Security mailbox and conversion kit

A security mailbox comprising:

• a mailbox, wherein the mailbox comprises a set of walls and a floor that define an opening at an end of the mailbox, wherein a front door is affixed to said mailbox proximate to the opening, the opening providing full access to the interior compartment of the mailbox when the front door is in an open position;
• a security panel hingedly connected to the floor, the security panel comprising:
• a peripheral shape conforming to the interior dimensions of the opening defined by the set of walls and the floor;
• a first lock member connected to the security panel opposite the floor;
• and
• one of a spring member connected between the front door and floor, and a pulling member demountably coupled between the front door and the security panel;
• and
• a second lock member connected to an interior wall of the mailbox proximate to said opening, the second lock member configured to interlock with first lock member when the security panel is in a vertical position;
• wherein a secure interior compartment for receiving deposited mail articles is substantially bounded by the security panel, the set of walls, and the floor rearward of the security panel, thereby allowing substantially the full volume of the mailbox behind the security panel to hold deposited mail articles.

A method of using a field-modified mailbox comprising the steps of:

• providing a field-modified mailbox, wherein the mailbox comprises a set of walls and a floor that define an opening at an end of the mailbox, wherein a front door is affixed to said mailbox proximate to the opening, the opening providing full access to the interior compartment of the mailbox when the front door is in an open position, wherein the conversion kit comprising:
• a security panel comprising a peripheral shape conforming to the interior dimensions of the opening defined by the set of walls and the floor, and a hinge piece comprising a first hinge portion adapted to be connected to the floor of the mailbox proximate to the opening, and a second hinge portion hingedly coupled to a first edge of the security panel, wherein the security panel provides access to the interior compartment of the mailbox through rotation of the hinge piece;
• at least one first securing member configured to connect the first hinge portion to the floor;
• a first lock member connected to the security panel proximate a second edge opposite the first edge of the security panel;
• a pulling member demountably coupled between the front door and the security panel, whereby the pulling member urges the security panel open when the front door is moved away from the opening;
• a second lock member connected to an interior wall of the mailbox proximate to said opening, the second lock member configured to interlock with first lock member when the security panel is in a vertical position;
• and
• at least one second securing member for securing the second lock member to the set of walls;
• positioning the first lock member of the security panel adjacent to the second lock member;
• wherein the first lock member does not interlock with the second lock member;
• closing the front door, whereby the pulling member demountably connects the security panel and the front door;
• and
• opening the front door, thereby opening the security panel by means of the pulling member connected between the front door and the security panel.