Abstract:
A fiber optic panel illuminated mailbox having a solar energy collection system and a control circuit which illuminates a light emitting diode which feeds a fiber optic panel. The fiber optic panel is placed behind cutouts which represent address numbers in order to provide mailbox address location during nighttime hours. The control circuitry turns on the light emitting diode during nighttime hours and charges batteries during daytime hours. The fiber optic panel illuminated mailbox is a self contained illuminated mailbox address number identification system which does not require external wiring.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates in general to illuminated mailboxes, and more particularly, to an illuminated mailbox which utilizes solar power and one or more fiber optic illumination panels fed with one or more low power consumption and high lumen output light emitting diodes (LEDs). The present invention represents a unique illuminated mailbox apparatus which collects and stores solar power during daylight hours, automatically turns on an LED during nighttime hours, and feeds the LED light through a fiber optic bundle to a fiber optic illumination panel located behind the street number openings or cutouts on the post of the mailbox. 
   Mailboxes are often placed near the road or street on which a residence or business is located and serve to display the address number at the location in addition to the traditional mail collection function. Traditionally, the address number is marked or painted upon the mailbox or mailbox post. Without illumination, the address number is difficult to see and locate at night. Prior art attempts at mailbox address number illumination have utilized incandescent or flourescent lighting which require electric utility power connection from the residence or business. The prior art necessity of running electrical power wiring from the main utility power supply created a labor intensive mailbox installation process. That is, installing a mailbox is a relatively quick and easy task but running, burying, and connecting electric wire cables is quite time consuming and often requires specialized and skilled labor. 
   The prior art is replete with attempts to illuminate address numbers. U.S. Pat. No. 5,143,285 by Wise entitled Illuminated Mailbox Support with Photo-Cell utilizes fluorescent tubes requiring electrical wire hookup to utility power. U.S. Pat. No. 6,601,968 by Voacolo entitled Freestanding Mailbox with Damage Resistant Illumination utilizes a below ground illumination source which also requires electrical wire hookup to utility power. U.S. Pat. No. 6,050,012 by Greenfield entitled Panel-Joining Bracket describes an internally lit address sign with conventional incandescent or flourescent illumination, again requiring electrical wire hookup to utility power. U.S. Pat. No. 3,521,047 by Smith entitled Flourescent Yard Light with Illuminated Indicia describes a yard light with an internal flourescent light for post illumination but also requires electrical wire hookup with utility power. U.S. Pat. No. 1,842,597 by Foti entitled Mail Box describes an illuminated mailbox which further requires electrical wire hookup to utility power. U.S. Pat. No. 6,017,131 by Goins entitled Illuminated Mail Box Post also describes an internally lit mail box post but as expected requires electrical wire hookup to utility power. 
   As can be seen from the prior art, the traditional tradeoff of nightime illumination energy required and daytime solar energy collected has precluded the prior art from utilizing solar energy and forced said inventors to utilize main utility power with the inherent complexities of installation. The present art apparatus utilizes the unique synergy of a high lumen output LED with low power utilization and a fiber optic illumination panel which allows for mailbox address number illumination without the need for utility power. 
   The unique combination of the present art allows utilization of a single LED to illuminate the address number which is preferably cut from the post onto which the mailbox is mounted. Utilization of a single LED alone without said illumination panel would not fully illuminate the address number cutouts in said post since the light cannot be uniformly distributed across the address number area. Nevertheless, when a single LED is used with the fiber optic illumination panel, the address number(s) may be fully illuminated with a minimal power requirement with a duration lasting throughout the night cycle. That is, since the single LED utilizes such a small amount of power, the daylight energy collected by a small solar cell and stored during daylight hours is capable of illuminating the address numbers throughout the nighttime hours. 
   Further unique to the present invention is the tapered triangular cross-section mailbox with triangular door and triangular cross-section post for mailbox support. 
   Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a fiber optic panel illuminated mailbox which is capable of collecting and storing sufficient solar energy during daytime hours and utilize said energy to display address or other characters during the duration the following nighttime hours. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide a fiber optic panel illuminated mailbox which utilizes a small and minimally seen solar energy collector and yet is able to display address or other characters during the following nighttime hours without wire connection to a utility power supply. 
   A further object of the present invention is to provide a fiber optic panel illuminated mailbox having a tapered triangular cross-section mailbox with triangular door and triangular cross-section mounting post. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   To accomplish the foregoing and other objects of this invention there is provided a fiber optic panel illuminated mailbox having a solar cell energy collector of minimal size, control circuitry, battery storage, a light emitting diode (LED) illumination source feeding a fiber optic panel, a mail box, a mounting post having address number or other shaped cutouts behind which is mounted said fiber optic panel. The art of the present invention is especially suited for address illumination applications where utility power is not available or is inconvenient to wire and hookup. 
