Electronic mailbox system

摘要

An electronic mailbox system features: a mailbox housing with an inner cavity and slot for holding mail, a lid, an electrically-operable lock system for the lid, a mail sensor for detecting the mail being inserted into the slot, a first transmitter, a first receiver and a mailbox microprocessor; and a control box with a second transmitter, a second receiver, a control box indicator light, an unlock button, a reset button, and a control box microprocessor. When the mail sensor detects mail delivery the control box indicator light becomes illuminated. When the unlock button is pushed the lock system unlocks. When the reset button is pressed the indicator light is deactivated. An alarm system may be activated upon receipt of mail and/or if a tamper sensor detects tampering. Another embodiment features control and monitoring of the mailbox via a mobile consumer electronics device, as a smart phone or tablet.

主权项

1. An electronic mailbox system comprising:
a mailbox comprising: (i) a housing having an inner cavity for holding a piece of mail; (ii) a lid moveable between an open position and a closed position respectively allowing and preventing access to the inner cavity; (iii) an electrically-operable lock system operatively connected to the lid, the lock system being movable between a locked position which secures the lid in the closed position and an unlocked position which permits the lid to be moved to the open position; (iv) a slot disposed in the mailbox housing for accommodating the piece of mail through the slot and into the inner cavity; (v) a mail sensor for detecting the piece of mail inserted into the cavity through the slot; (vi) a first transmitter and a first receiver; and (vii) a first processor operatively connected to each of the mail sensor, the lock system, the first transmitter, and the first receiver; a handheld mobile device comprising a smart phone or tablet computer that is arranged to connect to a wireless telecommunications network and comprises (i) a second transmitter and a second receiver; (ii) at least one output device; (iii) at least one input device; and (iv) a second processor operably connected to the second transmitter, the second receiver, the output device, and the input device; wherein the first processor at the mailbox is arranged to (i) in response to an internal mail received signal generated by the mail sensor upon receipt of the piece of mail in the inner cavity, transmit an external mail received signal from the first transmitter; and (ii) in response to receipt of an external unlock signal by the first receiver, send an internal unlock signal to the electrically-operable lock to effect movement thereof to the unlocked position; wherein the second processor is arranged to (i) in response to receipt of an incoming mail received signal at the second receiver via the a wireless telecommunications network, generate a received mail alert via the at least one output device of the handheld mobile device; and (ii) in response to an unlock command received from a user via the input device, transmit an outgoing unlock signal from the second transmitter of the handheld mobile device.