Patent Publication Number: US-6988655-B1

Title: Telescopic mailbox support device

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   Not Applicable. 
   STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
   Not Applicable. 
   REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX 
   Not Applicable. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Technical Field 
   This invention relates to a mailbox extension device and, more particularly, to a telescopic mailbox support device for assisting a user to retrieve mail. 
   2. Prior Art 
   In rural areas, mailboxes are usually mounted on posts adjacent a roadway to allow a mail carrier to deliver mail from an automobile without having to exit the vehicle. A rural mailbox typically has a standardized design generally comprising an elongated metal box with a semi-cylindrical top and a hinged door at one end. The base of the box is recessed to create a skirt around the bottom perimeter of the box with screw holes for fastening the box to a support stand. 
   In the winter, roadway snow plowing frequently creates a snow buildup along the side of the road, making it difficult to gain access to the mailbox to either insert mail into or retrieve mail from the box. In this situation, it is desirable to be able to temporarily extend the mailbox closer to the roadway in order to facilitate ready access to the interior of the box by the mail carrier who may not deliver the mail if the box is not readily accessible. There are many examples in the prior art of devices intended to permit a post-mounted rural mailbox to be extended forwardly; i.e., toward the roadway from the post mount. However, the prior art devices tend to be mechanically complicated, subject to rust and corrosion, are incompatible with standard mailboxes and/or are difficult to assemble. 
   Accordingly, a need remains for a telescopic mailbox support device that is easy to use and install on all mailboxes, not prone to rusting, adjustable to various lengths, and provides ease of mind that the mail will continue to be delivered. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In view of the foregoing background, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a telescopic mailbox support device. These and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention are provided by a telescopic mailbox support device that includes an elongated shaft provided with a vertically disposed longitudinal axis and opposed end portions disposed adjacent to a ground surface and spaced upwardly therefrom at a predetermined height, respectively. 
   The present invention further includes a bracket that has a base portion and a plurality of sidewalls integral therewith and extending orthogonally therefrom. The bracket preferably has a substantially U-shape for being adapted about the shaft having a conventional square cross-section. Such a bracket has a plurality of apertures spaced along the base portion and the plurality of sidewalls for respectively receiving a plurality of corresponding fastening members therethrough so that the bracket can advantageously be secured to one end portion of the elongated shaft. 
   The device also includes a telescopic support member extending substantially orthogonal therefrom. The telescopic support member includes a plurality of elongated tubes having substantially cylindrical shapes with varying diameters and sharing a common centrally disposed longitudinal axis. Select ones of the plurality of tubes are slidably engageable along a path substantially parallel to the axis for conveniently moving the support member between extended and retracted positions. 
   Advantageously, each tube has opposed end portions, selectively engageable with an adjacent tubes end portions. In particular, one end portion of a tube is secured to the base of the bracket wherein such a tube is stationary and disposed at a fixed position adjacent the shaft. The plurality of tubes further have a plurality of stop members integral therewith for defining an axial distance along which the select ones of the tubes can be extended and retracted respectively. 
   The device further includes a platform, preferably a substantially rectangular shape, which has front and rear portions secured to another one of the plurality of tubes and is disposed forwardly thereof respectively. The platform further has a substantially planar top surface for securely maintaining a mailbox thereon during operating conditions. 
   The present invention may further include a handle that has a generally staple shape and is disposed adjacent to the front portion of the platform. The handle can be grasped by a user for conveniently moving the support member between extended and retracted positions. Advantageously, the handle extends downwardly from the platform and terminates at a predetermined distance therebeneath so that a user can maintain contact with the platform while contemporaneously retrieving mail from the mailbox. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
     The novel features believed to be characteristic of this invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a telescopic mailbox support device, in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of the device shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the device shown in  FIG. 2 , taken along line  3 — 3 ; 
       FIG. 4  is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the device shown in  FIG. 2 , taken along line  44 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the device shown in  FIG. 3 , taken along line  5 — 5 ; 
       FIG. 6  is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the device shown in  FIG. 5 , taken along region  5 ; and 
       FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of the device shown in  FIG. 6  showing the plurality of stop members of each tube, taken along line  7 — 7 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiment set forth herein. Rather, this embodiment is provided so that this application will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the true scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout the figures. 
