P00/Oil Regulation 3.2 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Intention Title: BOX FOR RECEIVING LETTERS AND/OR PARCELS The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: -2 Box for Receiving Letters and/or Parcels The invention relates to a box for providing a safe and secure method of receiving delivered letters and/ or parcels without the need to leave the letter or parcel in an unsecured manner. The invention is directed particularly but not solely towards the delivery of parcels of 5 approximately 300x200x100mm to residential or commercial addresses. Background of Invention Letters or parcels or any package are generally physically delivered by drivers, couriers or 10 mail persons by foot, bike or vehicle from depots, to a variety of street addresses. In many instances the recipients of the parcels are not at the delivery address which forces the courier driver to either leave the parcel behind or take it back to the courier depot for later collection by the parcel recipient. This extra activity is time consuming for both the driver and parcel recipient, which can add cost to the delivery and consumer. 15 Another problem with current letter boxes is that they are not large enough to receive most parcels nor are they secure enough to enable a parcel to be left behind without having to leave the parcel with someone else at that address. Generally parcels represent an item of value which can pose as an attractive option to potential thieves whereby security is another 20 issue which is not provided for by current letter boxes. The other issue for current letter boxes is the need to be reasonably weather proof. Any losses due to security and weather can affect insurance costs. In this specification unless the contrary is expressly stated, where a document, act or item of 25 knowledge is referred to or discussed, this reference or discussion is not an admission that the document, act or item of knowledge or any combination thereof was at the priority date, publicly available, known to the public, part of common general knowledge; or known to be relevant to an attempt to solve any problem with which this specification is concerned. 30 -3 Object of the Invention It is an object of the invention to provide a box for receiving at least one letter, parcel or package that ameliorates some of the disadvantages and limitations of the known art or at 5 least provide the public with a useful choice. Summary of Invention In a first aspect the invention may broadly be said to reside in a box for receiving at least one letter and/or parcel comprising a housing including at least a first and second compartment, 10 slide member and flap member whereby the first compartment is located below the second compartment which are separated by the slide member and the flap member is hinged to a position immediately adjacent and above the slide member whereby the flap member is adapted close the second compartment and only is able to open when the slide member is located in place between the first and second compartments. 15 Preferably, the first compartment has one opening with a lockable door hinged vertically to a side of the first compartment wherein the door hinge is hidden from view to prevent and is recessed with respect to a front of the housing. 20 Preferably the flap member and slide member are located at a rear end of the box. Preferably, the second compartment has one opening which is closable or openable by the flap member whereby a front end is an end facing the street. 25 Preferably, the flap member 33 has a flap member stopping means located at a lowest position on an outside of the flap member which in use does not allow the flap member to be opened when the slide member is not closed, as the stop member of flap member abuts a top of the slide member. 30 Preferably flap member stopping means comprise a triangular shaped elongate member. Preferably, the slide member is only able to slide out from being in between the first and second compartments when the flap member is closed.
-4 Preferably, the flap member is formed as a planar member with a pulling means at one end comprising a step shaped portion. Preferably, the box can include a third and fourth compartments for receiving certain sized 5 parcels or letter wherein the third and fourth compartments are separate chambers to the first and second compartments and are located above the first and second compartments. Preferably, the third compartment has one opening at a rear end, above the opening for the second compartment which are both closed by the flap member. 10 Preferably the third compartment has an opening at a front end. Preferably, the fourth compartment has an opening at both ends which are both left open. 15 Preferably, there is a fixed partition member between the second and third compartments and between the third and fourth compartments which form a floor or roof for each compartment. Preferably, the slide member is slidably supported by side rails inside the housing. 20 Preferably, there is a parcel delivery confirmation means located on an upper surface of the slide member. Preferably, the first compartment has a deflection means positioned on a back wall inside the first compartment, being elongate and extending from side to side wherein the deflection 25 means can have a triangular cross section. Preferably, the slide member can have a slide member stopping means which is located underneath the slide member at a predetermined distance from the back of the slide member to prevent the slide member from being pulled out completely from the housing wherein the 30 slide member is an elongate member extending from side to side of the housing and is a strip of metal extending vertically downwardly.
