My mother likes to decorate our mailbox differently every year. I decided to design a stable platform on which to place whatever decorations she wanted.
Her mailbox is huge. Some assembly was required. Bolts and wing nuts secure the “stirrups” to the platform top. Small bungee cords stretch between the stirrups across the bottom of the mailbox to keep things secure. (Not pictured)
I wanted to paint the pieces to match the mailbox but was outvoted by my mother who just wanted a clear finish. In the future, I may make a clear acrylic one. I think it might be effective for some decorations.
Thanks everyone for all of the positive feedback. In answer to some of your comments:
The term “Saddle “ is how I first described it to my mother, and the name stuck.
I tried to find a product I could buy for this purpose, but the closest thing I could find is for placing flower arrangements on tombstones. It wasn’t appropriate to the task, and was too small for the world’s largest residential mailbox.
I am already brainstorming laser cut designs for future decorations. Early ideas include a wooden “gingerbread “ village, and Santa’s sleigh and reindeer.
I don’t have any plans to sell the pattern. A design that could accommodate the many brands and sizes of mailboxes would either have to be parametric or have many adjustable parts. Either option is far above my skill level.
As it was, despite much time measuring the box, I could never get the curve of the top just right in my design, and had to settle for four points of contact.
On reflection, I think that a more elegant design could be achieved by ignoring the curve and having four adjustable contact points and a straight, flat frame.
