US3889874A — Mailbox signal apparatus

Claim 1

Independent Claim 234 words

A signaling device of unitary construction for simple installation to indicate when a door of a front-opening mailbox has been opened, which comprises: an elongated frame to be mounted within the top of the mailbox with the long dImension thereof oriented perpendicular to the mailbox door, the frame being provided with an open top channel along its length; a non-rotatable rod mounted within the frame and axially movable therein, one end of the rod engaging the mailbox door during closure of the door; a coiled spring connected between the rod and the frame for normally biasing the rod toward the mailbox door; a rotatable shaft extending vertically from the frame for projection through the top of the mailbox; a visible signal flag attached to the shaft exterior to the mailbox; a rotatable member attached to the shaft within the frame, the rotatable member having radially-extending projections thereon; a notched surface on the rod normally engaged with a portion of the projections on the rotatable member whereby the rotatable member and shaft are rotated by axial movement of the rod in one direction and thereby the signal flag is moved from a first position to a second position; an upstanding threaded mounting stud adjustable along the top channel in the frame; and an externally threaded sleeve bushing engaged with the frame and surrounding a portion of the shaft between the frame and the signal flag.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 234 words

A signaling device of unitary construction for simple installation to indicate when a door of a front-opening mailbox has been opened, which comprises: an elongated frame to be mounted within the top of the mailbox with the long dImension thereof oriented perpendicular to the mailbox door, the frame being provided with an open top channel along its length; a non-rotatable rod mounted within the frame and axially movable therein, one end of the rod engaging the mailbox door during closure of the door; a coiled spring connected between the rod and the frame for normally biasing the rod toward the mailbox door; a rotatable shaft extending vertically from the frame for projection through the top of the mailbox; a visible signal flag attached to the shaft exterior to the mailbox; a rotatable member attached to the shaft within the frame, the rotatable member having radially-extending projections thereon; a notched surface on the rod normally engaged with a portion of the projections on the rotatable member whereby the rotatable member and shaft are rotated by axial movement of the rod in one direction and thereby the signal flag is moved from a first position to a second position; an upstanding threaded mounting stud adjustable along the top channel in the frame; and an externally threaded sleeve bushing engaged with the frame and surrounding a portion of the shaft between the frame and the signal flag.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 60 words

The signaling device of claim 1 further comprising a partial enclosure for the signal flag whereby the position of the signal flag may be viewed at all times only from a limited direction, the partial enclosure being mountable on the exterior of the mailbox and adjustably rotatable about the axis of the shaft for a selection of the viewing direction.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 89 words

The signaling device of claim 1 wherein the rotatable member is square in cross section perpendicular to the shaft, the corners between flat surfaces thereof forming the radially-extending projections, wherein the notched surface is a flattened portion on the rod terminated by a right-angled shoulder, the shoulder engaging a corner of the rotatable member during axial movement of the rod in one direction; and wherein the spring between the rod and the frame is oriented at an angle to the rod in a plane substantially perpendicular to the shaft.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 74 words

The signaling device of claim 1 wherein the rotatable member is a ratchet wheel having radially extending teeth on both top and bottom faces of the ratchet wheel extending outward from the shaft, the teeth on the top of the ratchet wheel being oriented in an opposite direction to the teeth on the bottom, and wherein the notched surface on the rod is engaged with teeth on the top face of the ratchet wheel.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 69 words

The signaling device of claim 4 further comprising a non-rotatable disk attached to the frame, and coaxial with the shaft, having radially extending teeth normally engaged with the teeth on the bottom surface of the ratchet wheel whereby the ratchet wheel, and thus the signal flag, is rotated only when the rod is moved axially in one direction but not during movement of the rod in the second direction.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1978-06-16	1978-12-16	1979-06-17	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1982-06-16	1982-12-16	1983-06-17	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1986-06-16	1986-12-16	1987-06-17	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Mailbox signal apparatus

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