# US 4,395,012 A · Support for a mailbox

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- Number: US 4,395,012 A
- Document ID: US4395012A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/323,341
- Filed: 1981-11-20
- Granted: 1983-07-26
- Earliest claimed: 1981-11-20
- Inventors: Frederick K. Rance
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4395012A

## CPC

- E04H 12/2215: {driven into the ground (ground anchors E02D5/80)}
- A47G 29/1216: {Supports}
- E04H: BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL (foundations E02D)
- A47G: HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT (book-ends A47B5/00; knives B26B)

## Abstract

A support unit comprises a ground base unit made of a sturdy pipe having annular washers. The holes in the washers are aligned and adapted to receive a support pipe which extends above the ground base unit for supporting an object such as a mailbox. The object is rotatably attached to the support pipe with elastic elements which return the object to a predetermined orientation after displacement. Also, if the support pipe is damaged, it is easily replaced.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A support comprising:
a first hollow cylindrical element having a cylindrical axis and an inner cavity having a first cross-sectional dimension,
two annular washers, each attached to said first cylindrical element and each having a central hole having a diameter smaller than said first cross-sectional dimension and aligned with an axis generally parallel with said cylindrical axis of said first cylindrical element,
support means for supporting an object and adapted to be received in said central holes and thus held by said two annular washers,
a locking collar adapted to be secured to said support means, for preventing relative motion in the direction of said cylindrical axis, beyond a predetermined point, between said support means and said first cylindrical element, and
means for attaching an object to said support means.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The support of claim 1 comprising:
auger blades attached to one end of said first cylindrical element and having a maximum dimension in a plane transverse to said cylindrical axis less than that of said cylindrical element for permitting said cylindrical element to be easily inserted into the earth.

### Claim 3

A support comprising:
a first cylindrical element,
two annular washers, each attached to said first cylindrical element and each having a central hole aligned with an axis generally parallel with the axis of said cylindrical element,
support means for supporting an object and adapted to be held by said two annular washers,
a locking collar adapted to be secured to said support means, for preventing relative motion, past a predetermined point, between said support means and said first cylindrical element and,
means for attaching an object to said support means;
wherein said support means comprises a second cylindrical element having threads on one end, and said means for attaching an object to said support means comprises:
a plate for supporting said object,
a threaded cylindrical element, secured at one end to said plate, for mating with said threaded portion of said support means,
means attached to said threaded element, for frictionally grasping said support means,
elastic means connected between said threaded cylindrical element and said support means for returning said plate to a predetermined orientation with respect to said support pipe after rotational displacement of said plate.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The support of claim 3 comprising:
a clamp attached to said first cylindrical element for releasably securing said support means to said first cylindrical element.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The support of claim 4 wherein:
said locking collar comprises a section of pipe which fits over said second cylindrical pipe and includes a set screw for securing said locking collar to said second cylindrical pipe.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The support of claim 5 wherein:
said object is a mailbox.