Mail delivery indicator device

• US 6,046,675 A
• Filed: 01/14/1997
• Issued: 04/04/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hanna, Robert L.
• Original Assignee: Hanna, Robert L.
• Inventors: Hanna, Robert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): MULLEN, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US08/783,618
• Time in Patent Office: 1,176 Days
• Field of Search: 340/569, 340/689, 340/693, 340/539, 340/545, 200/61.45 R, 200/61.52, 200/61.63, 33/365, 33/366, 232/35-37
• US Class Current: 340/569
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2029/1226 comprising electrical parts
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 29/1214 including a receiver located remotely from the letter-box and a transmitter
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 29/122 Parts, details, or accessories, e.g. signalling devices, lamps, devices for leaving messages A47G29/1201 - A47G29/1218 take precedence

Abstract

A mechanism for indicating the deposit of mail in a mailbox comprising a tilt switch mountable to either surface of the mailbox door. As the door is opened past a particular point, the tilt switch completes a circuit which sends a signal to a receiver which activates an alarm indicating that mail has been deposited in the mailbox.

Claims

1. A mechanism for indicating when mail has been deposited in a mail container having a pivotable door, wherein said mechanism indicates the arrival of mail by signalling when said door has been opened, said mechanism comprising:

a) a tilt switch;

b) a tilt switch holder of generally triangular form having first, second, and third sides adjacent each other, said tilt switch inserted in one side and extending generally parallel to the first side, said first side being adapted to be fixed to the surface of a door of a side mount mailbox such that the tilt switch is activated as the door of the side mount mailbox is opened, said second side being adapted to be fixed to the surface of the door of a curbside mailbox and said third side to the surface of the door of a slot mail container such that the tilt switch is activated as the door of the curbside mailbox and slot mail container is opened; and

c) a signalling mechanism adapted for signalling that the door of the mail container has been opened when the tilt switch is activated, and

d) visual indicators appear on the tilt switch holder for indicating which side of the tilt switch holder is to be fixed to the doors of the different types of mail containers.

2. A mechanism for indicating when mail has been deposited in a mail container having a pivotable door, wherein said mechanism indicates the arrival of mail by signalling when said door has been opened, said mechanism comprising:

a) a tilt switch;

b) a tilt switch holder of generally triangular shape having first and second sides adjacent each other and extending at approximately a sixty-five degree angle to each other, a third side connecting said first and second sides, said tilt switch inserted in one side and extending generally parallel to the first side, said first side being adapted to be fixed to either surface of a door of a side mount mailbox such that the tilt switch is activated as the door of the side mount mailbox is opened, said second side being adapted to be fixed to the door of a curbside mailbox or the door of a slot mail container such that the tilt switch is activated as the door of the curbside mailbox or slot mail container is opened;

c) a signalling mechanism adapted for signalling that the door of the mail container has been opened when the tilt switch is activated; and

d) visual indicators appearing on the tilt switch holder for indicating which side of the tilt switch holder is to be fixed to the doors of the different types of mail containers.

3. A method of indicating when mail has been deposited in a mail container having a pivotable door, wherein the arrival of mail is indicated by signalling when said door has been opened, said method comprising the steps of:

a) providing a tilt switch holder adapted to be mounted to the door of the mail container, said tilt switch holder includes first and second sides adjacent each other and a tilt switch mounted with the tilt switch holder for extending generally parallel to the first side;

fixing the tilt switch holder to any one of a plurality of different types of mail container doors by

b) fixing the first side to a surface of the door of said mail container when said mail container is a side mount mailbox such that the tilt switch is activated as the door of the side mount mailbox is opened;

c) fixing the second side to a surface of the door of said mail container when said mail container is a curbside mailbox, such that the tilt switch is activated as the door of the curbside mailbox is opened;

d) fixing the second side to the inside surface of the door of said mail container when said mail container is a slot mail container, such that the tilt switch is activated as the door of the slot mailbox is opened; and

e) signalling that the door of the mail container has been opened when the tilt switch is activated,

said sides of the tilt switch holder including indicia for indicating which side of the holder is to be fixed to the door of the different types of mail containers.

4. The invention of claim 3, wherein said first and second sides extend at approximately a sixty-five degree angle to each other.

