Patent Publication Number: US-7210616-B1

Title: Extendable curbside mailbox

Description:
BACKGROUND 
   1. Field of Endeavor 
   The information disclosed in this patent relates to a mailbox having movement that may aid in mail collection by both the user and postal carrier and aid in delivery by the postal carrier. 
   2. Background Information 
   In just about every country, postal mail is delivered to one type of receptacle or another. In the United States, mail receptacles may be broken down into (i) multiple compartment troughs such as those used with apartment houses, (ii) door slots for city delivery, (iii) wall-mounted centralized mailboxes for city delivery, and (iv) curbside mailboxes for rural, highway contract, and city delivery. 
   The United States Postal Services (USPS) maintains particular regulations regarding curbside mailbox sizes and installation. For example, “customer mail receptacles” (as they are antiseptically known by the USPS) must be placed so they can be safely and conveniently served by postal carriers without leaving their right-hand-side driven vehicles. Curbside mailbox should be installed with the bottom of the box at a vertical height of between 3½ to 4 feet from the road surface and with the mailbox door at a distance of six to eight inches from the front face of the curb. 
   While these regulations may meet the needs of the United States Postal Services, they do not address the needs of the rural and highway contract customer who desires to retrieve all the mail from a roadside mailbox while in a vehicle or while the mailbox is enclosed by a bank of snow. The elderly and people with physical disabilities particularly have such needs. Moreover, a mail carrier also may need additional assistance in delivering mail while the mailbox is enclosed by a bank of snow. 
   While inventors have proposed some solutions to these needs, each one fall short in one or more areas. Some are difficult to install and others are complicated or difficult to use. Many are inconvenient and unaffordable. What is needed is an apparatus and method to overcome these and other problems. 
   SUMMARY 
   This patent discloses a curbside mailbox assembly having a mailbox adapted to be attached to a post. The mailbox may include a base and a cover attached to the base to form a compartment. The mailbox additionally may include a platform attached to the mailbox base, a door attached to the platform, and a basket assembly. The basket assembly may include a basket, a first slide rail assembly, and a second slide rail assembly. The basket may be an openwork container having tabs. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a mailbox assembly  100 ; 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded isometric view of parts of mailbox  104 , including a basket assembly  136 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a detailed section view of tabs  216  taken off line  3  of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 4  is an isometric view of a mailbox assembly  400  in a stowed position; 
       FIG. 5  is an isometric view of mailbox assembly  400  in an extended position; 
       FIG. 6  is a section view of mailbox assembly  400  generally taken off of line  6 — 6  on  FIG. 4 ; 
       FIG. 7  is an isometric view of a mailbox assembly  400  in a stowed position; 
       FIG. 8  is an isometric view of mailbox assembly  400  in an extended position; 
       FIG. 9  is a section view of mailbox assembly  400  generally taken off of line  9 — 9  on  FIG. 7 ; 
       FIG. 10  is an isometric view of a mailbox assembly  700  and an alternate attachment of a first stationary rail  702  and second stationary rail  704  to mailbox  104 ; 
       FIG. 11  is an isometric view of a basket  800 ; 
       FIG. 11A  is a detailed view of  FIG. 11  taken off of line  11 A of  FIG. 11 ; and 
       FIG. 11B  is a detailed view of  FIG. 11  taken off of line  11 B of  FIG. 11 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a mailbox assembly  100 . Mailbox assembly  100  may receive and hold postal material that has been delivered by a postal carrier for collection by a user or is awaiting collection by that postal carrier. In either situation, movement provided by mailbox assembly  100  may aid in mail collection by both the user and postal carrier and aid in delivery by the postal carrier. 
   Mailbox assembly  100  may include a post  102  and a mailbox  104 . Post  102  may be any material, including wood or metal, set upright into a ground  106  to serve as a support for mailbox  104 . Post  102  may be secured in ground  106  at a distance  108  from a road  110  (including a roadway, a pavement, or a street). Mailbox assembly  100  may be located on a side  112  of road  110  that may be bordered by a curb or not bordered by a curb such that mailbox  102  interchangeably may be thought of as a curbside mailbox and a roadside mailbox. 
