Mailbox apparatus

• US 9,993,102 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2014
• Issued: 06/12/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nir Silko
• Original Assignee: Nir Silko
• Inventors: Silko, Nir
• Primary Examiner(s): MILLER, WILLIAM L
• Application Number:
  US15/541,017
• Publication Number:
  US 20170360235A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,260 Days
• Field of Search: 232 24, 232 25, 232 44, 232 45, 232 17, 232 38, 49197, 312297, 160 36, 160 37, 160201, 220812
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2029/1257 comprising a lock on the outlet door
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 29/1201 Letter-box assemblies for apartment buildings
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 29/124 Appliances to prevent unauthorised removal of contents

Abstract

The present invention discloses a mailbox apparatus including: a box for accommodating mail, wherein the box includes: two horizontal tracks, each of the tracks disposed at an inner upper part of an opposite sidewall of the box; and two pins, vertically disposed at the same level, each of the pins horizontally disposed at an entry side to one of the tracks; a door having side grooves in side facets of the door positionally corresponding to the pins, wherein the door adapted to have: an open state in which the door is horizontally disposed at an upper inner side of the box, thereby allowing insertion and extraction of the mail; and a closed state in which the door is vertically disposed. Preferably, the apparatus includes: a spring mechanism for applying force on the door while being inserted into the tracks, thereby retaining the door in position upon placing into the tracks.

Claims

1. A mailbox apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a box for accommodating mail, wherein said box includes;

(i) two horizontal tracks, each of said tracks disposed at an inner upper part of an opposite sidewall of said box; and

(ii) two pins, vertically disposed at the same level, each of said pins horizontally disposed at an entry side to one of said tracks;

(b) a door having side grooves in side facets of said door positionally corresponding to, and adapted to slide cooperatively with, said pins, wherein said door is adapted to move between;

(i) an open state in which said door is horizontally disposed at an upper inner side of said box, thereby allowing insertion and extraction of said mail; and

(ii) a closed state in which said door is vertically disposed.

2. The mailbox apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

(c) a spring mechanism for applying force on said door while being inserted into said tracks, thereby retaining said door in its position upon placing said door into said tracks.

3. The mailbox apparatus of claim 1, wherein a center-of-gravity of said door is disposed inside said tracks, and wherein said open state corresponds to:

(A) said door being disposed into said tracks; and

(B) said center-of-gravity of said door is disposed inside said tracks, thereby retaining said door in its position upon placing said door into said tracks such that said center-of-gravity is horizontally inward of said pins toward the rear of said box; and

wherein said closed state corresponds to;

(A) said grooves hanging on said pins; and

(B) said center-of-gravity of said door being disposed out of said tracks, thereby enabling said door to be pulled down by gravity to said closed state upon placing said door such that said center-of-gravity is disposed out of said tracks.

4. The mailbox apparatus of claim 3 further comprising:

(c) a spring mechanism for automatically pulling said door into said tracks.

5. The mailbox apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of said tracks expands at said entry side.