U.S. patent application number 10/237528 was filed with the patent office on 2003-11-20 for see-through mailbox.
Invention is credited to Morgan, Ray H..
Application Number | 20030213837 10/237528 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29549892 |
Filed Date | 2003-11-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030213837 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Morgan, Ray H. |
November 20, 2003 |
See-through mailbox
Abstract
A mailbox is constructed of a transparent material. The
transparent material used in the mailbox construction allows for
visual inspection of the interior of the mailbox. Thus dangerous
objects that may be placed in the mailbox such as pipe bombs can be
detected and injury avoided. The amount of transparent material, as
opposed to non-transparent material used in construction may vary;
thus the mailbox may only be partially constructed of transparent
material provided the amount of transparent material still allows
for visual inspection of the mailbox interior. In addition the
mailbox may be provided with an inspection port or window that
allows visual inspection of the interior.
Inventors: |
Morgan, Ray H.;
(Springfield, VA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Ivan Mlachak
Lewis & Roca, LLP
40 N. Central Ave.
Phoenix
AZ
85004
US
|
Family ID: |
29549892 |
Appl. No.: |
10/237528 |
Filed: |
September 6, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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60378036 |
May 15, 2002 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
232/38 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47G 29/1209
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
232/38 |
International
Class: |
B65D 091/00 |
Goverment Interests
[0002] The invention was made by an agency of the United States
government or under a contract with an agency of the United States
government, the United States Postal Service ("USPS" or "Postal
Service"), an independent establishment of the executive branch of
the U.S. government.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A see-through mailbox comprising: a structure defining an
enclosure with an interior for receiving mailpieces and an exterior
wherein a door attached to such structure allows access to the
interior of said structure from the exterior of said structure; and
wherein the structure comprises at least in part transparent
material sufficient to permit visual inspection of the interior of
said structure.
2. The mailbox of claim 1 wherein said transparent material is
comprised in part of glass.
3. The mailbox of claim 1 wherein said transparent material is
comprised in part of plastic.
4. The mailbox of claim 1 wherein said transparent material is
comprised in part of polyacrylate.
5. The mailbox of claim 1 wherein said transparent material is
comprised in part of polycarbonate.
6. The mailbox of claim 1 wherein said enclosure further comprises
a bodypiece and wherein said door and said bodypiece are comprised
at least in part of transparent material.
7. A see-through mailbox comprising: A structure defining an
enclosure with an interior for receiving mailpieces and an exterior
and wherein said structure comprises a bodypiece, a door, a
backpiece and a bottom and wherein at least one of said bodypiece,
door, backpiece and bottom comprises transparent material.
8. The see-through mailbox of claim 7 wherein said bodypiece
comprises a top piece and two side walls and wherein said top piece
is transparent.
9. Thee see-through mailbox of claim 7 wherein said structure
comprises a frontpiece, two sides, lid, backpiece, and bottom and
wherein at least one of said frontpiece, two sides, lid, backpiece,
and bottom comprises transparent material.
10. The see-through mailbox of claim 7 wherein said structure
comprises a frontpiece, two sides, lid, backpiece, and bottom and
wherein said lid is transparent.
11. The see-through mailbox of claim 10 wherein said lid and said
frontpiece are transparent.
12. The see-through mailbox of claim 7 wherein said structure
comprises a frontpiece, two sides, lid, backpiece, and bottom, and
wherein said frontpiece is transparent.
13. A see-through mailbox comprising: A structure defining an
enclosure with an interior for receiving mailpieces and an exterior
wherein a door attached to such structure allows access to the
interior of said structure from the exterior of said structure and
wherein said structure further defines an inspection window so as
to allow visual inspection of the interior of said structure
through the inspection window.
14. The see-through mailbox of claim 13 wherein said inspection
window further comprises transparent material.
15. The see-through mailbox of claim 14 wherein said transparent
material comprises polyacrylate.
16. The see-through mailbox of claim 14 wherein said transparent
material comprises polycarbonate.
17. The see-through mailbox of claim 14 wherein said inspection
window is located on said door.
18. The see-through mailbox of claim 14 wherein said structure
comprises a bodypiece, end piece and bottom piece and wherein said
inspection window is located on said bodypiece.
19. The see-through mailbox of claim 13 wherein said structure
comprises a frontpiece, two sides, lid, backpiece, and bottompiece
and wherein said inspection window is located on said lid.
20. The see-through mailbox of claim 19 wherein said inspection
window is located on said frontpiece.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional
Application No. 60/378,036 filed on May 15, 2002, entitled
"See-Through Mailbox." The contents of the above provisional
application is relied upon and expressly incorporated by reference
as if fully set forth herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] 1. Field of the Invention
[0004] The present invention relates generally to mailboxes. More
particularly the invention relates to the construction of mailboxes
and the materials for the construction of mailboxes.
[0005] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0006] There are several mailbox designs currently approved for
customer/household use. Many such postal mailboxes are
traditionally made out of nontransparent materials such as metal,
wood, and opaque plastic. As is well known the mailbox is defined
by an enclosure with a door. Opening the door allows mailpieces to
be placed in the mailbox, and the mailpieces may also be retrieved
from the mailbox by opening the door. Such mailboxes may be placed
on the roadside curb or may be hung from a dwelling.
[0007] In addition to private mailboxes there are also public
mailboxes. A public mailbox is typically much larger than a private
mailbox. They are typically placed in locations of high public
traffic for ready access by postal consumers. A public mailbox
typically has a hinged door through which a member of the public
may deposit a mailpiece. However, members of the public cannot
retrieve a mailpiece once it has been deposited in a public
mailbox; the mail is gathered for delivery by a postal employee
through an access door separate from the deposit door. Typically
the access door is locked to restrict access and provide for mail
security.
[0008] Mailboxes both public and residential have occasionally been
the target of pranks and vandalism. In 2002 there was a spate of
more serious incidents involving explosive devices planted in
mailboxes. Devices known as pipe bombs were placed in mailboxes.
The devices were rigged to explode when moved. The bombs injured
several customers and mail carriers. It is also unfortunately
anticipated that mailboxes may be a target of future terroristic
acts and threats.
[0009] Mailboxes by nature are publicly accessible. Further the
postal carriers and individuals who access mailboxes typically do
so in a hurried manner with little if any thought to the potential
danger that may await inside them. Thus mailboxes make an inviting
target for those bent on anonymous and antisocial violence.
[0010] Accordingly, there is a need to improve the design of
mailboxes. It is desirable to provide an improved design whereby
mailboxes are made more safe and secure both for the contents of
the mailboxes and for the individuals who access these mailboxes.
The improvement would ideally be achieved with simple and
inexpensive design modifications. Further the improved design
should allow individuals to detect dangerous devices inside the
mailbox without the need to open or access the mailbox.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] The present invention provides a see-through mailbox, or
alternatively a mailbox that has an inspection window or is in part
see-through. In order to overcome the disadvantages of current
mailboxes, there is disclosed a mailbox that allows visual
inspection of the interior of the mailbox. Thus a letter carrier or
individual could, by visual inspection, determine whether any
dangerous items such as pipe bombs have been placed in the mailbox.
The advantages of the present invention are applicable to both
public and private mailboxes.
[0012] It is an object of the present invention to provide a see
through mailbox. The see-through mailbox may be constructed with
the dimensions and layout of those opaque mailboxes now in use.
However, the material of major construction used for the
see-through mailbox is of a transparent, or see-through
material.
[0013] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
partially see-through mailbox. Instead of a totally transparent
mailbox, the needed improvement in security may be achieved by
providing a mailbox of which only a portion is transparent. Thus,
for example a door or wall of the mailbox may be made transparent.
The remainder of the mailbox may be constructed of traditional,
opaque materials.
