Mailbox door alert device

Abstract

A device that can be installed at a residence to alert the resident if and when the resident's mailbox is being or has been opened, the device having three major components, two of which are attached to the mailbox in a cooperating configuration to produce and relay a signal to the third component, which is a remote receiver in the residence, that the mailbox door is, or is being, opened. The first component is a first contact attached to the inside of the mailbox door, the second component is a second contact and transmitter attached to the inside of the mailbox, and the third component is a receiver that can have an aural signal, such as a beeper or buzzer, a visual signal, such as a light or diode, a mechanical signal, such as a vibrator, or a combination of any of these three.

Description

STATEMENT OF RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] The present patent application claims priority on U.S. of America Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 641,528 having a filing date of 6 Jan. 2005.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Technical Field [0003] The present invention generally is in the field of devices for alerting people that their mailbox has been opened, and more particularly is in the field of remote alert devices that send a signal, such as an aural and / or visual signal, from a mailbox to a remote station alerting people if and when their mailbox has been opened. [0004] 2. Prior Art [0005] Currently, the most common manner for a resident to know that his or her mailbox has been opened is by visual inspection. For example, if the mailbox door is open, the mailbox obviously has been opened. However, if the mailbox door is closed, the resident has no way of knowing whether the mailbox has been opened except by opening the mailbox himself or herself and peering inside to see i...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The invention is a device that can be installed at a residence to alert the resident if and when their mailbox is being opened. It consists of three main components: a first contact attached to the mailbox door, a second contact and transmitter attached to the inside of the mailbox, and a receiver in the residence. The first and second components can be magnets, adhesives, tapes, cords, or other attachment devices. When the mailbox is opened, the first component separates from the second component or is moved out of cooperative range of the second component, resulting in an open circuit that activates the transmitter of the second component. The open circuit causes the activation of the receiver, which alerts the residence to the opening of the mailbox. The invention is solar and battery powered and can also help prevent theft and announce the arrival of mail. It is an uncomplicated system to alert the resident that their mailbox door is being opened."

Problems solved by technology

However, if the mailbox door is closed, the resident has no way of knowing whether the mailbox has been opened except by opening the mailbox himself or herself and peering inside to see if there is any new mail present.

However, if there is no mail present, the resident would have no way of knowing whether the mail has been delivered and stolen or whether it has not been delivered at all.

Although this separate flag does provide an indication that the mailbox door has been opened, this separate flag can be lowered by anyone, including a mail thief, and therefore does not necessarily provide an alert to the resident that the mailbox has been opened.

There is also a need for such a device that is difficult to circumvent or deactivate by a potential mail thief.

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