-5 Preferably the box can be a rectangular shaped box whereby the third and fourth compartments can be a similar volume but smaller than the volume of the first and second compartments whereby the largest compartment can be the first compartment. 5 Preferably, the box can include a box mounting means in the form of a post with a platform at one end and reinforcing means at the other end wherein the platform is adapted to be connected the a base of the housing and the reinforcement means is adapted to be buried in concrete in the ground. 10 This invention may also broadly be said to consist in the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated in the specification of the application, individually or collectively, and any or all combinations of any two or more of the parts, elements or features, and where specific integers are mentioned herein which have known equivalents such equivalents are deemed to be incorporated herein as if individually set forth. 15 Brief Description The invention will now be described, by way of example only, by reference to the accompanying drawings: 20 Figure 1 is a perspective view of the parcel receiving box in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the invention. Figure 2 is a perspective view of the box with both doors open. Figure 3 is front perspective view of the box with the lid open and a parcel placed inside a top compartment. 25 Figure 4 is side perspective view of the box of figure 2. Figure 5 is a side perspective view of the box with the lid closed and the slide being moved to cause the parcel to drop to a lower compartment. Figure 6 is a side view of all of the components of the box Figure 7 is a rear end view of the box 30 Figure 8 is cross sectional FF side view of the box of figure 6 Figure 9 is side view of the box Figure 10 is a cross sectional HH side view of the box of figure 8 -6 Figure 11 is a cross sectional BB from figure 6 Figure 12 is a close up detail E view of figure 10 Figure 13 is a close up detail I view of figure 7 Figure 14 is a close up detail K view of figure 9 5 Figure 15 is a close up detail G view of figure 7 Figure 16 is a schematic upper perspective view of a stand for the box Figure 17 is a schematic side view of the stand. Figure 18 is a schematic front/rear view of the stand. 10 Description of Drawings The following description will describe the invention in relation to preferred embodiments of the invention, namely a parcel box. The invention is in no way limited to these preferred embodiments as they are purely to exemplify the invention only and that possible variations 15 and modifications would be readily apparent without departing from the scope of the invention. As shown in figures 1-15 there is disclosed a box 1 for receiving at least one parcel which includes a housing having several compartments or chambers being adapted to receive at 20 least one letter or parcel or any combination. The compartments can include from an in use bottom position of the box 1 to a highest position, a first compartment 3, a second compartment 5 above the first compartment, a third compartment 7 above the second compartment 5 and a fourth compartment 9 above the third compartment 7. As shown in the drawings the box 1 can be an upright rectangular shaped box whereby the third and fourth 25 compartments 7 & 9 can be a similar volume but smaller than the volume of the first and second compartments 3 & 5 whereby the largest compartment can be the first compartment 3. The housing can be fabricated from any suitable planar material such as for example metal 30 with suitable coating for weather protection and appearance whereby there is a top end 11, bottom end 13, sides 15, front 17 and rear 19. The bottom end 13 can be located either on the ground 21 or on a box mounting means or housing support means 23. The housing has an inner surface and outer surface.
