Designer mailboxes with removable decorative side panels

A designer mailbox with removable decorative side plates comprising a lower base plate in a generally rectangular configuration with parallel side edges and parallel front and rear edges; a semi-cylindrical roof panel having parallel lower edges located above the side edges of the base plate and extending from the front edge to the rear edge of the base plate; a pair of parallel planar interior side walls parallel with the side edges of the base plate and extending upwardly from the base plate at locations spaced inwardly from the side edges, the interior side walls having upper edges formed integrally with the roof panel interiorly of its lower edges; a pair of parallel exterior side walls extending upwardly from the side edges of the base plate to the lower edges of the roof panel and spaced a distance outwardly from the interior wall to thereby form generally rectangular spaces between the interior and exterior side walls; an opening in each exterior side wall extending from a horizontal lower edge parallel with the side edges of the base plate to a horizontal upper edge formed in the roof panel with parallel generally vertical edges therebetween; and a transparent insert positionable in each opening of the exterior wall, each insert being planar in its lower extent and curved in its upper extent to form a smooth curve continuation of the roof panel, each insert including generally L-shaped members with their longer legs positionable interiorly of the upper and lower edges defining the opening whereby a force by the user adjacent to the upper edges of either insert will effect sufficient deformation of the insert to effect its removal from the opening or its insertion thereto.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to designer mailboxes with removable 
decorative side panels and more particularly pertains to decorating the 
side panels of mailboxes through the use of removable panels. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
The use of mailboxes with decorative features is known in the prior art. 
More specifically, mailboxes with decorative features heretofore devised 
and utilized for the purpose of decorating mailboxes to enhance their 
appearance are known to consist basically of familiar, expected, and 
obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs 
encompassed by the crowded prior art which has been developed for the 
fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
The prior art discloses a large number of mailboxes with decorative 
features. By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,244,512 to Wise discloses a 
mailbox with a transparent cover. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,872,610 to Grabowiecki discloses a display mailbox with 
interchangeable inserts. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,991,769 to Todd discloses a removable mailbox cover 
display. 
U.S. Pat. No. 5,119,986 to Kobilarcik discloses a mailbox assembly with 
flag housing assembly. 
Lastly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,143,285 to Wise discloses an illuminated mailbox 
support with photo-cell for enhanced illumination visibility. 
In this respect, designer mailboxes with removable decorative side panels 
according to the present invention substantially depart from the 
conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so 
provide an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of decorating the 
side panels of mailboxes through the use of removable transparent panels. 
Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for 
new and improved designer mailboxes with removable decorative side panels 
which can be used to decorate the side panels of mailboxes through the use 
of removable transparent panels. In this regard, the present invention 
substantially fulfills this need. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of 
mailboxes with decorative features now present in the prior art, the 
present invention provides improved designer mailboxes with removable 
decorative side panels. As such, the general purpose of the present 
invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to 
provide new and improved designer mailboxes with removable decorative side 
panels and methods which have all the advantages of the prior art and none 
of the disadvantages. 
To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises a new and 
improved designer mailbox with removable decorative side panels 
comprising, in combination, a lower base plate in a generally rectangular 
configuration with parallel side edges and parallel front and rear edges; 
a semi-cylindrical roof panel having parallel lower edges located above 
the side edges of the base plate and extending from the front edge to the 
rear edge of the base plate; a pair of parallel planar interior side walls 
parallel with the side edges of the base plate and extending upwardly from 
the base plate at locations spaced inwardly from the side edges, the 
interior side walls having upper edges formed integrally with the roof 
panel interiorly of its lower edges; a pair of parallel exterior side 
walls extending upwardly from the side edges of the base plate to the 
lower edges of the roof panel and spaced a distance outwardly from the 
interior wall to thereby form generally rectangular spaces between the 
interior and exterior side walls; an opening in each exterior side wall 
extending from a horizontal lower edge parallel with the side edges of the 
base plate to a horizontal upper edge formed in the roof panel with 
parallel generally vertical edges therebetween; a transparent insert 
positionable in each opening of the exterior wall, each insert being 
planar in its lower extent and curved in its upper extent to form a smooth 
curve continuation of the roof panel, each insert including generally 
L-shaped members with their longer legs positionable interiorly of the 
upper and lower edges defining the opening whereby a force by the user 
adjacent to the upper edges of either insert will effect sufficient 
deformation of the insert to effect its removal from the opening or its 
insertion thereto; a vertical back wall permanently coupling the base 
plate, interior and exterior side walls and roof panel at the rears 
thereof; a front wall pivotally secured at its lower edge to the side 
walls adjacent to the front thereof for opening and closing access to the 
interior of the mailbox between the interior side walls; and a plurality 
of removable decorative sheets positioned in the opening. 
