Mail Box Shield

United States Patent Application 20140069996

The objective of the invention is to deflect snow thrown by a snow plow to prevent damage and lack of accessibility to mail boxes. The drawing scale is 1:8. Engineered drawings now completed. A model has been fabricated and constructed. A plastics engineer is required to determine the proper plastic/synthetic materials and the thicknesses of the side walls and bracing. Changes to follow.

Pickens, Charles O. (Farmington, CT, US)

13/747845

03/13/2014

01/23/2013

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PICKENS CHARLES O.

232/17

A47G29/122

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MILLER, WILLIAM L

Charles Pickens (Farmington, CT, US)

1. Shields roadside mail boxes from snow plowing damage utilizing its leading edge construction.

2. Existing home made devices are unstable, easily destructible and difficult to manage in set-up, take-down and storage.

3. The Shield is medium weight, sturdy, durable, indestructible, easily erected and taken down for storage.

The invention is a shield that protects roadside mail boxes from snow plowing damage by deflecting oncoming snow with its leading edge angled front design.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

The device is comprised of the following components as pictured in drawings as follows:

FIG. 1A depicts the assembled view of all components as they would be when erected.

FIG. 1B depicts the exploded view of the component parts prior to assembly with the stakes and stock carriage bolts, nuts and washers.

FIG. 2 depicts the inside, outside, top, bottom and side views of the sidewall (2) that are interchangeable to be fastened top and bottom with the rear connector bars and front connector plates with carriage bolts.

FIG. 3 depicts the rear connector bar (2) that are interchangeable and fastened at the top and bottom to the trailing edges of the sidewalls with carriage bolts.

FIG. 4 depicts the front connector plate (2) that are interchangeable and fastened to the top and bottom to the leading edges of the sidewalls with carriage bolts.

FIG. 5 depicts the stake (5) that are interchangeable and driven into the ground thru the predrilled, angled holes in the sidewalls and bottom front connector plate.

Optional—1 Stake and adjustable tension strap (stock item, optional use).

All elements are necessary. Additional optional reflectors, numbers and art work may be affixed.

The leading edge of the Mail Box Shield deflects snow off both sides. Snow accumulating at open side bottoms freezes and adds reinforcement.

Manufacturer must injection mold or press mold the sidewall and rear connector bar and front connector plate of plastic/synthetic material which withstands low temperatures and blunt force. Stake must be formed from extruded or molded similar material.

To erect the shield before ground freezes, level a 24 inch semi-circle on the ground surface on the oncoming traffic side of mail box.

Assemble the Mail Box Shield by attaching the interchangeable 2 sidewalls with the interchangeable 2 rear connector bars and interchangeable 2 front connector plates using the 8 carriage bolts. Position at the oncoming side of the mail box and drive Stakes thru the angled bottom holes in the sidewalls into ground.

After the ground thaws pull the stakes, unbolt the connector bars, and repack and store for spring-summer-autumn season.