Patent Publication Number: US-7896226-B1

Title: Secure mail box

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This U.S. non-provisional patent application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/011,324 filed Jan. 25, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,549,572, which application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application filed Jan. 26, 2007, and accorded Ser. No. 60/897,804. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates in general to mail boxes, and more particularly to mail boxes of the type having a secure mail receiving compartment. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Mail boxes serve the primary purpose of providing temporary storage for mail between a sender and a recipient. Some mail boxes are needed only to receive mail until retrieved by the recipient. This is the case with mail boxes provided by the U.S. Postal Service at a central mail center, and other private mail box service providers. In these situations, outgoing mail is deposited by the sender at other mail repositories, such as separate outgoing mail slots of the central mail station, or free standing inside or outside U.S. mail boxes. Other mail boxes serve both as repositories for incoming and outgoing mail. Traditional residential mail boxes and rural mail boxes are of this type. The person assigned to the mail box simply places outgoing main in the mail box, places the flag in the up position, whereupon the mailman picks up the mail before depositing incoming mail in the same mail box. Conventional mail boxes of this type have a hinged lid to open and close the mail box and maintain the incoming and the outgoing mail free from the elements, such as rain, wind, snow, etc. 
     While the foregoing mail boxes serve their functions, they are not without various disadvantages. A primary concern with mail boxes these days is the security of the mail so that an unauthorized person does not gain access to the mail deposited in the mail box. With the increasing incidents of identity theft, and when mail often includes important information such as social security numbers, bank account numbers, passwords, etc., it is of paramount importance that mail passing through the U.S. Postal Service is maintained as secure as possible so that such private information remains confidential and not available to unauthorized parties. 
     Various mail boxes have been devised to improve the security of the mail deposited therein. Secure mail boxes are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,526,979 by Mann; 5,979,751 by Maddox; 5,992,736 by Parker; 6,244,505 by Grimes et al.; 6,299,061 by Henson; 6,655,577 by Mihaylov et al; 6,644,542 by Cox et al; 6,976,620 by Swider and 7,040,529 by Swider et al. However, these mail boxes involve numerous disadvantages and shortcomings. 
     Many of these prior art mail boxes employ either a hinged door or sliding tray that is movable outwardly away from the mail box in order to retrieve or deposit mail therein. The movement of the hinged door or sliding tray toward the person or mailman, makes the deposit of mail inconvenient. In other words, the person must stand some distance away from the mail box in order to allow the door or tray to be fully deployed outwardly. This is especially inconvenient in areas where the mail is delivered by a mailman using a vehicle. In this situation, the mailman must be careful not to drive the vehicle too close to the mail box, otherwise the door or tray of the mail box would strike the vehicle when opened fully. 
     Another disadvantage of the prior art mail boxes is that when equipped with hinged doors, the movement of the door to place outgoing mail on the bed moves the mail bed. In other words, when the person desires to mail a letter, the mail bed moves or rotates in unison with the opening or closing of the door to the mail box. This arrangement requires other complicated equipment and mechanisms to be employed so that when the postman picks up the outgoing mail, the opening of the door to the mail box does not inadvertently deposit the outgoing mail in the secure compartment underlying the rotatable mail bed. 
     From the foregoing, it can be seen that a need exists for an improved mail box that overcomes the problems and shortcomings of the prior art mail boxes. A need exists for a mail box in which access to the internal portion thereof for depositing either incoming or outgoing mail involves the movement of one or more doors sideways, rather than outwardly toward the person. Yet another need exists for a mail box having a door arrangement in which the mail bed does not move or rotate when the door is opened to deposit incoming or outgoing mail thereon. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the principles and concepts of the invention, disclosed is a mail box with a barrel-shaped depository vault providing access thereto via a mail deposit opening by one or more doors which pivot or rotate with respect to each other. Also disclosed is an improved mail box equipped with a mail platform and a flag door, where the flag door does not rotate the platform on which mail is deposited. 
     The mail box according to one embodiment of the invention includes a planar mail platform with a semi-cylindrical bottom portion. When mail platform is rotated to deposit incoming mail into an underlying secure compartment, a portion of the semi-cylindrical bottom covers the mail deposit opening in the barrel-shaped vault. The mail platform can remain in the rotated position to keep weather elements from entering the depository vault. For outgoing mail, mail can be deposited onto the mail platform, and the flag door is rotated to the closed position to close the opening in the mail box, without rotating the platform on which the outgoing mail rests. The flag door preferably includes an indication, such as a red color, to provide a visual indication to the postman that outgoing mail is present in the mail box. 
     According to another feature of the invention, the mail platform and the flag door are made rotatable about the same axis, but such components of the mail box are rotatable independently of each other. A curved portion of the mail platform is rotatable with the planar platform to cover the mail deposit opening in the depository vault so that a person cannot gain access via the mail deposit opening to the mail transferred to the underlying secure compartment. 
