U.S. patent application number 10/408482 was filed with the patent office on 2004-10-07 for flag system for use with a mailbox.
Invention is credited to Hunt, Charles T., Hunt, Dimple M..
Application Number | 20040195303 10/408482 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33097764 |
Filed Date | 2004-10-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040195303 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hunt, Dimple M. ; et
al. |
October 7, 2004 |
Flag system for use with a mailbox
Abstract
A flag system for use with a mailbox utilizes an elongated body
having two opposite ends and which defines a recess which opens out
of one end thereof. In addition, a flag member is slidably received
by the recess of the body for movement between a retracted position
at which the flag member is substantially withdrawn into the recess
and an extended position. A channel which is defined in the recess
cooperates with the flag member to guide the flag member between
the retracted and extended positions.
Inventors: |
Hunt, Dimple M.;
(Sevierville, TN) ; Hunt, Charles T.; (Knoxville,
TN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MICHAEL E. MCKEE
804 Swaps Lane
Knoxville
TN
37923
US
|
Family ID: |
33097764 |
Appl. No.: |
10/408482 |
Filed: |
April 7, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
232/34 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47G 29/121 20130101;
G09F 7/22 20130101; G09F 17/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
232/034 |
International
Class: |
B65D 091/00 |
Claims
1. A flag system for use with a mailbox comprising: an elongated
body having two opposite ends and defining a recess which opens out
of one end thereof; and a flag member which is slidably received in
the recess of the body for movement between a retracted position at
which the flag member is substantially withdrawn into the recess
and an extended position.
2. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein the elongated body
defines a channel which extends along the length of the recess, and
the flag member cooperates with the recess so that as the flag
member is moved between the retracted and the extended position,
the flag member is guided along the channel.
3. The system as defined in claim 2 wherein the body includes an
abutment surface at one end of the channel, and the flag member
includes a stop member which cooperates with the abutment surface
so that when the flag member is moved from its retracted position
to its extended position, the stop member moves into abutting
relationship with the abutment surface so that the movement of the
flag member from the retracted position is halted at the extended
position.
4. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein the body is adapted to
be attached to a vertical surface of a mailbox or other stationary
object.
5. The system as defined in claim 4 wherein the body includes a
plurality of openings for receiving the shanks of screws or other
fasteners for attaching the body of the system to the vertical
surface.
6. The system as defined in claim 5 wherein the body has a side
surface which is substantially parallel to the path of movement of
the flag member between the retracted and extended position.
7. The system as defined in claim 6 wherein the side surface is
relatively broad in area and provides a surface upon which
address-related indicia can be attached.
8. The system as defined in claim 7 wherein the height of the side
surface is between about three inches and six inches and length of
the side surface is between about four inches and six inches.
9. The system as defined in claim 1 incorporated within the side of
a mailbox.
10. A flag system for use with a mailbox comprising: an elongated
body having two opposite ends and defining a recess which opens out
of one end thereof; and a flag member which is slidably received in
the recess of the body for movement between one position at which
the flag member is withdrawn into the recess and is thereby
substantially hidden from view and another position at which the
flag member is extended from the recess and is substantially
viewable from one side of the body.
11. The system as defined in claim 10 wherein the elongated body
defines a channel which extends along the length of the recess, and
the flag member cooperates with the recess so that as the flag
member is moved between the retracted and the extended position,
the flag member is guided along the channel.
12. The system as defined in claim 11 wherein the body includes an
abutment surface at one end of the channel, and the flag member
includes a stop member which cooperates with the abutment surface
so that when the flag member is moved from its retracted position
to its extended position, the stop member moves into abutting
relationship with the abutment surface so that the movement of the
flag member from the retracted position is halted at the extended
position.
13. The system as defined in claim 10 wherein the body is adapted
to be attached to a vertical surface of a mailbox or other
stationary object.
14. The system as defined in claim 13 wherein the body includes a
plurality of openings for receiving the shanks of screws or other
fasteners for attaching the body of the system to the vertical
surface.
15. The system as defined in claim 10 wherein the body has a side
surface which is substantially parallel to the path of movement of
the flag member between the retracted and extended position.
