US3707260A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Mail box with remote signal transmitter
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-03-30
•
Granted: 1972-12-26
•
Expires: 1991-03-30
Abstract
Abstract A rural route mail box having an insertable unit housing a remote signal transmitter and a rod and lever actuating mechanism to trigger the same on opening the box door to deliver or pick-up mail. The unit is slidable into position with an enlarged transmitter housing portion located at the rear of the box, the rod and lever being arranged for push-button like operation of the transmitter responsive to movement of the front door. The unit, in the embodiment disclosed, is further slidably movable under spring pressure for transmitter operation in response to the opening of a door at the rear end of a box having an access opening at either end.
Inventors
- 👤 Leodore H Gelineau Sr
- 👤 Gordon A Moore
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 21:59
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47G; A47G29/00; A47G29/12; A47G29/1209; A47G29/121; A47G2029/12105
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
175 words
A mail box of the rural route type having a front door pivotally swingable outwardly of access opening thereof for insertion and withdrawal of pieces of mail, a housing unit encasing a remote signal transmitter in the rear section thereof and switch triggering mechanism for actuating the transmitter, said triggering mechanism including a short rod having its inner end engaging the transmitter for operating the switch thereof, a centrally pivoted lever having one arm connected to the other end of said rod, an elongated push rod connected to the other arm of the lever and slidably supported in said housing with its outer tip end portion extending forwardly of the front end of the housing, and spring means urging said push rod in a forward direction, the interior of said mail box and said housing having interengageable mounting means positionally holding said housing unit with said elongated push rod moved inwardly against said spring means on closure of said front door, whereby switch operation of said transmitter is responsive to door opening and closing movement.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
175 words
A mail box of the rural route type having a front door pivotally swingable outwardly of access opening thereof for insertion and withdrawal of pieces of mail, a housing unit encasing a remote signal transmitter in the rear section thereof and switch triggering mechanism for actuating the transmitter, said triggering mechanism including a short rod having its inner end engaging the transmitter for operating the switch thereof, a centrally pivoted lever having one arm connected to the other end of said rod, an elongated push rod connected to the other arm of the lever and slidably supported in said housing with its outer tip end portion extending forwardly of the front end of the housing, and spring means urging said push rod in a forward direction, the interior of said mail box and said housing having interengageable mounting means positionally holding said housing unit with said elongated push rod moved inwardly against said spring means on closure of said front door, whereby switch operation of said transmitter is responsive to door opening and closing movement.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
The structure of claim 1, in which, said interengageable mounting means comprises a dovetail connection at one side of the floor of said box interior, and said rear section of the housing abuts the rear wall of said mail box in said operative mounted condition.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
The structure of claim 2, in which, said rear section encases said transmitter, short rod, and lever, and a forward section of the housing encasing said elongated rod is of reduced cross section extending from the lower corner of the rear section along the adjacent side wall of the box.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
The structure of claim 3, in which, said forward section is provided with apertured interior partitioning walls for support of said elongated push rod, and said spring means is a compression spring surrounding the rod and seated between one of said walls and a collar fixed on the rod forwardly thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
68 words
The structure of claim 4, in which, said rear wall of the mail box comprises a rear door therefor and both front and rear doors are pivoted on hinge means below the ends of the floor, and said housing unit is slidably movable on said box floor for operation of said triggering mechanism upon the opening and closing movement of one door when the other door is closed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The structure of claim 5, in which, the top and side walls of the mail box and said doors are of rigid plastic material.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US918530A
Cited
US1990003A
Cited
US2834539A
Cited
US3498255A
Cited
US3611333A
Cited
US3606141A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-12-26 | 1976-06-26 | 1976-12-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-12-26 | 1980-06-26 | 1980-12-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-12-26 | 1984-06-26 | 1984-12-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |