Mailbox

• US 20050184142A1
• Filed: 08/20/2004
• Published: 08/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WhiteHall Products, Inc.
• Original Assignee: WhiteHall Products, Inc.
• Inventors: Brown, Lee S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,182,244 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 232/17
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 29/1203 Newspaper receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 29/1209 Rural letter-boxes

Abstract

A mailbox includes opposing side pieces, a bottom piece, a rear piece, and a door, all made from die-cast aluminum. The side pieces include abutting top flanges and the mailbox further includes a channel engaging the top flanges to hold the top flanges together. Screws extend through the channel into threaded engagement with the top flanges, and also extend through apertures into apertured bosses to secure all components together. Address signage (sand-cast) is provided for selective attachment to the sides, door or top of the mailbox. The door is pivotally mounted to the mailbox by a pivot pin that telescopingly extends into holes in the side pieces to facilitate assembly.

Claims

1. A mailbox comprising:

opposing side pieces, a bottom piece, and a rear piece secured together, and a door operably attached for closing a front opening therein;

the side pieces including abutting top flanges and including a channel engaging the top flanges to hold the top flanges together; and

fasteners securing the channel in engagement with the top flanges.

2. The mailbox defined in claim 1, wherein the opposing side pieces, the bottom piece, and the rear piece are made from cast material.

3. The mailbox defmed in claim 2, wherein at least the cast material is aluminum.

4. The mailbox defined in claim 3, wherein the fasteners include screws threadably engaging at least one of the channel and the flanges.

5. A kit comprising:

a mailbox with cast side pieces having holes therein;

an address panel signage;

threaded studs having a first portion threadably engaging a rear surface of the address plaque and having a second portion extending therefrom in a pattern matching the holes; and

nuts engaging the second portion of the threaded studs to secure the address panel signage to the side pieces.

6. A kit comprising:

a mailbox having a box portion and a door;

a plurality of address panel signage, including a first signage shaped to fit against a side of the mailbox, a second signage shaped to fit against the door, and a third signage shaped with down bosses for attachment to a top of the mailbox;

threaded studs having a first portion adapted to threadably engage a selected one of the panel signage and having a second portion extending therefrom in a pattern; and

nuts shaped to engage the second portion of the threaded studs to secure the address panel signage to the mailbox or door.

7. A mailbox comprising:

a mailbox portion having an open end;

a door shaped to close the open end; and

a hinge with pivot pin, the pin having a center engaging the door and having ends engaging pockets in sides of box portion near the open end, the pin being telescopingly extendable to facilitate assembly.

8. A mailbox comprising:

a mailbox having an open end and including at least one cast component;

a door shaped to close the open end; and

corner stiffeners attached to lower front corners of the mailbox, the corner stiffeners being attached to the cast component, the corner stiffeners pivotally engaging the door and supporting the door for opening and closing movement.

9. The mailbox defined in claim 8, wherein one of the door and the corner stiffeners include at least one pivot pin and the other includes at least one mating aperture operably receiving the pivot pin for supporting the door for opening and closing movement.

10. The mailbox defmed in claim 8, wherein the mailbox includes opposing side pieces and a bottom piece, each being made of cast material, the corner stiffeners including right and left stiffeners that engage and are mechanically attached to the front corners.

11. The mailbox defmed in claim 10, wherein the right and left stiffeners each include a first hole opening toward an associated one of the side pieces and a second hole opening toward the bottom piece, and including a first screw engaging the first hole and securing the respective corner stiffener to the associated side piece, and a second screw engaging the second hole and securing the bottom piece to the corner stiffener.

12. The mailbox defined in claim 8, wherein the stiffener has an L-shaped cross section.

13. The mailbox defined in claim 8, wherein the stiffener incorporates a hinge pin for pivotally supporting the door.