16. The system as defined in claim 15 wherein the side surface is
relatively broad in area and provides a surface upon which
address-related indicia can be attached.
17. The system as defined in claim 16 wherein the height of the
side surface is between about three inches and six inches and
length of the side surface is between about four inches and six
inches.
18. The system as defined in claim 10 incorporated within the side
of a mailbox.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention is concerned with means for signaling a
postman that outgoing mail needs to be picked up by the
postman.
[0002] There exists a need for an improved, durable system for
signalling a postman that mail needs to be picked up. Such a system
can be embodied in a mailbox or a self-contained plate assembly
which can either be attached to the side of a house or against the
side of a mailbox post.
[0003] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to
provide a new and improved system for signalling a postman that
mail needs to be picked up.
[0004] Another object of the present invention is to provide such a
system which can be embodied in a mailbox or a self-contained plate
assembly which can either be attached to a vertical surface, such
as the side of a mailbox, house or the column of a porch.
[0005] Still another object of the present invention is to provide
such a system having a surface upon which relevant address
information, such as a house number, can be displayed.
[0006] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide
such a system which is durable and resists damage by vandals or the
weather.
[0007] A further object of the present invention is to provide such
a system which is uncomplicated in structure, yet effective in
operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] This invention resides in a flag system for use with a
mailbox.
[0009] The flag system includes an elongated body having two
opposite ends and defines a recess which opens out of one end
thereof. The system further includes a flag member which is
slidably received in the recess of the body for movement between a
retracted position at which the flag member is substantially
withdrawn into the recess and an extended position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mailbox and an embodiment
of flag system shown attached to the mailbox.
[0011] FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the FIG. 1 flag system as
seen from one side thereof.
[0012] FIG. 3 is an elevational view of a side of the FIG. 1 flag
system as seen from the back in FIG. 2.
[0013] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken about along line 4-4
of FIG. 3.
[0014] FIG. 5 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2 of an alternative
embodiment of a flag system.
[0015] FIG. 6 is a view similar to that of FIG. 3 of the FIG. 5
embodiment.
[0016] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a mailbox which is mounted
within a brick post and the flag system embodiment shown attached
to the brick post.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS
[0017] Turning now to the drawings in greater detail and
considering first FIG. 1, there is illustrated an embodiment,
generally indicated 20, of a system within which features of the
present invention are incorporated and which is incorporated within
the side of a mailbox 31. The system 20 includes an elongated body
22 having two opposite ends 24, 26 and further includes a flag
member 28 which is mounted within the body 22.
[0018] With reference to FIGS. 2-4, the body 22 of the system 20
includes a recess 30 which-opens out of one end 24 thereof, and the
flag member 28 is received by the recess 30 for slidable movement
(endwise) therealong. In this connection and as best shown in FIG.
3, the recess 30 of the body 22 includes an interior surface 31
along which is defined a guide channel 32. The channel 32 is
provided by a shallow groove 34 which extends along the length of
the recess 30. This groove 34 has opposite and parallel sidewalls
36 and terminates adjacent one end 24 of the channel 32 at an
abutment surface 38 which extends between and is oriented at a
right angle with respect to the channel sidewalls 36. As will be
apparent herein, the sidewalls 36 guide the flag member 28 as it is
moved between a retracted position (as illustrated in solid lines
in FIG. 2) and an extended position (as illustrated in phantom in
FIG. 2), and the abutment surface 38 cooperates with the flag
member 28 to limit the movement of the flag member 28 from the
retracted position to the extended position.
[0019] The body 22 further includes a side surface 40 (FIG. 4)
which is oriented substantially parallel to the interior surface 31
(along which the flag member is guided as it is moved between the
retracted and extended positions), and the recess 30 opens away
from the side surface 40. In the body 22 of the depicted embodiment
20, the body surface 40 is flat and provides a surface against
which address-related indicia, such as a house number, can be
printed or attached. In addition, the body 22 includes a plurality
of openings 42 adjacent the edges thereof for accepting the shanks
of screws or nails for attachment of the body 22 to a vertical
surface of a mailbox or other stationary surface, such as a column
of a porch.
