Patent ID: 7337945

Claim:
A mailbox delivery indicator apparatus comprising: a mailbox having an interior surface and an exterior surface, said mailbox having a front opening, a back side, a top and a bottom, said back side having a hole extending there through; a flag for signaling delivery having a top and a bottom, said bottom of said flag affixed to the exterior of said back side of said mailbox at a pivot point such that said flag swings about said pivot point, said flag having a raised position for covering said hole in said back side and a lowered position for signaling delivery; a first magnet affixed to said flag securing said top of said flag to said exterior of said back side of said mailbox such that said flag covers said hole in said raised position; a door for covering said front opening attached to said bottom of said mailbox with a front and a back, said back of said door facing the interior surface of said mailbox when said door is closed, said back of said door having a second magnet affixed to said door and aligned with said hole in said back side of said mailbox; a guide tube of a predetermined length having a first end and a second end, said first end of said guide tube adjacent to said front opening of said mailbox, said guide tube extending to said back side of said mailbox, said guide tube enclosed in said mailbox and affixed to said interior surface of said mailbox, said guide tube aligned with said second magnet and said hole; a rod disposed inside said guide tube for longitudinal movement within said guide tube, said rod of a predetermined length greater than said guide tube and enclosed within said guide tube, a first end of said rod engaged by said second magnet, a second end of said rod for impacting said top of said flag by extending through said hole in said back side of said mailbox thus forcing said flag into the lowered position; and an extension spring for storing energy when said door is opened and said rod is pulled due to the magnetic connection of said rod and said second magnet and thrusting said rod through said hole by releasing stored energy when the connection between said rod and said second magnet is broken, said spring surrounding said first end of said rod, a first end of said spring attached to said rod, a second end of said spring attached to said first end of said guide tube.