Mailbox protective device

Abstract

The present invention provides a protective device for a mailbox assembly and corresponding methods for protecting a mailbox assembly. The protective device includes an upper shield adapted for attachment to a mailbox and a lower shield adapted for attachment to a mailbox post. Outer surfaces of the upper and lower shields are contoured to deflect forces away from the mailbox and the mailbox post, respectively. For example, the outer surfaces of the upper and lower shields may have rounded surfaces. Alternatively, the outer surfaces of the upper and lower shields may have angular surfaces. The lower shield may be contiguous to the upper shield. The upper shield and the lower shield can be formed as a single unit. The shields may be provided separately from the mailbox and post, or formed integral to the mailbox and post.

1 . A protective device for a mailbox assembly comprising: 
 an upper shield adapted for attachment to a mailbox;    a lower shield adapted for attachment to a mailbox post;    wherein outer surfaces of said upper and lower shields are contoured to deflect forces away from said mailbox and said mailbox post, respectively.    
   
   
       2 . A protective device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said outer surfaces of said upper and lower shields comprise rounded surfaces.    
   
   
       3 . A protective device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said outer surface of said upper shield is semicircular in a horizontal plane; and    said outer surface of said lower shield is semicircular in a vertical plane.    
   
   
       4 . A protective device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said lower shield is contiguous to said upper shield.    
   
   
       5 . A protective device according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said upper shield and said lower shield are formed as a single unit.    
   
   
       6 . A protective device according to  claim 1  wherein: 
 said upper shield has a notch for operating a flag.    
   
   
       7 . A protective device according to  claim 1  wherein: 
 said lower shield extends from about a bottom of said mailbox to about a ground level.    
   
   
       8 . A protective device according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 at least one mailbox biasing member interposed between said upper shield and said mailbox for maintaining a distance between said mailbox and said upper shield.    
   
   
       9 . A protective device in accordance with  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 at least one mount for said mailbox biasing member, said mount adapted to dampen forces applied against said upper shield.    
   
   
       10 . A protective device in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein: 
 said mount is interposed between at least one of: (i) said upper shield and said mailbox biasing member; and (ii) said mailbox and said mailbox biasing member.    
   
   
       11 . A protective device in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 at least one post biasing member interposed between said lower shield and said mailbox post for maintaining a distance between said post and said lower shield.    
   
   
       12 . A protective device in accordance with  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 at least one mount for said post biasing member, said mount adapted to dampen forces applied against said lower shield.    
   
   
       13 . A protective device in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein: 
 said mount is interposed between at least one of: (i) said lower shield and said post biasing member; and (ii) said post and said post biasing member.    
   
   
       14 . A protective device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said upper and lower shields are adapted to be removably attached to said mailbox and said mailbox post, respectively.    
   
   
       15 . A protective device in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein: 
 said upper and lower shields are attached to said mailbox and said mailbox post using at least one of bolts, screws, straps, clamps, or zip ties.    
   
   
       16 . A protective device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said outer surfaces of said upper and lower shields comprise angular surfaces.    
   
   
       17 . A protective device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said outer surface of said upper shield is angular in a horizontal plane; and    said outer surface of said lower shield is angular in a vertical plane.    
   
   
       18 . A shielded mailbox assembly comprising: 
 a shielded mailbox stand;    a shielded mailbox adapted to be mounted on said shielded mailbox stand;    said shielded mailbox comprising an integral upper shield and a mailbox;    said shielded mailbox stand comprising an integral lower shield and a mailbox stand;    wherein outer surfaces of said integral upper and lower shields are contoured to deflect forces away from said mailbox and said mailbox stand, respectively.    
   
   
       19 . A shielded mailbox assembly according to  claim 18  further comprising: 
 a newspaper holder interposed between said integral upper shield and said mailbox.    
   
   
       20 . A method of protecting a mailbox assembly comprising: 
 attaching an upper shield to a mailbox;    attaching a lower shield to a mailbox post;    wherein outer surfaces of said upper shield and said lower shield are contoured to deflect forces away from said mailbox and said mailbox post, respectively.