Abstract
A mailbox having a housing, floor, mail receptacle, front door and traveling rod. The mail receptacle is situated on top of a sliding rail assembly affixed to the floor. A first end of the traveling rod is pivotally connected to a first horizontal bar that is secured to a rear portion of the sliding rail assembly. Two first support members are pivotally connected to the right and left ends of the first horizontal bar. The first support members are also pivotally connected to two second support members that extend from the rear end of the mailbox to the front door inside of the housing. A second end of the traveling rod is attached to a shaft, and a wheel bearing is situated on either end of the shaft. A receiving bracket attached to the rear wall of the mail receptacle is configured to receive the wheel bearings and shaft.
Claims
1. A mailbox comprising: (a) a mailbox housing; (b) a mailbox floor; (c) a mail receptacle having right and left side walls, a rear wall, and a floor; (d) a front door; and (e) a traveling rod; wherein the mail receptacle is situated on top of a sliding rail assembly affixed to the mailbox floor; wherein a first end of the traveling rod is pivotally connected to a first horizontal bar that is secured to a rear portion of the sliding rail assembly; wherein a right first support member is pivotally connected to a right end of the first horizontal bar; wherein a left first support member is pivotally connected to a left end of the first horizontal bar; wherein each of the right and left first support members has a lower end and an upper end; wherein each of the right and left first support members is connected to the first horizontal bar at the lower end of the first support member; wherein the right first support member is pivotally connected to a right second support member at the upper end of the right first support member; wherein the left first support member is pivotally connected to a left second support member at the upper end of the left first support member; wherein each of the right and left second support members has a proximal end and a distal end; wherein the proximal ends of the right and left second support members are pivotally connected to the front door; wherein the distal end of the right second support member is pivotally connected to the upper end of the right first support member; wherein the distal end of the left second support member is pivotally connected to the upper end of the left first support member; wherein a second end of the traveling rod is attached to a shaft; wherein a wheel bearing is situated on either end of the shaft; and wherein a receiving bracket is attached to an outside surface of a rear wall of the mail receptacle and is configured to receive the wheel bearings and shaft.
2. The mailbox of claim 1, wherein the proximal ends of the right and left second support members are pivotally connected to right and left front brackets that are fixedly attached to the front door; wherein a second horizontal bar extends laterally across a bottom of an inside surface of the front door and is connected to the front brackets; and wherein the front brackets are situated against an outer lip of the front door.
3. The mailbox of claim 2, wherein the right front bracket is shorter than the right first support member, and the left front bracket is shorter than the left first support member.
4. The mailbox of claim 2, wherein when the front door is in a fully open position, the right and left front brackets are in a horizontal position beneath a bottom edge of the mailbox.
5. The mailbox of claim 1, wherein the first horizontal bar is secured to the sliding rail assembly with collars that are configured to allow the first horizontal bar to rotate within the collars.
6. The mailbox of claim 1, wherein the right and left first support members are situated between a rear end of the mailbox and the rear wall of the mail receptacle; wherein the right second support member is situated between the mailbox housing and the right side wall; and wherein the left second support member is situated between the mailbox housing and the left side wall.
7. The mailbox of claim 6, wherein each of the right and left second support members extends from the rear end of the mailbox to the front door.
8. The mailbox of claim 1, wherein each of the right and left first support members is shorter than the receiving bracket; and wherein each of the right and left first support members is shorter than the traveling rod.
9. The mailbox of claim 1, wherein each of the side walls of the mail receptacle has a front portion with a bottom edge that is angled upward at a certain angle; and wherein the floor of the mail receptacle has a front section that is angled upward to match the certain angle of the front portions of the side walls.
10. The mailbox of claim 1, wherein the rear wall of the mail receptacle comprises a top part with two beveled edges on either side of the top part to enable the mail receptacle to fit within the mailbox housing.
11. The mailbox of claim 1, wherein the wherein the mail receptacle is not connected [in any manner] to the front door of the mailbox.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the present invention shown with the mailbox in a closed position.
(2) FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the present invention shown with the mailbox in a closed position.
(3) FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the present invention shown with the mailbox in a closed position.
(4) FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of the present invention shown with the mailbox in an open position.
