Abstract:
A mailbox open at one end with a door sized and configured for closing the open end hingedly attached at its lower edge to the lower edge of the open end. An elongate signal arm is pivotally attached at its lower end to one side of the mailbox to permit frictionless pivotal movement of the signal arm in a plane parallel to the one side of the mailbox. A pivot stop pin is attached to the one side of the mailbox to engage and stop the signal arm at first and second orientations, in the first of which the signal arm is reclined away from the open end of the mailbox, and in the second of which the signal arm is oriented upwardly and disposed in an over-center condition with respect to the pivot. A chain is connected at one end to the signal arm at a location away from the pivot and connected at the other end to the door at a location away from the hinge, the connection locations and length of the chain being such that the signal arm can be reclined in the first orientation when the door is closed, and such that the signal arm is drawn from the first orientation to the second orientation as the door is opened. The length of the chain is sufficient to permit the door to be rotated about its hinge from the closed position to a fully opened position in which the door hangs vertically below the hinge.