Mailbox Door Restraint

Abstract

Door stop and impact absorber bracket for restraining mailbox doors from opening beyond a selected swing radius. The bracket can fit underneath the mailbox behind an existing lower hanging lip. The door stop bracket is positioned such that it limits the door from swinging beyond a desired point (for example approximately 90 degrees) when the door is opened. The bracket can have an elongated rectangular planar central portion, with bent ends, together forming a generally C-shape. The bracket can have cushion pad to protect both the door, hinges other components and even the body of the mail box from being damaged from excessive vibrations when the door reaches the maximum opening point. The pad can also reduce objectionable impact noise effects that are created when a mailbox door accelerates in a free fall to a stop.

1 - 9 . (canceled) 
   
   
       10 . A stop bracket for preventing mailbox doors from opening beyond a generally horizontal orientation, comprising:
 a rectangular planar member;   a first bent end on the planar member for attaching the bracket to a left lower protruding edge of a mailbox;   a second bent end on the planar member for attaching the bracket to a right lower protruding edge of the mailbox, wherein a portion of the planar member functions as a bumper to prevent the mailbox door from opening beyond a generally horizontal position.   
   
   
       11 . The stop bracket of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a first opening in the first bent end for allowing a fastener to fasten the bracket to the left lower protruding edge of the mailbox; and   a second opening in the second bent end for allowing another fastener to fasten the bracket to the right lower protruding edge of the mailbox.   
   
   
       12 - 15 . (canceled) 
   
   
       16 . A mailbox, comprising:
 a chamber having at least one open end with a front edge and lower hanging side edges which extend beneath a floor of the chamber;   a door pivotally attached to the open end of the chamber;   a stop located beneath the floor of the chamber and between the lower hanging side edges, so that the stop is adjacent to and behind the front edge of the chamber, wherein the stop provides for limiting a swing opening radius of the door by a portion of the lower edge of the door abutting against a portion of the bracket.   
   
   
       17 . A mailbox for receiving mail, comprising:
 a chamber having at least one open end with a front edge, and lower hanging side edges which extend beneath a floor of the chamber;   a door pivotally attached to the open end of the chamber; and   an elongated member located beneath the floor of the chamber and between the lower hanging side edges such that the elongated member is adjacent to and behind the front edge of the open end of the chamber, wherein the elongated member provides for limiting a swing opening radius of the door by a portion of the lower edge of the door abutting against a portion of the elongated member.