[0001]    This disclosure relates to novel constructions for shielding standard mounted rural type or curb side mail boxes from impact damage due to snow plow debris, natural forces, and drive-by vandalism, which in the absence of such shielding constructions would in many instances impair, destroy, or impede the functionality of the mail box and/or result in serious disfigurement of the mail box. 
         [0002]    Roadside signs and mail boxes are often damaged by impact of debris, e.g. ice, snow, rocks, sand, and the like, thrown up by snow plows working close to the edge of a road. Also, drive-by vandalism of mail boxes by vandals using clubs and bats to strike the mail boxes off their posts is becoming increasingly common. Some examples of prior protectors for mail boxes and signs are as follows: 
         [0003]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,187,978 discloses a flexible shield or cage surrounding a portion of a mail box which utilizes a hinge and shear pin arrangement; U.S. Pat. No. 4,368,842 discloses a cage formed of spaced apart impact resistant members surrounding a mail box; and, other examples include U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,460,326, 6,109,519, 6,308,884, 5,143,285, 5,206,377, and Des 365,190. 
         [0004]    However, the preceding patents utilize complex and cumbersome mounting mechanisms or fail to sufficiently protect the entire sign or mail box, along with an associated mounting post or mail box standard, and only protect the receptacle for the sign or mail box. The preceding patents also fail to shield the mail boxes from unwanted accumulation of snow debris around the mail box and supporting structure. 
         [0005]    The present apparatus is designed and configured to eliminate costly damage to rural mail boxes and the associated supports or mounting posts therefor when impacted by snow plow debris, clubs/bats, and projectiles. In many cases the mounting posts or mail box standards are decorative and are at least as valuable as the mail box mounted thereto. 
         [0006]    The U.S. Postal Service requires replacement of damaged mail boxes, if mail service is to be continued. In some areas of the country experiencing heavy snowfalls, the damage inflicted on rural mail boxes during the winter season by snow plows gives rise to an annual spring ritual of mail box replacement or repair. 
         [0007]    Vandalism is also a year round occurrence and is difficult to deter. Frequently the vandal uses a baseball bat or similar club like weapon to strike the mail box denting or even crushing the rather thin gauge metal (e.g. 22 gauge), or plastic, used in the mail box construction. 
         [0008]    There is no known patent art relating specifically to flexible, semi-rigid, or rigid impact resistant and/or protective shields for rural mail boxes and their associated mounting posts. The present disclosure provides a shield, shroud, or panel for the protection of the mail box and associated mounting post, support column, or mail box standard and is so configured as to provide an impact barrier between the impact force and the exterior surfaces of a rural type mail box. The shield can be adapted for attachment to the usual mail box standards and/or attachment to the ground for rural type mail boxes in such manner that any impact force exteriorly applied to the shield is deflected, resisted, absorbed and/or dampened. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0009]    The present disclosure provides a device for protecting a mail box and an associated support column. The device comprises a shield having an arcuate form in a mounted position for shielding the mail box and at least a portion of the associated supporting column extending therefrom. The device includes a first leg extending along one side of the supporting column and the mail box and a second leg extending along another opposing side of the column and the mail box. A semi-rigid member is provided and includes an arcuate portion connecting the first leg and the second leg for absorbing and deflecting the impact of collisional objects. The arcuate portion extends over and above at least a top side of the mail box. The devices further include a first series of apertures at a distal end of the first leg and a second series of apertures at a distal end of the second leg. A mounting arrangement is also provided including a first mounting anchor extending from at least one of the first series of apertures and a second mounting anchor extending from at least one of the second series of apertures. The first and second anchors are adapted for extending into the ground surface adjacent to the mail box and the support column. 
         [0010]    The present disclosure further provides a method for preventing snowplow debris from striking a mail box. The method comprises providing a mail box assembly including at least one mail box housing and at least one vertical support post attached to the at least one mail box housing. The method further comprises providing a continuous arcuate panel having a first leg, a second leg, a top member, a fore edge and an aft edge, wherein the first leg and the second leg have substantially the same height. The top member extends above the at least one mail box housing. The top member provides a continuous connection between the first leg and the second leg to limit a maximum relative distance therebetween and is positioned such that the top member remains proximal to a top side of the at least one mail box for deflecting the snowplow debris from all sides of the mail box. 
