Ground mail notification system

• US 7,225,971 B1
• Filed: 08/08/2006
• Issued: 06/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John M. Cherry
• Original Assignee: John M. Cherry
• Inventors: Cherry, John M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller; William L.
• Application Number:
  US11/500,781
• Time in Patent Office: 301 Days
• Field of Search: 232/34, 232/36, 232/17, 340/569
• US Class Current: 232/34
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2029/1228 activated by the weight of the letter
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 29/1214 including a receiver located remotely from the letter-box and a transmitter

Abstract

A mail sensor system that includes a sensor located in a mailbox that is sensitive to weight and which generates a signal when mail is placed in the mailbox. The system further includes a receiver located in a car that generates a signal upon receipt of a signal from the sensor in the mailbox. A companion sensor can be located in a house associated with the mailbox.

Claims

1. A mail alert system comprising:

A) a house;

B) a car;

C) a mailbox located spaced apart from the house and spaced apart from the car;

D) a mail sensor located in the mailbox, the mail sensor including a weight-sensitive transducer located in the mailbox and which generates a mail-arrival signal when mail is placed on top of the transducer;

E) a first receiver located in the car, the first receiver having circuitry that generates a first signal upon receipt of the mail-arrival signal; and

F) a second receiver located in the house, the second receiver having circuitry that generates a second signal upon receipt of the mail-arrival signal, where the first and second receivers are linked in an over-the-air manner, the second receiver boosting the second signal to re-transmit as a third signal to the first receiver.

2. The mail alert system defined in claim 1 wherein the first signal includes an audible signal.

3. The mail alert system defined in claim 2 wherein the second signal includes an audible signal.

4. The mail alert system defined in claim 3 wherein the first signal includes a visual signal.

5. The mail alert system defined in claim 4 wherein the second signal includes a visual signal.

6. A mail alert system consisting of:

A) a house;

B) a car;

C) a mailbox located spaced apart from the house and spaced apart from the car;

D) a mail sensor located in the mailbox, the mail sensor including a weight-sensitive transducer located in the mailbox and which generates a mail-arrival signal when mail is placed on top of the transducer;

E) a first receiver located in the car, the first receiver having circuitry that generates a first signal upon receipt of the mail-arrival signal; and

F) a second receiver located in the house, the second receiver having circuitry that generates a second signal upon receipt of the mail-arrival signal, where the first and second receivers are linked in an over-the-air manner, the second receiver boosting the second signal to re-transmit as a third signal to the first receiver.