Patent Abstract:
A mailbox support structure device, an associated kit and method of using same are disclosed. The mailbox support structure device includes the interconnected components of a telescoping vertical post member, a telescoping horizontal post member and a pair of locking pins. The mailbox support structure device may be lengthened horizontally and vertically to overcome snow piling up at or near the device. The kit includes the unassembled components of the device. The method of using same includes the steps of adjoining, affixing, boring, cutting, digging, drilling, enlarging, expanding, inserting, locking, obtaining, piercing, placing, pouring, screwing, and slipping.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to the art of mailboxes, more particularly to a mailbox support structure device, an associated kit and a method of using same. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Mailbox supports mounted alongside roadways have been overlooked as requiring adjustable horizontal and vertical dimensions. Particularly, in winter, when snow drifts line the roads, roadside mailboxes and particularly their supporting structures are often broken when the overhanging mailboxes are struck by snow plows and other vehicles. Mailboxes of this type ordinarily are mounted at the end of a horizontal arm which in turn is attached to a post anchored in the ground adjacent to the road edge, and such rigid supporting structures suffer heavily when mailboxes are struck by vehicles. 
   A wide variety of mailbox support structures is currently available on the commercial market and an even larger number of these types of devices are known in the art of mailbox support structures, for example, the adjustable mail box support disclosed by Pixler in U.S. Pat. No. 1,587,920; the mailbox stand disclosed by Nash in U.S. Pat. No. 3,497,078; the mail box with height adjustable support means disclosed by Sackrison in U.S. Pat. No. 3,833,168; the swingable, demountable mailbox support disclosed by Manning, Jr. in U.S. Pat. No. 3,870,262; the mail box support disclosed by Deike in U.S. Pat. No. 4,286,747; the post support disclosed by Moreno in U.S. Pat. No. 4,858,876; the support arrangement disclosed by Friend in U.S. Pat. No. 5,524,858; and the mailbox support and post disclosed by Riley in U.S. Pat. No. D390,329. 
   While all of the above-described devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe a mailbox support structure device having the interconnected components of a telescoping vertical post member, a telescoping horizontal post member and a pair of locking pins. This combination of elements would specifically match the user&#39;s particular individual needs of making it possible to conveniently lengthened both the horizontal and vertical telescoping posts in order to overcome snow piling up at or near the device. The above-described patents make no provision for mailbox support structure device having the interconnected components of a telescoping vertical post member, a telescoping horizontal post member and a pair of locking pins. 
   Therefore, a need exists for a new and improved mailbox support structure device having the interconnected components of a telescoping vertical post member, a telescoping horizontal post member and a pair of locking pins. In this respect, the mailbox support structure device according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of providing a convenient means for lengthened both the horizontal and vertical telescoping posts in order to overcome snow piling up at or near the device. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present device, kit and method of using, according to the principles of the present invention, overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art by providing a novel and nonobvious mailbox support structure device, kit and method of using the same. The mailbox support structure device includes the interconnected components of a telescoping vertical post member, a telescoping horizontal post member and a pair of locking pins. The mailbox support structure device may be lengthened horizontally and vertically to overcome snow piling up at or near the device. The kit includes the unassembled components of the device. The method of using same includes the steps of adjoining, affixing, boring, cutting, digging, drilling, enlarging, expanding, inserting, locking, obtaining, piercing, placing, pouring, screwing, and slipping. 
   In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known type mailbox devices now present in the prior art, the present invention provides an improved mailbox support structure device, which will be described subsequently in great detail, is to provide a new and improved mailbox support structure device which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by the prior art, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
   To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises the interconnected components of a telescoping vertical post member, a telescoping horizontal post member and a pair of locking pins. The mailbox support structure device may be lengthened horizontally and vertically to overcome snow piling up at or near the device. 
   There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution of the art may be better appreciated. 
   The invention may also include a pair of locks. There are of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims attached. 
   Numerous objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading of the following detailed description of presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiments of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompany drawings. In this respect, before explaining the current embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
   As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
   It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved mailbox support structure device that has all the advantages of the prior art mailbox support structure device and none of the disadvantages. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved mailbox support structure device that may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
   An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved mailbox support structure device that has a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such multipurpose storage unit and system economically available to the buying public. 
   Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new mailbox support structure device that provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith. 
   Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a mailbox support structure device having the interconnected components of a telescoping vertical post member, a telescoping horizontal post member and a pair of locking pins. This combination of elements makes it possible to conveniently lengthened both the horizontal and vertical telescoping posts in order to overcome snow piling up at or near the device. 
   Still another object of the present invention is to provide a kit comprising the unassembled components of the device. 
   Lastly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved method of using comprising the steps of adjoining, affixing, boring, cutting, digging, drilling, enlarging, expanding, inserting, locking, obtaining, piercing, placing, pouring, screwing, and slipping. 
   Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
   These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty that characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and description matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an preferred embodiment of the mailbox support structure device constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective exploded view of a partial cross section of a preferred embodiment of the mailbox support structure device of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a cross sectional side view of a portion of the preferred embodiment of the mailbox support structure device of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 4  is a cross sectional side view of a portion of the preferred embodiment of the mailbox support structure device of the present invention; 
   

   The same reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the various figures. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring now to the drawings, and in particular  FIGS. 1 to 4  thereof, one preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown and generally designated by the reference numeral  10 . One preferred embodiment of a mailbox support structure device  10  comprising: a telescoping vertical post member  12 , a telescoping horizontal post member  20 , and a pair of locking pins  28 . The telescoping vertical post member  12  has an inner part  14  slidably engaged with an outer part  16 , wherein the telescoping vertical post member  12  has a plurality of holes  18  traversing entirely through the inner part  14  and has at least one hole  18  traversing entirely through the outer part  16  of the telescoping vertical post member  12 . The telescoping horizontal post member  20  is attached to the telescoping vertical post member  12 , in which the telescoping horizontal post member  20  has an inner piece  22  slidably engaged with an outer piece  24 , wherein the telescoping horizontal post member  20  has a plurality of orifices  26  traversing entirely through the inner and has at least one orifice  26  traversing entirely through the outer piece  24  of the telescoping horizontal post member  20 . One of the locking pins  28  is slidably engaged with the hole  18  of the outer part  16  of the telescoping vertical post member  12  and slidably engaged with anyone hole  18  of the plurality of holes  18  in the inner part  14  of the telescoping vertical post member  12 . Another of the locking pins  28  is slidably engaged with the orifice  26  of the outer piece  24  of the telescoping horizontal post member  20  and slidably engaged with anyone orifice  26  of the plurality of orifices  26  of the inner piece  22  of the telescoping horizontal post member  20 , wherein each locking pin  28  has an aperture  30  traversing through each locking pin  28 . 
   An optional pair of locks  32  may be added to the device in which the optional each lock  32  is attached to the aperture  30  of each locking pin  28 . 
   An optional pair of spacer washers  34  may be added to the device in which the optional pair of spacer washers  34  is attached to the telescoping horizontal post member  20 . 
   An optional letterbox  36  may be added to the device in which the optional letterbox  36  is attached to the telescoping horizontal post member  20 . 
   An optional pair of screws  38  may be added to the device in which the optional pair of screws  38  attached to the telescoping horizontal post member  20  and attached to the letterbox  36 . 
   The telescoping horizontal post member  20  and the telescoping vertical post member  12  may be made of any commercially available material. One preferred configuration of the composition of the telescoping horizontal post member  20  and the telescoping vertical post member  12  is that they are made of plastic selected from the group consisting of rubber, neoprene, nylon, polyvinyl chloride, polyester, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyurethanes, polyacryls, polymethacryls, cellulosic polymers, styrene-acryl copolymers, polystyrene-polyacryl mixtures, polysiloxanes, urethane-acryl copolymers, siloxane-urethane copolymers, polyurethane-polymethacryl mixtures, silicone-acryl copolymers, vinyl acetate polymers, and mixtures thereof. Another preferred configuration of the composition of the telescoping horizontal post member  20  and the telescoping vertical post member  12  is that they are made of metal selected from the group consisting of steel, aluminum, brass, bronze, nickel, iron, manganese, titanium, tungsten, and copper. Still another preferred configuration of the composition of the telescoping horizontal post member  20  and the telescoping vertical post member  12  is that they are wood selected from the group consisting of maple, oak, ironwood, elm, ash, cedar, fir, pine, poplar, ebony, ash, and hemlock  32 . The exact dimensions of the telescoping horizontal post member  20  and the telescoping vertical post member  12  may be made of any size. One preferred configuration is that the telescoping vertical post member  12  can extend in length from about four feet to about six feet. Another preferred configuration is that the telescoping horizontal post member  20  can extend in length from about two feet to about four feet. 
   One preferred embodiment of a kit for a mailbox support structure device  10 , the kit comprising: a telescoping vertical post member  12  having an inner part  14  slidably engaged with an outer part  16 ; a telescoping horizontal post member  20  attachable to the telescoping vertical post member  12 , the telescoping horizontal post member  20  having an inner piece  22  slidably engaged with an outer piece  24 ; and a pair of locking pins  28 , each locking pin  28  having an aperture  30  traversing through each locking pin  28 . 
   An optional pair of locks  32  may be added to the kit in which each lock  32  is attachable to the aperture  30  of each locking pin  28 . 
   An optional pair of spacer washers  34  may be added to the kit in which the optional pair of spacer washers  34  is attachable to the telescoping horizontal post member  20 . 
   An optional letterbox  36  may be added to the kit in which the optional letterbox  36  is attachable to the telescoping horizontal post member  20 . 
   An optional pair of screws  38  may be added to the kit in which the optional pair of screws  38  is attached to the telescoping horizontal post member  20  and attached to the letterbox  36 . 
