Patent Application
20230414024
The present invention relates generally to the field of mail delivery. More specifically, the present invention relates to an insulated mail slot device with at least one mail slot, at least one hinge, and at least one door with at least one insulation piece. The mail slot can be secured within an opening of a door or structure and wherein the door attaches to the mail slot via at least one hinge. The body of the door is filled with an insulating material. In addition, the mail slot may be comprised of a rubber gasket or padding that eliminates space between the door and the mail slot. Accordingly, the present disclosure makes specific reference thereto. Nonetheless, it is to be appreciated that aspects of the present invention are also equally applicable to other like applications, devices, and methods of manufacture.
All homes and businesses receive mail. While some homes and businesses have mailboxes, others have mail slots. Typically, a mail slot is located in a door or a wall of a structure. Because a mail slot can be opened from the outside to allow mail to enter a structure, warm and cold drafts may penetrate the structure through the mail slot and create uncomfortable temperatures within the structure. This problem may further persist even when a mail slot is closed due to poor sealing around the mail slot which allows air to still enter a structure. In addition, insects and other debris may enter a structure through a mail slot and create unsanitary environments in a home or office.
Therefore, there exists a long-felt need in the art for an improved mail slot. There also exists a long-felt need in the art for an insulated mail slot that prevents hot or cold air from entering into a structure through a mail slot. Further, there exists a long-felt need in the art for an insulated mail slot that prevents hot or cold air from entering into a structure through a mail slot, and that also prevents insects or other debris from entering into a structure through a mail slot.
The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises an insulated mail slot device. The device is primarily comprised of at least one mail slot, at least one hinge, and at least one door with at least one insulation piece. The mail slot can be secured within an opening of a door or structure. The door attaches to the mail slot via at least one hinge that allows the door to swing upward and downward. The body of the door is filled with an insulating material. Further, the mail slot may be comprised of a rubber gasket or padding that eliminates space between the door and the mail slot.
In this manner, the insulated mail slot device of the present invention accomplishes all of the foregoing objectives and provides an improved mail slot. The device prevents hot or cold air from entering into a structure through a mail slot. Further, the device also prevents insects or other debris from entering a structure through a mail slot.
The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed innovation. This summary is not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope thereof. Its sole purpose is to present some general concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.
The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises an insulated mail slot device. The device is primarily comprised of at least one mail slot, at least one hinge, and at least one door with at least one insulation piece. In various embodiments, the device and all components may be made from a plurality of materials such as, but not limited to, metal or plastic. Further, an exterior frame and/or a front wall may be made from a material that matches the existing material of a door or building that the device is installed on.
The mail slot of the device can be installed within a door opening. The mail slot has an exterior frame that is perpendicularly attached to a plurality of interior walls such that the slot contacts the front surface and rear surface of the door and the inside surface of an opening cut in the door for the mail slot. In one embodiment, the interior walls of the slot are comprised of a waterproof/weatherproof padding or gasket that prevents air, precipitation, insects, and debris from entering a structure via a gap between the interior walls and the door. The slot further has an opening that mail can be inserted within.
The door is comprised of a plurality of walls that form the body of the door. Inside the body, at least one piece of insulation is positioned which insulates the door and prevents hot or cold air from passing through the door and into a structure the device is installed on via the slot. The door preferably attaches to the exterior frame and/or interior walls via at least one hinge. The front wall of the door may further have at least one handle that allows the door to be grasped such that it can easily be opened. The door, frame, and/or interior wall may also have at least one lock that allows the door to be locked. The door can be opened when mail is desired to be delivered through the opening of the slot. After the door is released, the door swings back automatically towards the interior walls and contacts the front wall of at least one lip 130 that stops the movement of the door such that it does not swing back into the structure and let more air out than necessary.
Accordingly, the insulated mail slot device of the present invention is particularly advantageous as it provides an improved mail slot that prevents hot or cold air from entering into a structure through a mail slot. Further, the device prevents insects or other debris from entering a structure through a mail slot. In this manner, the insulated mail slot device overcomes the limitations of existing mail slots known in the art.
To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects of the disclosed innovation are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles disclosed herein can be employed and are intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages and novel features will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings.
The description refers to provided drawings in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the different views, and in which:
The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the innovation can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate a description thereof. Various embodiments are discussed hereinafter. It should be noted that the figures are described only to facilitate the description of the embodiments. They are not intended as an exhaustive description of the invention and do not limit the scope of the invention. Additionally, an illustrated embodiment need not have all the aspects or advantages shown. Thus, in other embodiments, any of the features described herein from different embodiments may be combined.
