This invention relates to mailboxes, in particular to apparatus, devices and methods of restraining a mailbox door from opening beyond a selected swing radius.
Mailboxes have been around for many years, and come in many sizes and shapes. The most popular mailboxes have an elongated compartment such as a rectangular housing with a flat roof or curved roof, and an access door that swings open based on a hinge mechanism the attaches the door to the lower front edge of the mailbox. However, mailbox doors tend to open much further than is needed. A typical mailbox door swings freely up to approximately 180 to approximately 270 degrees or more from a vertical upright closed position. The loosely swinging door has resulted in many problems.
For example, a mailbox door that hangs down is more prone to be twisted and bent overtime rendering the door useless from closing the mailbox. A downwardly hanging door can also break off from the mailbox leaving the interior of the mailbox continuously open. A constantly open mailbox can allow for any mail type contents inside to become damaged by being exposed to weather elements, and/or allow for the mailbox contents to become dislodged and lost, and even stolen overtime.
Additionally, a downwardly hanging bent and/or twisted mailbox door or portions of a door that remain can also be a snag hazard to others such as a mailman.
Still furthermore, most mailboxes being metal are prone to additional problems. These mailbox doors typically swing open so that metal eventually impacts metal that can cause damage to either or both the door, the handle, hinges, floor, other components and even the mailbox itself overtime. Metal hitting metal has also been known to cause objectionable loud impact noises that are created when a mailbox door accelerates in a free fall to a dead impact stop.
The constant banging between components can stress mailbox door hinges, other rotating points, welds and other assembly components causing parts to warp and/or loosen and/or fall off and/or become damaged overtime reducing the life of the mailbox.
The inventor is not aware of apparatus, devices and methods that overcome all the problems listed above. Thus, the need exists for solutions to the above problems with the prior art.
A primary objective of the present invention is to provide a restraint apparatus, device and method for limiting the swing opening radius of a mailbox door to stop at a generally horizontal orientation.
A secondary objective of the present invention is to provide a restraint apparatus, device and method for preventing a mailbox door from swinging to a position where the door hangs beneath the mailbox.
A third objective objective of the present invention is to provide a restraint apparatus, device and method for reducing the chances for the door to become twisted or bent overtime.
A fourth objective objective of the present invention is to provide a restraint apparatus, device and method for reducing the chances for the door and/or hinges and/or other components from becoming detached from the mailbox which reduces changes of mail type contents from becoming dislodged and lost, and stolen overtime.
A fifth objective of the present invention is to provide a restraint apparatus, device and method reducing the chances for the door to become a snag hazard to others.
A sixth objective of the present invention is to provide a restraint apparatus, device and method for reducing damage to both a mailbox door and the mailbox itself as the door is being swung open.
A seventh objective of the present invention is provide a restraint apparatus, device and method for reducing objectionable impact and collision noises and reducing vibration damage effects to both a mailbox door, other components and the mailbox itself as the door is being swung open.
An eighth objective of the present invention is to provide a restraint apparatus, device and method for extending the operational life of the mailbox.
The invention covers a mailbox door restraint apparatus, device and method that stop a freefall of a mailbox door being opened by reducing the amount of force as compared to a freefalling door with no restraint. The novel restraint reduces wear and tear on the door, rotational components and other mailbox assembly parts thereby increasing the operational life of the mailbox itself.
A preferred embodiment of the invention can be a mailbox having a chamber having at least one open end, a door pivotally attached to the open end of the chamber, and a restraint member for stopping the door from swinging open from a vertical position beyond a generally horizontal position.
The restraint member can include a bracket attached to both a lower front edge of the open end of the chamber, and to a lower edge of the door, the bracket having a portion which prevents the door from opening beyond the generally horizontal position. The bracket can have an elongated rectangular midportion and bent ends on opposite ends of the elongated rectangular midportion. The bent ends can include openings for allowing fasteners pass therethrough in order to fasten the bracket to the lower front edge of the open end of the chamber.
A pad can be attached to a face portion of the bracket and be used for dampening vibration and sound impact between the door and the bracket when the door reaches the generally horizontal position.
The restraint member can also include a lip portion which is attached to and hangs down beneath a lower front edge portion of the open end of the chamber behind a front lower hanging edge of the mailbox, wherein a portion of the door abuts against the lip portion which prevents the door from opening beyond the generally horizontal position.
The restraint can be a bumper portion attached to a lower portion of the chamber for preventing the door from opening beyond the generally horizontal position.
The invention can include a novel method of stopping a mailbox door from opening beyond a generally horizontal position, and can include steps of providing a mailbox having at least one open end, pivotally attaching a door to the open end of the mail box, and preventing the mailbox door from opening beyond a generally horizontal position.
The preventing step can include the step of attaching a lip portion to hang beneath the open end of the mailbox.
The preventing step can include the step of attaching a bracket having bent ends to a lower front edge of the open end of the mailbox.
The novel method can also include the step of cushioning impact between the door and the mailbox when the door opens to the generally horizontal position.
Further objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments which are illustrated schematically in the accompanying drawings.
Before explaining the disclosed embodiments of the present invention in detail it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its applications to the details of the particular arrangements shown since the invention is capable of other embodiments. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.
A listing of components will now be described.
Referring to
The operation of using the novel invention will now be described in reference to
When the door 20 of the mailbox is being opened, and pivots by way of tab hinges 32, 38, the door can move in the direction of arrow R until the rear edges 33, 39 of the tab hinges 32, 38 abut against front portions of the elongated rectangular mid portion 110 of the stop restraining bracket 101. The position of the elongated rectangular mid portion 110 prevents the tab hinges 32, 38 from opening the door 20 beyond an approximate 90 degree swing opening, which puts the door 20 approximately perpendicular to the open access end 12 of the main chamber 10 of the mailbox 100. A preferred application would allow for the door 20 to end up approximately horizontal, and in a similar plane to the floor 15 of the mailbox 100.
The bracket 101 can be set in place at different angles to encompass a greater or less impact surface contact points. The mid portion of the bracket face 110A can be angled (See
Although the invention describes using the restraint bracket to limit the opening of the mailbox door 20 to up to approximately ninety degrees, the location of the novel restraining bracket can be moved to allow the door 20 to open up to less than or greater than a perpendicular orientation.
While the invention shows a bracket fastened in place by screw type fasteners, the restraint bracket can be attached in other ways. For example, the restraint bracket can be one member or plural members that are pre-stamped in place. For example, the restraint can be a lip edge that is bent downward. Alternatively, the restraint bracket can be welded in place. Alternatively, the restraint bracket can be riveted in place.
The invention is intended to cover alternative versions of the restraint bracket that can be used. For example, a single elongated bolt or bar 200 shown in
Although a preferred application is using an elongated bracket or elongated bar/bolt, the invention can use instead two separate bumper members each fastened to the downwardly hanging sides. Still furthermore, a single bumper (tab 300 shown in
The invention can be retrofitted into existing mailboxes and/or made to be part of newly manufactured mailboxes.
While the invention has been described, disclosed, illustrated and shown in various terms of certain embodiments or modifications which it has presumed in practice, the scope of the invention is not intended to be, nor should it be deemed to be, limited thereby and such other modifications or embodiments as may be suggested by the teachings herein are particularly reserved especially as they fall within the breadth and scope of the claims here appended.
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