US4869425A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Letter box
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1988-08-10
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Granted: 1989-09-26
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Expires: 2008-08-10
Abstract
Abstract A letter box includes a housing having a pivotable door having a letter inlet and an inlet cover pivotably covering the inlet, and an indicating device coupled to the inlet cover in the manner that when a letter is inserted from the inlet into the box the device will be actuated to indicated that there is a letter in the box.
Inventors
- 👤 Chuang-Jiunn Chiou
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 21:18
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47G; A47G29/00; A47G29/12; A47G29/122; A47G29/1225; A47G2029/1229
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
173 words
A letter box comprising: a housing having an opening side and a pivotal door having a letter inlet and an inlet cover pivotably covering said inlet; an indicating means coupled to said inlet cover in a manner that when a letter is inserted from said letter inlet into said box, said means will be actuated to indicate that there is a letter in said box, said indicating means including: a peephole provided on said door; an indicating piece having a first surface vertically slidable on an inner surface of said door and having a marked lower portion capable of being seen from said peephole; an actuating medium having a first end connected to said indicating piece and a second end capable of being actuated by said inlet cover to upwardly slide said indicating piece to present said lower portion right behind said peephole; and a stopping member secured to said housing and having a stopping piece capable of stopping said indicating piece from downwardly falling after said indicating piece has been upwardly slid.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
173 words
A letter box comprising: a housing having an opening side and a pivotal door having a letter inlet and an inlet cover pivotably covering said inlet; an indicating means coupled to said inlet cover in a manner that when a letter is inserted from said letter inlet into said box, said means will be actuated to indicate that there is a letter in said box, said indicating means including: a peephole provided on said door; an indicating piece having a first surface vertically slidable on an inner surface of said door and having a marked lower portion capable of being seen from said peephole; an actuating medium having a first end connected to said indicating piece and a second end capable of being actuated by said inlet cover to upwardly slide said indicating piece to present said lower portion right behind said peephole; and a stopping member secured to said housing and having a stopping piece capable of stopping said indicating piece from downwardly falling after said indicating piece has been upwardly slid.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
56 words
A letter box according to claim 1, further comprising a sliding groove sliding therein said indicating piece and constituted by two parallel guiding rails fixed to said inner surface and a cover plate which is secured to said guiding rails and has a first slot passing therethrough said stopping piece to engage with said indicating piece.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
A letter box according to claim 1 wherein said stopping member includes: a plate body secured to said housing and having a second slot; and a torsional spring having a first end engaging with said plate body and a second end passing through said second slot to serve as said stopping piece.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
A letter box according to claim 3, further comprising a casing receiving therein said plate body and said torsional spring.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
75 words
A letter box according to claim 1 wherein said stopping member includes: a plate body secured to said housing and having a second slot; a casing receiving therein said plate body; a base received in said casing and having a receiving room receiving therein said stopping piece protruding through said second and first slots; and an elastic member mounted between said base and said stopping piece for urging said stopping piece against said indicating piece.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A letter box according to claim 5 wherein said stopping piece is a T-shaped piece having a tip portion thereof attached thereto a roller.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
A letter box according to claim 1, further comprising an inlet extension inwardly extending from said letter inlet and including a top wall pivotably mounted thereunder said inlet cover and a bottom wall having a side slot passing therethrough said second end.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
A letter box according to claim 1 wherein: said opening side includes a top water-receiving groove and two side water-guiding grooves; and said door includes a top flange and a side flange provided on a side opposite to the side pivoted to said housing, for a water-preventing purpose.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-09-25 | 1993-03-27 | 1993-09-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-09-25 | 1997-03-27 | 1997-09-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-09-25 | 2001-03-27 | 2001-09-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |