TODAY’S PATENT – MAIL BOX TRAY

The MAIL BOX TRAY was invented by John K Shannahan on the 20th of September 1971, bearing patent number US3606140A.

This present invention generally relates to receptacles and more particularly to slideable receptacles for use in rural type mail boxes. In the past, various means have been devised for use in mail boxes for receiving letters, packages and the like. Commonly these devices have been slideably mounted with mechanical linkages operatively connecting such devices with the door of the box so that the same would move outwardly as the door opens. These devices, however, have been of limited acceptability first because of rust and dirt build-up in the mechanical linkages, and secondly, the systems are complex and difficult if not impossible to install on standard readily available boxes. The present invention has been developed after much research and study into the above-mentioned problems and is designed to provide a mail receiving tray which prevents letter size mail from being pushed to the back of the box and yet still allow bulky packages to be inserted therein.

The present invention also is simply installable in any standard size mail box of the type approved by the Postmaster General and without any mechanical linkage or attachments. It is an object, therefore, of the present invention to provide a mail receiving tray which is readily installable in any standard size mail box without use of tools and yet will move outwardly as the box door is opened. Another object of the present invention is to provide a mail receiving tray for insertion into a rural type mail box which prevents normal size mail from being pushed to the rear of the box while still allowing elongated bulky items to be place therein.