(5) FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of the present invention shown with the mailbox in an open position.
(6) FIG. 6 is a phantom front perspective view of the present invention shown with the mailbox in a closed position.
(7) FIG. 7 is a phantom rear perspective view of the present invention shown with the mailbox in a closed position.
(8) FIG. 8 is a phantom front perspective view of the present invention shown with the mailbox in an open position.
(9) FIG. 9 is a phantom rear perspective view of the present invention shown with the mailbox in an open position.
(10) FIG. 10 is a side view of the present invention shown with the mailbox in a closed position.
(11) FIG. 11 is a side view of the present invention shown with the mailbox in a partially open position.
(12) FIG. 12 is a side view of the present invention shown with the mailbox in a fully open position.
(13) FIG. 13 is a detail cross-section view of the sliding rail assembly of the present invention taken at the line shown in FIG. 11.
(14) FIG. 14 is an exploded view of the sliding rail assembly of the present invention.
(15) FIG. 15 is a detail view of the distal end of the traveling rod of the present invention.
(16) FIG. 16 is a side view of an alternate embodiment of the traveling rod.
(17) FIG. 17 is a front perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention shown with the mailbox in a closed position.
(18) FIG. 18 is a rear perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention shown with the mailbox in a closed position.
(19) FIG. 19 is a front perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention shown with the mailbox in an open position.
(20) FIG. 20 is a rear perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention shown with the mailbox in an open position.
(21) FIG. 21 is a phantom front perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention shown with the mailbox in a closed position.
(22) FIG. 22 is a phantom rear perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention shown with the mailbox in a closed position.
(23) FIG. 23 is a rear perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention shown with the mailbox in a closed position and with the mailbox housing and mail receptacle omitted for clarity.
(24) FIG. 24 is a phantom front perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention shown with the mailbox in an open position.
(25) FIG. 25 is a phantom rear perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention shown with the mailbox in an open position.
(26) FIG. 26 is a phantom side view of a second embodiment of the present invention shown with the mailbox in a closed position.
(27) FIG. 27 is a phantom side view of a second embodiment of the present invention shown with the mailbox in a partially open position.
(28) FIG. 28 is a phantom side view of a second embodiment of the present invention shown with the mailbox in a fully open position.
(29) FIG. 29 is a detail cross-section view of the sliding rail assembly of the second embodiment of the present invention taken at the line shown in FIG. 26.
(30) FIG. 30 is an exploded view of the sliding rail assembly of the second embodiment of the present invention.
(31) FIG. 31 is a detail view of the first support member and traveling rod of the second embodiment.
REFERENCE NUMBERS
(32) 1 Mailbox 1a Mailbox housing 1b Mailbox floor 1c Rear end (of mailbox) 2 Mail receptacle 3 Side walls (of mail receptacle) 3a Bottom edge (of side wall) 4 Rear wall (of mail receptacle) 4a Beveled edge (of rear wall) 5 Floor (of mail receptacle) 5a Front section (of floor) 6 Front door (of mailbox) 6a Outer lip (of front door) 7 First bracket 8 First U-shaped bracket 8a Lateral part (of first U-shaped bracket) 8b Legs (of first U-shaped bracket) 9 Longitudinal rods 10 Second U-shaped bracket 10a Lateral part (of second U-shaped bracket) 10b Legs (of second U-shaped bracket) 11 Traveling rod 12 Shaft 13 Wheel bearings 14 Receiving bracket 14a Channels (in receiving bracket) 14b Open center part (of receiving bracket) 14c Lips (of receiving bracket) 15 Sliding rail assembly 16 Horizontal bar 17 First support member 18 Second support member 19 Front bracket 20 Second horizontal bar 21 Collar
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION
A. First Embodiment
(33) FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 are perspective views of the present invention with the mailbox shown in a closed position, and FIGS. 4 and 5 are perspective views of the present invention shown in an open position. As shown in these figures, the invention is comprised of a mailbox 1 with a mailbox housing 1a and a mailbox floor 1b. The invention further comprises a mail receptable 2 with two sides walls 3, a rear wall 4, and a floor 5. The floor 5 preferably comprises a front section 5a that is tilted upward at an angle that matches the angle of the bottom edge 3a of the front portion of each side wall 3. Note that the rear wall 4 of the receptacle 2 preferably comprises two beveled edges 4a on either side of the top part of the rear wall 4 to enable the receptable to fit within the mailbox housing 1a. It is important to note that the receptacle 3 is not connected to the front door 6 of the mailbox.
