Post Shield Structure to Deflect Snowplow Damage and Snow Accumulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mailbox protection systems fail to effectively safeguard mailboxes and posts from damage caused by snowplows and heavy snow accumulation, particularly in areas with high snowfall, while also adhering to US Postal Service and Federal Highway Administration standards.
Innovation Solution
A post shield system comprising a base support, post shield boards, and an upper frame support that interconnect with the mailbox post, featuring a V-shape configuration and adjustable positioning to deflect snow and ice without violating safety standards, and includes a kit for easy assembly and disassembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a mailbox post is made stable and sturdy to support the mailbox, then the mailbox remains secure and upright, but the post becomes vulnerable to damage from snowplows and heavy snow accumulation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a protective device as an intermediary element between the mailbox post and the external environment. This device includes a cylindrical protective covering that surrounds the post and extends below ground level, acting as a mediator that absorbs and deflects forces from snowplows and heavy snow, thereby protecting the actual mailbox post from direct damage while maintaining its stability function
2Ease of operation
If the mailbox post is positioned closer to the road to meet US Postal Service standards, then mail delivery accessibility is improved, but the post becomes more exposed to damage from snowplows and roadside snow accumulation
Solution Approach 1:
The protective device serves as an intermediary shield that enables the mailbox post to be positioned in the optimal location for mail delivery accessibility. By providing a protective barrier against snow and snowplows, the device allows the post to be placed closer to the road as required by postal standards without suffering excessive damage from roadside snow accumulation
3Object-affected harmful factors
If heavy-duty supports like concrete posts or metal pipes are used to protect against snowplows, then protection against damage is improved, but the supports become unyielding and potentially dangerous to vehicles and mail carriers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the local quality principle by providing protection only where needed - the cylindrical protective covering surrounds only the portion of the post that is vulnerable to snowplow damage (extending below ground level and around the embedded portion). The mailbox itself and the above-ground portion of the post remain unchanged and yieldable, maintaining safety for vehicles and mail carriers while providing localized protection against the specific threat of snowplow damage
Solution Approach 2:
The protective device changes the physical parameters of the post system by adding a cylindrical covering with specific dimensions (extending below ground level and around the embedded portion). This modification alters the structural characteristics locally, providing increased resistance to snowplow forces at the vulnerable embedded portion while maintaining the original yieldable characteristics of the exposed post and mailbox
Data Source
AI summary
A post shield to protect a mailbox and a post from damage caused by snowplows, snow, sleet, ice, or combinations thereof. The post shield has a base support, at least one post shield board, and an upper frame support that are interconnected to the post to create a post shield. The base support has (1) a front plate, (2) a rear plate capable of being positioned a post shield distance from the front plate to form a shield aperture, wherein the post shield distance permits the post shield board to be (a) removably received between the front plate and the rear plate and (b) essentially vertically leveled when positioned in the base support, and (3) a frame base capable of receiving a portion of the corresponding post. The post shield board and the post each have at least one upper frame slot that receive the upper frame support.