Patent ID: 7070090

Claim:
A kit for field-modification of a mailbox to protect against mail theft, wherein said mailbox comprises walls that define an opening at an end of said mailbox, wherein a hinged door is affixed to said mailbox proximate to said opening, said opening providing full access to the interior of said mailbox when said hinged door is moved from a closed position to an open position, said kit comprising: a security panel having a peripheral shape conforming to the interior dimensions of said opening defined by said walls and a slot suitable for mail pieces to be inserted through said security panel; a hinge piece having a first portion adapted to be secured to one of said walls of said mailbox proximate to said opening and a second portion adapted to be hingedly coupled to a first edge of said security panel, whereby said security panel provides full access to the interior of said mailbox when said security panel is moved from a closed position to an open position; at least one first coupler for securing said first portion of said hinge piece to said one of said walls of said mailbox; a first lock member coupled to said security panel at a second edge opposite to said first edge of said security panel; and, a second lock member having a first portion adapted to be secured to another of said walls of said mailbox proximate to said opening and a second portion adapted to interlock with said first lock member whereby said security panel can be locked when said security panel is moved from said open position to said closed position; and at least one second coupler for securing said second lock member to said another of said walls of said mailbox; wherein, when said kit is installed in said mailbox, a secure region for receiving deposited mail articles is substantially bounded by said security panel and said walls of said mailbox rearward of said panel, thereby allowing substantially the full volume of said mailbox behind said security panel to hold said deposited mail articles.