Mailbox and system with illuminated characters
OwnerEfrain Fonseca, Bernice Fonsecainventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A mailbox system includes a mailbox body for receiving and storing mail items. One or more receiver units are disposed along an outside facing surface of the mailbox body and function to receive at least one address indicator having a plurality of lighted elements along a front facing surface thereof. An internal controller having a power unit is positioned within the mailbox body. The power unit includes at least one battery and at least one solar cell for supplying the necessary electrical information to the receiver unit and the address indicators. Physical markings are disposed along the address indicator and form address information. When activated, the plurality of lighted elements display address information.
Claims17
An illuminated character system, comprising:
- a main body having a plurality of sides defining an interior space and a recessed area located along one of the plurality of sides;
- a receiver unit that is positioned along one of the plurality of sides of the main body;
- at least one illuminated character that is removably positioned within the receiver unit, said at least one illuminated character including a plurality of lighted elements along a front facing surface thereof;
- an internal controller having a power unit for providing power to the receiver unit and the at least one illuminated character;
- and
- a mounting unit that is configured to secure the main body onto an external object,
- wherein the power unit includes at least one solar power cell, and
- wherein the internal controller is disposed within the recessed area and the at least one solar power cell covers both the recessed area and the controller.
An illuminated character system, comprising:
- a main body having a plurality of sides defining an interior space;
- a plurality of illuminated characters each having a plurality of lighted elements along a front facing surface;
- a receiver unit that is positioned along one of the plurality of sides of the main body, said receiver unit including a pair of channels that are disposed along a major axis of the main body and is configured to slidingly receive each of the plurality of illuminated characters linearly along the major axis of the main body;
- an internal controller having a power unit for providing power to the receiver unit and the plurality of illuminated characters;
- a pair of electrically conductive supply contacts that are disposed longitudinally along the receiver at a location between the pair of channels;
- and
- each of the plurality of illuminated characters includes a pair of electrically conductive receiver contacts that are disposed along a rear facing surface,
- wherein the pair of supply contacts are configured to supply power to the receiver contacts of each of the plurality of illuminated characters located anywhere along the receiver unit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.