Abstract:
A mailbox support attaching to a post includes an arm for supporting a mailbox at a given height, an opening for freely allowing the arm to slide over the post, and a tab flexibly extending into the opening and designed to limit movement of the arm relative to the post if the post is disposed within the opening.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    Cross reference is made to copending applications Ser. No. ______ entitled “Adjustable Ground Anchor” (Attorney Docket No. 445-4555-U; 60137-630 PUS1); Ser. No. ______ entitled “Mailbox Adjustable Mounting Bracket” (Attorney Docket No. 445-3446-U; 60137-632 PUS1) and Ser. No. ______ entitled “Slide in Locking Newspaper Box” (Attorney Docket No. 445-3447-U; 60137-633 PUS1). 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Some rural and suburban areas utilize curbside mailboxes. Mailboxes generally have a large metal box mounted on a support designed primarily to receive quantities of incoming mail. Some rural curbside mailboxes may be grouped together at property boundaries or road/driveway intersections, depending upon conditions. 
         [0003]    Mailboxes evolved to reduce the time required for a mail carrier to complete delivery when the front door of a residence is some distance from the street. Mail boxes are mounted curbside on suitable posts or other supports and may be fitted with a signal flag or semaphore arm—usually red or fluorescent orange that is raised by the resident of the property to notify the postman of outgoing mail and by the postman to inform the recipient that incoming mail had been delivered. 
         [0004]    Mailboxes exist under harsh conditions and are subject to extreme stresses: people back into them and run them over; snow plows pack tons of ice and snow against them; the sun bakes them; storms pelt them and can rip them from the ground; lawn mowers and string trimmers attack their supporting posts; animals and insects like wasps live in them; and vandals blow them up, paint-ball them and attack them with bats; among other things. Mailboxes need to be replaced frequently. 
         [0005]    Moreover, new home construction continues in rural and suburban areas and new mailboxes are in demand. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    A non-limiting embodiment of a mailbox support for attaching to a post includes an arm for supporting a mailbox at a given height, an opening for freely allowing the arm to slide over the post, and a tab flexibly extending into the opening and designed to limit movement of the arm relative to the post if the post is disposed within the opening. 
         [0007]    According a further non-limiting embodiment includes a post, an arm for supporting a mailbox at a given height on the post, an opening in the arm for freely allowing the arm to slide over the post, a tab flexibly extending into the opening and limiting movement of the arm relative to the post if the post is disposed within the opening. 
         [0008]    According a further non-limiting embodiment a method for attaching a mailbox support to a post includes positioning an arm having an opening over a post, manipulating a flexible tab on the arm away from the post, and repositioning the arm on the post. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    The various features and advantages of the disclosed examples will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can be briefly described as follows. 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective, disassembled view of an embodiment of a mailbox support. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is an assembled, cutaway view of the mailbox support of  FIG. 1  including a mailbox. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an upper support of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a cutaway view of an installed upper support. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a top perspective view of the upper support of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a perspective, cutaway view of the upper support of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the upper support of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a perspective, cutaway view of an installed mailbox on the upper support of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a newspaper box of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the newspaper box of  FIG. 9  and the lower support of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 11  is a perspective, cutaway view of an installed newspaper box of  FIG. 9  installed in the lower support of  FIG. 2   
           [0021]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the mounting system of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 12A  is a perspective side view of the mounting system of  FIG. 12 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0023]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2  the mailbox support of the invention is shown. The mailbox support  10  has a post  15 , an upper support  20 , a lower support  25 , a newspaper box  30 , a mailbox  35  and an anchoring system  40 . The post, the upper mailbox support, the mailbox, the newspaper box and the lower mailbox support may be extruded or molded from any suitable material such as PVC or aluminum. The post, which is extruded, may have a pair of decorative stanchions  45  that hide a bottom portion  50  of post and the anchoring system  40 . 
         [0024]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1-5 , the upper support  20  is shown. The upper support has an injection molded rectangular body  55  that has a top  60 , a bottom  65 , and a downwardly extending rectangular portion  70  that looks like a downspout of a gutter. The rectangular portion  70  is designed to fit over the post  15  (see  FIG. 4 ) and be anchored thereon. The rectangular portion has a friction tab  75  that extends downwardly from the bottom  65  and extends inwardly along its length into an opening  80  within the rectangular portion  70 . The friction tab  75  has a rounded raised portion  85  (though other shapes are contemplated) to enable a user to manipulate the friction tab if installing the lower support  20 . Because of the nature of the material of the friction tab, the friction tab is flexible and if moved, the friction tab tends to move back to its original position. 
