Remote mail delivery reporting system triggered by predetermined mail in a mailbox

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In the broadest aspect of the invention, an improved remote reporting system is provided which includes electrical means for detecting a selectively predetermined piece of mail introduced into a mailbox and sending a signal only when the presence of such piece of mail is so detected, and an electrical relay means of actuating, for example a telephone answering machine so that this information can be passed along to a telephone at a distant location.
In other aspects the electrical means may include a radio transmitter for installation with a mailbox and a detector for detecting the presence of the piece of mail, such detector being coupled to the transmitter for activating same.
The electrical means may include a tuned radio receiver remote from the transmitter for receiving a broadcast radio signal from the transmitter, or direct wiring, without radio transmission, may be employed.
The receiver is connected to the electrical relay means for activation thereof when the receiver receives the broadcast signal.
The electrical relay means includes a normally open relay connected to the receiver, such relay being closed by a signal from the receiver.
The electrical relay means includes a normally open relay connected to the receiver, such relay being closed by a signal from the receiver.
The electrical relay means also includes a normally open latching relay coupled to the relay to close the latching relay upon closure of the relay.
Quite often the relay is remotely located from the transmitter, and the electrical relay means is remotely located from a mailbox.
The magnetic material may be in the form of a simple adhesive or non adhesive tape or decal which can be placed inside or outside of the mail and which contains magnetic particles.
Such material in this form is commonly used in retail store security systems and even in the U.
S.
Patent and Trademark Office public search room on the patent copies and in libraries on books.
It may be desirable to use another type of magnetic material wherein the particles can be coded to identify the sender of the mail, for example, or other information which can then be passed along to a person receiving the announcement of receipt of such mail