   Mailbox  104  may include a platform  114 , a base  116  ( FIG. 2 ), and a cover  118 . Platform  114  may be any object that may provide a raised horizontal surface, including a plank of wood. Platform  114  may include platform holes  115  (see  FIG. 2 ) that may be utilized to secure platform  114  to base  116 . Platform  114  additionally may include countersunk post holes  117  (see  FIG. 2 ) that may be utilized to secure platform  114  to post  102 . 
   Base  116  may be a flat continuous surface or a flat surface composed of two or more pieces. Cover  118  may provide a shield and be of any shape, including U-shaped or ornamental figurine shape. An arrangement of base  116  and cover  118  may form a compartment  120 . Compartment  120  may be adapted to receive delivery and permit collection of materials  121 , including but not limited to letters and packages handled in a postal system. Base  116  may receive horizontal, stable support from platform  114 , irrespective of an angle at which post  102  may support platform  114 . Shims (not shown) may be placed between platform  114  and post  102  to provide a horizontal, stable support for base  116 . Base  116  may include base holes  123  (see  FIG. 2 ) that may be utilized to secure base  116  to platform  114 . Thus, mailbox  104  may be thought of as a single compartment mailbox mounted on a secure pedestal for outdoor curbside use, such as in rural area. 
   Mailbox  104  additionally may include a door  122 . Door  122  may be any movable structure adapted to be used to close compartment  120  partially or completely. Door  122  may be a panel that may swing on a first hinge  124  and a second hinge  126 . Door  112  may be connected to platform  114  at a platform end  128  by first hinge  124  and second hinge  126 . This may permit door  112  to move complete away from compartment opening  130  as shown in  FIG. 1 . Alternatively, door  112  may be connected to cover  118 . Door  112  may include a door handle  132  on an exterior portion of door  112  and be secured to close compartment opening  130  by a door latch  134 . 
     FIG. 2  is an exploded isometric view of parts of mailbox  104 , including a basket assembly  136 . Basket assembly  136  may be though of as being apart of mailbox  104 . Basket assembly  136  may be moveable relative to compartment  120 . This, in turn, may permit a user to move materials  121  ( FIG. 1 ) out of or into compartment  120 . Basket assembly  136  may include a basket  200 , a first slide rail assembly  230 , and a second slide rail assembly  260 . 
   Basket  200  may be a gridwork container such as might be formed by intersecting or interwoven elongated strips or strands of metal or plastic. As an openwork container such as a wire basket, basket  200  may permit dirt, leaves, and other debris to fall through to keep materials  121  away from such debris. In addition, its openwork lattice may lighten the weight of basket  200  and provide multiple hand grip locations on which to grab basket  200 . 
   Basket  200  may include a bottom  202  connected to a first side  204 , a second side  206 , and a rear wall  208  to define an open side  210  and an open top  212 . Open side  210  and open top  212  may permit easy delivery and collection of materials  121  from basket  200 . At least one of bottom  202 , first side  204 , second side  206 , and rear wall  208  may include a pattern of openings  214 . In one embodiment, bottom  202  may include pattern of openings  214  and first side  204 , second side  206 , and rear wall  208  may be solid. In another embodiment, first side  204  and rear wall  208  may include a pattern of openings  214  and bottom  202  and second side  206  may be solid. A shape of pattern of openings  214  may be square, rectangular, triangular, circular, rhombus, and hexagon or a combination thereof or any recognizably consistent series of contemporary art shapes, such as outlines of Mickey Mouse heads, a dog, or a cat. 
   The length and width size of the openings in basket  200  may be a function of the minimum dimension established for mail in a particular postal system. For example, the United States Postal Service the minimum dimension for mail is that it must be least 3½ inches high and at least 5 inches long. In one embodiment, the size of the openings in basket  200  may be two inches less than the minimum dimension for mail by a postal system. 