     In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, disclosed is a mail box equipped with a barrel-shaped depository vault having a cylindrical body with closed ends, where the cylindrical body has a bottom mail drop opening and a mail deposit opening in the cylindrical body for depositing mail in the depository vault. Further included is a secure incoming compartment underlying the bottom mail drop opening. The secure incoming compartment includes a door for retrieving mail from the secure incoming compartment. An arcuate-shaped flag door is rotatable about an axis to open and close the mail deposit opening in the cylindrical body of the depository vault. A mail platform is rotatable about the same axis as the arcuate-shaped flag door, and the mail platform is located to receive mail thereon via the mail deposit opening in the cylindrical body of the depository vault. A cylindrical portion is attached to the mail platform, and the cylindrical portion is adapted for covering the mail deposit opening in the cylindrical body when the mail platform is rotated to drop mail from the mail platform into the underlying secure incoming compartment. A flag door handle is attached to the flag door for rotating the flag door, and a mail deposit handle is attached to the mail platform to rotate the platform. 
     In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, disclosed is a mail box having a flag door handle, a mail deposit handle, a first axle and a second axle. A barrel-shaped depository vault has opposing first and second side panels, where the first axle extends from a bore in one first side panel, and the mail deposit handle is attached to the first axle, and the second axle extends from a bore in the second side panel, and the flag door handle is attached to the second axle. A secure incoming compartment underlies a mail drop opening in the depository vault, and a mail platform is attached to the first axle. The mail platform has a planar surface extending diametrically within the barrel-shaped depository vault, and the mail deposit handle is effective to rotate the mail platform and transfer mail from the mail platform to the secure incoming compartment. A flag door is operable by the flag door handle for covering and uncovering a mail deposit opening in the barrel-shaped depository. 
     In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, disclosed is a method of using a mail box. The method includes rotating a mail platform of the mail box to uncover a mail deposit opening in the mail box, thereby allowing mail to be deposited via the mail deposit opening onto the mail platform located within a depository vault of the mail box. Outgoing mail is deposited onto the mail platform vault and a flag door is rotated to a closed position to close the mail deposit opening in the mail box. The flag door is moved to the open position to retrieve the outgoing mail deposited on the platform; and incoming mail is deposited on the mail platform. The mail platform is rotated to thereby drop the incoming mail into a secure compartment located below the depository vault, and the mail platform is left in the rotated position so that a portion of the mail platform closes the mail deposit opening. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Further features and advantages will become apparent from the following and more particular description of the preferred and other embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters generally refer to the same parts, functions, elements throughout the views, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a mail box constructed according to the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the mail box of the invention, illustrating the manner in which the mailbox is attached to a post anchored in the ground; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the mail box, taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a partial cross-sectional view of the mail box, taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIGS. 5   a - 5   c  illustrate the steps in installing the mail box along a curb; 
         FIG. 6   a  is an isometric view illustrating the mail box with the flag door and the main door in respective open positions; 
         FIG. 6   b  is an isometric view of the mail box illustrating the movement of the flag door to the closed position after mail has been deposited on the rotatable platform; 
         FIG. 6   c  is an enlarged isometric view of the nesting of the flag door knob in the main door knob; 
         FIGS. 7   a - 7   d  are frontal views of the mail box according to the invention, with the doors rotatable in order to deposit outgoing mail on the rotatable platform; 
         FIGS. 8   a - 8   d  are frontal views of the mail box according to the invention, with the doors rotated in order to receive incoming mail and drop the mail into the underlying secure compartment; 
         FIGS. 9 and 10  are respective frontal and back views of the mail box according to the invention; 
         FIG. 11   a  is a frontal view of the flag door equipped with the knob and a guide, and  FIG. 11   b  is a top view of the flag door guide; 
         FIG. 12  is an isometric view of a mail box constructed according to another embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 13  a cross-sectional view of the mail box, taken along line  13 - 13  of  FIG. 12 ; 
         FIG. 14  is an exploded view of the mail box of  FIG. 12 , illustrating the structural features and assembly of the mail platform and the flag door; 
