Mail box guard locking insert

A unit is located inside a mailbox which prevents access to the mailbox through the door of the mailbox when the unit is in place. The unit includes a fence-like portion that is attached to the mailbox body by an arm that is locked to the mailbox in the rear of the mailbox. The fence-like portion is locked to the arm and is attached to the mailbox by a hinge. When unlocked, the fence can be pivoted out of the way to allow access to inside of the mailbox.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the general art of mailboxes, and to the particular field of security mailboxes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many citizens in this country have mail delivered to mailboxes remote from their home, usually located adjacent a nearby main thoroughfare. Mailboxes used are commonly mounted on poles or other suitable supports, and are generally formed of elongated, longitudinal containers having a hinged door which opens at one end thereof for delivering and removing articles of mail.

Mailboxes are, of course, common and well-known. One problem that often occurs with mailboxes is easy access to mail during the time when the homeowners are gone. Put another way, mail continues to pile up in the mailbox and is not removed. This is mail highly susceptible to theft because of the easy accessibility by simply opening the box door. It is, of course, necessary that the box door be easily accessible for the mailman on a daily basis. The theft of personal mail is one of the most insidious crimes threatening America today. For example, a new credit card may be stolen by a mail thief and the true owner will have no idea the credit card has been stolen until a large bill arrives, and the battle with the credit card company begins. The theft of social security checks is another common occurrence, the thefts facilitated by the knowledge that social security checks are sent out periodically at a publicly-known interval. Thus, during periods of time when homeowners are gone, there is a substantial risk of security violations for mailboxes.

In the past there have been some attempts at development of more secure mailboxes which perform both the function of easy access for mail carriers, and at the same time provide some means for storage in a non-accessible box area. However, generally those that have been developed in the past are bulky, use complex mechanical elements that are susceptible to failure, and are in effect cost prohibitive for real world use.

Accordingly, there is a real and continuing need for the development of mailboxes having both easy access for mail carriers, and at the same time having secure areas for mail storage, while at the same time doing so with a minimum of mechanical parts and yet provide a cost-effective mailbox. This invention has as its primary objective the fulfillment of this need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The above-discussed disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by a unit that is located inside a mailbox and which prevents access to the mailbox through the door of the mailbox when the unit is in place. The unit includes a fence-like portion that is attached to the mailbox body by an arm that is locked to the mailbox in the rear of the mailbox. The fence-like portion is locked to the arm and is attached to the mailbox by a hinge. When unlocked, the fence can be pivoted out of the way to allow access to inside of the mailbox.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the figures, it can be understood that the present invention is embodied in a secure mailbox10. As shown, the locking unit is used to secure a mailbox12which has a body14with a closed end16and an open end18. A longitudinal axis20extends between the closed end and the open end. A door24is attached to the body to cover and uncover the open end and an interior volume26is defined in the body and which accommodates mail placed therein. The door is shown in the open position inFIG. 1.

A security cage30cooperates with the mailbox to ensure the security of the contents of the mailbox. Security cage30includes an arm32which is located in the interior volume of the body when the arm is in mail securing position and which extends in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the body of the mailbox and is located centrally of the body.

The arm has a first end36that is a distal end and which is located adjacent to the open end18of the body when the arm is in the mail securing position and a second end38which is a proximal end when the arm is in the mail securing position in the interior volume of the body. A knob40is fixedly mounted on the second end of the arm and is located outside the body when the arm is in the mail securing position. A washer lock42is located on the arm adjacent to the knob and is located inside the interior volume of the body when the arm is in the mail securing position. The washer lock abuts the body of the mailbox and cooperates with the knob to lock the second end of the arm to the body and to securely lock the arm to the body.

A lock element50is located on the distal end of the arm and can be a key lock with mail delivery personnel having the key. A bar section60is mounted on the distal end of the arm to be located in the open end of the body of the mailbox when the arm is in the mail securing position as shown inFIG. 1. The bar section is shaped to match the shape of the open end of the body of the mailbox so the open end of the mailbox is completely covered by the bar section when the bar section covers that open end. The bar section includes a base62. A lock element64is located on the base and cooperates with lock element50on the arm to lock the base to the arm when the lock elements50and64are in a locked condition and to free the base from the arm when the lock elements are in an unlocked condition.

A perimeter defining bar70is in the shape of the open end of the mailbox and is fixedly mounted on the base. A plurality of bars72are each fixedly secured to the base at one end74thereof and fixedly secured to the perimeter defining bar at a second end76thereof. The bars are located in covering relation with respect to the open end of the body of the mailbox when the bar section is in a mailbox locking orientation as shown inFIG. 1.

A hinge element80is mounted on the body of the mailbox adjacent to open end18of the body of the mailbox. The hinge element is movable between a first orientation and a second orientation. Perimeter defining bar70is connected to the hinge element for movement therewith. The bar section is positioned in the covering relation with respect to the open end of the body of the mailbox when the hinge is in the first position and in an open end uncovering position when the hinge is in the second position so the bar section can be moved out of the way during authorized insertion and removal of items into and out of the interior volume of the mailbox. The bar section is locked to the arm by the locking elements for locking the mailbox to prevent unauthorized insertion and/or removal of items into or out of the mailbox.