Patent ID: 6474912
Filing Date: 2002-11-05
Classification: A47G,B65G

Abstract:
A pneumatic mail delivery system, comprising:a plurality of carriers, each carrier defining first and second open ends and having first and second covers for selectively closing respective first and second open ends; a mailbox cabinet having a plurality of first carrier terminals positioned therein, each first carrier terminal having a first front panel defining a first opening and a first door hingedly coupled to said first front panel for selectively closing said first opening; first sensing means mounted to each of said plurality of first carrier terminals for sensing a closure of a respective first door; a plurality of second carrier terminals mounted at selected residential locations displaced from said mailbox cabinet, each second carrier terminal having a second front panel defining a second opening and a second door coupled to said second front panel for selectively closing said second opening; second sensing means mounted to each of said plurality of second carrier terminals for sensing a closure of a respective second door; a plurality of elongate pneumatic conduits interconnecting respective first and second carrier terminals, each conduit defining an internal space within which respective carriers are guided between respective first and second carrier terminals; a blower connected to said plurality of conduits and electrically connected to each first and second sensing means for actuating a pressure differential within a respective conduit capable of moving a respective carrier from a respective first carrier terminal to a corresponding second carrier terminal upon a respective first sensing means sensing a closure of a respective first door and capable of moving a respective carrier from a respective second carrier terminal to a corresponding first carrier terminal upon a respective second sensing means sensing a closure of a respective second door; a plurality of first photoelectric light sensors mounted to respective first carrier terminals; and a plurality of first light sources mounted to respective first front panels of said plurality of first carrier terminals, each first photoelectric light sensor electrically connected to a corresponding first light source and adapted to energize said corresponding first light source upon detecting mail within a first respective carrier terminal.