         FIG. 15   a  and  FIG. 15   b  are isometric views of the mail box of  FIG. 12 , with the doors operated to receive outgoing mail; and 
         FIGS. 16   a  and  16   b  are isometric views of the mail box of  FIG. 12 , with the doors operated in order to receive incoming mail and drop the mail into the underlying secure compartment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a mailbox  10  constructed according to the preferred embodiment of the invention. The mailbox  10  includes a depository vault  12  attached to a secure incoming compartment  14 . The depository vault  12  and the secure incoming compartment  14  are preferably constructed of sheet metal, either in one piece formed in the shape shown, or as two separate units that are bolted or welded together. The bottom of the secure incoming compartment  14  is fastened to a stand  16  that is anchored in the ground by an auger  18 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . The stand  16  can also be used without an auger  18 , and anchored in the ground in a conventional manner. The depository vault  12  includes a rotatable main door  20  to close or open a semicircular opening formed in the front of the depository vault  12 . The main door  20  is rotatable clockwise about a central horizontal axis to an open position for either depositing outgoing mail in the depository vault  12 , or for depositing incoming mail therein by a postman. As will be described in more detail below, the incoming mail deposited by a postman is initially placed on a platform  22  ( FIG. 3 ) that rotates with the main door  20 , and when the main door  20  is rotated CCW to a closed position, the mail drops downwardly into the secure incoming compartment  14 . When the mail drops in the secure incoming compartment  14 , it cannot otherwise be retrieved or obtained, except by access via a locked compartment door  24 . The lockable compartment door  24  can be opened by use of a conventional key and lock  26  so that the user of the mailbox can retrieve the incoming mail from the secure incoming compartment  14 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 2 , there is shown an exploded view of the major components of the mailbox  10  according to the invention. The depository vault  12  is barrel-shaped with a closed back, and with a semicircular top opening in the front, shown covered by the rotatable main door  20 . The bottom semicircular portion of the front of the depository vault  12  is covered with sheet metal. The secure incoming compartment  14  is generally box-shaped and formed or otherwise fastened to the bottom of the depository vault  12 . The secure incoming compartment  14  is constructed with four sides and a bottom  28 , but no top. The bottom  28  of the secure incoming compartment  14  has a central hole  30  formed therein. Two other registration holes, one shown as numeral  32 , are also formed in the bottom  28  of the secure incoming compartment  14 . 
     The mailbox  10  is attached to a stand  16 . The stand  16  includes a pipe that is threaded on the top end and has an auger  18  fastened to the bottom end. A base plate  33  formed of a heavy duty metal can be fastened to the top of the stand  16  by first threading a large nut  38  onto the threads of the stand  16 , and then placing a large washer  40  on top of the nut  38 . The base plate  33  is then placed on the stand by aligning the threaded hole  34  of the base plate  33  with the stand  16  and threading it onto the pipe  16  on top of the washer  40 . Temporarily, the base plate  33  can be fastened to the stand  16  by placing a top washer  42  on the base plate  33  and fastening it to the stand  16  with a top nut  44 . The base plate  33  is essentially sandwiched between the bottom nut  38  and the top nut  44 . 
     As an alternative to the foregoing manner of attaching the mailbox  10  to the stand  16 , the base plate  33  can be welded or otherwise made integral with the stand  16 . With this arrangement, the base plate  33  would have threaded studs, one shown as numeral  35 , fastened thereto and protruding upwardly. The bottom  28  of the secure incoming compartment  14  would have four holes therein to receive the respective threaded studs  35 . The mail box  10  would be fastened to the base plate  33  by screwing nuts  37  onto the threaded studs  35 . Access to the threaded studs  35  would be through the secure incoming compartment  14 . 
     The installation of the stand  16  into the ground is shown in  FIGS. 5   a - 5   c . The base plate  33  initially functions as a handle to the auger  18  fastened to the bottom of the stand  16 . The user simply rests the bottom point of the auger  18  on the ground where it is desired to install the mailbox  10 . The base plate  33  is then manually rotated in a clockwise direction to auger the stand  16  into the ground and thus form a hole. During the auger process, the stand  16  is removed to empty the hole of dirt. Once the hole is sufficiently deep, for example eighteen inches deep, both the stand  16  and the auger  18  are placed in the hole. Wet cement or concrete  46  is then poured into the hole around the base of the stand  16  and around the auger  18 . The stand  16  can be rotated or jostled to make sure the cement has engulfed both the auger  18  and the bottom portion of the stand  16 . The stand  16  is then left until the concrete  46  has set and is cured, as shown in  FIG. 5   b.    