         [0011]    The present disclosure still further provides a method of preventing snowplow debris from striking a mail box. The method comprises providing a mail box assembly including at least one mail box housing and at least one vertical support column for mounting the at least one mail box housing thereto. The method further comprises providing an arcuate panel having a first leg, a second leg, a top member, a fore edge and an aft edge. The first and second legs can have substantially the same height. The top member connects the first and second legs and extends above the at least one mail box housing. The method still further comprises providing a pair of anchors wherein each of the anchors has a bottom end and a top end. The top end of one of the anchors being fixedly and directly attached to a side of the first leg and the top end of the other of the anchors being fixedly and directly attached to a side of the second leg. The method further provides for extending the bottom ends of each of the anchors into the ground surface proximal to the vertical support column. 
         [0012]    The present disclosure still further provides a device for protection of a mail box and an associated support column. The device comprises a shield having an arcuate form in a mounted position for shielding the mail box and at least a portion of the associated support column extending therefrom. The shield includes a first leg extending along one side of the support column and the mail box and a second leg extending along another opposing side of the support column and the mail box. The shield can include a spring member hingedly connecting the first leg and the second leg for damping the initial impact of collisional objects. The spring member comprises a curved portion extending over and above a top side of the mail box. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    In the accompanying drawings, in which are shown various illustrative embodiments of this disclosure, 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a rural type mail box mounted on a mail box standard and surrounded by a shield according to a first embodiment; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the same rural type mail box and protective shield as in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a detailed top plan view of a shield according to a second embodiment; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the shield shown in  FIG. 3  surrounding a mail box and another mail box standard; and, 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a side view of the shield of  FIG. 3  surrounding a rural mail box and still another mail box standard. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]    Referring now in detail to the drawings, the presently described shield or panel, in one embodiment, is illustrated by  FIGS. 1 and 2  and designated as  10  in each instance. As shown, the shield  10  comprises an arched configuration having first and second legs  12 ,  14 . A connecting or top portion  16  having an arcuate form connects the first and second legs  12 ,  14 . The top portion  16  is bent or shaped to conform generally to the curvature of a top  30  and parallel sides  32 ,  34  of a typical rural mail box  36 . An apex  40  of the shield  10  is positioned approximately adjacent to the apex or top  42  of the associated mail box  36 . The first and second legs  12 ,  14 , along with the connecting top portion  16  provides a continuous and seamless panel or shield  10  that shrouds the associated mail box  36  and a mail box standard  50  or mounting post connected thereto. The width W of the shield  10  corresponds substantially to the depth or length L of mail box  36 , but if desired can extend some distance beyond each end of mail box  36  to provide additional impact protection against impact forces directed mainly against either the front or rear ends of the mail box  36 . An extension  121  (see  FIG. 3 ) over either end of the mail box  36  can act to serve as a canopy or ‘awning’ thereby providing additional protection from the elements and snow plow debris. 
         [0020]    The bottom areas  13 ,  15  of the first and second legs  12 ,  14  can be provided with drilled, punched, or molded apertures  20 ,  22 . The apertures  20 ,  22  enable shield  10  as shown in  FIG. 2  to be mounted to the ground. The apertures  20  also enable one side or leg to be fastened to the other opposing side or leg (refer to  FIG. 4 ). It is to be appreciated that the series of apertures  20 ,  22  enables a large degree of flexibility and adjustment of the shield whether mounted to the ground, mounted one leg to another leg, and/or mounted to the mail box standard  50 . The apertures  20 ,  22  also enable fore and aft adjustment mounting such that the shield  10  can be moved fore and aft relative to the mail box  36  in order to accommodate, for example, a center mounted standard  50  or rear mounted/positioned standards  150 ,  250 . The series of apertures  20 ,  22  enables adjustment of the shield&#39;s position to accommodate different types of mail box mounting arrangements to the standard, i.e. a mail box hanging from a horizontal wood support beam extending from a vertical post  250  (refer to  FIG. 5 ). The apertures  20 ,  22  also allow air and water to pass therethrough thereby providing a structure more resistant to wind forces and accumulation of rain and melting snow. 
         [0021]    Referring again to  FIG. 1  wherein one example of a mounting arrangement is therein shown. In this example, the shield  10  can be mounted to the ground for obtaining a strong impact resistant mounting of shield  10  to the ground. As shown in the  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the first leg  12  and the second leg  14  can include a first foot  62  and a second foot  64 , respectively, at each end. The feet  62 ,  64  can include apertures  22  provided for mounting anchors  66 , at one end, in any number of selective positions thereto. The mounting anchors  66  at the other opposing end can be driven into the ground. The mounting anchors  66  can be selectively and positionally placed in any one or more apertures in order to accommodate the preferred position of the shield relative to the mail box  36  and mail box standard  50 , as well as, accommodate any structural elements proximal to the base of the mail box standard  50 . 
