Delivery signal device for a mailbox
OwnerRandy G. Barnes, Eukal U. Gardnerinventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A delivery signal for a mailbox comprising a bracket extending from the back of the mailbox and a signal flag mounted on the bracket and biased to a signal position. A cord attached to the signal flag extends through the bracket and toward the front of the door of the mailbox. An end member is attached to the cord. A plate having a lip releasably secures the free end of the cord, holding the flag out of the signal position, and releasing the cord when the door is opened allowing the signal flag to move under the bias to the signal position.
Claims16
In combination with a mailbox having a bottom, a top, opposing sides, a back, and a door pivotally mounted to the box near the bottom and closing the front, a resettable signal for indicating that the door has been opened, the signal comprising:
- a bracket extending from the back of the mailbox, the bracket including a guide means;
- a signal flag;
- means for mounting the signal flag on the bracket forward of the guide means, the mounting means including means for resiliently biasing the signal flag to a signal position;
- a cord attached at one end to the signal flag, extending through the guide means in the bracket and forward under the bottom of the mailbox toward the door;
- means on the exterior of the door for releasably securing the end of the cord thereto whereby the cord holds the signal flag out of the signal position, the securing means releasing the cord when the door is opened thereby allowing the signal flag to move to the signal position.
A kit for installing a resettable signal on a mailbox having a bottom, a top, opposing sides, a back, and a door pivotally mounted near the bottom and closing the front, the resettable signal indicating that the door has been opened, the kit comprising:
- a bracket, the bracket including a guide means;
- means for attaching the bracket to the back of the mailbox;
- a signal flag;
- means for mounting the signal flag on the bracket forward of the guide means, the mounting means including means for resiliently biasing the signal flag to a signal position;
- a cord adapted to be attached at one end to the signal flag, extended through the guide means in the bracket, and extended forward under the bottom of the mailbox toward the door;
- means for releasably securing the then free end of the cord;
- and,
- means for attaching the securing means to the exterior of the door in position that the securing means secures the cord to hold the signal flag out of the signal position, the securing means releasing the cord when the door is opened to allow the signal flag to move to the signal position.
A resettable signal for a mailbox having a bottom, a top, opposing sides, a back, and a door pivotally mounted near the bottom and closing the front, the signal indicating that the door has been opened, the signal comprising:
- a generally L-shaped bracket, having first and second legs, the first leg being attached to the back of the mailbox so that the second leg extends generally rearwardly therefrom, the second leg having a guide passage therein;
- a signal flag;
- means for mounting the signal flag on the bracket forward of the guide passage, the mounting means including means for resiliently biasing the signal flag to a signal position;
- a cord attached at one end to the signal flag, extending through the guide passage in the bracket, and forward under the bottom of the mailbox toward the door;
- an end member on the free end of the cord;
- a plate on the exterior of the door near the bottom, the plate having a downwardly, forwardly sloping lip extending below the bottom of the door for engaging the end member, the lip having a notch therein for receiving the cord, the lip releasably securing the end member into the door whereby the cord holds the signal flag out of the signal position, the lip releasing the cord when the door is opened allowing the signal flag to move to the signal position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.