Abstract:
This device relates generally to a mailbox with a first indicator for signaling the arrival of mail. A second indicator signals that there is outgoing mail to be picked up by a carrier. A first end of the first indicator and a first end of the second indicator are releasably connected to a control member. The control member is attached to a pivoting door of the mailbox.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to mailboxes, and more particularly to mailboxes provided with indicator flags operated by the opening or closing of a door. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Mailboxes are commonly provided with a flag to indicate to a mail carrier that the mailbox contains material such as mail to be picked up by the mail carrier. The flag typically is pivotally attached to a side of the mailbox. The flag is manually rotated into an upward position by the user when outgoing mail is placed in the mailbox. The mail carrier picks up the mail and manually rotates the flag downward into a lowered position. 
     Some related art mailboxes include a pair of flags. A first flag indicates when mail has been delivered. The first flag automatically rises when the mail carrier has opened the door of the mailbox. The first flag may eliminate the inconvenience of a user having to make numerous trips from a house to the mailbox in order to check to see if the mail has arrived. Some mailboxes may provide a further inconvenience to the user by being located at a considerable distance from the house or across a street from the house. The user may make unnecessary trips to the mailbox to determine if material has been delivered. Weather such as rain, sleet, wind or snow cause additional inconvenience. Elderly persons may be needlessly exposed to the risk of physical injury making additional trips to the mailbox during icy weather conditions. A problem may arise when no mail is delivered. When the carrier opens the door to pick up mail, the first flag automatically rises even though no mail may be delivered. The raised flag with an empty mailbox, causes the user to make an unnecessary trip to the mailbox. 
     A second flag indicates when there is outgoing mail for the mail carrier to pick up. The user raises this second flag to signal the mail carrier to pick up the outgoing mail. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In order to overcome the above deficiencies, the present invention provides a mailbox with a first indicator and a second indicator. The first indicator signifies that a mail carrier has opened the door of the mailbox. If material has been picked up and no material has been delivered, the mail carrier may easily lower the first indicator by moving a handle conveniently located near the door of the mail box. The second indicator is raised to signal the mail carrier that there is outgoing material awaiting pickup. The second indicator automatically lowers when the mail carrier opens the door to take the outgoing material. 
     The present invention generally provides an apparatus comprising: 
     a housing; 
     a door pivotally attached to the housing; 
     a control member attached to the door; 
     a first indicator apparatus pivotally attached to the housing wherein a first end of the first indicator apparatus is releasably connected to the control member; and 
     a second indicator apparatus pivotally attached to the housing wherein a first end of the second indicator apparatus is releasably connected to the control member. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The features of the present invention will best be understood from a detailed description of the invention and a preferred embodiment thereof selected for the purposes of illustration and shown in the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a mailbox according to the present invention including a first indicator in a lowered position, and a second indicator in a raised position; 
     FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the mailbox with the first indicator in a raised position, and with the second indicator in a lowered position; 
     FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the mailbox with both the first indicator and the second indicator in a lowered position; 
     FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of another embodiment of a mailbox including a first indicator in a lowered position, and a second indicator in a lowered position; 
     FIG. 5 illustrates a side view of the mailbox with the first indicator in a lowered position, and with the second indicator in a raised position; 
     FIG. 6 illustrates a side view of the mailbox with the first indicator in a raised position, and with the second indicator in a lowered position; and 
     FIG. 7 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a control member including a curved protruding tab to hold a portion of a arm. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Although certain preferred embodiments of the present invention will be shown and described in detail, it should be understood that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims. The scope of the present invention will in no way be limited to the number of constituting components, the materials thereof, the shapes thereof, the relative arrangement thereof, etc., and are disclosed simply as an example of the preferred embodiment. The features and advantages of the present invention are illustrated in detail in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout the drawings. Although the drawings are intended to illustrate the present invention, the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a mailbox  10  in accordance with the present invention. The mailbox  10  includes a housing  12 , an actuating apparatus  14 , a first indicator apparatus  16 , and a second indicator apparatus  18 . The housing  12  includes a cover  20 , a rear cover  22 , a bottom  24 , an opening  26  (FIG.  2 ), a door  28 , and a door latch assembly  32 . The door  28  is pivotally attached to the cover  20  of the housing  12  by pin  30 . The door  28  is opened and closed to place or remove material (not shown) e.g., mail, letters, packages, boxes, etc. within the mailbox  10 . The door latch assembly  32  includes a stationary catch  36 , and a door handle  38 . The stationary catch  36  is attached to the cover  20  of the housing  12 . The door handle  38  is attached to the door  28 . An upwardly curving portion  40  of the door handle  38  engages with an inwardly curving portion  42  of the stationary catch  36  to hold the door  28  in a closed position. A mail carrier or a user may grasp and pull the door handle  38  in a direction away from the cover  20  causing the door  28  to open as illustrated in FIG.  2 . 