   The device of this invention is referred to generally in  FIGS. 1–7  by the reference numeral  10  and is intended to provide a telescopic mailbox support device. It should be understood that the device  10  may be used to extend many different types of mailbox containers and should not be limited to extending only conventional mailboxes. 
   Referring initially to  FIG. 1 , the device  10  includes an elongated shaft  20  provided with a vertically disposed longitudinal axis and opposed end portions  21   a, b  disposed adjacent to a ground surface (not shown) and spaced upwardly therefrom at a predetermined height, respectively. 
   The present invention further includes a bracket  30  that has a base portion  31  and a plurality of sidewalls  32  integral therewith and extending orthogonally therefrom. The bracket  30  has a substantially U-shape for being adapted about the shaft  20  having a conventional square cross-section. As is shown in  FIG. 5 , such a bracket  30  has a plurality of apertures  33  spaced along the base portion  31  and the plurality of sidewalls  32  for respectively receiving a plurality of corresponding fastening members  34  therethrough so that the bracket  30  can advantageously be secured to one end portion  21   b  of the elongated shaft  20 . The bracket  30  advantageously prevents the device  10  from being pulled off of the shaft  20  during operating conditions, preventing possible injury to the user and damage to the device  10 . 
   The device  10  also includes a telescopic support member  40  extending substantially orthogonal therefrom. The telescopic support member  40  includes a plurality of elongated tubes  41  having substantially cylindrical shapes with varying diameters and sharing a common centrally disposed longitudinal axis. Such elongated tubes  41  may be formed from polyvinylchloride (PVC) or other non-corrosive materials, as is well known in the industry, in order to ensure longevity of the device  10  in cold temperatures. Construction from PVC also advantageously prevents the elongated members  41  from sticking together and hindering the function of the device  10 . Select ones of the plurality of tubes  41   a  are slidably engageable along a path substantially parallel to the axis for conveniently moving the support member  40  between extended and retracted positions. This feature allows the mailbox  80  to be effectively extended over, or through, any obstacles that might other wise prevent access to the mailbox  80 , such as snow banks or hedges. 
   Advantageously, each tube  41  has opposed end portions  42 , selectively engageable with an adjacent tube&#39;s  41  end portions  42 . In particular, one end portion  42   a  of a tube  41   b  is secured to the base  31  of the bracket  30  wherein such a tube  41   b  is stationary and disposed at a fixed position adjacent the shaft  20 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the plurality of tubes  41   a  further have a plurality of stop members  43  integral therewith for defining an axial distance along which the select ones of the tubes  41   a  can be extended and retracted respectively. The stop members  43  conveniently prevent an individual from disengaging the elongated tubes  41 . 
   As can be seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the device  10  further includes a platform  50 , having a substantially rectangular shape, which has front  51  and rear  52  portions secured to another one of the plurality of tubes  41   a  and is disposed forwardly thereof respectively. The platform  50  further has a substantially planar top surface  53  for securely maintaining a mailbox  80  thereon during operating conditions. 
   The present invention further includes a handle  60  that has a generally staple shape and is disposed adjacent to the front portion  51  of the platform  50 . The handle  60  can be grasped by a user for conveniently moving the support member  40  between extended and retracted positions. Advantageously, the handle  60  extends downwardly from the platform  50  and terminates at a predetermined distance therebeneath so that a user can maintain contact with the platform  50  while contemporaneously retrieving mail from the mailbox  80 . 
   While the invention has been described with respect to a certain specific embodiment, it will be appreciated that many modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is intended, therefore, by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. 
   In particular, with respect to the above description, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the present invention may include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation. The assembly and use of the present invention are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art.