Double-door security rural mail-box

A depository receptacle, comprising:

• an elongated housing including an upper wall and being open at first and second opposite ends;
• a front closure movably mounted at said first end for closing said first end;
• a rear closure movably mounted at said second end for closing said second end, each of said closures having an inner and an outer surface;
• a locking mechanism for locking said front and rear closures, said locking mechanism including a latching member formed of magnetically attractable material, a latching member mounting bracket mounting said latching member on the inner side of said front closure for limited vertical movement, a camming mechanism for engaging and moving said latching member in a vertical direction, a camming mechanism mounting bracket mounting said camming mechanism in said receptacle adjacent said upper wall and said latching member when said front closure is in a closed position, a magnet for magnetically attracting said latching member mounted on said upper wall adjacent said latching member, said camming mechanism mounting bracket including a retaining portion engageable by said latching member in its lower position to latch said front closure in the closed position, said camming mechanism including a movable portion mounted adjacent said retaining portion and engageable with said latching member for moving the latter out of engagement with said retaining portion to a position adjacent said magnet, whereby said latching member is attracted to and retained by said magnet;
• said camming mechanism further including an actuating mechanism for moving said movable portion in response to opening and closing of said rear closure, said locking mechanism including a lock mounted on said rear closure for locking the rear closure relative to said housing;
• whereby with the latching member in latched engagement with the retaining portion and with the front and rear closures in the closed position;
• when the rear closure is locked and opened, the actuating mechanism will move rearwardly toward the rear closure and the movable portion will move the latching member vertically out of engagement with the retaining portion to a position in which it is attracted and retained by the magnet to thereby unlatch the front closure, subsequent closing of the rear closure causing the actuating mechanism to return the movable portion and the actuating mechanism to their original position with the front closure unlatched and closed;
• upon opening of the front closure, the latching member is moved out of engagement with the magnet and falls to its lower position so that upon closing of the front closure, the latching member again engages the retaining portion and latches the front closure in the closed position.