         [0022]    Maximum shielding from snowplow debris, or similar, and maximum protection against any denting of mail box  36  is to be found in the arch shaped structure depicted in the drawings. All side surfaces of mail box  36  are completely shielded by the panel  10  which can be spaced from the surface of mail box  36  as shown in the FIGURES, but if desired it can be in actual contact with the external surfaces of mail box  36 . In order to resist denting from the type of damage force usually inflicted on mail boxes, shield  10  can have a nominal thickness of about ⅛th inch but obviously still greater protection is obtained with increased thickness of the plastic panel, i.e. ¼th to ½ inch. In one example, the shield can comprise a plastic material reinforced as for example by fiber glass cloth or fiber glass strands, carbon fibers or steel mesh and included a nominal thickness of at least about 3/16th inch. 
         [0023]    In one embodiment, shield  10  is constructed of high impact strength plastic materials. Among the suitable plastic materials useful for the construction of a shield according to the present disclosure are the polyolefins such as polyethylene, polypropylene and modified copolymers thereof, polyamides such as nylon 6-6, polycarbonates, polysufones, polyacrylics, vinyl halide polymers and copolymers, ABS polymers, epoxies, heat-hardenable phenol-aldehyde resins, urea-formaldehyde resins and melamine aldehyde resins. All of these plastics may be used in combination with impact reinforcing fillers such as glass fiber, nylon or polyester fiber, carbon fiber or metal fibers to further enhance their impact and flexural strengths. The plastic may be used as the binder component in laminated structures of paper, organic or inorganic fabric, or wood as in plywood structures. 
         [0024]    As a substitute for plastic in the construction of the shield, the use of wood or metal materials is within the contemplation of this disclosure, provided that such materials are utilized in a manner as to provide impact protection substantially equivalent to that obtainable from the use of plastic materials. If it is desired to have a metal shield of the same width as the plastic shield, then the metal shield thickness could be a relative fraction thereof of the plastic thickness, for example, of the order of four or more depending on the flexural and tensile strength values of the particular metal material. 
         [0025]    The FIGURES depict a shield structure forming an arch shaped panel  10  such that the first leg  12 , top member  16 , and second leg  14  can be molded into a unitary structure as by plastic injection molding techniques. The shield can alternatively be cast from any suitable sheet metal including, for example, steel, tin, or aluminum. The shield can comprise a width and a thickness such that the cross-sectional area formed from a suitable plastic molding material not only has a high impact strength at summer temperatures, but also does not become brittle at or below freezing temperatures. 
         [0026]    If a flexible or semi-rigid material is used for the shield, the top member  16  acts as a spring or impact absorption mechanism. Upon impact to one of the legs  12 ,  14 , the shield  10  absorbs the force by allowing the legs  12 ,  14  and the top member  16  to deflect and push back against the mail box standard  50 . The one-piece shield or shroud  10  about the mail box  36  and mail box standard  50  having legs  12 ,  14  disposed respectively parallel and in spaced relation to the opposite side faces of the mail box  36 , enables a portion of the impact from an object striking a first leg  12  on one side of the shield to be transmitted to the oppositely disposed leg  14  through flexible top or spring member  16 . Upon completion of the impact, the shield  10  releases back to the original position. A flexible or semi-rigid material also allows the shield  10  to conform to other shapes so as to, for example, protect side-by-side mail boxes or side-by-side mail box and newspaper receptacle. 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4  there is shown another embodiment of a shield  110  and another mounting position for mounting shield  110  around a mail box standard  150  and mail box  36 . In this embodiment, the arched top portion  116  includes a cutout or notch  117  along the aft edge  119 . The cutout  117  is generally centered proximal to the apex  140  of the shield  110  in the mounted position. The cutout  117  provides for fore and aft movement of the shield  110  and for enabling placement of the shield  110  around a vertical post  152  of a rear oriented mail box standard  150 . In this mounting arrangement the shield  110  provides protection to the mail box  36  and a majority of the mail box standard  150 . 