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features 
of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that 
follows may be better understood and in order that the present 
contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, 
additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter 
and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention 
in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its 
application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the 
components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the 
drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being 
practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood 
that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose 
of descriptions and should not be regarded as limiting. 
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon 
which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the 
designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the 
several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, 
that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions 
insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present 
invention. 
Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent 
and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the 
scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar 
with patent of legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a 
cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of 
the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention 
of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to 
be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide new and 
improved designer mailboxes with removable decorative side panels which 
have all the advantages of the prior art mailboxes with decorative 
features and none of the disadvantages. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide new and improved 
designer mailboxes with removable decorative side panels which may be 
easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide new and improved 
designer mailboxes with removable decorative side panels which are of a 
durable and reliable construction. 
An even further object of the present invention is to provide new and 
improved designer mailboxes with removable decorative side panels which 
are susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials 
and labor, and which accordingly are then susceptible of low prices of 
sale to the consuming public, thereby making such designer mailboxes with 
removable decorative side panels economically available to the buying 
public. 
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide new and 
improved designer mailboxes with removable decorative side panels which 
provide in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the 
advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the 
disadvantages normally associated therewith. 
Even still another object of the present invention is to decorate the side 
panels of mailboxes through the use of removable transparent panels. 
Lastly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a designer 
mailbox with removable decorative side plates comprising a lower base 
plate in a generally rectangular configuration with parallel side edges 
and parallel front and rear edges; a semi-cylindrical roof panel having 
parallel lower edges located above the side edges of the base plate and 
extending from the front edge to the rear edge of the base plate; a pair 
of parallel planar interior side walls parallel with the side edges of the 
base plate and extending upwardly from the base plate at locations spaced 
inwardly from the side edges, the interior side walls having upper edges 
formed integrally with the roof panel interiorly of its lower edges; a 
pair of parallel exterior side walls extending upwardly from the side 
edges of the base plate to the lower edges of the roof panel and spaced a 
distance outwardly from the interior wall to thereby form generally 
rectangular spaces between the interior and exterior side walls; an 
opening in each exterior side wall extending from a horizontal lower edge 
parallel with the side edges of the base plate to a horizontal upper edge 
formed in the roof panel with parallel generally vertical edges 
therebetween; and a transparent insert positionable in each opening of the 
exterior wall, each insert being planar in its lower extent and curved in 
its upper extent to form a smooth curve continuation of the roof panel, 
each insert including generally L-shaped members with their longer legs 
positionable interiorly of the upper and lower edges defining the opening 
whereby a force by the user adjacent to the upper edges of either insert 
will effect sufficient deformation of the insert to effect its removal 
from the opening or its insertion thereto. 
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various 
features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with 
particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this 
disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating 
advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should 
be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there 
is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 4 
thereof, the preferred embodiment of the new and improved designer 
mailboxes with removable decorative side panels embodying the principles 
and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the 
reference numeral 10 will be described. 
Specifically, it will be noted in the various FIGURES that there are 
provided new and improved designer mailboxes with removable decorative 
side panels. In the broadest context, the invention includes a lower base 
plate, a semi-cylindrical roof panel, interior side walls, exterior side 
walls, an opening in each exterior wall, a transparent insert, a back 
panel, a front panel and a plurality of removable decorative panels used 
in association with the mailbox. 
These component elements together are specifically configured and 
correlated one with respect to the other in order to attain the desired 
objectives. 
More particularly, the first component of the mailbox is the lower base 
panel 12. The lower base panel is formed in a generally rectangular 
configuration. It has parallel side edges 14 and parallel front and rear 
edges 16 and 18. Articles to be positioned in the mailbox rest on the 
upper surface of the lower base panel. Further, the lower surface of the 
base panel is adapted to be supported by a post 20 for normal application. 
Their coupling mechanisms for support of the mailbox may be utilized. 
Next provided is a semi-circular roof panel 24. Such roof panel is curved 
about an axis of the mailbox parallel with the plane of the base panel. 
The roof panel terminates at its lower extent at parallel lower edges 26. 
