Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This invention relates to devices which indicate when mail has been deposited in a mailbox. 
   2. Related Art 
   Many efforts have been made in the past to devise a mechanism that signals when mail has been deposited in a mailbox. These signaling devices are designed to eliminate any special trips to mailboxes that are located somewhat remote from a residence or business. And in addition, also for the need to observe if mail has been deposited in mailboxes which are mounted to the structure of a residence or business. 
   A first type of prior art which signals the arrival of mail is the mechanical triggering type device. These devices typically senses the opening and closing of the mailbox door by the mailman. A typical mechanical trigger device is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,520,350, which has a button which is depressed in abutment with the closed mailbox door As the door opens away from the button, a spring presses the button outwardly. The button triggers an electrical signaling system when the button springs outwardly in response to the open door. Existing mailboxes are built in a wide variety of different structural designs and dimensions, and therefore conventional mechanical triggering mechanisms which are mounted to an interior wall portion of the mailbox, such as the device of U.S. Pat. No. 4,520,350, cannot be easily installed in a wide variety of differently designed mailboxes. For example, typical mechanical triggering mechanisms are not adapted for use with mailboxes having pivotal axis at the top of mailboxes such as slot-type mailboxes and wall mounted mailboxes. 
   A second type of device for signaling the arrival of mail is a tilt switch mounted in a bracket which mounts to the inside surface on the door of a curb side mailbox as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,023,595. The tilt switch within the bracket is set at a fixed angle. The bracket is not meant for use on other types of mailboxes, or if so, would require modification. As the mailbox door pivots from its closed position, the tilt switch senses the opening of the door at a fixed degree from the closed position. 
   Another type of device for signaling the arrival of mail is a tilt switch mounted within a triangular designed bracket which mounts to the surface of a mailbox door as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,046,675. As the mailbox door pivots from its closed position, the tilt switch senses the opening of the door at a fixed degree from the closed position. The tilt switch is held at a fixed angle in relation to the three triangular mounting surfaces of the bracket and does not provide any mechanism for changing the angle of the tilt switch within the bracket 
   The tilt switch mechanism is adapted for use with various types of mailboxes employing doors with a pivotal movement from a horizontal level. In order for the device to adapt for mailboxes such as curb side, wall mounted, and slot type mailboxes with doors that pivot in a horizontal plane, it is necessary for the tilt switch to be positioned at a compromised fixed position to the three triangular mounting surfaces of the mounting enclosure. For a curb side and slot type mailbox, the mailbox door must open outwardly near 30-35 degrees before the tilt switch is engaged to close the circuitry to transmit a signal to a receiver. The near 30 to 35 degree angle opening allows mail to be deposited into the mailbox without the mechanism sending a signal to a remote receiver. The device is not suited to work on wall mounted mailboxes having door positions in a near horizontal to a minus near 30 degrees from the horizontal hinges. 
   Therefore it is desirable to provide a device that has an adjustable tilt switch mechanism such that the tilt switch can be positioned so the device works effectively on mailboxes with doors that open about a horizontal hinge. A door opening angle setting of near 15 degrees is preferred for each door to avoid mail deposits without the tilt switch becoming engaged, however the invention provides the user the option to select any preferred angle for the door opening of the user&#39;s choice. The adjustable tilt switch mechanism for the tilt switch angle must be adjustable enough to suit each type of mailbox that has a door with hinges that pivot upward and downward in a horizontal plane, typically, mailboxes referred to as curb side, wall mounted, and slot type. In particular, the mechanism must be adjustable to suit any of the included door angles of wall mounted mailboxes which vary from a flat horizontal of zero to near a minus near 65 degrees. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides a transmitting mechanism which senses the opening of mailbox doors having hinges in a horizontal plane. As the mailbox door pivots open from its closed position, the transmitting mechanism senses the opening of the mailbox door when it passes a predetermined angle from the door closed position, and sends a signal to a remote receiver which sounds an audible alarm and displays a visual light. The transmitting mechanism can sense the opening of the mailbox door at any selected angle, however an angle of near 15 degrees would be preferred to avoid the possibility of mail deposits without the transmitting mechanism sending a signal to the remote receiver. 
