U.S. patent application number 12/358155 was filed with the patent office on 2009-07-23 for mail slot receptacle bag.
Invention is credited to Camie Amber Crawford.
Application Number | 20090184159 12/358155 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40875666 |
Filed Date | 2009-07-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090184159 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Crawford; Camie Amber |
July 23, 2009 |
Mail Slot Receptacle Bag
Abstract
A new and improved mail slot receptacle bag is provided for use
with a door that has a mail slot therein. The top of the shorter
panel of the bag adheres just below the mail slot, and the top of
the longer panel of the bag adheres just above the mail slot. It is
made of lightweight, yet sturdy fabric. There are slits on both
sides of the sack to allow for easy accessibility to your mail. The
slit openings also allow for more flexibility in the fabric when
longer mail items are placed through the mail slot. The bag adheres
to the door or wall using Velcro strips (which are concealed when
bag is mounted). The Velcro strips allow for easy installation,
easy removal of the bag whenever needed and avoids the damage that
screws or nails would make to the door or wall. Below the side
slits, the bottom 1/3rd of the bag's sides are sewn or closed so
that mail will sit easily within.
Inventors: |
Crawford; Camie Amber;
(Hollywood, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Camie Crawford
P.O. Box 1814
Hollywood
CA
90078
US
|
Family ID: |
40875666 |
Appl. No.: |
12/358155 |
Filed: |
January 22, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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61022763 |
Jan 22, 2008 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
232/19 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47G 29/12 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
232/19 |
International
Class: |
A47G 29/12 20060101
A47G029/12 |
Claims
1. I claim a mail slot receptacle bag for use with a door or wall
having a mail slot therein, said apparatus comprising: a. Velcro
(2) across the top of both panels of the bag (1), two panels
attached at their outer most outside edges and bottom, one being
shorter that the other. b. Temporary door attachment device along
the inside, top of the longest panel.
2. The apparatus described in claim 1 wherein said mail slot
receptacle bag includes a plurality of pouch attachments that are
placed in registration with said frame for installation of said bag
assembly frame element onto the door by said fastening
assemblies.
3. The receptacle bag described in claim 1 wherein said second
opening includes a Velcro release.
4. The receptacle bag described in claim 1 wherein said Velcro
attachments are located on the top most frame of the inner most
panel for easy access.
5. The apparatus described in claim 1 wherein said panels can be
constructed of textiles, natural materials or resin based material.
Description
[0001] This application emanates from a previously filed
application 61022763 Filed 22 Jan. 2008
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to devices for
receiving mail delivered to a residence or business, and, more
particularly, to a pouch especially adapted for receiving mail
deposited through a mail slot within a door or wall.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Many devices have been used for receiving mail delivered to
residential and commercial locations. Outdoor mailboxes have a
number of disadvantages. They are exposed to extremes of weather,
and they are often susceptible to unauthorized entry. Moreover,
when an occupant of a dwelling goes on an extended vacation, the
amount of mail that is received may cause an outdoor mailbox to
overflow. For these reasons, mail slots in doors are especially
desirable.
[0004] Over the years, a handful of innovations have been developed
relating to receptacles for receiving mail deposited through mail
slots within a door, and the following U.S. patents are
representative of some of those innovations: U.S. Pat. Nos.
4,069,965; 4,776,512; and 5,029,753. More specifically, U.S. Pat.
No. 4,069,965 discloses a mail slot pouch assembly that is affixed
adjacent to a mail slot in a door. A separate and distinct planar
support bracket is attached to the rear panel of the mail slot
assembly. Moreover, a framework is provided for a bag receptacle,
and the framework fits onto the planar support bracket. In this
respect, it would be desirable if a device were provided for
receiving mail from a mail slot in a door which does not require a
separate and distinct planar support bracket attached to the rear
panel of the mail slot assembly. Also, in this respect, it would be
desirable if a device were provided for receiving mail from a mail
slot in a door which does not require a framework for a bag
receptacle that fits onto a separate planar support bracket.
[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 4,776,512 discloses a mail chute pouch that
employs a flaccid pouch that has its opening end pressed against
the door with the backplate for the mail slot. It is a difficult
chore to place a flaccid opening of a bag under a metal plate and
secure the metal plate in such a way that the opening of the
flaccid bag remains properly open during installation and use. A
heavy load of mail received by the flaccid bag may pull a portion
of the opening of the bag out from between the backplate and the
door. In this respect, it would be desirable if a device were
provided for receiving mail from a mail slot in a door which
provides for keeping the flaccid opening of a mail receiving bag in
a open position during installation and use.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,029,753 discloses a garage door mail drop
box that includes a receptacle with a sliding door. This mail box
does not work with a door that is equipped with a mail slot.
