Mounting apparatus for mail boxes and the like

Claim 1

Mounting apparatus for mail boxes and the like comprising: a. a standard adapted to be fixedly mounted in a generally vertical position; b. an elongated arm pivotally attached at a mid portion thereof between its opposite ends adjacent the upper end of said standard for pivotal swinging movements in a vertical plane between first and second positions, one end of said arm being adapted to receive a mail box and the like in fixed engagement therewith; c. guide means fixedly attached to one of said standard and said arm for limiting the swinging movement of said arm to said vertical plane, between said first and second positions, relative to said standard; d. weight means affixed to the other end of said arm; e. said one end of the arm being bent to position a mail box attached thereto in a generally horizontal position with said one end below the horizontal plane of the axis of said pivotal swinging movement of the arm when the arm is in said first position, the mail box and said one end of the arm being positioned above said horizontal plane when the arm is in said second position; and f. the other end of said arm being oriented relative to said standard for automatic movement of said weight means in opposite directions, responsive to swinging movements of said arm between said first and second positions, between a maximum torque position counterbalancing the one end of said arm in the second position to maintain said arm in the second position, and a minimum torque position counterbalanced by the one end of said arm and a mail box attached thereto with said arm in the first position to maintain said arm in the first position.