[0020] To enhance the durability of the system 20, each of the body
22 and flag member 28 are constructed out of a durable material,
such as hard plastic, metal or wood (although other materials can
be used) and each is provided with an appreciable thickness. Such a
durability can be appreciated when vandals, who sometimes will
strike a mailbox with a baseball bat or similar object, strike the
system 22. Thus, the system 20 resists damage by vandals and will
also resist weather-related damage.
[0021] As best shown in FIG. 4, the flag member 28 is somewhat
L-shaped in cross section having a long leg 44 and a short leg 46
joined to the long leg 44 at a right angle with respect thereto. In
addition, the flag member 28 includes a stop member 48 in the form
of a boss which is joined to the long leg 44 at the end thereof
opposite the short leg 46 so as to extend in the direction opposite
the direction which the short leg 46 extends.
[0022] The flag member 28 is positioned within the recess 30 so
that the stop member 48 is received by the channel 32. Furthermore,
the flag member 28 is held in place in the recess 30 by shoulder
members 50 which are formed within and which are disposed adjacent
the top and bottom of the body 22 (as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 3) and
the cooperation between the stop member 48 and the abutment surface
38. Held in place in this manner, the flag member 28 can be
slidably moved along the length of the recess 30 as the stop member
48 is guided along the channel 32. The inward movement of the flag
member 28 within the recess 30 is limited (to the retracted
position) by the abutment of the short leg 46 of the flag member 88
against the end 24 of the body 22, and the outward movement of the
flag member 28 along the length of the recess 30 is limited (to the
extended position) by the abutment of the stop member 48 against
the abutment surface 38 of the channel 32.
[0023] In use, the system 20 is attached, as with screws or nails
which extend through the openings 42 of the body 22, to the side of
the mailbox 21 (or other vertical stationary surface provided by
the side of a porch column or the side of a house). The flag member
28 can be manually moved to its extended position to expose a side
(of the long leg 44) of the flag member 28 and to thereby indicate
a signal, for example, to a postman that there is mail in the
mailbox to be picked up. When it is desired that the system 20 not
indicate a signal (e.g. that there is no mail to be picked up), the
flag member 28 is manually moved to the retracted position and so
that the flag member 28 is substantially hidden from view. The flag
member 28 can be manually moved between its retracted and extended
positions by appropriately manipulating (e.g. pushing or pulling)
upon the short leg 46 of the flag member 28.
[0024] Because the flag member 28 is intended to provide a visual
indication to a viewer, it is preferred that the color of the flag
member 28 sharply contrast that of the body 22. For example, the
body 22 of the system 20 can be black or white, while the color of
the flag member 28 can be red.
[0025] It will be understood that numerous modifications and
substitutions can be had to the aforedescribed embodiment without
departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, although
the aforedescribed embodiment 20 has been shown and described as
being attachable to the side of a mailbox, the system can be
embodied within a side of a mailbox. If, for example, the mailbox
and body of the system are constructed out of plastic, the mailbox
and body of the system can be formed as a unitary structure in a
molding process.
[0026] Furthermore, a system can be provided with dimensions which
are different from those of the system 22 (which has a height of
about three inches and a length of about four inches). For example,
there is illustrated in FIGS. 5-7 an alternative embodiment,
generally indicated 60, having a body 62 and a flag member 61, and
wherein the body 62 possesses a side surface 64 which provides a
relatively large surface (e.g. having a height of about six inches
and a length of about twelve inches). The relatively large size of
the side surface 64 can accommodate the printing or placement
thereon of address-related indicia, such as a house number 66,
which is easily viewable from a long distance. As is the case with
the embodiment 20 of FIGS. 1-4, the embodiment 60 of FIGS. 5-7 is
used by manually moving the flag member 61 between an extended
position (as illustrated in solid line in FIG. 6) at which a
substantial portion of the flag member 61 is exposed to view and a
retracted position (as illustrated in phantom line in FIG. 6) at
which the flag member 61 is substantially hidden from view. When
attached to the side of a mailbox 80 of FIG. 7 (whose sides are
lined with brick), the embodiment 60 provides a flag system for the
mailbox 80 while prominently displaying the house number 66.
[0027] Accordingly, the aforedescribed embodiments are intended for
the purpose of illustration and not as limitation.
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