[0014] An additional object of the present invention is to provide
a mailbox with a transparent inspection window or port. A mailbox
may also be constructed of traditional design and materials to
which is added an inspection window, or port. The window, of
transparent material, would allow visual inspection of the interior
of the mailbox.
[0015] The see-through mailbox of the present invention will
provide a deterrent against anyone who would place any dangerous
object in the mailbox. The transparent quality of the mailbox would
allow detection of the dangerous object. The see-through mailbox
will thus safeguard both the public and the mailcarriers by
allowing them to see the interior of the mailbox before even
opening the mailbox. In particular the human injury that resulted
from the pipe bomb explosions in 2002 could be avoided with the
present invention.
[0016] Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be
set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part
will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice
of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention will
be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations
particularly pointed out in the appended claim. It is to be
understood that both the foregoing general description and the
following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only
and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed. Thus, the
present invention comprises a combination of features, steps, and
advantages which enable it to overcome various deficiencies of the
prior art. The various characteristics described above, as well as
other features, will be readily apparent to those skilled in the
art upon reading the following detailed description of the
preferred embodiments of the invention, and by referring to the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] For a more detailed description of a preferred embodiment of
the present invention, reference will now be made to the
accompanying drawings, which form a part of the specification, and
wherein:
[0018] FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing showing the see-through
mailbox.
[0019] FIG. 2 is schematic drawing showing a partially see-through
mailbox.
[0020] FIG. 3 is a schematic drawing showing a mailbox with an
inspection window.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0021] Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary
embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in
the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference
numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same
or like parts.
[0022] Referring initially to FIG. 1 there is shown a schematic of
a preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 depicts
what is a standard residential mailbox 10. The structure of the
mailbox is formed by a bodypiece 12, backpiece (not shown), bottom
16, and door 18. Bodypiece 12 may be a unitary piece or may be
constructed of individual members such as side walls and a top.
Bodypiece, backpiece, bottom, and door are joined to form the
mailbox through fastening methods such as crimping, gluing,
screwing, and bolting.
[0023] In the see-through mailbox members such as the bodypiece, or
its components, door, backpiece, and door are formed of transparent
material. These members are then joined in traditional, known
methods to form the see-through mailbox. There now exist a
multitude of designs for mailboxes, of which FIG. 1 is
representative. For example, mailbox shape may be box-like,
rectangular, and curved in exterior appearance. Nevertheless the
present invention may be adapted to any of the known designs.
Mailbox designs by necessity comprise a series of structural pieces
that form an enclosure where mail is deposited. The see-through
mailbox substitutes the material of construction for known
structural pieces with a transparent material.
[0024] Referring now to FIG. 2 there is shown a separate embodiment
of the present invention. Mailbox 20 is composed of structural
members, frontpiece 24, sides 22, lid 28, and backpiece (not shown)
and bottompiece (not shown). Lid 28 also has an opening button 26
attached. As before, the components of the see-through mailbox are
fastened with known methods. In this embodiment, only portions of
the mailbox are composed of see-through material. Thus, for
example, lid 28 and frontpiece 24 are transparent so as to allow
quick and full inspection of the interior of the mailbox. The
sides, bottom, and backpiece may be made of opaque materials such
as metal.
[0025] In the embodiment of FIG. 2 at least one of the structural
members is transparent and at least one structural member is
non-transparent. Thus, only the lid 28 or only the frontpiece 24
may be transparent. Alternatively any other member such as one of
the sides, the backpiece and the bottom piece may be
transparent.
[0026] In another preferred embodiment, with an exterior structure
different from that in FIG. 2, only a portion of the structure,
structural members or part of the enclosure forming the mailbox is
transparent. Preferably the transparent portion of the mailbox is
that portion which directly faces the mailcarrier or customer when
that person accesses the mailbox. It may, for example be a lid, a
front-facing portion, or a top-portion, or any of these three in
combination. By selecting these portions of the mailbox to be
transparent, a person may readily inspect the interior of the
mailbox.
