Abstract:
A kit includes a reflector and a mount for pivotally mounting the reflector on a mailbox. A door mount element attaches the reflector to a door of a mailbox whereby the reflector is raised from a stored position to a signaling position when the door of the mailbox is opened.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to the general art of signals, and to the particular field of signals associated with mailboxes. 
   Many people have their mailbox located some distance away from their home. This is especially so in rural areas where a mailbox may be located a great distance from the home in order to be readily accessible by a mailman. 
   This creates problems for many people. In inclement weather, a person may not want to trek all the way to a mailbox only to discover that the mail has not yet been delivered. A disabled person may not be able to easily move to a mailbox and does not want to make the trip to the mailbox unless he is sure the mail has been delivered. 
   Therefore, there is a need for a means for signaling when mail has been delivered to a mailbox. 
   The inventor is aware of many signaling mailboxes. However, the inventor is not aware of a mailbox signal kit that can be used to quickly and easily modify an existing mailbox to include a signaling feature. 
   Therefore, there is a need for a means for signaling when mail has been delivered to a mailbox, which means can be easily retrofit onto an existing mailbox. 
   Still further, some mailbox signals are not easily seen from a distance. A flag may be obscured on a cloudy day. 
   Therefore, there is a need for a means for signaling when mail has been delivered to a mailbox, which means can be easily retrofit onto an existing mailbox and which can be readily visible even in dim lighting conditions. 
   Some mail delivery signal systems are quite complex and some involve complex electronics. Such signal systems may be expensive to purchase and install and may require a significant amount of maintenance. These requirements may be drawbacks, especially in rural areas. 
   Therefore, there is a need for a simple and reliable means for signaling when mail has been delivered to a mailbox, which means can be easily retrofit onto an existing mailbox and which can be readily visible even in dim lighting conditions. PRINCIPAL OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
   It is a main object of the present invention to provide a means for signaling when mail has been delivered to a mailbox. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a means for signaling when mail has been delivered to a mailbox, which means can be easily retrofit onto an existing mailbox. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a means for signaling when mail has been delivered to a mailbox, which means can be easily retrofit onto an existing mailbox and which can be readily visible even in dim lighting conditions. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a simple and reliable means for signaling when mail has been delivered to a mailbox, which means can be easily retrofit onto an existing mailbox and which can be readily visible even in dim lighting conditions. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   These, and other, objects are achieved by a mailbox mail delivery signal kit which includes a mounting unit that is easily affixed to the door of a mailbox, a linkage rod connected at one end thereof to the mounting unit so the linkage rod moves with the door, a reflector unit which is pivotally mounted on the mailbox and which slidably accommodates the linkage rod. The linkage rod is slidably accommodated but will engage the reflector unit to move the reflector unit from a stored position to a signaling position when the door is opened. The slidable connection of the linkage rod causes the reflector unit to remain in the signaling position when the door is re-closed. The reflector unit includes a reflector element which is oriented to be easily visible even in dim lighting conditions. 
   The mailbox mail delivery signal kit embodying the present invention is easily installed on an existing mailbox and yet is easily used, maintained and will still have a readily visible signal that mail has arrived. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a mailbox mail delivery signal kit embodying the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of a mailbox with the mailbox mail delivery kit installed thereon. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. 
   Referring to the Figures, it can be understood that the present invention is embodied in a mailbox mail delivery signal kit  10  that achieves the above-stated objectives. 
   Kit  10  is used in conjunction with a mailbox M which has a door MD which moves between a mailbox closed position shown in  FIG. 2  and a mailbox open position MD′ indicated by dotted lines in  FIG. 2 . Door MD is pivotally mounted on body B of mailbox M as is usual to such mailboxes. 
   Kit  10  comprises a mounting unit  20  which includes a mounting bracket  22  having a first surface  24  which is an outer surface when mounting unit  20  is mounted on a mailbox, a second surface  25  which is an inner surface when mounting unit  20  is mounted on a mailbox, and a plurality of fastener-receiving holes, such as hole  26 , defined through mounting bracket  22 . Bracket  22  further includes a first end  30 , a second end  32 , and a longitudinal axis  34  which extends between first end  30  and second end  32 . A linkage rod-accommodating bore  36  is defined through mounting bracket  22  in the direction of longitudinal axis  34  from first end  30  to second end  32 . 
   A plurality of fasteners, such as fastener  38 , are each sized and adapted to be accommodated in one of the fastener-receiving holes  26  to mount mounting bracket  22  on a mailbox door whereby the mounting bracket  22  moves with the mailbox door. 
   A linkage rod  40  includes a mounting bracket-engaging end  42 , which is pivotally received in linkage rod-accommodating bore  36  defined through the mounting bracket  22 . 
   Rod  40  further includes a body  44  having a first end  46  unitary with mounting bracket-engaging end  42 , a second end  48 , and a longitudinal axis  50 , which extends between first end  46  and second end  48 . 
   Rod  40  further includes a distal end  54 , which is unitary with second end  48  of body  44  and which is oriented at an oblique angle with respect to longitudinal axis  50 . 
   A reflector unit  60  includes a base portion  62  having a first end  64  which is a proximal end when reflector unit  60  is mounted on a mailbox, a second end  66  which is a distal end when reflector unit  60  is mounted on a mailbox, and a longitudinal axis  68  which extends between first end  64  and second end  66 . 
   A reflector element  70 , such as a mirror or the like, is mounted on base portion  62  adjacent to second end  66 . Reflector element  70  is oriented to reflect light in the direction of longitudinal axis  50  of body  44  of linkage rod  40 . 
   A linkage rod-accommodating mount  80  is fixedly mounted on base portion  62  of reflector unit  60  adjacent to proximal end  64  and has a linkage rod-accommodating bore  82  defined therethrough. Linkage rod  40  is slidably accommodated in linkage rod-accommodating bore  82  when linkage rod  40  is mounted on a mailbox. 
   A pivot element  86  pivotally connects proximal end  64  of base portion  62  to a mailbox when reflector unit  60  is mounted on the mailbox. Linkage rod-accommodating mount  80  is located between pivot element  86  and reflector element  70  mounted on base portion  62 . 
   Reflector unit  70  is movable between a stored position, shown in  FIG. 2  in which base portion  62  of the reflector unit is oriented to have longitudinal axis  68  of the base portion  62  extend at an obtuse angle, θ, with respect to the direction of longitudinal axis  50  of body  44  of linkage rod  40  and a display position, indicated by dotted lines and reference indicator  70 ′ in  FIG. 2 , in which reflector unit  70  is oriented to have longitudinal axis  68  of base portion  62  extend perpendicularly to longitudinal axis  50  of body  44  of linkage rod  40 . The reflector unit  60  is moved from the stored position into the display position when the door of the mailbox is moved from a closed position into an open position; linkage rod  40  slides through linkage rod-accommodating bore  82  defined through linkage rod-accommodating mount  80  when the door of the mailbox is moved from an open position into the closed position after the reflector unit  60  is in the display position. The reflector unit  60  is moved back into the stored position manually. 
   It is understood that while certain forms of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangements of parts described and shown.