Abstract
The present invention discloses a mailbox apparatus including: a box for accommodating mail, wherein the box includes: two horizontal tracks, each of the tracks disposed at an inner upper part of an opposite sidewall of the box; and two pins, vertically disposed at the same level, each of the pins horizontally disposed at an entry side to one of the tracks; a door having side grooves in side facets of the door positionally corresponding to the pins, wherein the door adapted to have: an open state in which the door is horizontally disposed at an upper inner side of the box, thereby allowing insertion and extraction of the mail; and a closed state in which the door is vertically disposed. Preferably, the apparatus includes: a spring mechanism for applying force on the door while being inserted into the tracks, thereby retaining the door in position upon placing into the tracks.
Claims
1. A mailbox apparatus (100), the apparatus comprising: (a) a box (12) for accommodating mail, wherein said box includes: (i) two horizontal tracks (14), each of said tracks disposed at an inner upper part of an opposite sidewall of said box; and (ii) two pins (18), vertically disposed at the same level, each of said pins horizontally disposed at an entry side to one of said tracks; (b) a door (10) having side grooves (16) in side facets of said door positionally corresponding to said pins, wherein said door is adapted to have: (i) an open state in which said door is horizontally disposed at an upper inner side of said box, thereby allowing insertion and extraction of said mail; and (ii) a closed state in which said door is vertically disposed.
2. The mailbox apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: (c) a spring mechanism (34) for applying force on said door while being inserted into said tracks, thereby retaining said door in its position upon placing said door into said tracks.
3. The mailbox apparatus of claim 1, wherein a center-of-gravity (28) of said door is disposed inside said tracks, and wherein said open state corresponds to: (A) said door being disposed into said tracks; and (B) said center-of-gravity of said door is disposed inside said tracks, thereby retaining said door in its position upon placing said door into said tracks such that said center-of-gravity is horizontally inward of said pins toward the rear of said box; and wherein said closed state corresponds to: (A) said grooves hanging on said pins; and (B) said center-of-gravity of said door being disposed out of said tracks, thereby enabling said door to be pulled down by gravity to said closed state upon placing said door such that said center-of-gravity is disposed out of said tracks.
4. The mailbox apparatus of claim 3 further comprising: (c) a spring mechanism (34) for automatically pulling said door into said tracks.
5. The mailbox apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of said tracks expands at a door side of said box.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] The present invention is herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0015] FIG. 1 is a simplified front perspective view of an exemplary mailbox apparatus with the door in the closed position, according to preferred embodiments of the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 2 is a simplified front perspective view of an exemplary mailbox apparatus with the door extended in the open position, according to preferred embodiments of the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 3 is a simplified front perspective view of an exemplary mailbox apparatus with the door retracted in the open position, according to preferred embodiments of the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 4 is a simplified side cross-sectional view of an exemplary mailbox apparatus with the door in the closed position, according to preferred embodiments of the present invention;
[0019] FIG. 5 is a simplified side cross-sectional view of an exemplary mailbox apparatus with the door in a partially-open position, according to preferred embodiments of the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 6 is a simplified side cross-sectional view of an exemplary mailbox apparatus with the door retracted in the open position, according to preferred embodiments of the present invention;
[0021] FIG. 7 is a simplified side cross-sectional view of an exemplary mailbox apparatus with a spring-loaded door retracted in partially-open position, according to preferred embodiments of the present invention;
[0022] FIG. 8 is a simplified front perspective view of an exemplary mail facility having a plurality of mailbox apparatus, according to preferred embodiments of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0023] The present invention relates to a mailbox apparatus. The principles and operation for providing such a mailbox apparatus, according to the present invention, may be better understood with reference to the accompanying description and the drawings.
[0024] Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 is a simplified front perspective view of an exemplary mailbox apparatus with the door in the closed position, according to preferred embodiments of the present invention. A mailbox apparatus 100 is shown in the form of a box 12 in which a door 10, having grooves 16 on its side facets, is installed. Track 14 (detailed below) on each inner side of box 12 enables door 10 to pivot into an open position, and once opened, to be retracted.
[0025] FIG. 2 is a simplified front perspective view of an exemplary mailbox apparatus with the door extended in the open position, according to preferred embodiments of the present invention. Door 10 is shown in a horizontally extended state as a result of being rotated by a user in the direction depicted by an arrow for a position A. From position A, the user pushes the door in the direction depicted by an arrow for a position B until door 10 is in a horizontally retracted state. A key 20 and a lock 22 are optionally shown as well for securing box 12 in preferred embodiments of the present invention.
[0026] FIG. 3 is a simplified front perspective view of an exemplary mailbox apparatus with the door retracted in the open position, according to preferred embodiments of the present invention. Door 10 is in a horizontally retracted state (i.e., position B of FIG. 2), allowing mail (e.g., letters and packages) to be inserted or removed. A user can open door 10, remove any mail from box 12, and then close door 10 with the same hand, allowing single-handed operation and access of mailbox apparatus 100.
[0027] FIG. 4 is a simplified side cross-sectional view of an exemplary mailbox apparatus with the door in the closed position, according to preferred embodiments of the present invention. Rails 24 are mounted on the inner side of each of the vertical facets of box 12 forming tracks 14. Tracks 14 expand at the door side of box 12, allowing door 10 to easily engage entry to track 14 upon opening. Two pins 18 mounted on the inner side of box 12 positionally correspond to grooves 16 on the side facets of door 10.
[0028] FIG. 5 is a simplified side cross-sectional view of an exemplary mailbox apparatus with the door in a partially-open position, according to preferred embodiments of the present invention.
[0029] FIG. 6 is a simplified side cross-sectional view of an exemplary mailbox apparatus with the door retracted in the open position, according to preferred embodiments of the present invention. A center-of-gravity 28 of door 10 is disposed in the left side of pins 18. As a result, when a user leaves door 10 retracted in the open position, door 10 remains in its position until being pulled out by the user, without falling shut while the user is extracting mail.
[0030] For example, tracks 14 may apply a force on door 10 in order to keep door 10 in its position. Such a mechanism may employ a spring for this purpose (retaining door 10 inside tracks 14). However, using the mechanism described above, in which center-of-gravity 28 is exploited, such a spring mechanism is not required.
[0031] FIG. 7 is a simplified side cross-sectional view of an exemplary mailbox apparatus with a spring-loaded door retracted in partially-open position, according to preferred embodiments of the present invention. A spring 34 (represented as an arrow) pulls door 10 into tracks 14. Thus, once lock 22 is unlocked, door 10 automatically enters tracks 14. In order to lock door 10, a user pulls door 10 by holding key 20, closes door 10, and rotates key 20 in order to secure lock 22. It should be noted that other mechanisms can be adapted to provide the same functionality. The spring mechanism of FIG. 7 is merely exemplary.
[0032] FIG. 8 is a simplified front perspective view of an exemplary mail facility having a plurality of mailbox apparatus, according to preferred embodiments of the present invention. A mail facility 30 is shown with a plurality of mailbox apparatus 100 disposed on a stand 32.
[0033] While the present invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, it will be appreciated that many variations, modifications, and other applications of the present invention may be made.
