Patent Application
20240389780
The present invention relates generally to the field of mailboxes. More specifically, the present invention relates to a mail slot catching net device that can be attached to the rear surface of a door around and/or underneath a mail slot such that mail delivered through the mail slot is caught in the device and does not collect on the floor of a home below 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.
In some homes, mail is delivered through a mail slot in the front door of the home. Unfortunately, this results in the mail being delivered through the small slot collecting on the floor of the interior of the home. This is undesirable, as the mail must then be picked up from the floor. However, this task can be challenging for elderly or otherwise disabled individuals.
Therefore, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a mail slot catching device. There also exists a long-felt need in the art for a mail slot catching net device that can be attached to a rear surface of a door and around and/or under a mail slot. More specifically, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a mail slot catching net device that can be attached to a rear surface of a door and around and/or under a mail slot wherein mail delivered through the mail slot is collected in the device instead of falling to the floor of the home.
The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises a mail slot catching net device. More specifically, the device can be attached to a rear surface of a door and around and/or under a mail slot such that mail delivered through the mail slot is collected in the device instead of falling to the floor of the home. Therefore, the device prevents mail from collecting on the floor of the home behind the door, making it particularly advantageous for individuals who may be unable to pick up said male from the ground due to age, mobility issues, or disability.
In this manner, the mail slot catching net device of the present invention accomplishes all the forgoing objectives and provides a mail slot catching device. More specifically, the device can be attached to a rear surface of a door and around and/or under a mail slot such that mail delivered through the mail slot is collected in the device instead of falling to the floor of the home. Therefore, the device prevents mail from collecting on the floor of the home behind the door.
The following presents a simplified summary 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 a mail slot catching net device. The device is primarily comprised of a net comprised of at least one fastener, wherein the net attaches to the rear surface of a door underneath and/or over a mail slot. When in use, the device is used to catch mail delivered through the mail slot within the net.
In one embodiment, the net is attached directly to the rear surface of a door underneath the mail slot of the rear surface of the door such that the net can catch and collect any mail that is delivered through the slot. In this embodiment, the net attaches to the rear surface via at least one fastener attached to the net. In another embodiment, the net may be fixed or removably attached to at least one mounting plate.
The mounting plate is preferably rectangular in shape and is comprised of an opening. The mounting plate can be positioned around the mail slot and secured to the rear surface of a door via a fastener, wherein the opening allows the mail slot door to open/close freely. In one embodiment, the net is removably attached to the mounting plate to allow the net and any mail captured within the net to be pulled out of the net at a secondary location. The net is also comprised of at least one fastener that allows the contents of the net (i.e., mail) to be easily accessed. The fastener is preferably a zipper fastener but may be any other fastener type known in the art such as but not limited to magnet, snap button, hook and loop, etc.
The present invention is also comprised of a method of using the device. First, a device is provided comprised of a net comprised of at least one fastener. Then, the net is attached to the rear surface of a door around and/or under a mail slot using at least one fastener. Then, one mail has been delivered through the mail slot, the mail is collected within the net such that a user can open a fastener of the net to retrieve the mail from within the net. In an embodiment of the device with a mounting plate, the mounting plate can be attached to the rear surface of a door around a mail slot using at least one fastener.
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 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 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 exists a long-felt need in the art for a mail slot catching device. There also exists a long-felt need in the art for a mail slot catching net device that can be attached to a rear surface of a door and around and/or under a mail slot. More specifically, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a mail slot catching net device that can be attached to a rear surface of a door and around and/or under a mail slot wherein mail delivered through the mail slot is collected in the device instead of falling to the floor of the home.
The present invention, in one exemplary embodiment, is comprised of a mail slot catching net device primarily comprised of a net comprised of at least one fastener. During use, the net attaches to the rear surface of a door underneath and/or over a mail slot. When in use, the device is used to catch mail delivered through the mail slot within the net and prevents said mail from falling onto the floor.