   The present invention provides a tilt switch within the transmitting mechanism enclosure. adjoined to an adjustable knob on the external surface of the enclosure. By adjusting the knob to visual indicators printed on the external surface of the enclosure, the tilt switch will close at any preferred mailbox door angle opening selected by the user. The user may select a minimal angle of near 15 degrees such that it is nearly impossible for mail deposit being made without the mechanism sending a signal to a remote receiver. Or, the user may select an angle whereby the mailbox door will open at a wider angle before a signal is sent to the receiver. The present invention is adaptable to mailbox having hinges in a horizontal plane, having doors that open either downward or upward about the hinges. These mailboxes are normally known as curb side, wall mounted, and slot type mailboxes. The base of the transmitter mechanism attaches to the surface of the mailbox doors by use of double sided tape or some other conventional means. Visual indicators such as arrows on the top of the enclosure are used to identify the positioning of the transmitting mechanism on each type of mailbox door. 

   
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a total system shown with a curb side mailbox. 
       FIG. 2  is a sectional view of the transmitter mechanism assembly. 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded sectional view the transmitter mechanism assembly showing enjoinment of components 
       FIG. 4  is an isometric view of a total system shown with a wall mounted mailbox. 
       FIG. 5  is an isometric view of a total system shown with a slot type mailbox. 
       FIG. 6  is a side view of the transmitter mechanism mounted to the inside door surface of a curbside mailbox with the mailbox door in a closed position. 
       FIG. 7  is a side view of the transmitter mechanism mounted to the inside door surface of a curbside mailbox with the mailbox door in an open position. 
       FIG. 8  is a side view of the transmitter mechanism mounted to the inside door surface of a curbside mailbox with the mailbox door in a closed position. 
       FIG. 9  is a side view of the transmitter mechanism mounted to the inside door surface of a curbside mailbox with the mailbox door in an extended open position. 
       FIG. 10  is a side view of the transmitter mechanism mounted to the outside door surface of a curbside mailbox with the mailbox door in a closed position. 
       FIG. 11  is a side view of the transmitter mechanism mounted to the outside door surface of a curbside mailbox with the mailbox door in an open position. 
       FIG. 12  is a side view of the transmitter mechanism mounted to the outside door surface of a wall mounted mailbox having a door at an angle near 65 degrees from the horizontal with the mailbox door in a closed position. 
       FIG. 13  is a side view of the transmitter mechanism mounted to the outside door surface of a wall mounted mailbox having a door at an angle of near 65 degrees from the horizontal with the mailbox door in an open position. 
       FIG. 14  is a side view of the transmitter mechanism mounted to the outside door surface of a wall mounted mailbox having a door in a near horizontal plane with the mailbox door in closed position. 
       FIG. 15  is a side view of the transmitter mechanism mounted to the outside door surface of a wall mounted mailbox having a door in a near horizontal plane with the mailbox in an open position. 
       FIG. 16  is a side view of the transmitter mechanism mounted to the outside door surface of a slot type mailbox with the mailbox door in a closed position. 
       FIG. 17  is a side view of the transmitter mechanism mounted to the outside door surface of a slot type mailbox with the mailbox door in an open position. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring now to the drawings, there is shown the first preferred embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 1  shows an isometric view of the present invention showing a transmitting mechanism  14  fixed to the outside surface of a door  11  of a curbside mailbox  10  by adhesive double sided tape  37  or some other conventional means. Visual indicators  23  on the top of the transmitting mechanism  14  upper enclosure  24 , identifies the positioning of the transmitting mechanism  14  on the door  11 . A curbside mailbox  10  typically include a door  11  that extents vertically upward from a hinge  12  in a horizontal plane at the near bottom of the door  11  when in a closed position. As the door  11  pivots open outwardly from its closed position, the transmitting mechanism senses the opening of the door  11  when it passes a predetermined angle from its closed position, and sends a signal  16  to a remote receiver  17  which sounds an audible alarm  18  and displays a visual light  19 . The receiver  17  and its electronic circuitry are of conventional construction well known to those skilled in the art. Both the audible alarm  18  and the visual light  19  signals that the door  11  has been opened, which indicates to the home resident that mail may be present in the mailbox  10 . The visual alarm  19  remains on until the resident resets the receiver  17  by pressing reset button  20 . If the mailbox door  11  is opened when the visual light  19  is already on, the audible alarm  18  will again briefly sound. The visual light  19  will remain on until the reset button  20  is reset. The receiver can be positioned anywhere within the home or business. 