     As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the actuating apparatus  14  includes a control member  52 , and a magnetic body  54 . The control member  52  is attached to the door  28 . The magnetic body  54  is attached to the control member  52 , and a lower portion  56  of the magnetic body  54  protrudes beyond the control member  52 . Additionally, the control member  52  includes a notch  58 , and a protrusion  60 . 
     The first indicator apparatus  16  includes a body  44 , a shaft  46 , a flag  48 , a first end  62 , a second end  64 , and a handle assembly  50 . A first end  66  of the shaft  46  is connected to the body  44 . The flag  48  is attached to a second end  68  of the shaft  46 . The flag  48  is located at the second end  64  of the first indicator apparatus  16 . The body  44  includes the first end  62  of the first indicator apparatus  16 . The body  44  is a suitable material, e.g., steel, iron, etc., that is magnetically attracted to the magnetic body  54 . The body  44  including the first end  62  of the first indicator apparatus  16  releasably connects to the lower portion  56  of the magnetic body  54  of the control member  52 . The body  44  is pivotally attached by pin  70  to a side  72  of the cover  20 . 
     The handle assembly  50  includes a first section  74 , a second section  76 , a third section  78 , a fourth section  80 , and a fifth section  82 . The first section  74  of the handle assembly  50  is pivotally attached by a pin  84  to the body  44  of the first indicator apparatus  16 . The second section  76  is connected to the first section  74 . 
     The third section  78  is connected to the second section and is substantially perpendicular to the second section  76 . The fourth section  80  is connected to the third section  78  and is substantially perpendicular to the third section  78  as illustrated in FIG.  1 . The fifth section  82  is connected to the fourth section  80  and is substantially prependicular to the fourth section  80 . A soft end piece  86  is attached to the fifth section  82  to provide a soft gripping surface for a user to grasp the end of the handle assembly  50 . As illustrated in FIG. 1, the fourth section  80  passes through a loop  88  when the first indicator apparatus  16  lies in a lowered position. The loop  88  is attached to a pin  90  that is pivotally attached to the side  72  of the cover  20 . 
     As illustrated in FIG. 2, the first indicator apparatus  16  is in an upright raised position. A junction  92  of the second section  76  and the third section  78  of the handle assembly  50  rests in the loop  88 . To lower the first indicator apparatus  16 , the user grasps the soft piece end  86  of the handle assembly  50 . Next, the user lifts the soft piece end  86  in an upward direction until the fourth section  80  is in contact with loop  88 . Next, the user displaces the soft piece end  86  of the handle assembly  50  towards the rear cover  22  of the mailbox  10 . The fourth section  80  slides through the loop  88  lowering the flag as illustrated in FIG.  1 . With the door  28  in a closed position, the first end  62  of the body  44  comes in contact with the lower portion  56  of the magnetic body  54  of the control member  52 . The body  44  and the magnetic body  54  are magnetically coupled holding the first indicator apparatus  16  in a lowered position. This magnetic coupling is broken when the door  28  is opened. The opening of the door  28  pulls the lower portion  56  of the magnetic body  54  away from the body  44 , and frees the first indicator apparatus  16  to swing into a raised position. 