   The unique combination of the aforesaid has yet to be assembled and utilized in a mailbox address number illumination application. Utilization of high output illumination LEDs along with a fiber optic light emitting panel allows for the unique function of the present art. Fiber optic panels have traditionally been utilized for back lighting liquid crystal displays. U.S. Pat. No. 4,885,663 issued to Parker on Dec. 5, 1989 describes the technology of fiber optic panel construction. Said panels are typically woven from plastic optical fibers in a unique bending form which provides a panel which has a uniform illumination across its surface. The unique uniform light distribution across said panel, allows said panel to be fed from a low power consumption point source such as an LED and yet uniformly illuminate a cutout of address numbers within a mailbox post. As aforesaid, the combination of a high output LED which utilizes low power and the aforesaid fiber optic panel allows the modest energy available from the solar charged battery system to fully illuminate the address numbers during the nighttime hours. 
   Complementing the aforesaid is a unique triangular cross section mailbox support which allows a single fiber optic panel to illuminate two sets of address number cutouts for both directions of street travel. That is, by forming the support post with a triangular cross section, a single fiber optic panel may be placed on a first wall of the triangular cross section with the number cutouts placed opposite on the other walls of the triangular cross section. This arrangement allows light emitting from the panel to be seen through both number cutouts in the post. Alternative embodiments may utilize posts of different cross sections including but not limited to circular, elliptic, hexagonal, or octagonal to provide the same bi-directional lighting without departing from the conceptual scope and spirit of the aforesaid single panel illumination feature. 
   The control circuitry accepts the charge available from the solar cell, charges one or more rechargeable batteries, and also turns on the LED when it senses that solar energy is no longer available. That is, during nighttime hours the LED is lit via the stored energy within the rechargeable batteries. 
   In operation, the user installs the fiber optic panel illuminated mailbox, typically within a concrete base or a post hole, turns on the illumination circuit switch and that is all. The mailbox automatically illuminates itself during nighttime hours and recharges during daylight hours. 
   This fiber optic panel illuminated mailbox may be manufactured from many types of materials including but not limited to plastics, composites, woods, and various metals and their alloys as required by the application. In a preferred embodiment, the post and mailbox are manufactured from a steel alloy. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Numerous other objects, features and advantages of the invention should now become apparent upon a reading of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a fiber optic panel illuminated mailbox; 
       FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view thereof; 
       FIG. 3  is a top plan view thereof; 
       FIG. 4  is a bottom plan view thereof; 
       FIG. 5  is a left side plan view thereof; 
       FIG. 6  is a right side plan view thereof; 
       FIG. 7  is a front side plan view thereof; 
       FIG. 8  is a rear side plan view thereof; 
       FIG. 9  is a schematic diagram of the control circuit thereof; 
       FIG. 10  is a top side plan view of the fiber optic illumination panel thereof showing the LED, LED socket, fiber optic bundle, and illumination panel; 
       FIG. 11  is a right side plan view of the fiber optic illumination panel thereof showing the LED, LED socket, fiber optic bundle, and illumination panel; 
       FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the cell circuit assembly thereof; 
       FIG. 13  is a rear side plan view thereof with the cell circuit assembly removed and further showing the mounting opening. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a preferred embodiment of the fiber optic panel illuminated mailbox. As aforesaid, the fiber optic panel illuminated mailbox  10  comprises a solar cell  12  energy collector of minimal size, control circuitry  14 , battery  16  storage, a light emitting diode (LED)  18  illumination source feeding a fiber optic panel  20 , a mail box  22 , and a mounting post  24  having address number or other shaped cutouts  26  behind which is mounted said fiber optic panel  20 . 
   In a preferred embodiment, the mailbox  22  comprises a substantially triangular external cross section which tapers from a front portion  30  to a rear portion  32 . The mailbox  22  preferably has a hinged and substantially triangular door  33  at said front portion  30 . The mounting post  24 , also in a preferred embodiment, comprises a substantially uniform hollow triangular tubular cross section with one or more identifying cutouts  26  which represent address numbers of the location. Alternative embodiments may have identifying cutouts  26  of a variety of shapes which are not simply numbers or may place said cutouts  26  within the mailbox  22 . Further alternative embodiments may also utilize a mailbox  22  of uniform triangular cross section or of other types of cross sections in conjunction with the equivalent illumination system as described herein. Also, the aforesaid preferred and alternative embodiments may utilize mounting posts  24  of any cross section. 
   In a preferred embodiment, within said post  24  and through a mounting opening  28  is placed said fiber optic panel  20 . Preferably said panel  20  is placed substantially near or behind said one or more cutouts  26  whereby illumination from said panel is visible through said cutouts  26 . Utilization of said fiber optic panel  20  allows a single LED  18  to illuminate the one or more cutouts  26  while also minimizing power consumption. 
