Mailbox mounting system

Abstract

A system mounts a mailbox to an upstanding post defining an upper portion of the post. The system includes a plate adapted to mount the mailbox and defining a lower surface and an upper surface of the plate, the upper surface being adapted to support a lower surface of the mailbox. A sleeve extends downwardly from the lower surface of the plate, is adapted to matingly receive the upper portion of the post, and defines at least one interior wall of the sleeve. The interior wall defines at least one rib of the interior wall adapted to contact an exterior surface of the upper portion to fittingly secure the post within the sleeve and, thus, mount the mailbox to the post. The sleeve is also adapted to be matingly received by the upper portion of the post. Multiple mailboxes can be supported by a single system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for mounting a mailbox to an upstanding post defining a closed-ended upper portion of the post, said system comprising:
 a plate adapted to mount the mailbox and defining a lower surface and an upper surface of said plate, said upper surface being adapted to support a lower surface of the mailbox;   a sleeve extending downwardly from said lower surface of said plate, adapted to matingly receive the upper portion of the post, and defining at least one interior wall of said sleeve, wherein said interior wall defines at least one rib of said interior wall adapted to contact an exterior surface of the upper portion of the post to fittingly secure the post within said sleeve and, thus, mount the mailbox to the post; and   a support member attached to said plate and adapted to support the lower surface of the mailbox such that the mailbox extends substantially transversely with respect to said plate and a sufficient amount of space is defined to at least one side of the mailbox for at least another mailbox to be supported by said plate.   
     
     
         2 . The mailbox-mounting system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein each of said lower and upper surfaces of said plate is substantially planar. 
     
     
         3 . The mailbox-mounting system as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein said upper surface of said plate is substantially coplanar with the lower surface of the mailbox. 
     
     
         4 . The mailbox-mounting system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said plate defines a rim that depends from and at least partially outlines said lower surface of said plate and, in combination with said lower surface of said plate, defines an interior of said plate in which an array of a plurality of ribs is disposed, respective portions of said array being attached to said rim, sleeve, and lower surface of said plate to provide structural integrity to said system. 
     
     
         5 . The mailbox-mounting system as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein said rim of said plate is substantially uniform, integrally depends from and completely outlines said lower surface of said plate, and defines a bottom edge of said rim that is disposed substantially flush with respect to a bottom edge defined by said array of ribs. 
     
     
         6 . The mailbox-mounting system as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein a portion of the mailbox is adapted to interferingly fit about at least a portion of said rim of said plate to mount said plate to the mailbox. 
     
     
         7 . The mailbox-mounting system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said plate defines a length and width of said plate that are greater than a corresponding length and width defined by said sleeve and said plate defines a height of said plate that is lesser than a height defined by said sleeve. 
     
     
         8 . The mailbox-mounting system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said sleeve integrally extends downwardly from a substantially central portion of said lower surface of said plate. 
     
     
         9 . The mailbox-mounting system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said sleeve defines a plurality of interior walls of said sleeve each of which defines a plurality of ribs of said interior wall adapted to contact the exterior surface of the upper portion of the post to fittingly secure the post within said sleeve. 
     
     
         10 . A system for mounting a mailbox to an upstanding post defining an open-ended upper portion of the post, said system comprising:
 a plate adapted to mount the mailbox and defining a lower surface and an upper surface of said plate, said upper surface being adapted to support a lower surface of the mailbox;   a sleeve extending downwardly from said lower surface of said plate, adapted to be matingly received by the upper portion of the post, and defining at least one exterior wall of said sleeve, wherein said exterior wall defines at least one rib of said exterior wall adapted to contact an interior surface of the upper portion of the post to fittingly secure said sleeve within the post and, thus, mount the mailbox to the post; and   a support member attached to said plate and adapted to support the lower surface of the mailbox such that the mailbox extends substantially transversely with respect to said plate and a sufficient amount of space is defined to at least one side of the mailbox for at least another mailbox to be supported by said plate.   
     
     
         11 . The mailbox-mounting system as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein each of said lower and upper surfaces of said plate is substantially planar. 
     
     
         12 . The mailbox-mounting system as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein said upper surface of said plate is substantially coplanar with the lower surface of the mailbox. 
     
     
         13 . The mailbox-mounting system as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein said plate defines a rim that depends from and at least partially outlines said lower surface of said plate and, in combination with said lower surface of said plate, defines an interior of said plate in which an array of a plurality of ribs is disposed, respective portions of said array being attached to said rim, sleeve, and lower surface of said plate to provide structural integrity to said system. 
     
     
         14 . The mailbox-mounting system as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein said rim of said plate is substantially uniform, integrally depends from and completely outlines said lower surface of said plate, and defines a bottom edge of said rim that is disposed substantially flush with respect to a bottom edge defined by said array of ribs. 
     
     
         15 . The mailbox-mounting system as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein a portion of the mailbox is adapted to interferingly fit about at least a portion of said rim of said plate to mount said plate to the mailbox. 
     
     
         16 . The mailbox-mounting system as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein said plate defines a length and width of said plate that are greater than a corresponding length and width defined by said sleeve and said plate defines a height of said plate that is lesser than a height defined by said sleeve. 
     
     
         17 . The mailbox-mounting system as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein said sleeve integrally extends downwardly from a substantially central portion of said lower surface of said plate. 
     
     
         18 . The mailbox-mounting system as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein said sleeve defines a plurality of exterior walls of said sleeve each of which defines a plurality of ribs of said exterior wall adapted to contact the interior surface of the upper portion of the post to fittingly secure said sleeve within the post. 
     
     
         19 . The mailbox-mounting system as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein said system comprises further a support member attached to said plate and adapted to support the lower surface of the mailbox such that the mailbox extends substantially transversely with respect to said plate and a sufficient amount of space is defined to at least one side of the mailbox for at least another mailbox to be supported by said plate.