Mail box mounting device

The present invention relates to a mail box mounting device comprising a lower body having mounting means such that the lower body can be mounted on a support structure and an upper body rotatably engaged to the lower body, such that the upper body can be rotated without rotating the lower body, and having fastening means such that a mail box can be fastened thereto. The present invention also has positioning means such that the upper body automatically returns to certain positions with respect to the lower body when the upper body is not being rotated.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates generally to the field of mounting devices 
and, more specifically, to mounting devices for mail boxes. 
Roadside located mailboxes are positioned to allow for easy access by the 
mail carrier when he or she delivers mail. Such positioning results in the 
opening of the mail box being directed outwardly toward the roadway with 
the open end of the mail box protruding over the edge of the roadway, or 
closely thereto, such that the mail carrier can insert the mail into the 
mail box without leaving his or her vehicle. While this facilitates easy 
and efficient mail delivery it creates a difficult and dangerous situation 
for individuals attempting to remove their mail from the mail box. 
Mail boxes are, usually, firmly mounted or secured to some type of support 
frame. As such, the mail box is also firmly positioned and not capable of 
being repositioned for the purpose of retrieving mail. This forces the 
individual either to actually stand in the roadway to retrieve the mail 
or, at the very least, to place a portion of his or her body, whether an 
arm, leg, hip or other, within the boundaries of the roadway. Obviously, 
if the individual resides on a busy thoroughfare the simple act of getting 
one's mail would be a very dangerous and physically threatening endeavor. 
Similarly, if the individual prefers to retrieve his or her mail from a 
vehicle, that would require the vehicle to be stopped in the roadway, also 
creating a dangerous situation. Also, in locations subject to snowfall, 
snow may be piled at the mail box creating an even more dangerous 
situation when retrieving mail. 
Accordingly, a need exists for a mail box mounting device which allows for 
safe, easy access and overcomes the above drawbacks. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention provides a device to satisfy the aforementioned need. 
Accordingly, the present invention relates to a mail box mounting device 
comprising a lower body having mounting means such that the lower body can 
be mounted on a support structure and an upper body rotatably engaged to 
the lower body, such that the upper body can be rotated without rotating 
the lower body, and having fastening means such that a mail box can be 
fastened thereto. The present invention also has positioning means such 
that the upper body automatically returns to certain positions with 
respect to the lower body when the upper body is not being rotated.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring now to the drawings and more particularly FIG. 1, there is shown 
a perspective elevation view of the present invention with a mail box 10 
fastened to the upper body 12 and the upper body 12 rotatably engaged to 
the lower body 14. The lower body 14 is mounted on a support structure 16. 
The upper body 12 with the mail box 10 attached thereto is adapted to 
rotate in a horizontal plane with the point at which the upper body 12 
engages the lower body 14 being the vertical axis for such rotation. The 
lower body 14 and the support structure 16 to which it is attached remain 
fixed. FIG. 1 shows the mail box 10 and the upper body 12 in different 
rotated positions A, B, C and D. 
Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown a bottom plan view of the upper 
body 12 and to FIG. 2A which is a sectional view along line 2--2 of FIG. 
2. The bottom portion 18 of the upper body 12 is circular shaped while the 
top portion 20 is rectilinear. The top portion 20 of the upper body 12 has 
fastening means 21 to allow a mailbox 10 to be fastened thereto. The upper 
body 12 has a cylindrical opening 24 extending vertically therethrough and 
at least one detent 22 extending downward from the bottom portion 18 of 
the upper body 12. In the preferred embodiment, four detents 22 are shown 
in a circular orientation each spaced 90 degrees apart. Upper spring means 
receiving holes 26 open from the bottom portion 18 and extend into the 
upper body 12. The cylindrical opening 24 is formed to have three 
different diameters in series. The upper diameter 28 is separated from the 
lower diameter 30 by a middle diameter 32 formed by a stop 34. 
Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown a top plan view of lower body 14, 
and to FIG. 3A which is a sectional view along line 3--3 of FIG. 3. The 
lower body 14 is circular in shape and has mounting means 36 for mounting 
to a support structure 16 (not shown in FIGS. 3 or 3A). In the preferred 
embodiment of the present invention, the mounting means 36 comprises four 
equally spaced mounting holes. A cylindrical collar 38 terminating in a 
threaded stud 40 extends upwardly from the top surface 42 of the lower 
body 14. The cylindrical collar 38 has a diameter slightly smaller than 
the lower diameter 30 of the cylindrical opening 24 of the upper body 12 
(not shown in FIGS. 3 or 3A). The threaded stud 40 is sized to fit within 
the middle diameter 32 of the cylindrical opening 24 of the upper body 12. 
At least one indentation 44 is formed in the top surface 42 of the lower 
body 14. A circular channel 48 is also provided in the top surface 42 of 
the lower body 14. The indentation 44 is located within the circular 
channel 48. 
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, four indentations 44 
are shown, each spaced 90 degrees apart and located within the circular 
channel 48. Lower spring means receiving holes 50 open from the top 
surface 42 and extend into the lower body 14. 
Referring now to FIG. 4, an exploded view of the assembly of the upper body 
12 and the lower body 14 is shown. First spring means 52 is located on the 
threaded stud 40. The circular collar 38, threaded stud 40 and first 
spring means 52 are inserted in the cylindrical opening 24 of the upper 
body 12. The threaded stud 40 extends through the middle diameter 32 into 
the upper diameter 28 while the first spring means 52 contacts the stop 34 
allowing the first spring means 52 and the cylindrical collar 38 to extend 
only through the lower diameter 30. Second spring means 54 is inserted in 
the upper spring means receiving holes 26 and the lower spring means 
receiving holes 50. A washer 56 and nut 58 are mounted on the threaded 
stud 40. As the nut 58 is tightened the bottom portion 18 of the upper 
body 12 is forced into contact with the top surface 42 of the lower body 
14 compressing the first spring means 52 against the stop 34. The first 
spring means 52 tends to force apart the upper body 12 from the lower body 
14 thereby reducing the friction between the upper body 12 and the lower 
body 14 and facilitating the rotation of the upper body 12. During 
rotation the detent 22 moves within the circular channel 48 until it 
locates within the indentation 44. 
Referring again to FIG. 1, when an individual wishes to retrieve the mail 
from, or to deposit mail into, the mail box 10, he or she would rotate the 
upper body 12 along with the mail box 10 fastened thereto to a certain 
position or positions to allow access to the opening of mail box 10. 
During this rotation, the lower body 14 remains fixed and accordingly does 
not also rotate. After the individual retrieves the mail from, and/or 
deposits the mail in, the mail box 10, or at any other time when the upper 
body 12 is not rotating, the automatic positioning means retains the upper 
body 12, and the mail box 10 fastened thereto, in certain positions with 
respect to the lower body 14. 
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the positioning means 
comprises the detents 22, the indentations 44, the circular channel 48 and 
the second spring means 54. FIG. 1 shows that the mail box 10 can be in 
four positions "A", "B", "C" and "D". When the mail box 10 is in these 
positions it is retained thereat by each detent 22 being located in a 
separate indentation 44. The four detents 22 and four indentations 44 
therefore, are located to coordinate with the four positions "A", "B", "C" 
or "D". In its normal position, the mail box 10 is oriented so that the 
opening is toward the roadway; position "A". When an individual wishes to 
retrieve the mail from, or to deposit mail into, the mail box 10, he or 
she would lift the mail box 10 slightly, aided by the first spring means 
52, to allow each detent 22 to dislocate from the particular indentation 
44, and then would rotate the upper body 12 with the mail box 10 attached 
thereto, from position "A" to a position to allow access to the mail box 
10; positions "B", "C" or "D". During rotation the detents 22 move within 
the circular channel 48 and the second spring means 54 is put under 
tension. After the individual retrieves the mail from, and/or deposits the 
mail in, the mail box 10, the upper body 12 and the mail box 10 are 
retained in that particular position until the upper body 12 and the mail 
box 10 are manually lifted, to dislocate the detents 22 from the 
indentations 44. The second spring means 54 then automatically rotates the 
upper body 12 in the reverse rotational direction until the detents 22 
locate in the nearest indentations 44 in that reverse rotational 
direction. 
While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and 
described, it will be apparent to those skilled in this art that various 
modifications may be made in this embodiment without departing from the 
teachings of the present invention.