System to detect mail in a mailbox
First Claim
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1. A mailbox system, comprising:
- a mailbox cluster having a first mailbox with a first sensor, a second mailbox with a second sensor, and a transmitter coupled to the first sensor and the second sensor and adapted to transmit a signal;
a first remote unit having a first receiver and a first indicator, wherein the first receiver is adapted to receive the signal from the mailbox cluster, and wherein the first indicator is coupled to the first receiver and is adapted to communicate the presence of mail in the first mailbox; and
a second remote unit having a second receiver and a second indicator, wherein the second receiver is adapted to receive a signal from the mailbox cluster and from the first remote unit, and wherein the second indicator is coupled to the second receiver and is adapted to communicate the presence of mail in the second mailbox;
wherein the first receiver is further adapted to retransmit the signal to the second receiver.
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Abstract
In a first embodiment, the system 10 includes a sensor 12, a transmitter 14 coupled to the sensor 12 and adapted to transmit a signal, a receiver 16 adapted to receive the signal, and a remote indicator 18 coupled to the receiver 16. In a second embodiment, the receivers 16′ are actually transceivers that can retransmit the signals to a receiver 16′ of another remote indicator 18 and that cooperatively form a mesh network. This arrangement may be quite useful in certain environments, such as a tall apartment building and a long private street, where multiple users are relatively spread out.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A mailbox system, comprising:
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a mailbox cluster having a first mailbox with a first sensor, a second mailbox with a second sensor, and a transmitter coupled to the first sensor and the second sensor and adapted to transmit a signal; a first remote unit having a first receiver and a first indicator, wherein the first receiver is adapted to receive the signal from the mailbox cluster, and wherein the first indicator is coupled to the first receiver and is adapted to communicate the presence of mail in the first mailbox; and a second remote unit having a second receiver and a second indicator, wherein the second receiver is adapted to receive a signal from the mailbox cluster and from the first remote unit, and wherein the second indicator is coupled to the second receiver and is adapted to communicate the presence of mail in the second mailbox; wherein the first receiver is further adapted to retransmit the signal to the second receiver. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification