Mailbox announcer
First Claim
1. A signaling device for being coupled to a mailbox of a type including a generally horizontal base and an upward extending container coupled thereto for defining an entryway and a storage compartment therein, a door for closing over the entryway, a hinge coupled between the base and a section of the door above a lower edge thereof so as to define a lower cantilevered tongue section of the door which rotates toward the base as the door is opened, said signaling device comprising in combination:
- switch means mounted adjacent a lower surface of the base and adjacent to the tongue section of the door for generating a first signal responsive to operative communication with the tongue section of the door as the door is opened;
a U-shaped bracket having said switch means coupled to a central deformable section thereof and further having distended ends thereof coupled to the base for support, said central deformable section of said U-shaped bracket being flexible in order to deform responsive to an additional opening displacement of the door beyond that displacement necessary in order to actuate said switch means, whereby said switch means may be located immediately adjacent to the tongue section of the door for sensing small displacements thereof without being damaged by unexpectedly large displacements of the door; and
electrical signal means coupled to said switch means for generating a sensory perceptible signal responsive to receiving said first signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A signaling device for being coupled to a mailbox of the type having a cantelievered tongue section defined below the mailbox door hinge. A snap-type single pole single throw (SPST) push on push off action switch is coupled to the base of the mailbox adjacent to the tongue section of the door for generating a first signal responsive to the operative communication between the tongue section of the door as the door is opened. An electrical circuit is coupled to the switch for generating a sensory perceptible signal responsive to receiving the first signal from the switch. The switch is mounted on a generally U-shaped bracket which may be deformable as the switch is being actuated, thereby reducing the possiblity of damage to the switch as the door is opened.
25 Citations
8 Claims
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1. A signaling device for being coupled to a mailbox of a type including a generally horizontal base and an upward extending container coupled thereto for defining an entryway and a storage compartment therein, a door for closing over the entryway, a hinge coupled between the base and a section of the door above a lower edge thereof so as to define a lower cantilevered tongue section of the door which rotates toward the base as the door is opened, said signaling device comprising in combination:
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switch means mounted adjacent a lower surface of the base and adjacent to the tongue section of the door for generating a first signal responsive to operative communication with the tongue section of the door as the door is opened; a U-shaped bracket having said switch means coupled to a central deformable section thereof and further having distended ends thereof coupled to the base for support, said central deformable section of said U-shaped bracket being flexible in order to deform responsive to an additional opening displacement of the door beyond that displacement necessary in order to actuate said switch means, whereby said switch means may be located immediately adjacent to the tongue section of the door for sensing small displacements thereof without being damaged by unexpectedly large displacements of the door; and electrical signal means coupled to said switch means for generating a sensory perceptible signal responsive to receiving said first signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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Specification