     When free, the first indicator apparatus  16  automatically rotates into a raised position. Any suitable means such coiled spring (not shown) or counterweight may be used to apply a counterclockwise rotational torque to the first indicator apparatus  16 . Preferably, in the present invention, the weight of the body  44  is used as a counterweight. The weight of the body  44  is greater than the weight of the shaft  46  and the flag  48 . Thus, the force of gravity acting on the body  44  causes the first indicator apparatus  16  to rotate into a raised position. 
     As illustrated in FIGS. 1,  2 , and  3 , the second indicator apparatus  18 , includes an outgoing mail flag  94 , and a base  96 . The outgoing mail flag  94  includes a first end  98  and a second end  100 . The outgoing mail flag  94  is pivotally mounted to the side  72  of the cover  20  by the pin  90 . This is the same pin  90  that is attached to the loop  88 . Any suitable means such as a coiled spring (not shown) or counterweight may be used to apply a clockwise rotational torque to the second indicator apparatus  18 . Preferably, in the present invention, the weight of the outgoing mail flag  94  is used as a counterweight. The weight of the outgoing mail flag towards the second end  100  is greater than the weight of the first end  98 . Thus, the outgoing mail flag  94  automatically rotates in a clockwise direction into a lowered position as illustrated in FIG.  2 . 
     The pin  90  passes through the base  96 , through the outgoing mail flag  94 , and is pivotally attached to the side  72  of the cover  20 . The base  96  includes a first slot  102  through which the first end  98  of the outgoing mail flag  94  protrudes. The second end  100  of the outgoing mail flag  94  protrudes through a second slot  104  in the base  96 . A first end  106  of the second slot  104  (FIG.  2 ), stops the clockwise rotation of the outgoing mail flag  94  in a lowered position. A second end  108  of the second slot  104  allows the counterclockwise rotation of the outgoing mail flag  94  into a counterclockwise raised position. 
     The first end  98  of the outgoing mail flag  94 , includes a protruding tab  110  as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. For rotating the outgoing mail flag  94  of the second indicator apparatus  18  into a raised position, a user closes the door  28  of the mailbox  10 . Next, the user rotates the outgoing mail flag  94  in a counterclockwise direction until the protruding tab  110  enters the notch  58  of the control member  52 . This holds the outgoing mail flag  94  in a raised position until the door  28  is opened. 
     When the door  28  is opened, the protrusion  60  of the control member  52  pushes the protruding tab  110  of the first end  98  of the outgoing mail flag  94  in a direction towards the opening  26  of the mailbox  10 . This releases the protruding tab  110  from the notch  58  of the control member  52  and starts the rotation of the outgoing mail flag  94  in a clockwise direction. Since the weight of the outgoing mail flag towards the second end  100  is greater than the weight of the first end  98 , the outgoing mail flag  94  automatically rotates in a clockwise direction to into a lowered position as illustrated in FIG.  2 . 
     When a user has material to be picked up by the mail carrier, the user opens the door  28  of the mailbox  10  and places the material into the mailbox  10 . Next, the user closes the door  28  and rotates the outgoing mail flag  94  of the second indicator apparatus  18  in a counterclockwise direction until the protruding tab  110  enters the notch  58  of the control member  52 . This positions the outgoing mail flag  94  into a raised position as illustrated in FIG.  1 . Next, the user rotates the first indicator apparatus  16  in a clockwise direction and magnetically secures the first end of the body  44  against the lower portion  56  of the magnetic body  54  of the control member  52 . This secures the first indicator apparatus  16  in a lowered position as shown in FIG.  1 . 
     When the mail carrier arrives and opens the door  28  of the mailbox  10 , the control member  52  releases the protruding tab  110  of the outgoing mail flag  94  of the second indicator apparatus  18  and releases the body  44  of the first indicator apparatus  16 . The outgoing mail flag  94  of the second indicator apparatus  18  rotates into a lowered position as illustrated in FIG.  2 . The first indicator apparatus  16  rotates into a raised position (FIG.  2 ). The mail carrier removes the material to be picked up from the mailbox  10 . Next, the carrier places material to the delivered into the mailbox and closes the door  28 . After the carrier leaves, the raised first indicator apparatus  16  including the flag  48  indicates that mail has been delivered. The user may then go to the mailbox to retrieve the delivered material. Next, the user rotates the first indicator apparatus  16  into a lowered position (FIG.  3 ). 