[0007] The following U.S. patents may be of interest for their
disclosure of receptacles that are associated with doors for the
admittance of objects into the receptacles: U.S. Pat. Nos.
3,211,367 and 5,082,171.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The mail slot receptacle bag lies flatly against the
interior side of a door or wall with a mail slot/letter box. The
top of the shorter panel of the bag adheres just below the mail
slot, and the top of the longer panel of the bag adheres just above
the mail slot. It is made of lightweight, yet sturdy fabric. There
are slits on both sides of the sack to allow for easy accessibility
to your mail. The slit openings also allow for more flexibility in
the fabric when longer mail items are placed through the mail slot.
The bag adheres to the door or wall using Velcro strips (which are
concealed when bag is mounted). The Velcro strips allow for easy
installation, easy removal of the bag whenever needed and avoids
the damage that screws or nails would make to the door or wall.
Below the side slits, the bottom 1/3rd of the bag's sides are sewn
or closed so that mail will sit easily within.
[0009] My invention improves how people receive their mail. This
invention allows all individuals with mail slots to receive their
mail in a neat, accessible, aesthetic and private manner. Without
it, mail ends up on the floor where it is subject to privacy
issues, physical strain in having to bend over to pick up the mail,
and damage to the mail from foot traffic and pets. This item
conceals what you've received because it is opaque and compact,
lies flatly against the wall or door for great space efficiency,
and keeps mail elevated from the floor so that's it's better
accessible and away from potential damage. It uses Velcro for
mounting which is simple to install, allows for ease in changing
out the product for other styles or for washing, and requires no
tools. The only other mail slot receptacle devices observed on the
market are bulky baskets that project significantly from the door
or wall, do not conceal the mail for privacy, and require
installation of brackets, nails or screws into the mounted surface.
These alternate devices are not a solution for tight spaces, nor
places that require privacy of what's been received, nor would they
typically be appropriate for a household or office setting as most
appear either industrial or of cheap, plastic quality. In
comparison to other mail bag devices patented but not on the
market, my invention is an improvement to those in that mine uses
Velcro for mounting (no brackets), provides privacy by being opaque
(no windows or translucency), gives easy accessibility to the mail
(from either the sides, or from pulling down the top tab, or from
dismounting the bag entirely), is intended solely for common entry
doors or walls (not for garage doors), has no detachable trinkets
which could be a washing hazard or choking hazard for kids (no
zippers, latches, etc.), requires no tools for installation, can be
easily changed out with other colors/styles of the same product,
and it expands naturally when mail is inserted (rather than using a
devise of sorts).
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0010] FIG. 1 is a front view perspective thereof;
[0011] FIG. 2 (1) is a inside view of a mail slot
[0012] FIG. 2 (2) is the back view of the device
[0013] FIG. 2 (3) is the front view of the device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0014] FIG. 1 is a front view of my new mail slot receptacle bag
with the top right corner pulled downward to reveal how it would be
mounted onto the interior side of a door or wall using Velcro (2)
across the top of both panels of the bag (1) to hold it firmly in
place above and below a mail slot. (C) designates the strips of
velcro attached to the top, backside of both the longer and shorter
panels of the bag. (C) adheres to (A) which are the strips of
adhesive Velcro adhered to the door or wall with a mail slot. (B)
refers to the mail slot itself; And, (D) refers to the whole mail
bag invention. The longer and shorter panels of the bag are sealed
or sewn together (E) along the sides towards the bottom portion of
the bag, leaving the upper portion open for access into the bag
from the sides.
[0015] FIG. 2 first displays the interior side of a standard mail
slot (B) with adhesive Velcro pieces (A) adhered above and below it
(1). Next, the back view of my invention is displayed (2). Here we
see both pieces of Velcro (C) sewn along the top portions of both
the longer and shorter panels of the bag. Again, (D) designates the
invention as a whole and (E) represents where the front and back
panels are sealed or sewn together. Lastly, (3) is the front view
of the bag. It also shows where the back and front panels are
joined (E) and is designated with a (D) to represent the invention
as a whole
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