   One preferred embodiment of a method of using a kit for a mailbox support structure device  10 , the method comprising the steps of adjoining, affixing, boring, cutting, digging, drilling, enlarging, expanding, inserting, locking, obtaining, piercing, placing, pouring, screwing, and slipping. The obtaining step comprises obtaining a kit comprising a telescoping vertical post member  12  having an inner part  14  slidably engaged with an outer part  16 ; a telescoping horizontal post member  20  attachable to the telescoping vertical post member  12 , the telescoping horizontal post member  20  having an inner piece  22  slidably engaged with an outer piece  24 ; a pair of locking pins  28 , each locking pin  28  having an aperture  30  traversing through each locking pin  28 ; a pair of locks  32 , each lock  32  is attachable to the aperture  30  of each locking pin  28 ; a pair of spacer washers  34  attachable to the telescoping horizontal post member  20 ; a letterbox  36  attachable to the telescoping horizontal post member  20 ; and a pair of screws  38  attached to the telescoping horizontal post member  20  and attached to the letterbox  36 . The drilling step comprises drilling a plurality of holes  18  entirely through the inner part  14  of the telescoping vertical post member  12 . The cutting step comprises cutting at least one hole  18  entirely through the outer part  16  of the telescoping vertical post member  12 . The boring step comprises boring a plurality of orifices  26  entirely through the inner piece  22  of the telescoping horizontal post member  20 . The piercing step comprises piercing at least one orifice  26  entirely though the outer piece  24  of the telescoping horizontal post member  20 . The digging step comprises digging a trench. The placing step comprises placing one end of the telescoping vertical post member  12  into the trench. The step comprises pouring concrete  40  into the hole  18  when the one end of the telescoping vertical post member  12  is placed into the trench. The affixing step comprises affixing the telescoping horizontal post member  20  to the telescoping vertical post member  12 . The adjoining step comprises adjoining the pair of spacer washers  34  to the telescoping horizontal post member  20 . The screwing step comprises screwing the pair of screws  38  through the letterbox  36  and through the pair of spacer washers  34  and into the horizontal post member  20 . The enlarging step comprises enlarging slidably the telescoping vertical post member  12  to a desired height. The expanding step comprises expanding slidably the telescoping horizontal post member  20  to a desired length. The slipping step comprises slipping slidably one of the locking pins  28  into the pierced orifice  26  of the outer piece  24  of the telescoping horizontal post member  20  and into anyone orifice  26  of the orifices  26  bored entirely through the inner piece  22  of the telescoping horizontal post member  20 . The inserting step comprises inserting slidably another of the locking pins  28  into the cut hole  18  of the outer part  16  of the telescoping vertical post member  12  and into anyone hole  18  of the plurality of holes  18  drilled entirely through the inner part  14  of the telescoping vertical post member  12 . The locking step comprises locking each lock  32  to the aperture  30  of each locking pin  28 . 
   An optional additional set of steps may be added to the above method further comprising the steps of: adjusting, aligning, disengaging, putting, unlocking, weatherproofing, and withdrawing. The unlocking step comprises unlocking each lock  32   ed  lock  32  from the aperture  30  each locking pin  28 . The withdrawing step comprises withdrawing slidably one of the locking pins  28  from the orifice  26  of the outer piece  24  of the telescoping horizontal post member  20  and from anyone orifice  26  of the orifices  26  bored entirely through the inner piece  22  of the telescoping horizontal post member  20 . The aligning step comprises aligning slidably the telescoping horizontal post member  20  to a new desired length. The disengaging step comprises disengaging slidably another of the locking pins  28  from the hole  18  of the outer part  16  of the telescoping vertical post member  12  and from anyone hole  18  of the plurality of holes  18  drilled entirely through the inner part  14  of the telescoping vertical post member  12 . The adjusting step comprises adjusting slidably the telescoping vertical post member  12  to a new desired height. The putting step comprises putting an envelope in the letterbox  36 . The weatherproofing step comprises weatherproofing the device  10  by coating the device  10  with paint. 
   As to the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
   While a preferred embodiment of the mailbox support structure device has been described in detail, it should be apparent that modifications and variations thereto are possible, all of which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
   Throughout this specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising” or the term “includes” or variations, thereof, or the term “having” or variations, thereof will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element or integer or group of elements or integers but not the exclusion of any other element or integer or group of elements or integers. In this regard, in construing the claim scope, an embodiment where one or more features is added to any of the claims is to be regarded as within the scope of the invention given that the essential features of the invention as claimed are included in such an embodiment. 
   Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention described herein is susceptible to variations and modifications other than those specifically described. It is to be understood that the invention includes all such variations and modifications which fall within its spirit and scope. The invention also includes all of the steps, features, compositions and compounds referred to or indicated in this specification, individually or collectively, and any and all combinations of any two or more of said steps or features. 
   Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0