     If the mail carrier opens the door  28  to pick up mail, and there is no mail to be delivered, the carrier lowers the first indicator apparatus  16 . When the door  28  is opened, the first indicator apparatus  16  is automatically raised. To lower the first indicator apparatus  16 , the mail carrier first lifts the soft end piece  86  of the handle assembly  50 . Then the mail carrier moves the soft end piece  86  of the handle assembly  50  in a direction towards the rear cover  22  of the mailbox which lowers the first indicator apparatus  16 . The first indicator apparatus  16  is secured in a lowered position when the body  44  of the first indicator apparatus  16  is connected with the lower portion  56  of the magnetic body  54  of the control member  52 . This secures the first indicator apparatus  16  in a lowered position, so that the user does not have to travel to the empty mailbox  10 . 
     When material is delivered by the mail carrier, the first indicator apparatus  16  is automatically raised when the door  28  is opened. The user then sees the raised flag  48  of the first indicator apparatus  16  and may go to pick up the material. The user opens the door  28  of the mailbox  10 , removes the material, and closes the door  28 . Next, the user lowers the first indicator apparatus  16  and releasably connects the body  44  of the first indicator apparatus  16  to the magnetic body  54  of the control member  52 . This holds the first indicator apparatus  16  in a lowered position. 
     Another embodiment a mailbox  10 A including a first indicator apparatus  16 A and a second indicator apparatus  18 A is illustrated in FIGS. 4,  5  and  6 . The first indicator apparatus  16 A includes a flag shaft  112 , a flag  114 , a handle  116  and a bushing  118 . A first end  132  of the first indicator apparatus  16 A includes the handle  116 . A second end  134  of the second indicator apparatus  18 A includes the flag  114 . The flag  114  is attached to the flag shaft  112  and the flag shaft  112  is attached to the bushing  118 . A first portion  120  of the handle  116  is attached to the bushing  118 . The bushing  118  is pivotally attached to a side  72 A of a cover  20 A of the mailbox  10 A. The first portion  120  of the handle  16  is releasably connected by a latch  122  to a control member  52 A. The latch  122  may be any suitable means such as a magnetic or a mechanical coupling. The mechanical coupling may include a curved protruding tab  123  that captures the first portion  120  of the handle  16  as illustrated in FIG.  7 . The control member  52 A is attached to the door  28 A of the mailbox  10 A. When the door  28 A is opened, the latch  122  releases the first portion  120  of the handle  16  and the first indicator apparatus  16 A is free to rotate into a raised position. The weight of the handle  116  is greater than the weight of the flag shaft  112  and the flag  114 . Therefore, when free, the weight of the handle  116  will cause the first indicator apparatus  16 A to rotate counterclockwise into a raised position as illustrated in FIG.  6 . The handle  116  may contact a stop  130  attached to the cover  20 A. The handle  116  contacts the stop  130  when the first indicator apparatus  16 A is in a raised upright position. 
     The second indicator apparatus  18 A is similar to the second indicator apparatus  18  described above. The second indicator apparatus  18 A includes an outgoing mail flag  94 A and a base  96 A. The outgoing mail flag  94 A includes a first end  98 A and a second end  100 A. Preferably, in the present invention, the weight of the outgoing mail flag towards the second end  100 A is greater than the weight of the first end  98 A. Thus, the outgoing mail flag  94 A automatically rotates in a clockwise direction into a lowered position as illustrated in FIG.  4 . 
     As illustrated in FIG. 6, the outgoing mail flag  94 A is pivotally attached by a pin  140  to the side  72 A of the cover  20 A of the mailbox  10 A. The pin  140  passes through the base  96 A, through the outgoing mail flag  94 A and attaches to the side  72 A of the cover  20 A. The base  96 A includes a first slot  102 A through which the first end  98 A of the outgoing mail flag  94 A protrudes. The second end  100 A of the outgoing mail flag  94 A protrudes through a second slot  104 A in the base  96 A. A first end  106 A of the second slot  104 A stops the clockwise rotation of the outgoing mail flag  94 A in a lowered position. 
