicle (1) and/or the at least one mailing to be collected is brought from the receptacle (3) to the vehicle (1) by the transfer device attached to the vehicle (1).

A mailbox assembly includes a mailbox and a mail status indication feature. The mail status indication feature or apparatus includes a base, an indicator arm carried on the base and displaceable between a home position, a first deployed position and a second deployed position and an adjustment feature for releasably holding the indicator arm in the home position, the first deployed position and the second deployed position.

An apparatus for receiving and protecting a mail is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a receptacle having a bottom and sidewalls. The bottom and sidewalls define an interior for the receptacle. At one of the sidewalls, a cover is provided, which is operated to form a closed structure with the receptacle. The apparatus comprises a clamp provided at one of the sidewalls to removably couple the receptacle to a structure. At the interior of the receptacle, a mail is received and the cover is closed to protect the mail.