   Basket  200  additionally may include a plurality of tabs  216 .  FIG. 3  is a detailed section view of tabs  216  taken off line  3  of  FIG. 2 . Each tab may have a width  218 , a height  220 , and a length  222 . At least one of width  218  and length  222  may be tapered through a gradual decrease in width or length, respectively, as measured downward from bottom  202 . Basket  200  may be a flat, mesh panel made of a durable plastic. Basket  200  may measure eighteen inches long, six inches wide, and one inch high, for example. 
   First slide rail assembly  230  may include a first stationary rail  238  and a first chassis rail  240  adapted to move relative to stationary rail  236 . Here, first chassis rail  240  may be though of as a moving carriage. 
   First stationary rail  238  may be formed to a desired length from an extrusion having a C-shape. First stationary rail  238  may include a plurality of first rail holes  242 . Additionally, first stationary rail  238  may include a first safety hole  244 . 
   First chassis rail  240  may be formed to a desired length from an extrusion having a C-shape, with an outer perimeter that may be small enough to fit within first stationary rail  238 . First chassis rail  240  may include a plurality of left slots  246 . One or more left slots  246  may have a width or length that may be smaller than tab width  218  or tab length  222 , respectively. This may permit first chassis rail  240  to retain basket  200  against a force of less than a slight tug. Alternatively, a width and a length of each left slot  246  may be greater than tab width  218  or tab length  222  such that first chassis rail  240  may not retain basket  200  against any tug force. 
   Additionally, first chassis rail  240  may include a first safety latch  248 . First safety latch  248  may aid in retaining first chassis rail  240  within first stationary rail  238 . For example, first safety latch  248  may be a thin piece of flat metal with a first end  250  having a ball-shaped curve and a second end  252  attached to first chassis rail  240 . The ball-shaped curve of first end  250  may interact with safety hole  244  of first stationary rail  238  similar to a ball and detent arrangement. 
   A ball and detent arrangement may be used to hold a moving part in a temporarily fixed position relative to another part where the parts otherwise may slide with respect to each other. The ball may be a single ball bearing, sliding within a rail, against the pressure of a spring, which may push the ball against an interior of the rail, which carries a detent. The detent may be as simple as a hole of a grater or smaller diameter than the ball. When the detent is in line with the ball, the ball may be urged into the detent under spring pressure, holding the parts at that position. Additional force applied to the ball may push the ball back and out of the detent, compressing the spring, and allowing the parts to move once again relative to each other. 
   In the present arrangement, when first end  250  is positioned in safety hole  244 , the arrangement may hold first chassis rail  240  fixed relative to first stationary rail  238 . As a flat piece of metal bent to a particular shape, first safety latch  248  may provide a spring force to aid in the ball and detent process. Thus, first safety latch  248  may aid in preventing first stationary rail  238  from separating into two parts and falling to ground  106  ( FIG. 1 ). 
   Second slide rail assembly  260  may have similar construction and operation as first slide rail assembly  230 . Second slide rail assembly  260  may include a second stationary rail  262  and a second chassis rail  264  adapted to move relative to second stationary rail  262 . Second stationary rail  262  may include a plurality of second rail holes  266  and a second safety hole  268 . Second chassis rail  264  may include a plurality of right slots  270  and a second safety latch  272 . In other words, an interior of chassis rails  240  and  264  may include slots  246 ,  270  into which tab edges  216  of basket  200  may be inserted. Both first slide rail assembly  230  and second slide rail assembly  260  each additionally may include an inner slider and/or a rail assembler to extend a reach of each slid rail assembly and include a spring to make each slide rail assembly spring loaded to automatically move on the release of a button or latch. 
   Mailbox assembly  100  additionally may include a plurality of fasteners  274  to bring and hold each of the components together. Fasteners  274  may be wood screws, bolts with nuts, toggle bolts with nuts, where the toggle bolt wings may be connected to the external threaded shaft, molly bolts with nuts, and nylon toggle wall grips. Wood screws may permit assembly from inside compartment  120  of mailbox  104 . Bolts with nuts, toggle bolts, molly bolts, and nylon toggle wall grips each may permit assembly from below platform  128 . 