(34) The receptacle 3 lies on top of a sliding rail assembly, which is shown in detail in FIGS. 13 and 14. A first bracket 7 is attached to the center of the inside surface of the front door 6 and is oriented so that it extends from a top part of the front door to a bottom part of the front door. At the bottom part of the front door, this bracket 7 connects to a first U-shaped bracket 8 that is also attached to the inside surface of the front door 6. The first U-shaped bracket 8 is oriented so that the open part of the “U” faces downwardly, the lateral part 8a of the “U” is situated just above the mailbox floor 1b, and the two legs of the “U” 8b extend beyond the bottom edge 6a of the front door 6 (so that they are lower than the mailbox floor 1b). The bottom end of each of the legs 8a is rotatably attached to a longitudinal rod 9 that extends underneath the mailbox 1 from the front of the mailbox to a point beyond the rear end of the mailbox housing 1a.
(35) The distal (or rear) end of each longitudinal rod 9 is attached to a second U-shaped bracket 10 that is also oriented so that the open part of the “U” faces downwardly, and each of the legs 10b is attached at its distal end to the distal (or rear) end of one of the longitudinal rods 9. The lateral part 10a of the second U-shaped bracket 10 is situated slightly above the level of the mailbox floor 1b, and the legs 10b are situated entirely beneath (or below) the level of the mailbox floor 1b. A traveling rod 11 is attached to and extends upwardly from the center of the lateral part 10a of the second U-shaped bracket 10. The first end of the traveling rod 11 is attached to the second U-shaped bracket 10, and the second end of the traveling rod 11 is attached to a shaft 12. On either side of the shaft 12 are wheel bearings 13 (see FIG. 15 for additional detail).
(36) A receiving bracket 14 is attached to the outside surface of the rear wall 4 of the receptacle 2 and is configured to receive the wheel bearings 13 and shaft 12. The receiving bracket 14 comprises right and left channels 14a in which the wheel bearings 13 travel up and down as the shaft 12 is moved upward and downward within the open center part 14b of the receiving bracket 14. When the mailbox is fully closed, the traveling rod 11 is in a vertical position, and the entire length of the traveling rod 11 is situated within the open center part of the receiving bracket 14. The channels 14a in the receiving bracket 14 are formed by lips 14c that extend inwardly from each side of the receiving bracket 14.
(37) When the mailbox door 6 is opened manually by a user, by virtue of the mechanical connections discussed above, the distal ends of the legs 8a push the longitudinal rods 9 rearward. When the longitudinal rods 9 are pushed rearward, the second U-shaped bracket 10 rotates into the position shown in FIG. 5, with the legs 10b tilted in a rearward direction, as shown. As the second U-shaped bracket 10 is rotated, the traveling rod 11 is pushed forward, and the shaft 12 travels to the bottom of the open center part 14b of the receiving bracket 14. The traveling rod 11 may be straight, as shown in FIG. 9, or it may be slightly bent to provide additional leverage, as shown in FIG. 16.
(38) As the shaft 12 travels to the bottom of the open center part 14b of the receiving bracket 14, the traveling rod 11 pushes the receptacle 2 forward, thereby causing the front part of the receptable 2 to extend past the front edge of the mailbox housing 1a, as shown in FIG. 4. In this manner, the receptable is pushed—not pulled—out of the mailbox. This structural feature distinguishes the present invention from prior art. When the front door 6 of the mailbox is closed by the user, the second U-shaped member 10 rotates back into the position shown in FIG. 3, and the legs 10b push the longitudinal rods 9 forward. At the same time, the shaft 12 returns to its position at the top of the open center part 14b of the receiving bracket 14, and the wheel bearings 13 return to the top of the channels 14a. The force exerted by the user to close the front door 6 causes the second U-shaped bracket 10 to rotate, the shaft 12 to travel upwardly within the open center part 14b of the receiving bracket 14, and the receptacle 2 to move rearwardly on the sliding rail assembly 15 so that it is fully enclosed within the mailbox housing 1a.
