Patent ID: 7506797

Claim:
A depository port structure for a publicly accessible mail box, comprising: a housing forming a reception chamber adapted for receiving items deposited into said mail box, wherein said housing includes an entrance and is adapted to allow opening of said entrance for receiving deposited items in said reception chamber; an opening formed as part of said mail box, wherein said housing is rotatably mounted within said mail box for causing exposure of said entrance through said mail box opening by rotational alignment with said mail box opening and for causing closure of said entrance by rotational misalignment with said mail box opening; and an arcuate shield in which said mail box opening is formed and a flange affixed to said housing and extending away from said reception chamber entrance in both directions of rotation of said housing, wherein said arcuate shield and said flange are adapted to isolate a user of said mail box from items that have previously passed through said depository port structure.