Abstract:
This invention relates generally to an apparatus and method for communication using a mailbox crown, wherein the mailbox crown is imprinted with sun-resistant ink on a weather resistant material having rounded safety corners. The mailbox crown is formed using a combination of scores and cuts, is folded utilizing these scores and cuts, is placed on a conventional mailbox and is secured to the mailbox.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention relates generally to communications. More particularly, this invention relates to an apparatus and method for communications using a mailbox crown.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     More and more, people are using mailboxes to convey information, show affiliations, announce events, and the like. This may be in the form of tying balloons to the mailbox to announce a party, affixing affiliation stickers to the mailbox, wrapping ribbons around the mailbox, placing signs on the mailbox post, etc.  
         [0003]     However, present devices suffer from several drawbacks. Balloons can get tangled in the wind and eventually deflate. Stickers tend to weather quickly and tend to peal at the edges. Ribbons can become frayed. Signs can be dislodged by a strong wind or heavy rain and the lettering on the signs can fade under direct sunlight. Signs also generally have sharp corners, which presents a safety hazard.  
         [0004]     While these and other approaches are a good start, improvements are needed to convey information, show affiliations, announce events and the like. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a mailbox crown that overcomes these and other obstacles.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     The aforementioned and other objects were achieved, and the above-mentioned disadvantages overcome, by the present invention, by providing a mailbox crown designed to be pliable, to fit over, and to be removably secured to, a mailbox, wherein the mailbox crown uses sun-resistant inks, e.g., ultraviolet inks, weather resistant materials and is disposed for displaying information (home for sale/rent, yard of the month), showing affiliations (e.g., political candidates, educational institutions, sports team, professional organizations), announcing events (e.g., births, birthdays, parties, club meeting), and the like.  
         [0006]     In general the mailbox crown is placed on a conventional street side style of mailbox, does not interfere with the usage or function of the mailbox, yet covers a substantial portion of the street side mailbox. The general design is for the mailbox crown to fold down from the top of mailbox, coming down on each side of the mailbox to the bottom edge of the mailbox or slightly below the bottom edge of the mailbox. This is accomplished by a combination of scores and cuts on a flexible, weather resistant material that permits the side panels of the mailbox crown to extend below, to or above the top of the mail box leaving a strip or band of uncut material on the outer edges of the mailbox crown that allows the mailbox crown to be pliable and stay intact and snugly fit across the top of the mailbox. The unfolded shape of the mailbox crown is basically rectangular with rounded safety corners. The mailbox crown has means for removably attaching the mailbox crown that are located near the ground-ward edges of the mailbox crown.  
         [0007]     Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention will be obtained by means of instrumentalities in combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]     The accompanying drawings illustrate a complete embodiment of the invention according to the best modes so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof, and in which:  
         [0009]      FIG. 1  shows left plan view of a mailbox crown according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  shows a top plan view according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  shows a top plan view according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing an example of imprinting thereon.  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  shows a bottom plan view according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  shows a top plan view according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing the preferred dimensions.  
         [0014]      FIG. 6  shows a top plan view of a mailbox crown according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention, showing an alternate pattern of the invention.  
         [0015]      FIG. 7  shows a top plan view of a mailbox crown according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention, showing an alternate pattern of the invention and an example of imprinting thereon.  
         [0016]      FIG. 8  shows a bottom plan view according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0017]      FIG. 9  shows a top plan view according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention, showing the preferred dimensions for the alternate embodiment.  
         [0018]      FIG. 10  shows a top plan view according to a second alternate embodiment of the present invention, showing the preferred dimensions for the second alternate embodiment.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0019]     The drawings show aspects of the invention. As the drawings are described, reference will be made to the present preferred embodiments of the invention. The terminology used herein to describe the present preferred embodiments is for the purpose of clarification. The invention, however, is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology used. Terminology used to describe each element should be understood to include all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner to accomplish similar functions.  
         [0020]     The present invention is described in relation to a mailbox crown. Nonetheless, the characteristics and parameters pertaining to various embodiments the apparatus and methods described herein may be applicable to a crown for other objects to which it may be attached.  