Such lower edges are located above the side edges of the base panel. The 
roof panel and its lower edges extends from the front edge to the rear 
edge of the base panel. The roof panel functions to preclude the elements 
from damaging contents within the mailbox located on the base panel. 
Closure of the mailbox on its lateral sides is effected through pairs of 
parallel planar side walls 30. Such side walls include a pair of parallel 
planar interior side walls 32. Such interior side walls are formed 
parallel with each other and parallel with the side edges of the base 
panel. The interior side walls extend upwardly from the base plate at 
locations spaced inwardly from the side edges. The interior side walls 
also have upper edges 34 which are formed integrally with the roof panel 
at locations laterally interiorly of the lower edges of the roof panel. 
Coupled with respect to the above described components are a pair of 
parallel exterior side walls 38. The exterior side walls extend upwardly 
from the side edges of the base plate. They extend upwardly to the lower 
edges of the roof panel and are formed integrally therewith. The exterior 
side walls are spaced a distance outwardly from the interior walls to 
thereby form thin, generally rectangular spaces between the interior and 
exterior side walls on opposite sides of the mailbox. This space 
therebetween is adapted to receive decorative sheets 42 for enhancing the 
appearance of the mailbox at its sides. 
The components of the mailbox as described above form a generally 
cylindrical member which could be fabricated of a plurality of known 
materials through the extrusion process. Other forms of fabrication could 
readily be utilized. 
In order to effect the insertion of and removal of the decorative sheets 
from the space between the side walls, an opening 46 is formed in each 
exterior side wall. Such opening extends from a horizontal lower edge 48 
parallel with the side edges of the base plate to a horizontal upper edge 
50 formed in the roof panel. Parallel generally vertical edges 52 extend 
therebetween. The size of the opening is sufficient to allow the insertion 
of or removal of the decorative sheet to the location between the interior 
and exterior side walls. 
Access to the space between the side walls is effected through a 
transparent insert 56. Each insert is positionable in an opening 46 of the 
exterior wall. Each insert is generally planar in its lower extent with a 
curved surface in its upper extent. The curvature is such as to form a 
smooth continuation of the lower extent of the roof panel. 
Each insert includes generally L-shaped locking members 62 and 64. Their 
longer legs 66 are positioned interiorly of the upper and lower edges of 
the exterior side panels which define the openings. Positioning and 
removal of the inserts is effected by a user applying a hand force 
adjacent to the upper edges of the inserts. Such force is in a downward 
direction to bow the center portion of the inserts outwardly. The 
deformation of the insert will be sufficient to effect its removal from 
the opening or its insertion thereof. 
Closure of the mailbox is effected through a back wall and a front wall. 
The back wall 70 is a vertical member permanently coupled to the above 
described components of the mailbox. It is preferably transparent, or at 
least translucent, to allow light into the mailbox interior. More 
specifically, the periphery of the back wall is permanently coupled to the 
base plate, the interior and exterior side walls and the roof panel at the 
rear ends thereof. Similarly, the front wall 72 is located at the fronts 
of the base plate, interior and exterior side walls and roof panel. 
Coupling of the front wall is not permanently done at its periphery. 
Instead, the front wall is pivotally secured at its lower edge 74 to the 
side walls adjacent to the fronts thereof. Coupling is through hinges 76. 
This allows the grasping of a tab 78 at the upper edge of the front wall 
for pulling and pushing to open and close the mailbox to provide access to 
interior of the mailbox between the interior side walls. 
The last component of the mailbox are the plurality of removable decorative 
sheets. Such sheets 42 are of a relatively stiff construction with 
drawings thereon to suit the aesthetic taste of the user. Such sheets are 
positionable between the interior and exterior side walls on opposite 
sides of the mailbox through the removal and insertion of the transparent 
insert. 
The present invention is a mailbox that has regions on each side for the 
reception of inserts. The owner of this mailbox could change the 
decorative features at any time by simply sliding the old ones out and 
sliding in the new ones. He could choose from a complete line of inserts, 
as for example, outdoor scenery, wildlife, and holiday themes. Other 
products have the scenes painted on the mailbox or have them on plastic 
which is attached. The present invention would allow the owner to change 
the scenes on his mailbox whenever he wanted. 
As to the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same 
should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further 
discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the 
optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to 
include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of 
operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to 
one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those 
illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are 
intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the 
principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and 
changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired 
to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and 
described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may 
be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.