US 5,921,117 A · Mailbox locking device

Abstract

A locking receptacle and a locking device for securing a mailbox, package delivery box, or other receptacle requiring a single opening of the receptacle door for a mailperson or package delivery person to insert a package being delivered and upon subsequent closing of the door locking until unlocked by a person having a key or combination therefor to receive the delivery. The locking device mounts to the inside of the receptacle and has an arm which is pivotally attached to the door of the receptacle and to a reciprocally pivotal locking disk. A first pivoting lever is positioned to engage a slot in the periphery of the locking disk when the door is closed so as to restrain the locking disk and the door in a closed position. A spring-biased, reciprocally pivotal counting disk is arranged to turn with the locking disk as the door is opened and to lock in that position by means of a second pivoting lever which engages a slot in the periphery of the counting disk. The first and second levers are interconnected such that the first lever will engage the slot in the locking disk when the door is closed only when the second lever is engaged in the slot in the counting disk. A key or combination type lock has a movable reset arm which when in the unlocked position contacts both levers to remove them from engagement with their respective slots to reset the locking device and upon moving to the locked position arms the locking device for subsequent single opening and closing operation of the receptacle door. Versions having linear acting locking and counting members are disclosed which operate similarly.

Claims30

Dependent claims

A locking device for a receptacle of the type which has a container with a door movably connected thereto, which locking device permits the door to be opened and closed only once without subsequent unlocking, comprising:

a latching means having an unlatched mode wherein the door is free to move and a latched mode wherein upon closing, the door is secured by said latching means;
a counting means interconnected with said latching means wherein said counting means is normally biased to an unlatched position which precludes said latching means from being in the latching mode and a portion of which counting means is arranged to move with the door during opening thereof to the latched position and remain there such that said latching means is placed in the latching mode so as to secure the door upon closing of thereof;
and
locking means which can be unlocked from outside of the container having an unlocked position which resets the locking device by returning said counting means to the unlatched position and a locked position wherein the locking device is armed so as to allow only a single opening and closing of the door.

1 more element

A locking receptacle which may be opened and closed only once without subsequent unlocking, comprising:

a container;
a door movably connected to said container;
a latching means having an unlatched mode wherein said door is free to move and a latched mode wherein upon closing, said door is secured by said latching means;
a counting means interconnected with said latching means wherein said counting means is normally biased to an unlatched position which precludes said latching means from being in the latching mode and a portion of which counting means is arranged to move with the door during opening thereof to the latched position and remain there such that said latching means is placed in the latching mode so as to secure the door upon closing of thereof;
and
locking means which can be unlocked from outside of the container having an unlocked position which resets the locking device by returning said counting means to the unlatched position and a locked position wherein the locking device is armed so as to allow only a single opening and closing of the door.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Mailbox locking device

Life of this patent

Mailbox locking device

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims30