Patent ID: 6275154
Filing Date: 2001-08-14
Classification: A47G

Abstract:
In a communication system for the detection of mail delivered to a remote closed mail receptacle, where said mail receptacle comprises plural separate mail receptacles in close proximity to one another and each said separate mail receptacle is accessible to a user thereof, where each said separate receptacle includes at least a pair of opposing walls with means mounted therein for detecting the presence of mail, the improvement comprising in combination therewith the provision ofa.) a portable battery, intermittently operable, radio transceiver mounted on one of each said opposing wall, including at least one infrared light beam directed toward the second of each said opposing wall, and a beam reflector membrane on each said second opposing wall, whereby a reflected said beam from said membrane represents a ""no-mail"" mode, and an interrupted said beam represents a ""mail- present"" mode;b.) a powered radio frequency polling transceiver relay in communication with said intermittently operable, radio transceiver for detecting said ""mail-present"" mode in each said separate mail receptacle, whereby said radio frequency polling transceiver is a single unit scanning all said separate mail receptacles and operable to receive and store said individual codes from each said separate mail receptacle and is further programmed with an individual code specific to said intermittently operable, radio transceiver, and memory means to store receipt of transmission of said individual code for each said separate mail receptacle; and,c.) at least one radio transceiver operable to read said individual code through said polling transceiver, whereby delivered mail may be detected in each said remote, closed separate mail receptacle.