(39) FIGS. 6-9 are phantom views of the present invention that provide clearer views of the interior workings of the mailbox. FIG. 10 is a phantom side view of the mailbox in a closed position. FIGS. 11 and 12 are phantom side views of the mailbox shown in a partially open and a fully open position, respectively. As shown in FIGS. 10-12, by virtue of the relative placement of the first U-shaped bracket S and second U-shaped bracket 10, the longitudinal rods 9 are slightly higher in the front than in the back when the mailbox is in a closed position, horizontal when the mailbox is in a partially open position (when the door is inclined at a 45-degree angle), and lower in the front than in the back when the mailbox is in a fully open position. Specifically, the lateral part 8a of the first U-shaped member is on a slightly higher horizontal plane (in other words, it is slightly higher relative to the mailbox floor 1b) than the lateral part 10a of the second U-shaped member 10 when the mailbox is in a closed position. When the mailbox is in the partially open position shown in FIG. 11, the lateral parts 8a and 10a are on the same horizontal plane.
(40) FIG. 13 is a cross-section view of the sliding rail assembly of the present invention taken at the line shown in FIG. 11. FIG. 14 is an exploded view of the sliding rail assembly. As shown in these figures, the sliding rail assembly 15 is comprised of three telescoping tracks that are slidably engaged via ball bearings. A typical example of this kind of sliding rail assembly is the Everbilt® Ball Bearing Slide Set manufactured and distributed by Home Depot Product Authority, LLC of Atlanta, Ga.
B. Second Embodiment
(41) FIGS. 17-28 illustrate an alternate embodiment of the present invention in which the mechanism by which the mail receptacle 2 is retracted and extended is fully contained within the mailbox housing 1a.
(42) FIG. 17 is a front perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention shown with the mailbox in a closed position. This figure shows the mailbox 1, mailbox housing 1a and front door 6.
(43) FIG. 18 is a rear perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention shown with the mailbox in a closed position. This figure shows the rear wall 4 (with beveled edge 4a) of the mail receptacle. As in the first embodiment, the second embodiment comprises a traveling rod 11 that is situated within a receiving bracket 14 that is oriented vertically and situated in the center of the outside rear face of the rear wall 4. The bottom end of the traveling rod 11 is pivotally connected to a first horizontal bar 16 (which is in lieu of the lateral part 10a of the second U-shaped bracket 10 of the first embodiment) that is secured to the rear portion of the sliding rail assembly 15. Note that the traveling rod 11 is pivotally connected to the first horizontal bar 16 at the approximate center of the first horizontal bar 16. As in the first embodiment, the sliding rail assembly 15 is situated on the floor 1b of the mailbox 1. A pair of first support members 17 is pivotally connected to the right and left ends of the first horizontal bar 16. Each of the first support members 17 is connected at its lower end to the first horizontal bar 16 and at its upper end to a second support member 18.
(44) FIG. 19 is a front perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention shown with the mailbox in an open position. This figure shows the sidewalls 3 of the mail receptacle 2. In this embodiment, the proximal ends of the second support members 18 are pivotally connected to the front door 6 via front brackets 19 on either side of the inside surface of the front door 6 (that is, the second support members 18 are pivotally connected to the front brackets 19, which are fixedly attached to the front door 6). The distal ends of the second support members 18 are pivotally connected to the first support members 17, as noted above. A second horizontal bar 20 extends laterally across the bottom of the inside surface of the front door 6 and is connected to the front brackets 19, as shown. The second horizontal bar 20 helps support the front brackets 19, which must bear the force of the pushing and pulling motion caused by the traveling rod 11 within the receiving bracket 14. The front brackets 19 are situated against the outer lip 6a of the front door 6, as shown.