   In a preferred embodiment, said fiber optic panel  20  is mounted upon a panel base  21  with said panel base  21  further mounted with a housing  15  which holds said solar cell  12 , control circuitry  14 , battery  16 , and LED  18 , hereafter in combination known as the cell-circuit assembly  11 . Alternative embodiments of said cell-circuit assembly  11  may not utilize said panel base  21 . The panel base  21  with said fiber optic panel  20  fits through said mounting opening  28  and said housing  15  mounts upon said mounting post  24 , preferably with one or more screws, over said mounting opening  28 . When mounted in the aforesaid preferred form, said fiber optic panel  20  is placed substantially near or behind said one or more cutouts  26 . With this preferred embodiment, the housing  15  remains external to said mounting post  24  and said solar cell  12  is positioned to accept solar energy. Alternative embodiments may utilize a plurality of methods to mount said fiber optic panel  20  behind said cutouts  26  and further place said solar cell  12 , control circuitry  14 , battery  16 , and LED  18  at a plurality of locations yet retain the scope and spirit of the present invention. That is, the aforesaid may not be formed into an integrated cell-circuit assembly  11  without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention provided said fiber optic panel  20  is utilized to illuminate said cutouts  26 . 
   The control circuitry  14  as found within the present art is similar to that found within many solar lighting products. That is, the solar cell  12  positive output or cathode is connected through a diode  30  such as a 1N4001 or equivalent to the battery  16 , preferably 3.6 volts formed by three nickel cadmium AA cells in series. Thus, whenever the solar cell  12  potential is greater than the battery  16  potential and the inherent diode  30  voltage drop of approximately 0.7 volts, the battery  16  will recharge. Alternative embodiments may utilize a plurality of solar cell  12  to battery  16  connection methods along with various battery  16  potentials. 
   The solar cell  12  also provides the day versus night signal which the control circuitry  14  utilizes to turn on the LED  18  during nighttime hours. That is, the solar cell  12  cathode is connected through a voltage divider  34  to the base of a first npn transistor  32 , such as an MPS8050, 2N2222, or equivalent, which serves to shunt, from its collector to its grounded emitter, battery  16  bias current flowing into a second npn transistor  36 , again such as an MPS8050, 2N2222, or equivalent. The base of said second npn transistor  36  is connected to the battery  16  supply through a bias resistor  38 , 2 kilo-ohm in a preferred embodiment, whereby if said first transistor  32  is not biased on, current flows through the base of said second transistor  36 . The collector of said second transistor  36  connects with the cathode of said LED  18  through a current limiting resistor  40  and the emitter thereof is connected with the common ground. The anode of said LED  18  connects with the battery  16  or rechargeable power supply. Thus, whenever said second transistor  36  is biased on, current flows from said battery  16 , through said LED  18 , through said current limiting resistor  40 , through said second transistor  36  collector-emitter path to common ground. A power switch  42  is provided between said battery  16  and said bias resistor  38 /LED  18  in order to interrupt current supplied from said battery  16  to said LED  18 . 
   In operation, the first transistor  32  turns on in order to turn off the second transistor  36  and thereby turns off the LED  18 . If the solar cell  12  is sufficiently illuminated, it will produce an anode to cathode potential which charges the battery  16  and biases the aforesaid first transistor  32  on, thereby turning off the LED  18 . That is the control circuitry  14  recognizes daytime and does not utilize power to illuminate or turn on the LED  18 . During nighttime hours, the solar cell  12  has little or no potential from anode to cathode and cannot bias the first transistor  32  on. This allows the second transistor  36  to remain on and further allows said LED  18  to illuminate. Thus, the control circuitry  14  recognizes nighttime. As presented, it is understood by those skilled within the art that resistor values and diode or transistor types may be changed without departing from the scope and spirit of the present art. 
   The LED  18  is connected with a fiber optic bundle  44  which feeds said fiber optic panel  20 . Said fiber optic panel  20  is a commercially available illumination panel having micro bends of the fiber optic bundle  44  which emit light from the sides of the fibers. That is, the optical fibers from said fiber optic bundle  44  are positioned substantially flat with said micro bends whereby a panel of light emission is obtained. As aforesaid, said fiber optic panel is descriptively found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,885,663 and is also commercially available from Lumitex, Inc. in Strongsville, Ohio. 
   Alternative embodiments of the present art may utilize other forms of address number identifications other than cutouts  26 . That is, the aforesaid fiber optic panel  20  may have a mask forming said address numbers or equivalent which is placed over a surface of said panel  20  which either allows or blocks the emitted light. Further alternative embodiments may form said panel  20  in the form of said address numbers or equivalent. Still further alternative embodiments may place said panel  20  exterior to said post  24 . Yet still further alternative embodiments may form said mask with an active liquid crystal panel which may allow said address numbers or equivalents to be modified electronically. 
   As described, the art of the present invention is shown and described as a unique apparatus which allows mailbox address numbers or equivalents to be illuminated without the need for a main electrical supply connection or user involvement. The present art utilizes only stored solar energy to energize a high output LED  18  and direct the LED  18  output to an illuminated fiber optic panel  20  which heretofore has not been utilized in the present art application. 
   From the foregoing description, those skilled in the art will appreciate that all objects of the present invention are realized. A unique combination of electrical and mechanical elements are combined to form a mailbox having illuminated address numbers or equivalents which provide automatic and easily identifiable address location at night without user interaction. 
   Having described the invention in detail, those skilled in the art will appreciate that modifications may be made to the invention without departing from its spirit. Therefore, it is not intended that the scope of the invention be limited to the specific embodiments illustrated and described. Rather it is intended that the scope of this invention be determined by the appended claims and their equivalents.