   Next, referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , shown is the embodiment of the transmitting mechanism  14  of the present invention described in greater detail. Referring to  FIG. 2  is the sectional view of the component assembly of the transmitting mechanism  14 .  FIG. 3  shows an exploded view of  FIG. 2  of the assembly, wherein tilt switch holder  27  includes a bore in which tilt switch  26  is inserted. The tilt switch  26  holder  27 , having a stem  28 , having a flat locating surface  29 , or some other conventional means for positioning with knob  34 , is inserted through water proofing O-ring  32  and through the circular bore  33  of the transmitter mechanism  14  upper enclosure  24  and into the bore  35  of knob  34 . The stem  28  of the tilt switch holder  27  is fastened to knob  34  by means of screw  36  or some other conventional means of securement. Tilt switch  26  is shown connected to transmitter circuitry board  31  by means of wire circuit  30 . Transmitter circuitry board  31  is of conventional construction well known to those skilled in the art. Upper enclosure  24  of transmitter mechanism  14  is assembled to lower enclosure  25  by conventional means. Double sided adhesive tape  37  is adhered to the bottom surface of lower enclosure  25  for mounting to mailbox door  11 . End view  38  of transmitting mechanism  14  shows visual indicators  39 , either of numerical or other conventional identity type markings. Knob  34  is shown with an indicator pointer  22 , knob  14  being adjustable for movement in either right or left direction to select predetermined angle settings of tilt switch  26 , for engagement when mailbox door  11  is pivoted to an angle required to close the tilt switch  26 . When tilt switch  26  is closed, a circuit  30  is completed with transmitter circuit board  31 , thus a signal  16  is send to the receiver  17 . A predetermined angle of the tilt switch  26  can be positioned by knob  34 , whereby the transmitter mechanism  14  sends a signal  16  when the door  11  on a curb side mailbox  10 , having hinges at the near bottom is pivoted open by any degree between near zero and near 90 degrees, preferably at a minimal of near 15 degrees such that mail can not be deposited without the transmitter mechanism  14  sending a signal  16  to receiver  17 . 
   Next referring to  FIG. 4 , is shown an isometric view of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention showing a transmitting mechanism  14  fixed to the outside surface of a door  11  of a wall mounted mailbox  10  by adhesive double sided tape  37  or some other conventional means. Visual indicators  23  on the top of the transmitting mechanism  14  upper enclosure  24 , identifies the positioning of the transmitting mechanism  14  on the door  11 . Wall mounted type mailbox  10  typically includes a hinge  12  in a horizontal plane at the near top of the door  11 . A closed door  11  position of a wall mounted mailbox  10  can vary from a near zero degrees in a horizontal plane to a downward plane having an angle of near 65 degrees downward from the horizontal hinge  12 . As the door  11  pivots open upward from its closed position, the transmitting mechanism  14  senses the opening of the mailbox door  11  when it passes a predetermined angle from the door closed position, and sends a signal  16  to a remote receiver  17  which sounds an audible alarm  18  and displays a visual light  19 . The receiver  17  and its electronic circuitry are of conventional construction well known to those skilled in the art. Both the audible alarm  18  and the visual light  19  signals that the door  11  has been opened, which indicates that mail may be present in the mailbox  10 . The visual alarm  19  remains on until the resident resets the receiver  17  by pressing reset button  20 . If the mailbox door  11  is opened when the visual light  19  is already on, the audible alarm  18  will again briefly sound. The visual light  19  will remain on until the reset button  20  is reset. The receiver can be positioned anywhere within the home or business. Although the tilt switch  26  can be adjusted to emit a signal  16  at any of the mailbox  10  open door angles, it is preferred that the transmitting mechanism  14  emits the signal  16  when the door  11  opens a minimal degree of near 15 to avoid mail deposits made without a signal  16  sent to the receiver  17 . 
   Next referring to  FIG. 5 , shown an isometric view of a third preferred embodiment of the present invention showing a transmitting mechanism  14  fixed to the outside surface of a door  11  of a slot type mailbox  10  by adhesive double sided tape  37  or some other conventional means. Visual indicators  23  on the top of the transmitting mechanism  14  upper enclosure  24 , identifies the positioning of the transmitting mechanism  14  on the door  11 . Slot type mailboxes typically includes a door that extends vertically downward from a horizontal hinge near the top of the door  10  when in the closed vertical position. As the door  11  pivots open from its closed position, the transmitting mechanism  14  senses the opening of the door  11  when it passes a predetermined angle from the door closed position, and sends a signal  16  to a remote receiver  17  which sounds an audible alarm  18  and displays a visual light  19 . The receiver  17  and its electronic circuitry are of conventional construction well known to those skilled in the art. Both the audible alarm  18  and the visual light  19  signals that the door  11  has been opened, which indicates that mail may be present in the mailbox  10 . The visual alarm  19  remains on until the resident resets the receiver  17  by pressing reset button  20 . If the mailbox door  11  is opened when the visual light  19  is already on, the audible alarm  18  will again briefly sound. The visual light  19  will remain on until the reset button  20  is reset. The receiver can be positioned anywhere within the home or business. Although the tilt switch  26  can be adjusted to emit a signal  16  at any of the mailbox  10  open door angles, it is preferred that the transmitting mechanism  14  emits the signal  16  when the door  11  opens a minimal degree of near 15 to avoid mail deposits made without a signal  16  sent to the receiver  17 . 