         [0025]    The bottom  65  of the upper support  20  has a plurality of reinforcing ribs  90  and openings  95  (see  FIG. 3 ) that receive screws (not shown) to attach the lower support  25  as will be discussed hereinbelow. During installation of the upper support  20 , the rectangular portion  70  is slid down the post  15 . US Postal Service regulations require that the upper support and the mailbox  35  placed thereon (see  FIG. 2 ), be disposed between 41 and 45 inches above the ground. This height enables a mail person to easily insert mail (not shown) into the mailbox. An installer may slide the upper support  20  to an approximate height, and the friction tab engages the post  15  (see  FIG. 4 ) so that the upper support  20  tends to stay in place while the installer looks for a tape measure (not shown) to install the upper support at the proper height. This way the installer does not need “three hands” to do the job. Once the upper support is in position, the installer drives screws (not shown) through holes  105  disposed in the rectangular portion  70  of the upper support to secure the upper support to the post  15 . If the upper support is not in the proper position, the installer simply lifts the friction tab  70  by means of raised portion  85  and slides the upper support to the proper height for installation. 
         [0026]    Referring now to  FIGS. 5 ,  6  and  7 , the top  60  of the upper support  20  is shown. The top has a plurality of raised races  110  molded therein. The races have straight-aways  115  that each have a pair of tabs  120  extending parallel to the top  60  therefrom. 
         [0027]    A left bracket  125  and a right bracket  130  are disposed on the top  60  and cooperate with the tabs  120  so that the brackets may be manipulated by an installer user to adjust inwardly or outwardly to fit the width of the mailbox (see  FIGS. 2 and 8 ). 
         [0028]    The left bracket  125  has an inner longitudinal wall  140  and an outer longitudinal wall  145  that are connected by end walls  150 . The inner longitudinal wall  140  has a plurality of inverted top-hat shaped extensions  155  extending therefrom towards the right bracket  130 . The top hat has a top  160  that has a slot  165  that extends from a middle  170  of the extension through an end  175  distal from the inner longitudinal wall  140  (see  FIG. 5 ). The top-hat shaped extensions  155  also have brims  177 . Each top hat is cut away (see  FIGS. 5 and 7 ) to allow brim extensions  178  to extend into the right bracket as will be discussed hereinbelow. 
         [0029]    The right bracket  130  has an inner longitudinal wall  185  and an outer longitudinal wall  190  that are connected by end walls  195 . The inner longitudinal wall  140  has a plurality of alternating L-shaped extrusions  200  and horizontally flipped L-shaped extrusions  205  extending therefrom towards the left bracket  125 . Each L-shaped extrusion and horizontally flipped L-shaped extrusion has a rectangular vertical side portion (see  FIGS. 6 and 7 )  215  extending upwardly from the bottom portion  210 . The inner longitudinal wall  185  has a cut-out portion  187  to hold the top hat extensions  178 . 
         [0030]    To install the left bracket  125  and right bracket  130  on the top  60  of the upper support  60 , the bottom portions  210  of each alternating L-shaped extrusions  200  and horizontally flipped L-shaped extrusions  205  are inserted between the top  60  and the tabs  120  extending from the straight-aways  115 . The brims  177  of each top hat shaped extension  155  engage the top of the vertical side portions  215 . At this point the left and right brackets may slide laterally to approximate the width of a mailbox (See  FIG. 8 ). Once the left and right brackets are in the desired position, screw  220  is driven through the slot  165  through washer  225  into the top portion  20  to anchor the left bracket  125  to the top  60  and to have the brims  177  of each top hat shaped extension  155  engage the top of the vertical side portions  215  so that the left bracket is also anchored to the top  60 . The brim extensions  178  allow the left bracket  125  and the right bracket  130  to be engaged even if the brackets are pulled apart widely to accommodate a wider mailbox  35 . 
         [0031]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , once the left bracket  125  and the right bracket  130  are anchored to the top  60 , the mailbox  35  is inserted over the outer longitudinal wall  145  of the left bracket  125  and the outer longitudinal wall  190  of the right bracket  130 , screw(s)  230  are inserted through the mailbox into the outer longitudinal wall  190  thereby anchoring the mailbox to the upper support  20 . 
         [0032]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  9  and  10 , the lower support  25  is shown. The lower support has a pair of side arms  235 , each side arm having a plurality of molded support ribs  240  (see  FIG. 10 ), a top portion  245 , a rectangular downwardly extending portion  247  that fits over the post  15  and the downwardly extending rectangular portion  70  of the upper support  20 , and a plurality of holes  248  through which screws (not shown) are driven to attach the lower support  25  to the upper support  20 . 
         [0033]    To attach the lower support  20  to the upper support  25 , the lower support is slid over the post  15  before the upper support and then is raised into contact with the installed upper support  20  as described above. The lower support  25  is then screwed into the upper support  20  to join the upper and lower supports together. 
