Mailbox signal

Claim 1

In a mailbox having a sidewall, an open end, and a door movable toward and away from said open end, respectively, to close and open said open end, a signal device comprising: a. an elongated rod having a front end and a rear end, b. journal means pivotally connecting said rear end to the sidewall of the mailbox to permit swinging movement of said rod in a substantially vertical plane parallel to said sidewall, c. a rest member for said rod on said door, d. said rod being of a length that its front end portion is supported in a raised position upon said rest member when said door is closed, and said rod will drop from said rest member to a vertical depending position when said door is oPened, e. an elongated sleeve mounted on said rod for longitudinal and rotatable movement, f. a flat signal flag fixed longitudinally to only one side of said sleeve and projecting radially therefrom, so that said flag depends by gravity from said sleeve parallel to said sidewall when said rod is in said raised position, g. said sleeve having a front end portion comprising a cam surface inclined to the longitudinal axis of said sleeve, h. a cam follower fixed to said rod between said sleeve and the front end of said rod, i. said cam follower projecting from said rod in a position to engage said cam surface as said sleeve gravitates forward on said rod as said rod drops from said rest member, causing said flag to rotate on said rod to a position substantially normal to said sidewall when said rod is in said depending position.