Multi-compartment mailboxes

Abstract

A multi-compartment mailbox has a master door which a mailman can open, using a first master key, to enable large packages to be delivered, and the master door has a plurality of sub-doors each enabling access to a specific one of the compartments and openable by use of a key different from the master key and different from the keys used to open the other sub-doors. Each sub-door has a mail delivery flap and all the flaps of all the sub-doors can be collectively locked and unlocked to prevent delivery of junk mail. A second master key controls the condition, locked or unlocked, of the flaps and persons, such as building management or town council officials, may also have copies of the second master key, but not the first. A manually operable control determines the condition, locked or unlocked, of the flaps and employs a gear and rack system which moves a cam to longitudinally displace hinge rods for the sub-doors, flap locking members being carried by the hinge rods and either preventing opening of the flaps or permitting them to open depending on the displacement condition of the hinge rods. In a modified arrangement, the mail delivery flaps each have means whereby they can be selectively and individually rendered non-lockable whereby the mailbox users can if they wish opt to receive junk mail and other deliverables.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.