Mailbox Alert System
OwnerLloyd Beachyinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mail alert, signaling device for use with a mailbox having a housing and door for receiving mail said device being attached at one of its ends to the exterior of the mailbox and having a signaling portion on the other end wherein an L-shaped member of the signaling portion reversibly couples with a lip portion on the mailbox to configure the device in standby mode, and when the door is opened die L-shaped member is dislodged from the lip portion thereby signaling mail delivery.
Claims17
A mailbox alert device that provides a visual signal when mail has been delivered to a mailbox, said mailbox leaving a bottom panel and a top and sidewall structure defining an enclosure having a frontal opening, a door being hingedly attached to the bottom panel, said device comprising:
- (a) an elongated cordon having top and bottom surfaces, a first end having a portion, that can be attached to a top or sidewall of the mailbox, and a second end having a signaling portion comprising an L-shaped member that is capable of reversibly coupling with a lip portion on said mailbox;
- (b) wherein said device is set in standby mode by bending the elongated member to form an are therein and latching said L-shaped member over said lip portion, thereby imparting spring tension to said device;
- and
- (c) wherein when the mailbox door is opened to receive mail, said L-shaped member is dislodged from said lip portion, releasing said spring tension, thereby returning the device to a relaxed position, signaling mail delivery.
A mailbox alert device that provides a visual, signal when mall has been delivered, to a mailbox, said mailbox having a bottom panel and a top and sidewall structure defining an enclosure having a frontal opening, a door hingedly attached to the bottom panel, said device comprising:
- (a) an elongated portion having top and bottom enlaces, a first end having a portion that can be attached to a top or sidewall of the mailbox, and a second end having a signaling portion comprising an L-shaped member that is capable of reversibly coupling with a lip portion on said mailbox:
- (b) a multi-purpose bracket that provides said lip portion on said mailbox;
- (c) wherein said device is set in standby mode by bending the elongated member to form an arc therein and latching said L-shaped member over said lip portion, thereby imparting spring tension to said device, and
- (c) wherein when the mailbox door is opened to receive mail, said L-shaped member is dislodged from said lip portion, releasing said spring tension, thereby returning the device to a relaxed position, signaling mail delivery.
A multi-purpose bracket for use with a mailbox alert device that reversibly couples with the bracket when the device is set in standby mode, said bracket being mounted to a mailbox, comprising
- a. a from end that reversibly couples with a signal portion of said mailbox alert device;
- b. a rear end;
- c. a top surface;
- and
- d. a bottom surface wherein said bottom surface includes a recessed space for accommodating a flanged region on a mailbox door.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.