5. The invention of claim 3, wherein said tilt switch is a mercury switch.

6. A method of indicating when mail has been deposited in a mail container having a pivotable door, wherein the arrival of mail is indicated by signalling when said door has been opened, said method comprising the steps of:

a) providing a tilt switch holder selectively mountable to the door of any one of a plurality of mail containers, said tilt switch holder includes first and second sides adjacent each other and a tilt switch mounted with the tilt switch holder for extending generally parallel to the first side;

fixing the tilt switch holder to any one of a plurality of different types of mail container doors by

b) fixing the first side to either surface of the door of said mail container when said mail container is a side mount mailbox so that the tilt switch is activated as the door of the side mount mailbox is opened;

or

c) fixing the second side to the inside surface of the door of said mail container when said mail container is a curbside mailbox so that the tilt switch is activated as the door of the curbside mailbox is opened; and

d) signalling that the door of the mail container has been opened when the tilt switch is activated,

said sides of the tilt switch holder including indicia for indicating which side of the holder is to be fixed to the door of the different types of mail containers.

7. The invention of claim 6, wherein said first and second sides extend at approximately a sixty-five degree angle to each other.

8. The invention of claim 6, wherein the tilt switch holder includes a third side,

wherein visual indicators are placed on the sides of the tilt switch holder for indicating which side of the tilt switch holder is to be fixed to designated surfaces of the doors of different mail containers, and wherein the tilt switch holder may alternatively be fixed to the door of a curbside mailbox on its outside surface, the third side of the tilt switch holder being fixed to the outside surface.

9. The invention of claim 8, and further comprising the steps of:

fixing the third side to the inside surface of the door of a slot mailbox that opens outwardly or fixing the second side to the inside surface of the door of a slot mailbox that opens inwardly so that the tilt switch is activated when the door is open.

10. The invention of claim 8, wherein said first and second sides extend at approximately a sixty-five degree angle to each other.

11. A method of indicating when mail has been deposited in a mailbox having a pivotable door, wherein the arrival of mail is indicated by signaling when said door has been opened, said method comprising the steps of:

a) mounting a tilt switch holder of generally triangular configuration to a predetermined surface of the door of a mailbox, said tilt switch holder includes first, second, and third sides adjacent each other and a tilt switch extending generally parallel to the first side;

visual indicators appearing on the sides of the tilt switch holder for indicating which side of the tilt switch holder is to be fixed to which surface of the doors of the different mailboxes;

fixing the tilt switch holder to a designated surface of the door of any one of a plurality of different types of mailboxes by;

b) affixing the first side of the said tilt switch holder to either surface of a door of a side mount mailbox such that the tilt switch is activated as the door of the side mount mailbox is opened;

c) affixing the second side of said tilt switch holder to a surface of the door or affixing the third side of the holder to the outside surface of the door of a curbside mailbox, such that the tilt switch is activated as the door of the curbside mailbox is opened;

d) affixing the second side of the holder to the inside surface of the door or the third side of the holder to the outside surface of the door of said mailbox when said mailbox is a slot mailbox, such that the tilt switch is activated as the door of the slot mailbox is opened;

e) signaling that the door of the mail container has been opened when the tilt switch is activated.

12. A method of indicating when mail has been deposited in a mail container having a pivotable door, wherein the arrival of mail is indicated by signaling when said door has been opened, said method comprising the steps of:

a) mounting a tilt switch holder of generally triangular shape to the door of the mail container, said tilt switch holder includes first, second and third sides adjacent each other and said first and second sides extending at approximately sixty-five degrees from each other, and a tilt switch in said holder extending generally parallel to the first side;

b) looking at visual indicators appearing on the sides of the tilt switch holder for facilitating fixing the appropriate side of the tilt switch holder to any one of a plurality of different types of mail container doors by;

c) fixing the first side of the tilt switch holder to either surface of the door of a side mount mail container such that the tilt switch is activated as the door of the side mount mail container is opened;

d) or fixing the second side of the tilt switch holder to the inside surface of the door of a curbside mail container or fixing the third side of tilt switch holder to the outside surface of the door of a curbside mail container, such that the tilt switch is activated as the door of the curbside mail container is opened;

e) or fixing the second side of the tilt switch holder to the inside surface of the door or fixing the third side of the tilt switch holder to the outside surface of the door of a slot mail container, such that the tilt switch is activated as the door of the slot mail container is opened;

f) signaling that the door of the mail container has been opened when the tilt switch is activated.