As noted above, there is a long-felt need in the art for an improved mail slot. There also exists a long-felt need in the art for an insulated mail slot that prevents hot or cold air from entering into a structure through a mail slot. Further, there exists a long-felt need in the art for an insulated mail slot that prevents hot or cold air from entering into a structure through a mail slot, and that also prevents insects or other debris from entering into a structure through a mail slot.
The present invention, in one exemplary embodiment, is comprised of an insulated mail slot device primarily comprised of at least one mail slot, at least one hinge, and at least one door with at least one insulation piece. The device and all components may be made from a plurality of materials such as, but not limited to, metal or plastic. Further, an exterior frame and/or a front wall may be made from a material that matches the existing material of a door or building that the device is installed on.
The mail slot of the device can be installed within a door opening and has an exterior frame that is perpendicularly attached to a plurality of interior walls such that the slot contacts the front surface and rear surface of the door and the inside surface of an opening cut in the door for the mail slot. The interior walls may be comprised of a waterproof/weatherproof padding or gasket that prevents air, precipitation, insects, and debris from entering into a structure via a gap between the interior walls and the door. The slot further has an opening that mail can be inserted within.
The door is comprised of a plurality of walls that form the body of the door. Inside the body, at least one piece of insulation is positioned which insulates the door and prevents hot or cold air from passing through the door and into a structure the device is installed on via the slot. The door preferably attaches to the exterior frame and/or interior walls via at least one hinge. The front wall of the door may further have at least one handle that allows the door to be grasped such that it can easily be opened. The door, frame, and/or interior wall may also have at least one lock that allows the door to be locked. The door can be opened when mail is desired to be delivered through the opening of the slot. After the door is released, the door swings back automatically towards the interior walls and contacts the front wall of at least one lip 130 that stops the movement of the door such that it does not swing back into the structure and let more air out than necessary.
Accordingly, the insulated mail slot device of the present invention is particularly advantageous as it provides an improved mail slot that prevents hot or cold air from entering into a structure through a mail slot. Further, the device prevents insects or other debris from entering a structure through a mail slot. In this manner, the insulated mail slot device overcomes the limitations of existing mail slots known in the art.
Referring initially to the drawings,
To install the device 10 within a door 10 (or other structure such as, but not limited to, a wall), at least one opening 12 must be cut in the door 10. In the preferred embodiment, the device 100 is rectangular in shape meaning that the opening 12 must also be rectangular in shape. However, in differing embodiments the device 100 may be any shape such as, but not limited to: square, circle, polygonal, etc. In addition, front wall 180 and/or exterior frame 120 may be shaped as an indicia such as, but not limited to: patterns, logos, emblems, images, symbols, designs, letters, numbers, words, characters, animals, advertisements, brands, etc., to give the device 100 a themed appearance.
The mail slot 110 of the device 100 must first be installed within the door opening 12. The mail slot 110 has an exterior frame 120 that is perpendicularly attached to a plurality of interior walls 122 such that the slot 110 contacts the front surface 11 and rear surface 13 of the door 10 and the inside surface 14 of the opening 12. The frame 120 may be fixedly or removably attached to the walls 122 in differing embodiments. The frame 120 and/or walls 122 may further be secured to the opening 12 and/or door via at least one fastener 134 such as, but not limited to: bolt, screw, nail, magnet, adhesive, etc. In one embodiment, the interior walls 122 of the slot 110 are comprised of a waterproof/weatherproof padding or gasket 124 that prevents air, precipitation, insects, and debris from entering into a structure via a gap between the interior walls 122 and the door 150. The slot 110 further has an opening 190 that mail can be inserted within.