         [0021]     Referring to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , the preferred embodiment of the present invention is a apparatus  1 , wherein apparatus  1  is a mailbox crown assembly generally comprising sheet  10 , having top side  10   a,  bottom side  10   b,  left side  10   c,  right side  10   d,  front side  10   e,  and back side  10   f.  Sheet  10  is further comprised of left-side-aligner  20  and right-side-aligner  30 . Sheet  10  is further characterized by having rounded corners for increased safety (front left corner  10   g,  front right corner  10   h,  back left corner  10   i,  back right corner  10   j,  right-side-aligner front corner  10   k,  right-side-aligner back corner  101 , left-side-aligner front corner  10   m,  and left-side-aligner back corner  10   n.    
         [0022]     Sheet  10  is further comprised of first score  40 , second score  50 , third score  60  and fourth score  70 . Sheet  10  is further comprised of cut  80 , which enables portions of sheet  10  to project above the mailbox top in a near vertical orientation. Cut  80  is further characterized by first cut portion  80   a,  second cut portion  80   b  and third cut portion  80   c.  First cut portion  80   a  is roughly parallel to the front side  10   e  and goes from the distal end of first score  40  to the distal end of second score  50 . Second cut portion  80   b  is roughly parallel to back side  10   f  and goes from the distal end of third score  60  to the distal end of fourth score  70 . Third cut portion  80   c  goes from roughly the midpoint of first cut portion  80   a  to roughly the midpoint of second cut portion  80   b.  Third cut portion  80   c  is roughly in the shape of a single sine wave.  
         [0023]     Sheet  10  is further comprised of left-side display area  120 , and right-side display area  130 . Both left-side display area  120  and right-side display area  130  are disposed to receive inks, preferably sun-resistant inks. The left-side display area is further comprised of a first popup portion  120   a.  The right-side display area is further comprised of a second popup portion  130   a.  Sheet  10  is further comprised of a first band  230  and a second band  240  that is formed by the combination of first score  40 , second score  50 , third score  60 , fourth score  70  and cut  80 .  
         [0024]     Sheet  10  is further comprised of flag-hole  90 . Flag-hole  90  is positioned such that it can fit over a mailbox flag when the mailbox crown is placed on a mailbox. Sheet  10  is further comprised of left securing holes  100  and right securing holes  110 . Apparatus  1  is further comprised of at least one securing means  140 , preferably a nylon zip-tie, which passes through at least one of left securing holes  100  and right securing holes  110  in order to attach apparatus  1  to a mailbox. Other securing means  140  include, but are not limited to, string, yarn, twine, bungee cords, and the like.  
         [0025]     The preferred material for sheet  10  is a semi-rigid plastic, e.g., polypropylene or polyethylene. The desired life expectancy of the mailbox crown drives the choice of which material to use for sheet  10 . Polyethylene is preferred when a longer life expectancy is desired since polyethylene can better tolerate being exposed to the weather. Polypropylene is the preferred material for short term usage of the mailbox crown, e.g., birthdays, “it&#39;s a boy”, “it&#39;s a girl”, or holidays.  
         [0026]     The preferred printing process for sheet  10  is screen printing. Screen printing is used on heavy weight materials that will not run through off-set printing presses. Screen printing also permits the use of longer life inks and sun fast inks for outdoor use. (Sun-fast inks will not color fade in sunlight.) Screen printing also permits the use of ultraviolet inks, which have a very long and extended life outdoors. Both polypropylene and polyethylene can be printed using the screen printing process using these types of inks.  
         [0027]     The preferred range of thickness for sheet  10  ranges from 0.020 to 0.080 inches. The thickness used varies based on the desired life expectancy of the mailbox crown. The preferred thickness for sheet  10  is 0.055 inches. The dimensions for the preferred embodiment of sheet  10  are shown in  FIG. 5 . The dimensions for an alternative embodiment are shown in  FIG. 9 . The dimensions for a second alternative embodiment are shown in  FIG. 10 .  
         [0028]     To make the mailbox crown, the preferred construction of sheet  10  would be die cutting with a die cut pattern across the center of the design which would be the area covering the top center of the mail box permitting the sides of the cut material to remain up-right. The die cutting for the upright design portion can vary depending on the design to be printed on the two sides displaying the message, logo and the like.  
