Cluster box mail delivery unit having security features

• US 8,973,812 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2014
• Issued: 03/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: United States Postal Service (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: United States Postal Service (Government of the United States of America)
• Inventors: Mikolajczyk, Ryszard K., Baskerville, Taurris D.
• Primary Examiner(s): MILLER, WILLIAM L
• Application Number:
  US14/170,398
• Publication Number:
  US 20140144975A1
• Time in Patent Office: 403 Days
• Field of Search: 232/24, 232/25, 232/45, 70/78, 70/81, 701/29, 701/34, 701/41, 70160-162, 70416-418, 312/292, 292/137, 493/94, 220/826
• US Class Current: 232/25
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 29/1201 Letter-box assemblies for apartment buildings
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 11/02 before the wing is locked
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 17/2088 Means to prevent disengagement of lock and keeper E05B63/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2015/023 Keeper shape
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 35/08 operable by a plurality of keys
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 63/0013 Locks with rotary bolt without provision for latching
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 63/14 Arrangement of several locks or locks with several bolts, e.g. arranged one behind the other locks having bolts with multiple head E05B15/108; with provision for latching E05B59/00, E05B61/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 7/04 for wings which abut when closed pillarless vehicle doors E05B83/38
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 9/026 comprising key-operated locks, e.g. a lock cylinder to drive auxiliary deadbolts or latch bolts E05C9/023 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05G 1/08 secured individually
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 5/113 Arrangements at the edges of the wings, e.g. with door guards to prevent the insertion of prying tools protection of the locking region by preventing insertion of a tool E05B17/2003; means to prevent forced opening by attack, tampering or jimmying of lock E05B17/2084; anti-tamper devices arranged on or near the hinges E05D11/0018
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0853 Link and lever
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0862 Swinging and hooked end, multiple head
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0922 Operating means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0946 Link and lever
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1076 Link and lever
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/432 Sliding catch
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5097 Cabinet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5102 Projecting lug type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5111 Projectable bolt
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5124 : Swinging and hooked end
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5217 : Swinging dead bolt
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5341 : Key operable only
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5354 : With hooked end
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5363 : Key operable only
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7915 : Tampering prevention or attack defeating
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7921 : Armoring

Abstract

An apparatus and method for enhancing the security of a cluster box unit which includes a protective enclosure, internal cabinetry, door, hinge and locking system. The cluster box unit may also include outgoing mail compartment doors that are heavily constructed and rigidly reinforced, with the locks carried thereon protectively shielded, and with the extensible bolts of these locks being engaged by brackets that not only lock the outgoing mail compartment doors but also the master loading doors of the cluster box units. The cluster box unit may also include master loading doors are provided with hinges that extend the full height of the doors—hinges that are defined by pivotally interfitting elements of extrusions that very sturdily mount the master loading doors, that prevent prying or bending the doors in the vicinities of their hinges. The interfitting elements of the hinge extrusions also permit the doors to be installed on their surrounding door frames quickly and easily, and permit one or both of the master loading doors to be quickly and easily removed for service or replacement when necessary.

Claims

1. An outgoing mail compartment locking system for a cluster mail box unit, the system comprising:

a framework;

a first door contained within the framework;

a second door coupled to the framework;

an outgoing mail compartment accessible through the second door;

a strike that includes an opening;

a lock installed on a back side of the second door, the lock including a body and a bolt; and

a bracket having an upper flange, a lower flange, and an end portion having an opening, wherein;

the upper flange is positioned over the body of the lock,

the lower flange is positioned under the body of the lock, and

the end portion is arranged such that the opening in the strike is located between the end portion and the body of the lock, the bolt extending through the opening in the strike and the opening in the end portion.

2. The outgoing mail compartment locking system for a cluster mail box unit of claim 1, wherein the bolt locks the second door when the second door is closed and a key in the lock is rotated, and the first door is also locked when the second door is locked.

3. The outgoing mail compartment locking system for a cluster mail box unit of claim 2, further comprising a hinge rod pivotally connected to the framework and that connects the second door to the framework.

4. The outgoing mail compartment locking system for a cluster mail box unit of claim 3, wherein:

the hinge rod includes threaded end regions,

the framework includes holes through which the hinge rod passes,

the holes in the framework have cylindrical recesses at the top and the bottom of the framework, and

the threaded end regions are receptive to a nut, that fit into the cylindrical recesses when the nuts are tightened.

5. The outgoing mail compartment locking system for a cluster mail box unit of claim 2, wherein the strike is centrally located and mounted on a upstanding central portion of the front of the cluster mail box unit.

6. The outgoing mail compartment locking system for a cluster mail box unit of claim 5, further comprising:

a first hinge, wherein the first door pivots about the first hinge;

a third door; and

a second hinge, wherein the third door pivots about the second hinge and the first and the third doors meet at the upstanding central portion of the front of the cluster mail box unit when the first door and the third door are closed.

7. The outgoing mail compartment locking system for a cluster mail box unit of claim 6, wherein the third door is also locked when the second door is locked.