   To bring together the components of mailbox assembly  100 , post  106  first may be secured to ground  106 . Platform  114  may be secured to post  106  by passing bolts (not shown) through countersunk post holes  117  and securing the bolts to post  106 . Since post holes  117  may be countersunk, the tops of the bolts should not extend above an upper surface of platform  114 . Next, mailbox  104  may be placed on platform  114  so that base holes  123  of mailbox  104  align with platform holes  115 . 
   First stationary rail  238  may be placed into compartment  120  so that first rail holes  242  may align with base holes  123 . Second stationary rail  262  may be placed into compartment  120  so that second rail holes  266  may align with the remaining base holes  123 . Fasteners  274  may be placed through platform holes  115 , base holes  123 , first rail holes  242 , and second rail holes  266  and secured. 
   With the stationary components of mailbox assembly  100  connected to each other, first chassis rail  240  may be inserted into first stationary rail  238  until first safety latch  248  catches safety hole  244 . Second chassis rail  264  may be inserted into second stationary rail  262  until second safety latch  272  catches second safety hole  268 . With each chassis rail  240  and  264  held in a safety position, basket  200  may be place onto each chassis rails  240  and  264  so that left slots  246  and right slots  270  align with tabs  216  of basket  200 . Basket  200  may then be pushed onto each chassis rail  240  and  264  so that tabs  216  pass through left slots  246  and right slots  270 . 
   An exposed portion of first safety latch  248  (e.g., first end  250 ) and an exposed portion of second safety latch  272  may be pressed to release each chassis rail  240  and  264  from their first stationary rail  238  and second stationary rail  262 , respectively. Basket  200  may now be pushed inward past compartment opening  130  and into compartment  120 . Door  122  may now be secured to door latch  132 . Alternatively, pushing against basket  200  may cause each chassis rail  240  and  264  from their first stationary rail  238  and second stationary rail  262 , respectively, without the need to press an exposed portion of first safety latch  248  and second safety latch  272 . 
   With mail material  121  waiting to be retrieved, a user may open door  122 , grab onto basket  200 , pull basket  200  towards the user, and remove mail material  121 . The user additionally may separate basket  200  from first slide rail assembly  236  and second slide rail assembly  260  and bring basket  200  into the user&#39;s car to retrieve more easily mail material  121  from basket  200 . Basket  200  may be returned to first slide rail assembly  236  and second slide rail assembly  260  by placing tabs  216  into their respective slots  246  and  270 . Basket  200  may now be pushed into compartment  120  and door  122  closed. 
     FIG. 4  is an alternate assembly of a basket assembly  300 .  FIG. 5  is longitudinal cross section view of basket assembly  300  taken off of line  5 — 5  of  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 6  is lateral cross section view of basket assembly  300  taken off of line  6 — 6  of  FIG. 4 . Basket  200 , first slide rail assembly  230 , and second slide rail assembly  260  may be attached to a basket platform  302 , where basket assembly  300  then may be inserted into mailbox compartment  120  ( FIG. 1 ) to be freely supported by mailbox  104 . 
     FIG. 7  is an isometric view of a mailbox assembly  400  in a stowed position.  FIG. 8  is an isometric view of mailbox assembly  400  in an extended position.  FIG. 9  is a section view of mailbox assembly  400  generally taken off of line  9 — 9  on  FIG. 7 . In general, mailbox assembly  400  may include components that may permit most of mailbox assembly  400  to move. 
   Mailbox assembly  400  may include a post  402  and a mailbox  404 . Mailbox  404  may include a platform  406 , a base  408 , and a cover  410 . Platform  406  may include platform holes  412  (see  FIG. 9 ) and countersunk post holes  414  (see  FIG. 9 ). Cover  410  may include cover holes  415  (see  FIG. 9 ). An arrangement of base  408  and cover  410  may form a compartment  416 . 
   Mailbox  400  additionally may include a door  418 . Door  418  may be a panel that may swing on a first hinge  420  and a second hinge  422 . Door  418  may be connected to cover  410  at a cover end  424  by first hinge  420  and second hinge  422 . This may permit door  418  to move with compartment  416  as shown in  FIG. 8 . Door  418  may include a door handle  424  and be secured to close compartment  416  by a door latch  426 . 