[0027] A see-through mailbox of the present invention may thus be
constructed from the body of an existing, opaque mailbox. A
transparent door, lid, top-piece, wall, or other structural member
that is added to an opaque mailbox while the corresponding opaque
door, lid, top-piece, wall, or structural member is removed, will
create a see-through mailbox.
[0028] Referring now to FIG. 3 there is shown a further embodiment
of the present invention. Visual inspection of the interior of a
mailbox may be achieved by providing an inspection window or port
on the exterior structure of the mailbox. In FIG. 3 door 18 of a
mailbox is shown. Inspection window 30 is located on door 18. The
inspection window is created in one embodiment by cutting a portion
of an opaque door away and covering the resulting hole with
transparent material. The material may be joined to the existing
door, or other member, with known methods such as gluing and/or
fastening.
[0029] While FIG. 3 shows an inspection window located on a mailbox
door, the inspection window may be located on another member or
portion of the mailbox. For example, it may be located on the top
or sides of the mailbox. Preferably an inspection window is placed
on a mailbox so as to allow quick and easy visual inspection of the
mailbox interior. Likewise, the inspection window is not restricted
to a particular dimension, size or shape so long as it provides for
visual inspection of the interior. The shape may be circular,
curved, and/or polygonal.
[0030] The amount of transparent material, as opposed to
non-transparent material used in construction may vary; thus the
mailbox may only be partially constructed of transparent material
provided the amount of transparent material still allows for visual
inspection of the mailbox interior.
[0031] Throughout this disclosure the terms see-through and
transparent have been used to denote a material that allows an
ordinary individual to conduct a visual inspection of the interior
of the mailbox. The degree to which the material is transparent or
see-through thus need only be the degree needed to allow such a
visual inspection of the contents of the mailbox. Tinted materials,
smoked materials, partially obscured materials may all provide the
transparent material necessary for construction of the mailbox in
this invention provided it still allows for visual inspection of
the mailbox interior.
[0032] It is further to be understood that certain components of
the see-through mailbox may in fact not be composed of transparent
materials. For example the hinge that allows opening doors to swing
may be constructed, as is now the case, of a metal material. A
clasp, latch, or other closing device that holds a door in a closed
or open position may also be of a non-transparent material.
Further, glues and certain fasteners such as screws or bolts may be
formed of non-transparent material. While these materials
facilitate the assembly or use of the mailbox they do not comprise
such a significant portion of the mailbox enclosure so as to
prevent visual inspection of its interior.
[0033] The material that comprises the transparent or see-through
structure in the mailbox of the present invention can be any
material sufficiently transparent so as to provide the needed
visual inspection. Acceptable examples are glass or plastic.
Preferred materials are polycarbonates such as Lexan and
polyacrylates such as plexiglas. Of the glass materials, any glass
composition, including specially formulated glass, may be used.
Laminates of glass, plastic, and both glass and plastic may also be
used. It is also preferred to construct the see-through mailbox of
a durable and break-resistant material.
[0034] The principles of the see-through mailbox may also be
applied to public, postal mailboxes, as for example mail drops of
the US Postal Service. In a preferred embodiment portions of a
public postal mailbox are provided of transparent material.
Alternatively, an inspection window is provided in the exterior
structure of the mailbox so as to allow inspection of the interior.
As with household mailboxes, the transparent portion of a public
mailbox must be such that it allows visual inspection of the
mailbox interior. The transparent portion of the mailbox may
constitute the entire mailbox or a portion of the mailbox.
[0035] While preferred embodiments of this invention have been
shown and described, modifications thereof can be made by one
skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or teaching of
this invention. The embodiments described herein are exemplary only
and are not limiting. Many variations and modifications of the
system and apparatus are possible and are within the scope of the
invention. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the
process just described may easily have steps added, taken away, or
modified without departing from the principles of the present
invention. Accordingly, the scope of protection is not limited to
the embodiments described herein, but is only limited by the claims
which follow, the scope of which shall include all equivalents of
the subject matter of the claims.
* * * * *