The door 150 preferably attaches to the exterior frame 120 and/or interior walls 122 via at least one hinge 142. In various embodiments, the hinge may be any hinge type known in the art such as, but not limited to: an offset blind hinge, a knuckle hinge, a butt hinge, a rising butt hinge, a gravity pivot hinge, a ball bearing hinge, a barrel hinge, a concealed hinge, a knife hinge, a piano hinge, a strap hinge, a pivot hinge, a gas-piston hinge, an injection molded hinge, a locking hinge, etc. In one embodiment, the hinge 142 is located on the top edge 152 of the door 150 such that the door 150 opens upward (i.e., toward the sky). In another embodiment, the hinge 142 is located on the bottom edge 154 of the door 150 such that the door 150 opens downward (i.e., toward the ground). The front wall 180 of the door 150 may further have at least one handle 182 that allows the door 150 to be grasped such that it can easily be opened. In one embodiment, the door 150, frame 120, and/or interior wall 122 has at least one lock 184 that allows the door 150 to be locked. Said lock may be any lock type known in the art such as, but not limited to: a padlock, a deadbolt lock, a cam lock, a rim/mortise lock, a euro profile cylinder lock, an interchangeable core cylinder lock, a furniture latch lock, a rim latch lock, a biometric fingerprint scanning lock, an RFID key fob lock, a Bluetooth lock that unlocks via a smart device mobile application, a mechanical dial lock, a numerical combination lock, a pedestal lock, a draw lock, a fixed core lock, etc.
The door 150 can be opened when mail is desired to be delivered through the opening 190 of the slot 110. After the door 150 is released, the door 150 swings back automatically towards the interior walls 122 and contacts the front wall 132 of at least one lip 130 that stops the movement of the door 150 such that it does not swing back into the structure and let more air out than necessary. It should be noted that in the preferred embodiment the hinge 142 is a spring-loaded hinge that allows the door 150 to automatically return to position once released.
In one embodiment, the door 150 is comprised of at least one motion sensor 220 that has at least one transmitter 222. The transmitter 222 is in wireless electrical communication (i.e., RFID, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, etc.) with at least one receiver 202 of at least one LED 200. The LED 200 may be positioned on the exterior frame 120, interior walls 122, lip 130, etc. When motion of the door 150 is detected by the sensor 220, the LED 200 will illuminate to indicate mail has been delivered via the door 150. The sensor 220 and LED 200 are preferably powered by at least one battery 210. The battery 210 may be a disposable battery 210 or a rechargeable battery 210 in the form of an alkaline, nickel-cadmium, nickel-metal hydride battery 210, etc., such as any 3V-12 volts DC battery 210 or other conventional battery 210 such as A, AA, AAA, etc., that supply power to the device 100. Throughout this specification the terms “battery” and “batteries” may be used interchangeably to refer to one or more wet or dry cells, or batteries 210 of cells, in which chemical energy is converted into electricity and used as a source of DC power. References to recharging or replacing batteries 210 may refer to recharging or replacing individual cells, individual batteries 210 of cells, or a package of multiple battery cells as is appropriate for any given battery 210 technology that may be used.
In a further embodiment, the transmitter 222 of the sensor 220 is in wireless electrical communication with at least one receiver 232 of at least one speaker 230. The speaker 230 may be positioned on the exterior frame 120, interior walls 122, lip 130, etc. When motion of the door 150 is detected by the sensor 220, the speaker 230 will illuminate to indicate mail has been delivered via the door 150 using at least one sound such as, but not limited to: a song, a phrase, a word, a sound-effect, a sound, etc. The speaker 230 is further powered by the battery 210. In this manner, the speaker 230 and LED 200 further alert a user when mail has been delivered through the device 100.
Certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims to refer to particular features or components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, different persons may refer to the same feature or component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components or features that differ in name but not structure or function. As used herein “insulated mail slot device” and “device” are interchangeable and refer to the insulated mail slot device 100 of the present invention.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the insulated mail slot device 100 of the present invention and its various components can be of any suitable size and configuration as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention, provided that they accomplish the above-stated objectives. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the size, configuration, and material of the insulated mail slot device 100 as shown in the FIGS. are for illustrative purposes only, and that many other sizes and shapes of the insulated mail slot device 100 are well within the scope of the present disclosure. Although the dimensions of the insulated mail slot device 100 are important design parameters for user convenience, the insulated mail slot device 100 may be of any size, shape and/or configuration that ensures optimal performance during use and/or that suits the user's needs and/or preferences.
Various modifications and additions can be made to the exemplary embodiments discussed without departing from the scope of the present invention. While the embodiments described above refer to particular features, the scope of this invention also includes embodiments having different combinations of features and embodiments that do not include all of the described features. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as fall within the scope of the claims, together with all equivalents thereof.
What has been described above includes examples of the claimed subject matter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the claimed subject matter are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.
The present application claims priority to, and the benefit of, U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/355,109, which was filed on Jun. 24, 2022, and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63355109 | Jun 2022 | US |