   Mailbox  400  further may include a first slide rail assembly  428  and a second slide rail assembly  440 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , first slide rail assembly  428  may include a first stationary rail  430 , a first chassis rail  432  to moveably fit within first stationary rail  430 , and a safety latch  432  attached to first chassis rail  432 . 
   First stationary rail  430  additionally may include a first safety hole  434  that may cooperate with safety latch  432  similar to a ball and detent arrangement and may include first stationary holes  436  ( FIG. 9 ) to aid in attaching first stationary rail  430  to platform  406 . First stationary rail  430  further may include first access holes  437  aligned with first stationary holes  436  to permit a tool to reach first stationary holes  436 . First chassis rail  432  may include first chassis holes  438  ( FIG. 9 ) to aid in attaching first chassis rail  432  to cover  410 . 
   Second slide rail assembly  440  may include a second stationary rail  442 , a second chassis rail  444  to moveably fit within second stationary rail  442 , and a safety latch  446  (not shown) attached to second chassis rail  442 . Further, second stationary rail  442  may include a second safety hole  448  (not shown) that may cooperate with safety latch  446  similar to a ball and detent arrangement and may include second stationary holes  450  to aid in attaching second stationary rail  442  to platform  406 . Second stationary rail  430  further may include second access holes  451  to permit a tool to reach second stationary holes  450 . Second chassis rail  444  may include second chassis holes  452  to aid in attaching second chassis rail  444  to cover  410 . 
   Mailbox assembly  400  additionally may include a plurality of fasteners  450  to bring and hold each of the components together. 
   To bring together the components of mailbox assembly  400 , post  402  first may be secured to ground  106 . Platform  406  may be secured to post  106  by passing fasteners  450  (large wood screws for example) through countersunk post holes  414  and securing fasteners  450  to post  402 . Next, first stationary rail  430  may be attached to platform  406  by placing fasteners  450  through first access holes  437  and securing fasteners  450  into both first stationary holes  436  and platform holes  412 . Second stationary rail  442  may be attached to platform  406  by placing fasteners  450  through second access holes  451  and securing fasteners  450  into both second stationary holes  452  and platform holes  412 . 
   First chassis rail  432  may be attached to cover  410  by securing fasteners  450  into both cover holes  415  and first chassis holes  438 . Second chassis rail  444  may be attached to cover  410  by securing fasteners  450  into both cover holes  415  and second chassis holes  452 . Door  418  may be attached to cover  410  using first hinge  420  and second hinge  422 . Chassis rails  432 ,  444  may be inserted into stationary rails  430 ,  442  respectively, until their respective safety latches  432 ,  446  catch their respective safety holes  434 ,  448 . Pressing on safety latches  432 ,  446  or pushing harder on cover  410  may cause mailbox  404  to move to a position shown in  FIG. 7 . 
   In operation, as a user pulls on door handle  424 , mailbox  404  may move from the position shown in  FIG. 7  to the position shown in  FIG. 8 . This may move mail material  121  ( FIG. 1 ) closer to the user to make it easier for the user to grab mail material  121 . 
   As noted above in connection with  FIG. 2 , first stationary rail  238  and second stationary rail  262  may be secured to mailbox  104  with fasteners  274  may be placed through first rail holes  242  and second rail holes  266 . Alternatively, a long threaded bolt may be employed to secure first stationary rail  238  and second stationary  262  to mailbox  104 . 
     FIG. 10  is an isometric view of a mailbox assembly  700  and an alternate attachment of a first stationary rail  702  and second stationary rail  704  to mailbox  104 . First stationary rail  702  may be formed to a desired length from an extrusion having a C-shape. First stationary rail  702  may include a first rear hole  706  and a second rear hole  708 . Second stationary rail  704  may include a third rear hole  710  and a fourth rear hole  712 . Mailbox assembly  700  additionally may include a bolt  714  and a mailbox  104  may include a first bolt hole  716  and a second bolt hole  718 . 
