Postal receptacle assembly and method of making same

Abstract

A postal receptacle assembly ( 20 A, 20 B, 20 C, 20 D) comprises a postal receptacle component ( 22 ) which is spatially framed by other components of the postal receptacle assembly. The other components include a horizontally-oriented stoop ( 24 ); two columns ( 26 ) mounted on the stoop and extending essentially vertically parallel in spaced apart relationship; and, a pediment ( 28 ) supported by the two columns. The postal receptacle component ( 22 ) is situated in a space ( 30 ) framed in two dimensions by the stoop ( 24 ), the pediment ( 28 ), and the two columns ( 26 ). In certain embodiments the postal receptacle assembly is configured to visually emulate the appearance of a building or portion of a building (e.g., a porch). One or more of the assembly components (known as “stylistic” components) may be formed with (or structurally and/or visually convey) selected architectural features. Preferably the architectural features of the stylistic components are architecturally compatible with or architecturally complementary to the building or structure having a vertical member (e.g., post, wall, or surface) upon which the postal receptacle assembly is to be attached or hung. Examples of stylistic components of the postal receptacle assembly include one or more of the column components and the pediment component.

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       15 . A method of fabricating a postal receptacle assembly using plural assembly components, at least some of the plural assembly components being of differing types, at least one of the differing types of assembly components comprising a postal receptacle component, the method comprising: 
 (1) selecting as a stylistic component at least one of the plural assembly components from a collection of assembly components of a same type, differing members of the collection having differing architectural features;    (2) connecting the plural assembly components including the stylistic component whereby the postal receptacle component occupies a space which is at least partially framed by another of the plural assembly components.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising selecting the stylistic component from the collection in accordance with one of architectural compatibility and architectural complement with a building to which the postal receptacle assembly is attached.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the differing types of assembly components further includes a stoop component; two column components; and a pediment component; and wherein the step of connecting the plural assembly components comprises: 
 mounting the postal receptacle component on the stoop component;    mounting the two column components on the stoop whereby the two column components extend essentially vertically in spaced apart relationship;    mounting the pediment component to tops of the two columns and above the postal receptacle component.    
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the stylistic component is one of the two column components, and wherein the members of the collection of column components include: 
 a column having a square cross section;    a column having a round cross section;    a column having a shaft with plural discrete shaft sections of differing cross sectional dimensions.    
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the stylistic component is the pediment component, and wherein the members of the collection of pediment components include: 
 an essentially rectangular pediment;    an open-topped or broken-apex pediment;    an open-bed or broken-bed pediment.    
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising connecting the plural assembly components whereby the connected components visually emulate an appearance of a building or portion of a building.  
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising selecting a color for each of the assembly components.