In one embodiment, the net is attached directly to the rear surface of a door underneath the mail slot of the rear surface of the door such that the net can catch and collect any mail that is delivered through the slot. In this embodiment, the net attaches to the rear surface via at least one fastener attached to the net. In another embodiment, the net may be fixed or removably attached to at least one mounting plate.
The mounting plate is preferably rectangular in shape and is comprised of an opening. During use, the mounting plate can be positioned around the mail slot and secured to the rear surface of a door via a fastener. The opening of the mounting plate allows the mail slot door to open/close freely. In one embodiment, the net is removably attached to the mounting plate to allow the net and any mail captured within the net to be pulled out of the net at a secondary location. The net is also comprised of at least one fastener that allows the contents of the net (i.e., mail) to be easily accessed. The fastener is preferably a zipper fastener but may be any other fastener type known in the art such as but not limited to magnet, snap button, hook and loop, etc.
The present invention is also comprised of a method of using the device. First, a device is provided comprised of a net comprised of at least one fastener. Then, the net is attached to the rear surface of a door around and/or under a mail slot using at least one fastener. Then, one mail has been delivered through the mail slot, the mail is collected within the net such that a user can open a fastener of the net to retrieve the mail from within the net. In an embodiment of the device with a mounting plate, the mounting plate can be attached to the rear surface of a door around a mail slot using at least one fastener.
Referring initially to the drawings,
In one embodiment, the net 120 is attached directly to the rear surface 12 of a door 10, as seen in
In another embodiment, the net 120 may be fixedly or removably attached to at least one mounting plate 110. The mounting plate 110 is preferably rectangular in shape and is comprised of an opening 112. The mounting plate 110 can be positioned around the mail slot 14 and secured to the rear surface 12 of a door 10, wherein the opening 112 allows the mail slot door 16 to open/close freely. In this embodiment, the rear surface 114 of the mounting plate 110 attaches to the rear surface 12 of the door 10 via at least one fastener 116 such as but not limited to hook and loop, adhesive, screw, etc.
In an embodiment wherein the net 120 is removably attached to the mounting plate 110 (to allow the net 120 and any mail captured within the net 120 to be pulled out of the net 120 at a secondary location) the net 120 may attach to the mounting plate 110 via at least one removable attachment fastener 118 such as but not limited to zipper, snap button, hook and loop, magnet, etc. In another embodiment, the net 120 may be fixedly attached to the mounting plate 110.
The net 120 is preferably comprised of any net/netting material known in the art. Alternatively, the net 120 may be made from any transparent (to allow a user to view the contents of the net 120) or opaque plastic film or fabric known in the art. The net 120 is comprised of at least one opening 126 that allows mail that travels through the mail slot 14 to fall into the net 120. In one embodiment, the opening 126 can be supported by a rigid rim 122. The rim 122 gives the opening 126 structural support and ensures it remains open during use. In a different embodiment, the net 120 may attach to all sides 111 of the mounting plate 110 such that the mail slot 14 is within the net 120 to ensure all mail that travels through the mail slot 14 falls into the net 120, as seen in
The net 120 is comprised of at least one fastener 124 that allows the contents of the net 120 (i.e., mail) to be easily accessed. The fastener 124 is preferably a zipper fastener but may be any other fastener type known in the art such as but not limited to magnet, snap button, hook and loop, etc. The fastener 124 may be located on any surface of the net 120 in different embodiments. In the preferred embodiment, the fastener 124 is positioned on a side surface of the net 120.
The present invention is also comprised of a method of using 200 the device 100, as seen in
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 “mail slot catching net device” and “device” are interchangeable and refer to the mail slot catching net device 100 of the present invention.
Notwithstanding the forgoing, the mail slot catching net 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 mail slot catching net device 100 as shown in the FIGS. are for illustrative purposes only, and that many other sizes and shapes of the mail slot catching net device 100 are well within the scope of the present disclosure. Although the dimensions of the mail slot catching net device 100 are important design parameters for user convenience, the mail slot catching net 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 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. 63/504,212, which was filed on May 25, 2023, and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63504212 | May 2023 | US |
