Delivered mail indicator system

Delivered mail indicator system for indicating when a mailbox door has been opened for the deposit of mail by the mailperson. A fluorescent or reflective lip is engaged in between the two latches of a mailbox, and when the mailbox door is opened, the lip springs upwardly and outwardly. When the mailbox door is closed, the lip or flag of the indicator engages against an upper latch handle, indicating that mail has been delivered. The delivered mail indicator is made of a suitable polymer with a flag appropriately colored for ease of visualization for indicating that mail has been delivered.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention pertains to mailboxes, and more importantly, pertains 
to a delivered mail indicator system for engagement on a lower latch of a 
mailbox. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
Prior art indicators for indicating delivered mail have been usually 
complex devices having numerous components. Representative prior art 
patents having delivered mail indicators include the following patents: 
Clemmons, U.S. Pat. No. 3,586,235 
Sutton, U.S. Pat. No. 3,596,631 
Tieszen, U.S. Pat. No. 3,623,655 
Grayson, U.S. Pat. No. 3,866,823 
Redling, U.S. Pat. No. 3,891,139 
Duis, U.S. Pat. No. 4,000,847 
Armstrong, U.S. Pat. No. 5,060,854 
Reuter, U.S. Pat. No. 5,076,337 
The present invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by 
providing a delivered mail indicator system which is easily installed and 
easily viewable. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The general purpose of the present invention is a delivered mail indicator 
system which installs easily in a lower mailbox latch, and engages between 
the mailbox latches or against the upper mailbox latch. 
According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a 
delivered mail indicator system including a lower tube for engaging on the 
lower latch, a living hinge, and a lip for engaging between the lower 
latch and upper latch. When the mailbox door is opened, the lip springs 
outwardly and upwardly to engage against the upper latch, indicating that 
mail has been delivered. The tube and latch can be any color or different 
colors, such as the tube can be a neutral color, such as clear, and the 
lip can be a different color, such as fluorescent, to be easily visible 
from a long distance. 
The delivered mail indicator has certain elastic qualities, including ease 
of installation. The indicator can be made of an ultraviolet resistant 
polymer or a very soft metal. The delivered mail indicator is set by a 
slight pressure and folding down of the lip or flag, and secures between 
the door latches, which then pops up or flies up when the mailbox door is 
opened. This indicator provides indication to an individual that mail has 
been delivered, and eliminates inconvenience of always checking the 
mailbox. The delivered mail indicator provides for ease of operation, and 
longevity of the product. The delivered mail indicator also eliminates 
checking the mailbox two, or three or more times, and not having to walk 
through snow, rain, cold, or crossing the street unnecessarily, as the 
indicator informs one that the mailbox door has been opened and closed. 
The indicator is very effective, meets a specific need, is very helpful, 
improves the comfort of the handle, and also provides installation 
qualities of the handle, besides looking aesthetically pleasing. 
The delivered mail indicator with a living hinge of a polymer material 
provides a spring-type quality. The delivered mail indicator slides onto 
the mailbox door latch, and when opened, extends above the mailbox door 
latch. The delivered mail indicator is easy to reset by sliding the 
indicator between the door latches. The delivered mail indicator has 
application ease, visibility, and requires no maintenance, besides being 
aesthetically pleasing. 
Significant aspects and features of the present invention include a 
delivered mailbox indicator system which can be utilized by anyone, is 
easily installed on the mailbox, is easily visible from long distances, 
and could be used by anyone of any age. 
Having thus described the embodiments of the present invention, it is a 
principal object hereof to provide a delivered mail indicator system for 
indicating when mail has been delivered to a mailbox. 
One object of the present invention is a delivered mail indicator which is 
easily visible from a long distance. 
Another object of the present invention is a delivered mail indicator which 
is easily installed on a mailbox, especially the standard size mailbox.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a mailbox 34 with a delivered mail 
indicator system 10 prior to engagement, including an indicator 11, a 
lower tubular member 12, which engages over a lower latch handle 14 of a 
mailbox door 16. The mailbox door 16 is hinged at 18 to a mailbox 
enclosure 20. 
FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of the delivered mail indicator system 10 
prior to being armed to indicate opening of the door 16 where all numerals 
correspond to those elements previously described. At the mid-portion of 
the indicator 11 is a living hinge 22. A lip or flag 24 with a middle 
section 26, a left side 28, and a right side 30 extend upwardly. The 
middle section 26 of the lip 24 engages between the space 36 between the 
horizontal lower latch portion 38 and the horizontal upper latch portion 
32 as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. 
FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of the delivered mail indicator system 
including a cross-sectional view of the indicator 11 where all numerals 
correspond to those elements previously described. The middle section 26 
of the lip 24 engages the space 36 between the horizontal lower latch 
portion 38 and the horizontal upper latch portion 32. 
MODE OF OPERATION 
FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of a mailbox 34 with a delivered mail 
indicator system 10 after engagement. When the mailbox door 16 is opened, 
the elasticity of the indicator 10 about the living hinge 22, causes the 
lip or flag 24 to disengage between the two latch handles 14 and 40, and 
extend upwardly into an indicating position about the upper latch handle 
40 as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. This indicates that the mailbox door 
16 has been opened, and presumably opened by a mailperson to place mail 
into the mailbox body 20. The upwardly extending lip or flag 24 about the 
upper latch handle 40 is an indication that the mailbox door 16 has been 
opened, and presumably that mail has been delivered. In the alternative, 
the delivered mail indicator 11 can be installed on the top latch handle 
and work in reverse. The delivered mail indicator could also be made out 
of a soft metal. 
FIG. 5 illustrates a plan view of the setting of the delivered mail 
indicator 10 where all numerals correspond to those elements previously 
described. 
FIG. 6 illustrates a plan view of the movement about the living hinge 22 
where all numerals correspond to those elements previously described. 
DESCRIPTION OF AN ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENT 
FIG. 7 illustrates a plan view of an alternative embodiment 100 of the 
present invention, including a tubular member 102, a living hinge 104, a 
middle section 106, a left side 108, a right side 110, a left extending 
member 112 and a right extending member 114. The device can be made out of 
a polymer-type tubing, slit and cut appropriately. The tubular member can 
be tan, neutral or white, and the lip or flag member can be colored such 
as with a fluorescent or reflective material. 
Various modifications can be made to the present invention without 
departing from the apparent scope hereof.