     When the concrete  46  has set, the base plate  33  is repositioned on the stand  16  so as to be perpendicular to the street or sidewalk, as shown in  FIG. 5   c . The top washer  42  and nut  44  are removed. The mailbox  10  is then lifted and placed on the base plate  33  so that the threaded part of the stand  16  protrudes through the hole  30  in the bottom  28  of the secure incoming compartment  14 , in a manner such that the pins  36  attached to the base plate  33  protrude through the registration holes  32  formed in the bottom  28  of the secure incoming compartment  14 . The top washer  42  is then placed over the compartment bottom  28  and over the threaded end of the stand  16 . The top nut  44  is secured to the top of the stand  16 . The top nut  44  is tightened so that the mailbox  10  cannot be turned with respect to the stand  16 . For further securement, the hole  30  in the compartment bottom  28  can be formed as a splined opening for fitting onto a splined and threaded top of the stand  16 . Lastly, a cotter pin is inserted through a hole in the top of the pipe  16  and above the nut  44 . A cap  48  can be placed over the top of the threaded end of the stand  16  to prevent small mail from getting caught and to cover the vertical bore of the hollow stand  16 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a frontal cross-sectional view of the mailbox  10  according to the invention, taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1 , and  FIG. 4  illustrates a side cross-sectional view of the mailbox  10 , taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 9  illustrates the construction of the facade  52 , and  FIG. 10  illustrates the construction of the rear plate  57  of the mailbox  10 . As can be seen from  FIG. 3 , the depository vault  12  is generally cylindrical shaped, with a covered back side and a bottom which opens into the top of the secure incoming compartment  14 . As shown in  FIG. 9 , the front of the mailbox  10  has a planar facade  52  which covers the front of the secure incoming compartment  14 , except for the semicircular door opening. The facade  52  also covers the bottom half of the semicircular frontal portion of the depository vault  12 . The facade  52  includes a left notch  66  and a right stop  67  in which the main door knob  58  and flag door knob  59  are cradled when rotated to the extreme positions. The facade  52  further includes a hole  51  through which a platform shaft  50  extends. Lastly, the facade  52  is constructed with a bail  55  to which the barrel portion of the depository vault  12  is fastened by tack welding, screws, rivets, or other fastening means. 
     Rotatably mounted within the depository vault  12  is the platform  22  on which mail rests. The platform  22  is illustrated in  FIG. 3 , and is shown fastened to the shaft  50  that also extends from the front to the back of the depository vault  12 . The shaft  50  is mounted for rotation to the rear plate  57  ( FIG. 10 ), as well as to the facade  52  ( FIG. 9 ) of the mailbox  10 . A bore  61  formed partially through the rear plate  57  forms a support for the end of the platform shaft  50 . The front of the shaft  50  can be inserted in a hole  51  formed in the facade  52  during assembly of the mailbox  10 . The semicircular-shaped main door  20  is fastened to the front end of the shaft  50 . In addition, a red-colored flag door  56  has a hole therein for rotation about the platform shaft  50 . Thus, when the main door  20  is rotated by use of a knob  58  ( FIGS. 6   a  and  6   b ) the platform  22  rotates in a corresponding direction. The red flag door  56  can be rotated independent of the main door  20  and independent of the platform  22 . The function of the flag door  56  is to provide an indication to the mailman that mail is available for pick up on the platform  22  of the rotatable vault  12  and delivery to a main post office. 
     Fixed to the right side of the platform  22  ( FIG. 3 ) is a counterweight  62  to assure that the platform  22  returns to the horizontal position when the main door  20  is less than half way open, i.e. when the counterweight  62  of the platform  22  is generally between the twelve o&#39;clock and three o&#39;clock positions. When the platform  22  is horizontal, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the semicircular-shaped main door  20  does not cover the frontal semicircular opening in the top portion of the depository vault  12 . When the platform  22  and main door  20  are rotated 180 degrees counterclockwise from that shown in  FIG. 3 , the semicircular-shaped main door  20  completely covers the top semicircular opening to the depository vault  12 . 
     According to an important feature of the invention, a security guard  60  extends over a portion of the open top of the security incoming compartment  14 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . The security guard  60  extends from the front to the back of the mailbox  10 , as a partial divider between the depository vault  12  and the secure incoming compartment  14 . In addition, the security guard  60  is curved and extends laterally about half way across the top portion of the security incoming compartment  14 . This is important in order to prevent an unauthorized person from opening the main door  20  of the mailbox  10  and rotating it, together with the platform  22 , and reaching down into the security incoming compartment  14  and gaining access to the mail deposited therein by the postman. This feature is better understood by reference to  FIG. 6   a  where the status of the main door  20  is shown in the open position. The operation of the flag door  56  is shown in  FIG. 6   b.    
     The main door  20  has a knob  58  attached thereto, and the flag door  56  has a knob  59  attached to it. The structural details of the knobs  58  and  59  are shown enlarged in  FIG. 6   c . The main door knob  58  is generally a solid cylinder with a cupped or cutout portion. The flag door knob  59  is shaped to fit within the cutout portion of the main knob  58 . The relationship between the main door knob  58  and the flag door knob  59  is such that when the main door  20  is rotated CCW using the main door knob  58 , the flag door  59  is carried with the main door  20  due to engagement of the flag door knob  59  within the cutout of the main door knob  58 . When the main door  20  is positioned in the fully CCW or closed position, the flag door is also forced to the closed position. However, when main door  20  is open as shown in  FIGS. 6   a  and  6   b , the cutout in the main door knob  58  is oriented so as to allow the flag door knob  59  to be moved out of engagement with the main door knob  59 . This allows the flag door  56  to be moved CCW to the closed position while the main door  20  remains in the fully open position. 