   Bolt  714  may be a twelve inch bolt having a bolt head  720  and a threads  722  that may extend over six inches to twelve inches as measured from an end  724  of bolt  714 . To secure first stationary rail  702  and second stationary rail  704  to bolt  714 , mailbox assembly  700  may include locking washers  726 —two locking washers  726  in one example. Locking washers  726  may be #2 locking washers with ¼ inch inside diameter. To hold bolt  714  in place, mailbox assembly  700  may include a nut  728 , where nut  728  may be a ¼ inch wing nut or hex nut. 
   To assemble mailbox assembly  700 , first stationary rail  702  and second stationary rail  704  may be placed into mailbox  104  so that first rear hole  706 , second rear hole  708 , third rear hole  710 , and fourth rear hole  712  may be aligned with first bolt hole  716  and second bolt hole  718 . Bolt  714  may be passed through first bolt hole  716 , first rear hole  706 , and second rear hole  708 . A first locking washer  726  and a second locking washers  726  may be placed on bolt  714 . Bolt  714  may then be passed through third rear hole  710 , fourth rear hole  712 , and second bolt hole  718 . A lock washer may be place over bolt  714  and nut  728  may be screwed onto threads  722 . Excess length of bolt  714  may be cut off. 
   As note above, basket  200  may be a gridwork container such as might be formed by intersecting or interwoven elongated strips or strands of metal or plastic.  FIG. 11  is an isometric view of a basket  800 .  FIG. 11A  is a detailed view of  FIG. 11  taken off of line  11 A of  FIG. 11 .  FIG. 11B  is a detailed view of  FIG. 11  taken off of line  8 B of  FIG. 11 . Basket  800  may include a first piece  802  and a second piece  804 . First piece  802  may include a front T-tab  806  and a rear C-channel  808 . Second piece  804  may include a rear T-tab  810  and a front C-channel  812 . The T-tabs and C-channels may fit together and slide relative to one another. This may allow for expanding and contracting of a width of basket  800  to fit various sized mailboxes. 
   The mail box assembly may enable mail to be more easily inserted into or retrieved from a roadside mailbox, especially where a person delivers or retrieves mail from a vehicle. The mail box assembly may permit a person to reach a roadside mailbox that was enclosed by a bank of snow. After a simple installation, basket  200  may slide back and forth simultaneously with chassis rails  240  and  264 . Basket  200  may be completely pushed into mailbox  104  or pulled from compartment  120  to an easily accessed position. Mail material  121  may be accessed and removed easily from basket  200  after basket  200  had been pulled towards the user. A mail carrier also may conveniently place mail within mailbox  104  during delivery. 
   Mailbox assembly  100  may be emptied through the same opening as through which mailbox assembly  100  is filled. Alternatively, mailbox assembly  100  may be emptied through compartment opening  130  and filled through an opening other than compartment opening  130 . Mailbox assembly  100  may receive material  121  at intervals and be emptied or discharged in bulk. Mailbox assembly  100  may be filled and emptied by the same person or by different persons. 
   The mailbox assembly works towards fulfilling the need for an extendable basket mounted within an interior of a curbside or rural mailbox to make it easier to deliver mail or retrieve mail. Appealing features of the mailbox assembly includes its ease of installation and use, convenience, durability, accessibility to mail, and affordability. The mailbox assembly may allow a person to deliver or retrieve mail while sitting in a vehicle. That person no longer may need to step from the vehicle. In some cases, homeowners may no longer have to worry about reaching over a snow pile to retrieve their mail during winter. With all the delivered mail brought closer to the user, a user may be more successful at retrieving all the delivered mail and not leave a mail piece behind. 
   The mailbox assembly may be installed by rural and suburban homeowners and others desiring such a product. The mailbox assembly especially may be beneficial for the elderly or for those people with physical disabilities. Commercial businesses with roadside mailboxes may utilize the mailbox assembly as well. 
   The information disclosed herein is provided merely to illustrate principles and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the subject matter of the terms of the claims. The written specification and figures are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense. Moreover, the principles disclosed may be applied to achieve the advantages described herein and to achieve other advantages or to satisfy other objectives, as well.