     The first end  98 A of the outgoing mail flag includes a protruding tab  110 A. For rotating the outgoing mail flag  94 A of the second indicator apparatus  18 A into a raised position, a user closes the door  28 A of the mailbox  10 A. Next, the user rotates the outgoing mail flag  94 A until the protruding tab  100 A enters a notch  58 A in the control member  52 A. This holds the outgoing mail flag  94 A in a raised position as illustrated in FIG.  5 . 
     When the door  28 A is opened, a protrusion  60 A of the control member  52 A pushes on the protruding tab  110 A of the first end  98 A of the outgoing mail flag  94 A in a direction towards an opening  26 A of the mailbox  10 A. This releases the protruding tab  110 A from the notch  58 A of the control member  52 A and starts the rotation of the outgoing mail flag  94  in a clockwise direction. Since the weight of the outgoing mail flag towards the second end  100 A is greater than the weight of the first end  98 A, the outgoing mail flag  94 A automatically rotates in a clockwise direction into a lowered position as illustrated in FIG.  6 . 
     When a user has material to be picked up by the mail carrier, the user opens the door  28 A of the mailbox  10 A and places the material into the mailbox  10 A. Next, the user closes the door  28 A and rotates the outgoing mail flag  94 A of the second indicator apparatus  18 A in a counterclockwise direction until the protruding tab  110 A enters the notch  58 A of the control member  52 A. This positions the outgoing mail flag  94 A into a raised position as illustrated in FIG.  5 . Next, the user rotates the first indicator apparatus  16 A in a clockwise direction and secures the first portion  120 A of the handle  116  with the latch  122  of the control member  52 . This secures the first indicator apparatus  16 A in a lowered position as shown in FIG.  4 . 
     When the mail carrier arrives and opens the door  28 A of the mailbox  10 A, the control member  52 A releases the protruding tab  110 A of the outgoing mail flag  94   a  of the second indicator apparatus  18 A and releases the first portion  120 A of the handle  116  of the first indicator apparatus  16 A. The second indicator apparatus  18 A rotates into a lowered position as illustrated in FIG.  5 . The first indicator apparatus  16 A rotates into a raised position (FIG.  6 ). The mail carrier removes the material to be picked up from the mailbox  10 A. Next, the carrier places material to the delivered into the mailbox and closes the door  28 A. After the mail carrier leaves, the raised first indicator apparatus  16 A including the flag  114  indicates that material has been delivered. The user may then go to the mailbox  10 A to retrieve the delivered material. Next, the user rotates the first indicator apparatus  16   a  into a lowered position (FIG.  4 ). 
     If the mail carrier opens the door  28 A to pick up the outgoing material, and there is no incoming material to be delivered, the carrier lowers the first indicator apparatus  16 A. When the door  28 A is opened, the first indicator apparatus  16 A is automatically raised. To lower the first indicator apparatus  16 A, the mail carrier first lifts an end  126  of the handle  116  and couples the first portion  120  of the handle  116  with the latch  122  of the control member  52 A. This secures the first indicator apparatus  16 A in a lowered position, so that the user does not have to travel to the empty mailbox  10 A. 
     When material is delivered by the mail carrier, the first indicator apparatus  16 A is automatically raised when the door  28 A is opened. The user then sees the raised flag  114  of the first indicator apparatus  16 A and may go to pick up the material. The user opens the door  28 A of the mailbox  10 A, removes the material, and closes the door  28 A. Next, the user lowers the first indicator apparatus  16 A and latches the first portion  120  of the handle  116  onto the latch  122  of the control member  52 A. The first indicator apparatus  16 A is releasably connected to the control member  52 A. 
     The foregoing description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. For example, the mailbox with automatic flags may also be used as a child&#39;s toy. Such modifications and variations that may be apparent to a person skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined by the accompanying claims.