         [0034]    The newspaper box  30  is rectangularly shaped with an open end  250  for the insertion of newspapers (not shown). The newspaper box  30  has a top wall  255 , a pair of sidewalls  257 , each sidewall having a groove  260 , a back wall  265  and a bottom wall  270 . The grooves  260  are adapted to receive the molded support ribs  240  on the lower support  25  side arms  235 . 
         [0035]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  9  and  11 , a locking tab  275  extends from the back wall  265  of the newspaper box  30  parallel to the top wall  255  (see  FIG. 9 ). The locking tab  275  has a chamfered extension  280  that increases in slope from the back wall towards a front of the newspaper box  30  and a lower portion  285  that is parallel to the top wall  255  but not in plane therewith. The chamfered extension fits in rectangular opening  290  in the top portion  245  of the lower support (see also  FIG. 1 )  25 . 
         [0036]    To install the newspaper box  30 , grooves  260  are slid over the molded support ribs  240  until the chamfered extension  280  clicks into place in the rectangular opening  290  in the top portion  245  of the lower support  25 . Because the lower locking tab  275  is flexible, if the removal of the lower mailbox from the newspaper box is desired, the user simply pushes down the lower portion  285  of the locking tab  275  until the chamfered extension  280  releases itself from the opening  290  and the newspaper box  30  may be slid out of the lower support  25 . 
         [0037]    Referring now to  FIGS. 12 and 12A , the anchoring system  40  is shown. The anchoring system includes a screw  295 , a circular lower plate  300 , a circular upper plate  305  and a plurality of receiving fixtures  310 . The upper and lower plates, the screw and the receiving fixtures  310  are made of a tough, long-lasting material such as steel or rugged plastic. 
         [0038]    The upper plate  305  is designed to rotate about the lower plate and has three circular slots  312  extending therethrough. The slots extend far enough around the plate to enable an installer to properly orient the post  15  as will be discussed herein below. The receiving fixtures are welded to the upper plate  305 . 
         [0039]    The lower plate  300  has a plurality of bolts  315  that extend upwardly therefrom through the slots  312  in the upper plate  305 . The bolts  315  extending through the slots in the upper plate have threaded top portions  320 . The screw  295  is fixedly attached, such as by welding, to a bottom  325  of the bottom plate. 
         [0040]    To install the anchoring system  40 , an installer screws the screw into the ground (not shown). This can be achieved by joining the upper plate  305  with the lower plate  300  by fitting bolts  315  through the upper plate slots  312  and inserting a pry bar (not shown), in between the receiving fixtures  310  so that rotation of the pry bar around the axis of the screw  295  causes the upper plate to rotate about the lower plate until the lower plate bolts  315  hit the end of the slots  312 . Once the ends of the slots are hit, the lower plate  300  rotates with the upper plate  305  causing the screw to drive into the ground. Installation continues as the screw digs into the ground until the lower plate  300  touches the earth. Once the earth is touched, continuing to drill would compromise the soil beneath the lower plate that might, in turn, compromise the anchoring system  40 . 
         [0041]    In other systems, to get the proper orientation of their post, a user might let the screw dig into the ground farther thereby compromising the soil or too little, leaving the screw  295  open to the elements. In the non-limiting embodiment shown, once the lower plate  300  reaches the ground, the upper plate  305  and the receiving fixtures  315  can be properly oriented to hold the post  15  in the proper position by rotating the upper plate  305  about the lower plate  300  within the slots  312  until the proper position is obtained. Because of the orientation of the slots  312  and the number of receiving fixtures  310 , the plate does not need to be rotated more than 90 degrees, though other numbers and shapes of receivers, extent of the slots and numbers of bolts are contemplated by this invention. 
         [0042]    Once the upper plate is properly oriented, nuts  320  are torqued on the bolts  315  to prevent further rotation of the upper plate  300  relative to lower plate  295  thereby completing the construction. The receiving fixtures  315  are spaced on the upper plate  300  so that they can receive a 4×4 piece of wood (not show) or the like within the confines of the receiving fixtures or the post  15  is slipped down and over the receiving fixtures  315  and attached thereto from the outside by screws (not shown). 
         [0043]    Although a combination of features is shown in the illustrated examples, not all of them need to be combined to realize the benefits of various embodiments of this disclosure. In other words, a system designed according to an embodiment of this disclosure will not necessarily include all of the features shown in any one of the Figures or all of the portions schematically shown in the Figures. Moreover, selected features of one example embodiment may be combined with selected features of other example embodiments. 
         [0044]    The preceding description is exemplary rather than limiting in nature. Variations and modifications to the disclosed examples may become apparent to those skilled in the art that do not necessarily depart from the essence of this disclosure. The scope of legal protection given to this disclosure can only be determined by studying the following claims.