Mail receptacle with delivery indicator

Abstract

The “Mail Receptacle with Delivery Indicator” is a device which will allow the user of the unit to visually detect the presence of mail without opening the unit, or even approaching said unit directly. There are several possible embodiments of said device, including but not limited to a unit which can be placed at the roadside in rural areas for delivery of mail, a unit which can be mounted on the outside wall of a house for delivery of mail in urban areas, a smaller unit, possibly assembled in groups, which could be used for multiple dwellings such as apartment complexes, a special unit to be placed inside a wall locker in a school, factory, or any other location in which wall lockers are used, or a decorative unit which could be placed on a desk or table to be used for personal or interoffice communication. The unit may also include a recording means which would allow a verbal message for the user of the mailbox to be recorded and played back at the convenience of the user. The unit may also include a security mechanism which prevents unauthorized persons from having access to mail within the unit. The unit may also include a protected area for displaying the name and/or house number of the user, providing easier identification of the proper unit for someone delivering mail.

1 . A mailbox which incorporates: 
 a) a mail delivery indicating apparatus wherein said apparatus is activated by the deposit of mail into said mailbox;    b) a recording and playback device by which verbal messages can be deposited for the owner of said mailbox, and retrieved only by said owner.    
   
   
       2 . The mailbox of  claim 1  wherein said mail delivery indicating apparatus is activated by the deposit of mail into said mailbox in at least one of the following methods: 
 a) the deposit of mail in said mailbox serves to interrupt a sensor beam traveling between two opposing points within said mailbox, causing a connection to be completed which allows said mail delivery indicating apparatus to become active;    b) the deposit of mail in said mailbox blocks a light sensor mechanism causing a connection to be completed which allows said mail delivery indicating apparatus to become active;    c) the weight of mail deposited in said mailbox causes a rocker arm mechanism to descend, causing two contact points to touch and complete a circuit which allows said mail delivery indicating apparatus to become active.    
   
   
       3 . The mailbox of  claim 1  wherein said mail delivery indicating apparatus is comprised of at least one of the following indicating methods: 
 a) an LED light display which is located on the outside of said mailbox to be visible from a distance and remain visible until said mail has been removed;    b) a light display located within said mailbox where said mailbox is made of a transparent material to be visible from outside said mailbox and remain visible until said mail has been removed;    c) an audio display created by the inclusion of an audio chip within said mailbox, which creates a single sound indicating that mail has been received;    d) an audio display created by the inclusion of an audio chip within said mailbox which creates a periodic sound indicating that mail has been received, and continuing until said mail has been removed.    
   
   
       4 . The mailbox of  claim 1  wherein power is supplied to said mail delivery indicating apparatus by at least one of: replaceable batteries, rechargeable batteries, or an alternative power source such as solar power.  
   
   
       5 . The mailbox of  claim 1  wherein power is supplied to said recording and playback device incorporated within said mailbox by at least one of: replaceable batteries, rechargeable batteries, or an alternative power source such as solar power.  
   
   
       6 . The mailbox of  claim 1  wherein said mailbox incorporates magnetic strips on one side of said mailbox to allow said mailbox to be positioned securely on the inside of the door of a metal wall locker in such a manner that communications which are inserted through ventilation slits in said door of said wall locker by others with access to the area housing said wall lockers, would be contained within said mailbox.  
   
   
       7 . The mailbox of  claim 6  wherein said mailbox incorporates an additional attaching means which would be inserted through one or more of said ventilation slits in said locker door, allowing said mailbox to be attached even more securely to the inside of said door of said wall locker.  
   
   
       8 . The mailbox of  claim 1  wherein said mailbox additionally comprises an attaching means on one side of said mailbox to allow said mailbox to be positioned on an outside wall of a house to receive mail deliveries, and a protective bumper to prevent damage to said wall.  
   
   
       9 . The mailbox of  claim 1  wherein said mailbox may be attached to a post to allow said mailbox to be positioned at a roadside or curb to receive mail deliveries.  
   
   
       10 . The mailbox of  claim 1  wherein said mailbox may incorporate a stand, either permanently attached or detachable, to allow said mailbox to be positioned on a desk or table to receive household or interoffice communications.  
   
   
       11 . The mailbox of  claim 1  wherein said mailbox additionally comprises a locking mechanism which prevents said mail from being tampered with once it has been deposited into said mailbox, by insuring that only an authorized user can gain access to deposited mail.  
   
   
       12 . The mailbox of  claim 1  wherein said mailbox additionally comprises a name and address indicator to assist delivery personnel in locating the proper mailbox.