ACCESSORY AND METHOD FOR A MAILBOX

• US 20100073919A1
• Filed: 09/25/2008
• Published: 03/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: George Sharpe, Stephen Sharpe
• Original Assignee: George Sharpe, Stephen Sharpe
• Inventors: Sharpe, George
• Granted Patent: US 8,182,113 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/154
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 29/1209 Rural letter-boxes
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/18 Edge-illuminated signs
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2013/222 with LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 23/00 Advertising on or in specific articles, e.g. ashtrays, letter-boxes on or in vehicles G09F21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 27/007 Displays with power supply provided by solar cells or photocells
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 7/10 and slideably mounted
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/812 Signs

Abstract

An accessory that can be mounted over a mailbox has a base with a pair of sidewalls that are spaced to straddle the mailbox. A frame assembly mounted on at least one of the sidewalls has one or more indicia bearing members removably attached thereto. These indicia bearing members are installed and arranged to supply address information. A light mounted at the frame assembly is powered by a power supply that has a solar powered charger for charging a battery in order to illuminate the indicia bearing members at night.

Claims

1. An accessory for a mailbox comprising:

a base with a pair of sidewalls that are spaced to straddle said mailbox;

a frame assembly mounted on at least one of said sidewalls;

one or more indicia bearing members removably attached to said frame assembly;

a light mounted at said frame assembly; and

a power supply coupled to said light and having a solar powered charger.

2. An accessory according to claim 1 wherein said pair of sidewalls have lower portions that are parallel and adapted to straddle said mailbox.

3. An accessory according to claim 2 wherein said base has a curved arch spanning said pair of sidewalls, said curved arch being adapted to rest atop said mailbox.

4. An accessory according to claim 3 wherein said sidewall each have a plurality of peripheral fastening slots.

5. An accessory according to claim 1 wherein said frame assembly has a spaced pair of frames mounted on said pair of sidewalls, said one or more indicia bearing members being a plurality of markers mounted in said pair of frames.

6. An accessory according to claim 1 wherein said power supply includes a solar cell, said accessory comprising:

a pedestal mounted atop said base, said solar cell being mounted upon said pedestal.

7. An accessory according to claim 6 wherein said pedestal has a battery compartment.

8. An accessory according to claim 7 wherein said solar cell is hingedly mounted upon said pedestal in order to swing away and allow access to said battery compartment.

9. An accessory according to claim 1 wherein said frame assembly comprises:

a display board for holding said one or more indicia bearing members, said display board being slidably removable together with said indicia bearing members.

10. An accessory according to claim 9 wherein said one or more indicia bearing members comprise:

a plurality of translucent panels.

11. An accessory according to claim 1 wherein said frame assembly has a cavity behind said one or more indicia bearing members.

12. An accessory according to claim 11 wherein said power supply comprises:

a circuit board mounted in said cavity, said light including a plurality of light emitting diodes mounted on said circuit board.

13. An accessory according to claim 12 wherein said cavity has a ceiling, said circuit board being mounted at said ceiling.

14. An accessory according to claim 12 wherein said power supply comprises:

a light sensitive switch; and

a voltage regulator.

15. An accessory according to claim 1 wherein said power supply comprises:

a light sensitive switch; and

a voltage regulator.

16. A method for displaying indicia on a mailbox employing an arched base with an opposing pair of dependent sidewalls, the method comprising the steps, in any order, of:

installing on at least one of said sidewalls one or more indicia bearing members arranged to supply address information;

lowering said base over said mailbox with said sidewalls straddling said mailbox; and

storing solar energy to illuminate said indicia bearing members at night.

17. A method according to claim 16 employing a battery and comprising the steps of:

installing the battery near the top of said base; and

collecting solar energy at a position above said battery.

18. A method according to claim 16 wherein the step of installing indicia bearing members is performed by sliding into position on at least one of said sidewalls a display board holding at least one or more of said indicia bearing members.

19. A method according to claim 16 comprising the step of:

fastening said base in place along the bottom of said sidewalls.

20. An accessory for a mailbox comprising:

a base including a curved arch having (a) a dependent pair of sidewalls and (b) an upper pedestal with a battery compartment, said curved arch being adapted to rest atop said mailbox, said pair of sidewalls having lower portions that are parallel and adapted to straddle said mailbox, said sidewalls each having a plurality of peripheral fastening slots;

a spaced pair of frames mounted on said pair of sidewalls;

a pair of display boards slidably mounted in different corresponding ones of said pair of frames;

a plurality of translucent indicia bearing panels attached to said pair of display boards;

a plurality of lights mounted at said pair of frames; and

a power supply coupled to said plurality of lights and having (a) a pair of circuit boards mounted aloft in said pair of frames for supporting said plurality of lights, (b) a solar powered charger, (c) a light sensitive switch, (d) a voltage regulator, and (e) a solar cell mounted upon said pedestal, said solar cell being hingedly mounted on said pedestal in order to swing away and allow access to said battery compartment.