     When the main door  20  is open, there is access to the platform  22  via the upper semicircular opening in the depository vault  12 , as shown in  FIG. 6   a . As shown in  FIG. 7   a , both the main door  20  and the flag door  56  can be rotated CW to provide access to the platform  22 . When the flag door  56  is rotated fully CCW, the knob  59  rests in a cutout  63  of the main door  20 . When it is desirable to place outgoing mail in the mailbox  10  for pickup by the mailman, one need only place the mail on the horizontally-positioned platform  22  ( FIG. 7   b ), and then move the flag door knob  59  counterclockwise ( FIG. 7   c ). The direction of rotation of the flag door  56  is shown by arrow  64  in  FIGS. 6   b  and  7   c . This action is effective to close the top semicircular opening to the depository vault  12  ( FIG. 7   d ). Preferably, the flag door  56  is colored red to indicate to the postman that mail is to be picked up from the mailbox  10 . Since the flag door  56  rotates independently on the shaft  50 , the flag door  56  can be moved without also rotating the platform  22 . A magnet  72  can be fastened to the main door knob  58  to magnetically hold the flag door knob  59  to the main door knob  58 . The magnet  72  is shown in phantom in  FIG. 6   c . When the mailman sees that the red flag door  56  is exposed, he/she can simply rotate the flag door  56  clockwise to gain access to the outgoing mail resting on the platform  22 . As noted in  FIG. 6   b , the main door  20  has a notch  63  formed therein for receiving the knob  59  of the flag door  56  when the latter is rotated fully counterclockwise to the closed position. 
       FIG. 11   a  illustrates the flag door  56  constructed with a guide  74 .  FIG. 11   b  is a top view of the flag door  56  and associated guide  74 . The guide  74  is fastened to the flag door  56  and protrudes backwardly so as to engage with the horizontal edge of the planar facade  52 . The guide  74  functions to prevent the flag door  56  from rotating more than 180 degrees when the main door  20  is in the closed position. In this situation, the guide  74  on the flag door  56  will catch on the horizontal edge of the planar facade  52  and stop further rotation of such door  56 . When the main door  20  is rotated to the open position, the flag door  56  is prevented from rotating more than 180 degrees by engagement of the flag door knob  59  with the notch  63  in the main door  20 . 
     The receiving of incoming mail to the mailbox  10  is shown in  FIGS. 8   a - 8   d . Preferably, the main door  20  has been previously rotated counterclockwise to its closed position in  FIG. 8   a . This position of the main door  20  closes the semicircular opening to the depository vault  12  to keep rain, snow and the like out of the mailbox  10 . As another protection against the weather, a rain guard  53  is provided over the front, top portion of the mailbox  10 . The rain guard  53  is curled to prevent rain, snow and the like from entering into the closed or open mailbox  10 . Any rain, snow or the like which may accumulate on the rain guard  53  will drip or fall off instead of falling into the semicircular opening of the mailbox  10 . The details of the rain guard  53  are shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     Returning to  FIGS. 8   a - 8   d , when the postman has incoming mail to be delivered to the mailbox  10 , the postman simply rotates the main door  20  clockwise using the knob  58 , as shown by arrow  68  in  FIG. 8   b , to provide access to the depository vault  12 , and more particularly the platform  22 . The incoming mail  70  is deposited by the postman on the platform  22  inside the depository vault  12 . This is shown in  FIG. 8   c . Next, the postman grasps the main door knob  58  and rotates it counterclockwise to thereby rotate the platform  22  and the main door  20  in a corresponding direction. As a result, the platform  22  rotates as shown in  FIG. 8   d , whereupon the incoming mail  70  drops into the secure incoming compartment  14  which underlies the depository vault  12 . In the fully counterclockwise position, the main door  20  closes the semicircular opening in the depository vault  12 . 
     It is important to understand that when the main door  20  and platform  22  have been rotated to the CCW position shown in  FIG. 8   d  to deposit the incoming mail in the secure incoming compartment  14 , there is limited access from outside the mailbox  10  through the depository vault  12  to the secure incoming compartment  14 . This limited access is achieved because in this position, the main door  20  substantially closes the semicircular opening to the depository vault  12 , and there is very little space between the edge of the security guard  60  and the platform  22 . These two restrictions to the security incoming compartment  14  prevent a person from reaching in from the outside of the mailbox  10  with his/her arm, or an object, and attempting to retrieve the mail previously deposited in the secure incoming compartment  14 . In any event, once the mailman has rotated the main door  20 , and thus the platform  22  to the fully counterclockwise position to deposit the incoming mail in the secure incoming compartment  14 , the main door  20  is left in the closed position, again to prevent rain from entering into the internal portions of the mailbox  10 . The counterweight  62  assists in closing the main door  20  and keeping such door  20  closed, when in the 11:00 o&#39;clock and 9:00 o&#39;clock positions. 