(45) FIG. 20 is a rear perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention shown with the mailbox in an open position. As shown in this figure, when the front door 6 is pulled open, the second support members 18 pivot on the front brackets 19, thereby pulling the upper ends of the first support members 17 forward and causing the first support members 17 to pivot at their upper and lower ends. At the same time, the traveling rod 11 slides downwardly within the receiving bracket 14, as discussed in above in connection with the first embodiment. When the front door 6 is closed, these actions are reversed; namely, the second support members 18 push the upper ends of the first support members 17 backward, and the lower ends of the first support members 17 rotate on the first horizontal bar 16. Note that the first horizontal bar 16 is secured to the sliding rail assembly 15 with collars 21 that allow the first horizontal bar 16 to rotate within the collars 21.
(46) FIG. 21 is a phantom front perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention shown with the mailbox in a closed position. This figure clearly shows the inner workings of the mailbox 1. Note that when the mailbox 1 is in a closed position, both the front brackets 19 and the first support members 17 are in a vertical or near-vertical position. The second support members 18, however, are higher in the rear than at the front. This configuration is intentional and necessary to provide the requisite force (push and pull) of the traveling rod 11 within the receiving bracket 14. Specifically, if the second support members 18 were horizontal in this position, the mail receptacle 2 would hit the front door 6 before the front door 6 has opened far enough to allow the mail receptacle 2 to extend forward. For this reason, the front brackets 19 are preferably shorter than the first support members 17.
(47) FIG. 22 is a phantom rear perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention shown with the mailbox in a closed position. As shown in this figure, the first support members 17 and the second support members 18, which replace the first U-shaped bracket 8 and longitudinal rods 9 of the first embodiment, are fully contained within the mailbox housing 1a. The first support members 17 are situated between the rear end 1c of the mailbox 1 and the rear wall 4 of the mail receptacle 2, and the second support members 18 are situated between the mailbox housing 1a and the side walls 3 of the mail receptacle 2.
(48) FIG. 23 is a rear perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention shown with the mailbox in a closed position and with the mailbox housing and mail receptacle omitted for clarity. As in the first embodiment, a shaft 12 and wheel bearings 13 are disposed on the proximal end of the traveling rod 11. The mechanism associated with the traveling rod 11, receiving bracket 14, shaft 12 and wheel bearings 13 is the same as described above in connection with the first embodiment. In a preferred embodiment, the first support members 17 are shorter than the receiving bracket 14 and also shorter than the traveling rod 11 (see FIG. 31), which is approximately the same height as the receiving bracket 14. The second support members 18 extend from the rear end 1c of the mailbox (see FIG. 22) to the front door 6.
(49) FIG. 24 is a phantom front perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention shown with the mailbox in an open position. As shown in this figure, when the front door 6 is fully open, the front brackets 19 are horizontal or near-horizontal, and they are also situated beneath the level of the bottom edge 1d of the mailbox 1.
(50) FIG. 25 is a phantom rear perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention shown with the mailbox in an open position. In this position, the proximal end of the traveling rod 11 (that is, the end on which the shaft 12 is located) is roughly halfway down the receiving bracket 14. In this position, the angle (a′) between the upper end of the first support member 17 and the rear (or distal) end of the second support member 18 is preferably approximately one hundred twenty degrees (120°) (see FIG. 28). When the front door 6 is closed, this angle (b′) is preferably approximately eighty degrees (80°) (see FIG. 26).
(51) FIG. 26 is a phantom side view of a second embodiment of the present invention shown with the mailbox in a closed position. FIG. 27 is a phantom side view of a second embodiment of the present invention shown with the mailbox in a partially open position. FIG. 28 is a phantom side view of a second embodiment of the present invention shown with the mailbox in a fully open position. This series of figures illustrates the relative positions of the first support members 17, the second support members 18, and the travelling rod 11 in each respective position.
(52) FIG. 29 is a detail cross-section view of the sliding rail assembly of the second embodiment of the present invention taken at the line shown in FIG. 26, and FIG. 30 is an exploded view of the sliding rail assembly of the second embodiment of the present invention. The sliding rail assembly 15 in the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment except that the sliding rail assembly 15 has been turned upside down in the second embodiment (compare FIGS. 29 and 30 to FIGS. 13 and 14). The present invention is not limited to any particular configuration of the sliding rail assembly 15 as long as it is configured to permit the mail receptacle 2 to extend from and retract into the mailbox housing 1a.
(53) Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects. The appended claims are therefore intended to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
