Abstract:
A mailbox has an aerodynamic shape that deflects snow thrown by the snowplow and an anchoring system that permits stable anchoring of the mailbox, yet easy replacement in the event such replacement is required.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to the general art of mailboxes, and to the particular field of mailboxes that are resistant to external damage. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   In rural areas, it is common for mailboxes to be mounted on posts at the roadside. In many instances, a mail box may be damaged or broken off due to impact from the snow from the snowplow, and other foreign objects such as ice, dirt, stone, etc. Once a mailbox is broken off, it is often difficult and quite annoying to replace it. Because most mailboxes are mounted on support posts that are, in turn, mounted in concrete, once a mailbox is broken, part of the support post remains in the ground firmly embedded in the concrete. This creates a problem for any replacement mailbox. The concrete block must be removed and replaced or the new mailbox must be located at a location that is spaced apart from the old mailbox. Neither of these solutions is entirely satisfactory. Therefore, there is a need for a mailbox that can be easily replaced if damaged, yet will be securely anchored when it is in place. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The above-discussed disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by a mailbox that has an aerodynamic shape that resists impact from the snow thrown by the snowplow and an anchoring system that permits stable anchoring of the mailbox, yet easy replacement in the event such replacement is required. 
   Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the invention will be, or will become, apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the invention, and be protected by the following claims. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
     The invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings and description. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. Moreover, in the figures, like referenced numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a mailbox embodying the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a sectional view taken along line A-A of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a sectional view taken along line B-B of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 4  is a side elevational view of the mailbox shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 5  is an alternative sectional view taken along line A-A of  FIG. 1 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring to the figures, it can be understood that the present invention is embodied in a mailbox unit  10  which resists damage due to snow, ice and the like and, if damaged is easily replaced. Mailbox unit  10  comprises a support post  12  which has a first end  14  which is a bottom end when the post is in use, a second end  16  which is a top end when the post is in use, and a longitudinal axis  18  which extends between first end  14  and second end  16 . Support post  12  further includes a first sidewall  20 , a second sidewall  22 , a first endwall  30  and a second endwall  32 . A first corner  40  is formed by an intersection of first sidewall  20  and first endwall  30 . First corner  40  is a front corner when support post  12  is in use. A second corner  42  formed by the intersection of second endwall  32  and second sidewall  22 . Second corner  42  is a rear corner when the support post is in use. A transverse axis  44  extends between first corner  40  and second corner  42 . 
   A first wing  50  is mounted on the first sidewall and the second endwall at first corner  40  and is embedded in a support material, such as the ground, when the support post is mounted in the support material. First wing  50  includes a linear edge  52  which is a top edge when the support post is in use and an arcuate edge  54  which is a bottom edge when the support post is in use. A second wing  60  is mounted on the second sidewall and the second endwall at second corner  42  so support post transverse axis  44  is interposed between the first wing and the second wing. Second wing  60  is embedded in the support material when the support post is mounted in the support material. Second wing  60  is oriented to be parallel to the first wing, and is spaced apart from the first wing in the direction of support post longitudinal axis  18  toward second end  16  of the support post whereby second wing  60  is located above first wing  50  when the support post is in use. Second wing  60  includes a linear edge  62  which is a top edge when the support post is in use and an arcuate edge  64  which is a bottom edge when the support post is in use. The wings support the post in place so there is no need for a large concrete block to be placed in the ground to support the mailbox unit. If the support post becomes damaged or broken, it is far easier to replace the support post of the present mailbox unit than to replace prior art mailbox units that require a large block of concrete for support. 
   A mailbox  70  is mounted on second end  16  of the support post and includes an outer shell  72  which has a first end  74 , a second end  76 , a first surface  78  that is a top surface when the outer shell is mounted on the support post and a second surface  80  that is a bottom surface when the outer shell is mounted on the support post. The first and second surfaces form a cone  82  at the first end with the first end being an apex of the cone. The cone having a radius  84  at the first end. Second end  76  is arcuate with a radius  86  that is larger than radius  84  of the first end. 
   First surface  78  has two arcuate portions  90  and  92 . Each portion of the first surface has a radius of curvature  94 . The radius of curvature of the first portion is essentially equal to the radius of curvature of the second portion. The first and second portions of the first surface intersect each other to form an arcuate top edge  98  which extends between the first and second ends of the outer shell. 
   Second surface  80  has two arcuate portions  110  and  112  each of which has a radius of curvature  114 . The radius of curvature of first portion  110  is essentially equal to the radius of curvature of second portion  112  of the second surface. The radiuses of curvature of the first and second portions of second surface  80  are larger than the radiuses of curvature of the first and second portions of first surface  78 . The first and second portions of second surface  80  intersect each other to form an arcuate bottom edge  114 . A post-accommodating blind-ended bore  120  is defined in second surface  80  of the outer shell at the bottom edge. 
   First portion  90  of first surface  78  intersects first portion  110  of second surface  80  and second portion  92  of first surface  78  intersects second portion  112  of second surface  80  to form arcuate side edges  130  and  132  that extend between the first and second ends of the outer shell. Outer shell  70  forms an aerodynamic bullet like shape. The first end  74 , which is the pointed end of the mail box  70 , may face the street to deflect the snow and ice thrown by the snowplow vehicle. Moreover, the bullet shaped outer shell sheds or deflects snow and ice from the snowplow so snow and ice are less likely to damage the mailbox unit than with the usual shaped mailbox. The outer shell can be oriented so the pointed end faces oncoming wind which further reduces stress on the mailbox. 
   A door  140  is hingeably mounted on one arcuate portion of the first surface of the outer shell. The outer shell is hollow and defines a chamber  142  which will contain mail and the like that is inserted thereinto via door  140 . The outer shell is oriented so longitudinal axis of the outer shell is oriented at an oblique angle θ with respect to longitudinal axis  18  of the support post. 
     FIG. 5  shows the second end  16 ′ of the support post  12  having a round configuration or a socket end, and the post-accommodating blind-end having a round bore  120 ′ adapted to receive the socket end  16 ′ to allow the mail box  70  to rotate depending on the situation. The round bore  120  may be frictionally engaged with the socket end  16 ′ so that the mail box can not be easily rotated. This allows the home owner to turn the first end  74  to the desired direction such as facing down and towards the street in line with the direction of the snow being thrown by the snowplow so that the mailbox can deflect the snow. 
   While various embodiments of the invention have been described, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many more embodiments and implementations are possible within the scope of this invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be restricted except in light of the attached claims and their equivalents.