     In order to retrieve the incoming mail, an authorized person inserts a key in the lock  26  to unlock the compartment door  24  so as to have access to the mail deposited in the secure incoming compartment  14  by the postman. Once the mail is retrieved, the compartment is again locked so as to provide a secure compartment  14 . The compartment door  24  and lock  26  can be located in the front of the secure compartment  14 , as shown, or alternatively in the back or in either side of the secure compartment  14 . 
     From the foregoing, disclosed is a mailbox having a secure incoming compartment to receive mail. A main door is made rotatable with a platform on which mail is laid, so that the rotation of the main door also rotates the platform to automatically deposit the mail to the secure compartment as well as close the opening to the depository vault. A flag door is also provided and made rotatable to cover and uncover the opening in the rotatable vault to provide an indication to the postman that outgoing mail is on the platform, as well as close the opening to the depository vault. 
     A number of the mailboxes described above can be constructed and fastened side-by-side in a row for servicing a number of customers. Multiple mailboxes could be mounted on a single stand, or two spaced-apart stands can be anchored in the ground with a beam spanning the stands. A number of mailboxes could then be mounted to the beam. 
     Illustrated in  FIG. 12  is a mail box  80  constructed according to another embodiment of the invention. The mailbox  80  includes a barrel-shaped depository vault  82 , and a secure incoming compartment  84  attached to the bottom of the depository vault  82 . With this arrangement, incoming mail can be deposited in the depository vault  82  by the postman, and dropped into the secure incoming compartment  84 . At a later time a person can retrieve the incoming mail from the secure compartment  84  by unlocking a lock  86  and opening a door  88  to gain access to the mail in the secure incoming compartment  84 . Outgoing mail can be deposited in the depository vault  82  by a person, and later retrieved therefrom by the postman. The mail box  80  is fastened to a stand  16  in the same manner described above in connection with the mail box  10  of  FIG. 1 . 
     The mail box  80  is constructed of metal or other durable material. A mail deposit handle  90  is connected to a mail deposit knob  92 , and when operated, a mail platform  98  internal to the depository vault  82  is rotated so that any incoming mail deposited thereon is dropped into the secure incoming compartment  84 . While not shown in  FIG. 12 , the base of the mail deposit handle  90  is connected by an axial rod to the mail platform  98  so that the platform  98  can be rotated about a central axis extending through the barrel-shaped depository vault  82 . In order to transfer the incoming mail from the mail platform  98  to the secure incoming compartment  84 , the postman need only deposit the incoming mail through the opening  100  in the depository vault  82  onto the platform  98 , and rotate the mail deposit handle  90  in a counter-clockwise manner, as viewed in  FIG. 12 . Moreover, and as will be described in more detail below, when the mail deposit handle  90  is rotated, a bottom portion  120  of the mail platform also rotates and covers the opening  100  to prevent a person from reaching into the internal portion of the depository vault  82 . 
     The operation of the mail box  80  for outgoing mail is carried out by depositing outgoing mail on the platform  98  by a person, and rotating the flag handle  94  counter-clockwise to rotate a flag door (not shown in  FIG. 12 ) to close the mail box opening  100 . The outside surface of the flag door is painted red so that the red color flag door that covers the opening  100  is clearly visible and provides an indication to the postman that outgoing mail is ready to be picked up. With the flag door covering the opening  100 , rain and other weather elements are prevented from entering the internal part of the mail box  80 . A lateral lip, gutter or shield (not shown) can be placed on the depository vault  82  above the opening  100  to prevent rain and the like from entering the vault  82 . The mail deposit knob  92  is of a different size as compared to the flag door knob  96 , so that the two are easily distinguished. Moreover, the flag door knob  96  can be painted a color different from that of the mail deposit knob  92 . 
       FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view of the mail box  80 , illustrating the relative positions of the mail platform  98  and the flag door  116  when the handles  90  and  94  are rotated to the respective CW rest positions. The mail platform  98  is in a horizontal position, as shown, when at a first rest position. The mail deposit handle  90  is also horizontal and directed toward the front of the mail box  80  when in the first rest position, as shown in  FIG. 12 . The mail platform  98  is fastened to an axle rod  118 . The axle rod  118  extends through the bore  110  formed in the left side panel  106  ( FIG. 14 ) of the mail box  80 . The mail platform  98  is constructed as half of a cylinder, with a semi-cylindrical bottom portion  120  and closed sides  99 . The horizontal portion of the platform  98  can be welded to the semi-cylindrical portion  120  and sides  99 . Formed on the internal wall of the depository vault  82  is a lateral stop  122 . The stop  122  prevents rotation of the mail platform  98  beyond the stop  122 . It should be noted that the platform  98  is fastened to the axle rod  118  so that the first rest position of the mail platform  98  is as shown, with the flat or planar surface being horizontal and oriented upwardly in the depository vault  82 . The mail deposit handle  90  is fastened to the axle rod  118  so that the clockwise rotation tendency thereof due to the weight of the handle  90  and knob  92  causes the back edge of the platform  98  to abut against the bottom of the stop  122 . When the platform  98  is abutted against the stop  122 , as shown in  FIG. 13 , the mail deposit handle  90  is generally horizontal and directed forwardly, as shown in  FIG. 12 . 
     In the preferred embodiment, the mail depository handle  90  can be rotated counter-clockwise about 100 degrees, to a second rest position, namely an over-center position. When rotated to such position to transfer incoming mail to the secure compartment  84 , the mail platform  98  and the handle  90  will remain in the stable  100  degree position, until manually rotated clockwise to the first rest position in which the mail platform  98  and the handle  90  are both horizontal. A portion of the semicylindrical bottom portion  120  functions as a door to close the opening  100  in the depository vault  82  when the handle  90  and knob  92  are rotated CCW to the extreme second rest position. The portion of the semicylindrical bottom  120  of the mail platform that closes the opening  100  prevents a person from attempting to retrieve mail from the secure incoming compartment  84  via the opening  100 . It can be seen that the mail platform  98  is balanced about the axle rod  118 , except for the existence of the mail deposit handle  90  and knob  92 , which can be weighted to achieve desired operations. 
     According to an important feature of the invention, the arcuate distance or height of the opening  100  in the depository vault  82  is about the same distance between the stop  122  and the junction where the compartment side  104  is joined to the bottom edge of the barrel-shaped depository vault  82 . Thus, as the mail platform  98  is rotated CCW, the back edge of the mail platform  98  does not begin to open into the secure incoming compartment  84  until the frontal edge of the platform  98  closes off the opening  100  to the depository vault  82 . With this arrangement, a person cannot reach into the secure incoming vault  84  via the opening  100  in the depository vault  82 . 
     The flag door  116  is constructed as an arcuate-shaped panel, and in the rest position, the flag door  116  is nested between the outer surface of the semi-cylindrical shaped portion  120  of the mail platform, and the inner surface of the depository vault  82 . The position in which the flag handle  94  is connected to the flag door  116  causes the flag door  116  to be biased to the rest position shown. A channel-shaped strip of rubber weather stripping  101  is wrapped around the top edge of the opening  100 . The part of the weather stripping  101  inside the depository vault  82  functions to wedge the flag door  116  when in a closed position. In other words, the weather stripping  101  maintains the flag door  116  in the closed position due to friction. Much like the mail deposit handle  90 , the flag door handle  94  is positioned horizontally and directed forwardly in a rest position. The weight of the flag door handle  94  causes clockwise rotation of the flag door  116  until stopped by stop  124 . The flag door stop  124  is a portion panel  102  of the secure incoming compartment  84  that extends upwardly into the rotational path of the flag door  116 . 
       FIG. 14  is an exploded view of the mail box  80 , which illustrates the detailed construction of the various components thereof. The depository vault  82  is constructed with a barrel-shaped body and a bottom mail drop opening, and a side mail deposit opening  100 . The secure incoming compartment  84  is located under the mail drop opening of the mail depository vault  82 . The barrel-shaped body of the depository vault  82  is cylindrical shaped, with the opposing planar ends. The right and left planar ends of the depository vault  84  are made integral with the respective right and left end panels of the secure incoming compartment  84 . The secure incoming compartment  84  includes a bottom panel  105  to which the stand  16  is fastened. 
     The planar mail platform  98  is made integral to the semi-cylindrical part  120 , as well as to the opposing semicircular sides, one shown as numeral  99 . The axle rod  118  is attached to both the mail deposit handle  90  and the platform  98 . Each semi-circular side  99  includes a hole  101  therein through which the axle rod  118  extends. The axle rod  118  is preferably welded to each platform side  99 . While the mail platform  98  is constructed with closed sides  99 , the opposite ends could be open, in which event the axle rod  118  would be welded to the undersurface of the platform  98 . 