   Next, referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7  is shown transmitting mechanism  14  mounted with double sided tape  37  or some other convention means to the inside surface of door  11  of a curb side type mailbox  10 . Curb side type mailbox  10  typically includes a door that extends vertically upward from a horizontal hinge near the bottom of the door  11  when in the closed position. When the door  11  is closed, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the tilt switch  26  is in an open position as seen in sectional view  40 , the knob  34  having its pointer  22  set at near numeral  4  on the visual indicator  39 . As the door  11  opens to the position shown in  FIG. 7 , the door  11  pivots outwardly about hinge  12  located near the bottom of the door  11 . As the door  11  pivots opens outwardly, the tilt switch  26  ball  26   a  rolls under the force of gravity to the other end of the tilt switch  26  when the door  11  has pivoted to near 15 degrees from its closed vertical position. When the tilt switch  26  ball  26   a  has rolled to the other end of the tilt switch  26 , the circuit is completed through wire circuit  30  which causes the transmitter mechanism  14  to transmit signal  16  to the receiver  17 , thus activating the visual light  19  and sound alert  18 , to notify the recipient that the mailbox door  11  has been opened. 
   Next referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9  is shown transmitting mechanism  14  mounted with double sided tape  37  or some other convention means to the inside surface of door  11  of a curb side type mailbox  10 . Curb side type mailbox  10  typically includes a door that extends vertically upward from a horizontal hinge near the bottom of the door  11  when in the closed position. When the door  11  is closed, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the tilt switch  26  is in an open position as seen in sectional view  40 . The knob  34  having its pointer  22  set at near numeral  3  on the visual indicator  39 . As the door  11  pivots opens outwardly about a horizontal hinge at the near bottom of the door, the tilt switch  26  ball  26   a  rolls under the force of gravity to the other end of the tilt switch  26  when the door  11  has pivoted to near 90 degrees from its closed vertical position. When the tilt switch  26  ball  26   a  rolls to the other end of the tilt switch  26 , the circuit is completed through wire circuit  30  which causes the transmitter mechanism  14  to transmit signal  16  to the receiver  17 , thus activating the visual light  19  and sound alert  18 , to notify the recipient that the mailbox door  11  has been opened. Changing the knob pointer  22  on the visual indicator  39  to  3  delays sending signal  16  until the mailbox door  11  is opened to a wider openings as shown in  FIG. 9 . The pointer  22  on knob  34  can be set anywhere on the visual indicator  39  to allow the tilt switch  26  engagement when the door  11  is opened anywhere from near zero degrees to near 90 degrees. 
   Next, referring to  FIG. 10 and 11  is shown transmitting mechanism  14  mounted with double sided tape  37  or some other convention means to the outside surface of door  11  of a curb side type mailbox  10 . Curb side type mailbox  10  typically includes a door that extends vertically upward from a horizontal hinge near the bottom of the door  11  when in the closed position. When the door  11  is closed, as shown in  FIG. 10 , the tilt switch  26  is in an open position as seen in sectional view  40 . The knob  34  having its pointer  22  set at near numeral  1  on the visual indicator  39 . As the door  11  opens to the position shown in  FIG. 11 , the door  11  is shown pivoted outwardly about a hinge mechanism  12  located near the bottom of the door  11 . As the door  11  pivots open outwardly, the tilt switch  26  ball  26   a  rolls under the force of gravity to the other end of the tilt switch  26  when the door  11  has pivoted from near 15 degrees from its closed vertical position. When the tilt switch  26  ball  26   a  rolls to the other end of tilt switch  26 , the circuit is completed through wire circuit  30  which causes the transmitter mechanism  14  to transmit signal  16  to the receiver  17 , thus activating the visual light  19  and sound alert  18 , to notify the recipient that the mailbox door  11  has been opened. Thus, by mounting the transmitting mechanism  14  on the outside of the mailbox  10  door  11  and setting the knob  34  pointer  22  to visual indicator  39 , the transmitting mechanism  14  will send a signal when the mailbox  10  door  11  is opened near a preferred 15 degrees. 
