Abstract:
A newspaper box is designed so that is may be easily converted to a planter. Laterally confronting parallel recesses on the confronting sides of the side walls of the newspaper box near it open end are adapted to receive a snap in closure panel for converting the newspaper box to a planter.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Rural mailboxes are traditionally placed on upright posts adjacent a road providing access to the rural residence. In order to improve the aesthetics of the mailbox installation, residents have planted flowers and vines near it and have added décor to the supporting post. Rural delivery of the newspaper has given rise to the use of a newspaper box which is most often placed just below the mail box. Although adding the newspaper box changes the appearance somewhat; efforts to improve the appearance of the postal and newspaper delivery installation have continued. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   An object of this invention is to make the postal and newspaper installations pleasant to view. It is a further object of the invention to construct a newspaper box in a manner that readily permits its alternate use as a planter. The newspaper box is so constructed that it is usable to directly support a mailbox or to support a mounting board which in turn supports a mail box. The newspaper box includes confronting recesses on the interior sides of its side walls, near its open end, in which a removable end panel can be installed to convert the newspaper box to a planter. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a side view of a newspaper box mounted on a side of a post and supporting a mail box; 
       FIG. 2  is a view taken on the line  2 — 2  in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a side view of a newspaper box mounted on the top of a support post and supporting a mail box; 
       FIG. 4  is an end view of a newspaper box mounted on a post and supporting a mounting board on which a mail box is supported; 
       FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of the newspaper box and a removable snap in end panel; 
       FIG. 6  is a side view of a mailbox supported on top of a post and newspaper box converted to a planter mounted on a side of the post. 
       FIG. 7  shows a mailbox together with a newspaper box converted to a planter which are mounted on opposite sides of a post; 
       FIG. 8  shows a mailbox mounted on one side of a post and a newspaper box converted to a planter hanging from a bracket at the opposite side of the post, and 
       FIG. 9  shows a post with a bracket supporting a newspaper box which has been converted to a planter; 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2  a newspaper box  11  is mounted on one side of a square section post  12  by a decorative bracket  13 . The bracket  13  is secured to the post and newspaper box  11  by fasteners, such as screws  14  and  15 . A mailbox  16  is secured to laterally outward extending ledges  21 ,  22  at the upper ends of the upright parallel side walls  23 ,  24 , respectively, of the newspaper box  11  by releasable fasteners or screws  26 . The mailbox includes an interior for receiving mail, and a door for access to the interior. 
     FIG. 3  shows the newspaper box  111  and mailbox  16  mounted on top of a post  31 . The newspaper box  11  is secured to the post  31  by the decorative bracket  13  which has been repositioned in relation to the post  31  and newspaper box  11  as compared to its position in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
     FIG. 4  is a front view showing the newspaper box  11  supporting a narrower mailbox  34 . The mailbox  34  and a mounting board  36  are secured to the walls  23 ,  24  of the newspaper box  11  by vertically disposed screws  37 . 
   The exploded perspective view in  FIG. 5  shows details of construction of the newspaper box  11  and a releasably insertable end panel  41  used to convert the newspaper box  11  to a planter as shown in  FIGS. 6 ,  7 ,  8  and  9 . A pair of parallel upwardly slanting and laterally confronting slots or recesses  51 ,  52  are formed in the interior confronting surfaces or sides  53 ,  54  of the side walls  23 ,  24  of the newspaper box  11  near its open end. The upwardly extending recesses terminate short of the top and bottom of the sides  53 ,  54  of the side walls  23 ,  24 . The newspaper box  11  is made of a somewhat resiliently flexible material, such a plastic, which permits the upper front ends of the walls  23 ,  24  to be manually spread apart a sufficient distance to insert the tabs  56 ,  57  of the panel  41  to be inserted into the recesses  51 ,  52 , thereby closing off the normally open end of the newspaper box  11 . In normal use of the newspaper box  11 , the recesses  51 ,  52  are somewhat hidden from view and do not adversely affect its appearance. A pair of drain holes are  61  are provided in the bottom wall  62  of the newspaper box  11  which are needed when the latter is used as a planter. The drain holes  61  are also effective in draining any moisture, as from a driving rain, that may enter the newspaper box  11  in its normal use. 
     FIGS. 6 ,  7 ,  8  and  9  show various ways the converted newspaper box  11  can be used as a planter; that is, with the end panel  41  snapped into the recesses  51 ,  52 .  FIG. 6  shows a mailbox  34 ′ mounted on top of a square section wooden post  31 ′ with a rear portion of the mailbox overhanging the post  31 ′. A newspaper box  11  converted to a planter, by insertion of the panel  41  and addition of a plant  66  and soil or potting mix, is mounted by the bracket  13  beneath the overhanging rear portion of the mail box so as to extend from the post  31 ′ in a direction opposite to the direction in which the mailbox  34 ′ faces.  FIG. 7  shows the mailbox  34 ′ and the newspaper box  11 , now planter, mounted on opposite sides of the post  12  by brackets  13 .  FIG. 8  shows a mail box  34 ′ mounted by a bracket  13  to one side of the post  12  and a newspaper box  11  converted to a planter hanging by chains  71  from a bracket  13  at the opposite side of the post  12 .  FIG. 9  shows the converted newspaper box  11 , now planter, suspended by chains  71  from a bracket  13  secured to the post  12  without an accompanying mail box. It should be understood that the mailboxes  34 ′ shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8  could be replaced with a combined newspaper box and mailbox as shown in  FIGS. 1 through 4 . 
   The newspaper box illustrated and described herein permits the rural resident to add beauty to the otherwise drab mailbox installation in an economical and convenient manner. By designing the newspaper box for dual usage, benefits are afforded to the manufacturer, the retail merchant and the purchaser. Since most rural residences need a newspaper box, a high quantity production is anticipated which permits a relatively low retail price. Thus the retail price of the newspaper box used as a planter can be competitive to other planters that a retail customer might purchase. The retail merchant is afforded increased sales without needing significant addition floor space for product display.