     As noted above, the flag door  116  is constructed with an arcuate-shaped panel that extends substantially across the width of the depository vault  82 , and can be rotated to close the opening  100 . The arc subtended by the panel  116  is about ninety-eight degrees, but could be other heights. Fastened to the arcuate-shaped panel  116  are end brackets  128  and  130 . The end bracket  128  has a bore  132  through which the axle rod  118  freely extends. The other bracket  130  includes a tubular axle or stub  133  through which the axle rod  118  freely extends. The tubular stub  133  is welded to the bracket  130  and is rotatable around the axle rod  118 . The end of the axle rod  118  extends through the tubular stub  133  and through the bore  112  formed in the right side of the mail box panel  108 . The flag door handle  94  is fixed to the tubular stub  133  of the flag door  116 . It can be appreciated that the flag door  116  is made pivotal about the axle rod  118 . As note above, the height of the arcuate flag door panel  116  is larger than the corresponding height of the opening  100  in the depository vault  82 . 
     It can be seen that the mail deposit handle  90  is fixed to the axle rod  118 , which is fixed to the mail platform  98 . The flag door handle  94  is fixed to the flag door  116  by way of the tubular stub  133 . Thus, the mail platform  98  can be operated independently of the flag door  116 , and vice versa. 
       FIGS. 15   a  and  15   b  illustrate the operation of the mail box  80  to process outgoing mail, i.e. mail that is deposited in the mail box  80  and will be subsequently picked up by the postman. First, the user of the mail box  80  will make sure that both knobs  92  and  96  are moved to the horizontal rest positions, as shown in  FIG. 15   a . This state of the mail box  80  assures that the mail platform  98  is horizontal and that the flag door  116  does not obstruct the opening  100  in the depository vault  82 . The person can thus deposit outgoing mail onto the horizontal mail platform  98 . Once the outgoing mail is laid on the mail platform  98 , the flag door knob  96  can be rotated upwardly so that the flag door  116  closes the opening  100  in the depository vault  82 , as shown in  FIG. 15   b . The red-painted outer surface of the flag door  116  is thus highly visible to signal the postman that outgoing mail is present in the mail box  80 . 
     In order to facilitate the security of outgoing mail, the mail box  80  can be equipped with a mechanism to lock the mail deposit handle  90  in the horizontal position when the flag door  116  and thus the flag door handle  94  are in the up position. Otherwise, the mail deposit handle  90  could be inadvertently rotated and accidentally deposit the outgoing mail in the underlying secure incoming compartment  84 . It is envisioned that a ball catch mechanism&#39; would engage in the rod  118  from the tubular stub  133  of the flag door  116 , or in the angle the flag door goes up it would encroach upon the space needed to rotate the platform  98 , thus not allowing it to move unless the flag door  116  is in the down position. 
       FIGS. 16   a  and  16   b  illustrate the operation of the mail box  80  to process incoming mail, i.e. mail that is deposited in the mail box  80  by the postman and transferred to the secure incoming compartment  84  by the postman. The postman positions the knobs  92  and  96  to the rest positions, as shown by  FIG. 16   a . This assures that the mail platform  98  is horizontal and that the flag door  116  is removed from the opening  100 . The postman then deposits the incoming mail onto the platform  98 , rotates the mail deposit knob  92  CCW or upwardly to the second rest position, as shown in  FIG. 16   b . This rotation of the mail deposit knob  92 , and thus the handle  90 , is effective to rotate the mail platform  98  to drop the incoming mail into the secure incoming compartment  84 . Once the incoming mail has been deposited into the secure incoming compartment  84 , the postman can leave the mail deposit knob  92  in its fully rotated CCW position, as shown in  FIG. 16   b . In this second rest position, the semi-cylindrical portion  120  of the platform functions as a door to close the opening  100  in the depository vault  82 . The upraised mail deposit knob  92  is a signal to the user of the mail box  80  that incoming mail is present. The user can then unlock the door  114  to the secure incoming compartment  84  and retrieve the mail. The user can also leave the knob  92  in the second rest position to maintain the depository vault opening  100  covered and prevent rain, snow and the like from entering the depository vault  84 . 
     From the foregoing, disclosed is a mail box that includes a mail depository vault for receiving mail, from which outgoing mail can be picked up by the postman, or from which incoming mail can be deposited into a secure incoming compartment for later retrieval by the user of the mail box. The mail box includes a mail deposit handle/knob to operate a mail platform to deposit incoming mail into the secure incoming compartment, and at the same time function as a door to close the opening in the mail box. A flag door handle/knob operates a flag door to also close the opening in the mail box to signal the postman that outgoing mail is present on the mail platform. The closed flag door is colored red to facilitate the state of the presence of outgoing mail in the mail box. The mail deposit handle/knob and the flag door handle/knob can be operated independently of each other, depending on the state of the mail in the mail box. 
     While the preferred and other embodiments of the invention have been disclosed with reference to a specific mailbox, it is to be understood that many changes in detail may be made as a matter of engineering choices without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.