         [0029]     Sheet  10  can be printed with a total ink coverage design or a partial design on the side panels only. In addition to the die cutting differing at the center or top of design, there also could be a space added to the bottom of each side allowing for press-on street- or house-numbers, e.g., an area approximately 3″×10″, with slightly rounded corners on each end of side panels extending below the mailbox. The rounded corners are created by die cutting for the purpose of safety.  
         [0030]     Referring to  FIG. 3 , an example of an affiliation display is shown on the left-side display area  120  and the right-side display area  130 .  
         [0031]     Referring to  FIG. 4 , bottom side  10   b  of the preferred embodiment is shown, as well as first cut portion  80   a,  second cut portion  80   b  and third cut portion  80   c.    
         [0032]     Referring to  FIG. 5 , the dimensions for the preferred embodiment are shown.  
         [0033]     Referring to  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 8 , an alternate embodiment of the invention is shown. The alternate embodiment of the present invention is a mailbox crown assembly generally comprising sheet  10 , having top side  10   a,  bottom side  10   b,  left side  10   c,  right side  10   d,  front side  10   e,  and back side  10   f.  Sheet  10  is further characterized by having rounded corners for increased safety (front left corner  10   g,  front right corner  10   h,  back left corner  10   i,  and back right corner  10   j.  Sheet  10  is further comprised of first score  40 , second score  50 , third score  60  and fourth score  70 . Sheet  10  is further comprised of cut  140 . Cut  140  is further characterized by first cut portion  140   a,  second cut portion  140   b,  third cut portion  140   c,  fourth cut portion,  140   d,  and fifth cut portion  140   e.  Sheet  10  is further comprised of left-side display area  150 , and right-side display area  160 . Both left-side display area  150  and right-side display area  160  are disposed to receive inks, preferably sun-resistant inks. Left-side display area  150  is further comprised of first left-side display portion  150   a,  second left-side display portion  150   b  and third left-side display portion  150   c.  Right-side display area  160  is further comprised of first right-side display portion  160   a,  second right-side display portion  160   b  and third right-side display portion  160   c.  Left-side display are  150  is further comprised of first left-side separator  150   d  and second left-side separator  150   e.  Right-side display are  160  is further comprised of first right-side separator  160   d  and second right-side separator  160   e.  This alternate embodiment of a mailbox crown assembly is further comprised of securing means  170 , preferably a hook and loop assembly such as Velcro® along with a connector  200 . If only one securing means  170  is used it is preferably positioned at left securing area  180  and right securing area  190 . If more than one securing means  170  is used, the left securing area  180  and right securing area  190  are used as reference points to position the multiple securing means  170  for optimum holding. When multiple connectors  200  are used they can be either parallel to each other or cross, depending on the desired effect.  
         [0034]     Referring to  FIG. 7 , an alternate embodiment of the invention is show, with an example of political candidate affiliation.  
         [0035]     Referring to  FIG. 8 , the bottom side of an alternate embodiment is shown, highlighting the cut that enables portions of sheet  10  to project above the mailbox in a near vertical orientation.  
         [0036]     Referring to  FIG. 9 , the preferred dimensions for an alternative embodiment are shown.  
         [0037]     Referring to  FIG. 10 , the preferred dimensions for a second alternative embodiment are shown.  
         [0038]     The method of communication is comprised of the following steps: 
        a) obtaining a sheet of blank material;     b) imprinting information on the top side of the sheet of blank material to form a sheet of imprinted material;     c) scoring four spaced partial lines in the sheet of imprinted material; and     d) cutting a pattern that connects the four spaced partial lines and that forms rounded corners on the sheet of imprinted material to form a cut imprinted sheet of material;     e) Folding the cut imprinted sheet of material to form a mailbox crown;     f) Placing the mailbox crown over a conventional mailbox; and     g) Securing the mailbox crown to the conventional mailbox via a securing means, preferably a plastic zip-tie        
 
         [0046]     The above description and drawings are only illustrative of preferred embodiments which achieve the objects, features and advantages of the present invention, and it is not intended that the present invention be limited thereto. Any modification of the present invention which comes within the spirit and scope of the following claims is considered part of the present invention.  
         [0047]     Other embodiments, uses and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. The specification and examples should be considered exemplary only.