   Next, referring to  FIGS. 12 and 13  is shown transmitting mechanism  14  mounted with double sided tape  37  or some other convention means to the outside surface of door  11  of a wall mounted type mailbox  10  shown with a door  11  in a closed position near minus 65 degrees from the horizontal. Wall mounted type mailbox  10  typically includes a hinge  12  in a horizontal plane at the near top of the mailbox  10  door  11 . Closed door  11  positions of a wall mounted mailbox  10  can vary from a near zero degrees in a horizontal plane to a downward angle of near 65 degrees from the horizontal hinge  12 . When the door  11  is closed, as shown in  FIG. 12 , the tilt switch  26  is in an open position as seen in sectional view  40 , the knob  34  having its pointer  22  set at near numeral  3  on the visual indicator  39 . As the door  11  opens as shown in  FIG. 13 , the door  11  pivots upwardly about a hinge mechanism  12  located near the top of the door  11 . As the door  11  pivots open upwardly, the tilt switch  26  ball  26   a  rolls under the force of gravity to the other end of the tilt switch  26  when the door  11  has pivoted from near 15 degrees from its closed vertical position. When the tilt switch  26  ball  26   a  rolls to the other end of the tilt switch  26 , the circuit is completed through wire circuit  30  which causes the transmitter mechanism  14  to transmit signal  16  to the receiver  17 , thus activating the visual light  19  and sound alert  18 , to notify the recipient that the mailbox door  11  has been opened. 
   Next, referring to  FIGS. 14 and 15  is shown transmitting mechanism  14  mounted with double sided tape  37  or some other convention means to the outside surface of door  11  of a wall mounted type mailbox  10  shown with a door  11  in a closed position in a horizontal plane near zero degrees. Wall mounted type mailbox  10  typically includes a hinge  12  in a horizontal plane at the near top of the door  11 . A closed door  11  position of a wall mounted mailbox  10  can vary from a near zero degrees in a horizontal plane to a downward angle of near 65 degrees from the horizontal hinge  12 . When the door  11  is closed, as shown in  FIG. 14 , the tilt switch  26  is in an open position as seen in sectional view  40 . The knob  34  having its pointer  22  set at near numeral  2  on the visual indicator  39 . As the door  11  opens upward to the position shown in  FIG. 15 , the door  11  pivots about a horizontal hinge mechanism  12  located near the top of the door  11 . As the door  11  pivots upward from a closed position, the tilt switch  26  ball  26   a  rolls under the force of gravity to the other end of the tilt switch  26  when the door  11  has pivoted from near 15 degrees from its closed position. When the tilt switch  26  ball  26   a  rolls to the other end of the tilt switch  26 , the circuit is completed through wire circuit  30  which causes the transmitter mechanism  14  to transmit signal  16  to the receiver  17 , thus activating the visual light  19  and sound alert  18 , to notify the recipient that the mailbox door  11  has been opened. The transmitter mechanism can be adjusted by the knob  34  to position the angle of the tilt switch  26  for engagement on any wall mounted mailbox door  11  when the door  11  is opened from any angle of near zero horizontally to near minus 65 degrees. 
   Next, referring to  FIGS. 16 and 17  is shown transmitting mechanism  14  mounted with double sided tape  37  or some other convention means to the outside surface of door  11  of a slot type mailbox  10 . Slot type mailboxes typically includes a door in a closed position that extends vertically downward from a horizontal hinge near the top of the door  11 . When the door  11  is closed, as shown in  FIG. 16 , the tilt switch  26  is in an open position as seen in sectional view  40 . The knob  34  having its pointer  22  set at near numeral  4  on the visual indicator  39 . As the door  11  opens to the position shown in  FIG. 17 , the door  11  pivots outwardly about a hinge mechanism  12  located near the top of the door  11 . As the door  11  pivots open outwardly, the tilt switch ball rolls under the force of gravity to the other end of tilt switch  26 , when the door  11  has pivoted from near 15 degrees from its closed vertical position. When the tilt switch  26  ball  26   a  has rolled to the other end of the tilt switch  26 , the circuit is completed through wire circuit  30  which causes the transmitter mechanism  14  to transmit signal  16  to the receiver  17 , thus activating the visual light  19  and sound alert  18 , to notify the recipient that the mailbox door  11  has been opened.

Technology Category: 1