Mailbox flag device

Claim 1

A flag device for attachment to a rural mailbox of the type having cooperating latch members on the mailbox and mailbox door structure, said device comprising, a flag having vertical, inclined and horizontal positions indicating respectively the presence of mail in the mailbox for pickup, the non visited and visited status of the mailbox, a clip attached to the door structure, a flag support member including first and second flanges, pivot means on said first flange supporting said flag for arcuate travel between vertical and horizontal positions, said second flange defining relieved areas enabling securement to the mailbox by those fasteners securing one of the latch members to the mailbox, and said flag having a first lower edge for supported contact with the mailbox door mounted clip to hold the flag in a vertical position, said flag having a second lower edge for alternate contact with the mailbox door mounted clip, said second lower edge in angular relationship to said first edge and thereby adapted to hold the flag in a manually preset inclined position when there is no pickup mail in the mailbox, said flag dropping to a horizontal position from its inclined position upon opening of the mailbox door structure to indicate the visited status of the mailbox.