         [0028]    As discussed above, the protective shield  110  can be mounted without anchoring to the ground ( FIG. 4 ). In this manner, one leg  112  can be connected to another leg  114  via connecting members  118  positioned in front of the mailbox standard  150  and/or behind the mail box standard  50 . It is to be appreciated that in this arrangement each leg  112  can be anchored to the other opposing leg  114 . The shield  110  can be selectively positioned fore and aft in order to provide the maximum protection to the mail box  36  and mail box standard  150 . 
         [0029]    It is to be appreciated that the shield  10 ,  110  can be easily mounted or anchored adjacent an existing mail box and standard. The shield  10 ,  110  does not require mounting to the mail box  36  or the mail box standard  50 ,  150 . The shield  10 ,  110  does not require removal of the mail box  36  from the standard  50 ,  150  in order to mount the shield  10 ,  110 . The shield  10 ,  110  can be free standing, self-supporting, or anchored into the ground. Accordingly, it is rather evident that the shield can be readily fabricated to match the configuration of any mail box whose design and mounting height have been approved by the U.S. Postmaster General. In addition, the shield  10 ,  110  does not restrict either end of the mail box and thereby allows access to a ‘passthrough’ type of mail box wherein the postal carrier accesses the fore end of the mail box and the resident accesses the aft end of the mail box. The “passthrough’ also allows snow debris to move therethrough to avoid detrimental accumulation under the shield. 
         [0030]    A chain type mounting of mail box  36  is illustrated in  FIG. 5 . Another mail box standard  250  is therein shown and includes a vertical post  252  having attached thereto a horizontal beam  254  extending somewhat beyond the front end of mail box  36 . Near the front end of beam  254 , one end of a chain  260  is attached thereto by means of a screw eye  262 . The other end of the chain has an eye bolt attached thereto and is insertable into mating apertures through the top of mail box  36  wherein the inserted eye bolt can be retained, for example, in position by a nut and washer (not illustrated). A rear chain is similarly fastened to the top of mail box  36 . The mail box suspension attachment system illustrated in  FIG. 5 , as with the other attachment systems herein described, is adequately accommodated by the aforementioned embodiments of the shield  10 ,  110  and the associated mounting arrangements. 
         [0031]    The aforementioned description provides an apparatus for a protective device for a mail box or sign. As previously described, various problems exist for protective devices for signs or mail boxes. For example, they fail to sufficiently protect the entire sign or mail box, and/or only protect the receptacle for the sign or mail box. Likewise, they fail to give proper notice of address and other information. In contrast, in one aspect, the claimed subject matter depicts a protective shield  10 ,  110  that is sturdy and easy to assemble and offers various mounting options. The claimed subject matter depicts a panel or shield  10 ,  110  coupled to support anchors  66 ,  118  via a series of apertures  20 ,  22  extending through the legs or feet of the shield. In one exemplary embodiment, the protective shield can utilize at least one of the legs  12 ,  112 ,  14 ,  114  to display a customized message, poster or sign, and may include an address, name plate, and/or outgoing mail flag indicator (not illustrated). Likewise, in another embodiment, a photoelectric cell light or reflector may be coupled to the protective shield to offer illumination or attention for an address. 
         [0032]    In one exemplary arrangement, the protective device  10 ,  110  can be positioned such that the top member extends generally 60 inches in height. The shield can generally be 30 inches in width. The support anchors may comprise 1 inch pipe, rebar, stakes, or similar. In alternative embodiments, the top member may be flat shaped. The claimed subject matter is not limited to the previously described mounting positions/locations. For example, multiple shields, such as two, can be positioned in series so as to form a ‘deeper’ shield around the mail box(s). 
         [0033]    While certain exemplary embodiments have been described and shown in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that such embodiments are merely illustrative of and not restrictive on the broad disclosure, and that this disclosure not be limited to the specific constructions and arrangements shown and described, since various other modifications may occur to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon studying this disclosure or from the scope of the appended claims.
According to the present disclosure impact damage to a mail box and an associated support column can be prevented or at least minimized. In addition, adverse weather related affects can be minimized by the provision of a device comprising a shield having an arcuate form in a mounted position for shielding the mail box and at least a portion of the associated supporting column extending therefrom. The device includes a first leg extending along one side of the supporting column and the mail box and a second leg extending along another opposing side of the column and the mail box. A connecting member is provided and includes an arcuate portion connecting the first leg and the second leg for absorbing and deflecting the impact of collisional objects. The arcuate portion extends over and above at least a top side of the mail box.