-7 The third and fourth compartments 7 & 9 which abut each other are located above the first and second compartments 3 & 5, are separated by a first fixed horizontal partition member 24. First and second compartments 3 & 5 are formed as a slot or tunnel being of any suitable 5 cross sectional shape such as for example as seen in the figures as rectangular in cross section. Fourth and third compartments 9 & 7 can be sized for use for letters or certain sized parcels that are not requited to be safely secured. Fourth compartment 9 can be formed as a tunnel having at least one front aperture 25 and at 10 least one rear aperture 27. In use the front aperture 25 is located to allow the public, mailing person or courier to slide in a letter or even a small parcel. The rear aperture 27 can be an open aperture. Fourth compartment 9 can be formed as shown in figures 6, 8 and 9 as a hooded roof which forwardly protrudes to allow for weather conditions including wind and rain. 15 Third compartment 7 also has a front aperture 29 and rear aperture 31 whereby the rear aperture 31 can be closed or covered by at least one door in the form of an opening flap member 33. Front aperture 29 can be an open aperture. As seen in figures 1-5, flap member 33 is a planar member hinged by hinging means 35 (see figure 2) located at a lower end of 20 the second compartment 5 of the housing, to enable the flap member 33 to move and rotate from a closed substantially vertical position to an open substantially horizontal position. Flap member 33 is formed of a size and dimension to also cover front apertures 25 and 29 to cover both compartments 5 and 7. In this example the hinging means 35 can be butt hinges though other forms of hinging are also possible. 25 Second and third compartments 5 and 7 are separated by a second fixed partition member 35 which is like the first fixed partition member 24 which are both planar members oriented in a substantially horizontal plane. However second fixed horizontal member 35 is shown as being recessed from the front 17 and ending in a vertical oriented lip 37 having a centrally 30 located catch hold member 39 in the form of an apertured ball roller catch (see figure 2) which is adapted to removably receive a catch member 41 positioned on an inside face of the flap member 33 whereby rotation of the flap member 33 to close causes the catch member 41 to be slid into the aperture of the ball roller catch 39.
-8 Flap member 33 has a flap member stopping mean 43 located at a lower end which is in the form of a triangular shaped member protruding therefrom. Stopping means 43 can extend form side to side of the housing or flap member 33. Flap member 33 also can include a 5 handle 45 (see figure 2) which can located anywhere on or through the flap member 33 to enable one to operate or open or close the flap member 33. The first and second compartments 3 & 5 are separated by a horizontally movable partition member in the form of a tray or slide member 47 which is a planar member body having a 10 step shaped holding means 49 at one end (see figures 1, 5, 6, 8, 15) which enables a user to hold and operate the slide member 47 to cause the slide member 47 to be pulled out of the housing to cause at least one package/parcel to be dropped from the second compartment 5 into the first compartment 3 or back into the housing to separate the first and second compartments 3, 5. First fixed partition member 24 is positioned to form as floor for the 15 fourth compartment 9 and roof for the third compartment 7 while second fixed partition member 35 is a floor for the third compartment 7 and a roof to the second compartment 5. Slide member 47 planar body can include a flat main portion with a downwardly facing perimeter lip of say 30mm depth with the lip being at least used on the sides. 20 Slide member 47 is slidably mounted in side rail members 51 (see figure 14) being in the form of channel member having a channel base, oriented with the channel base being vertical to present a horizontal slot on both sides of the housing at the same height from the base 13. First compartment 3 is designed to receive parcels or letter as dropped down from the second 25 compartment 5. First compartment 3 also has a deflection means 53 (see figure 8 & 13) located at a rear inner surface which is in the form of at least one elongate triangular cross sectionally shaped member being horizontally mounted from side to side of the housing which enables any packages being dropped to fall and be positioned appropriately on a floor or on other packages. 30 For example deflection means 53 can be formed as a hollow member with two arms angled with respect to each other with each arm being 46mm in depth.
-9 First compartment 3 is a chamber with an opening on a rear of the housing, bordered by an inwardly facing perimeter recess 55 located on both vertical side edges (to provide a stop means for the door 47), with the opening having a door 57 that can be opened or closed and/or locked by a door locking means 59. Door locking means 59 can be any means that 5 enables locking of the door eg wing cam lock with key that operates the locking rods 69. First compartment 3 has a floor 61 formed as planar member with perimeter downwardly facing lip and a central elevated middle portion. See figure 11 which is a close up of the floor 61 at a corner which shows this elevation 10 whereby the sides of the housing extend down beyond the central elevated middle floor portion. The inwardly facing perimeter recess 55 is formed as a profile which inwardly curves to form a side channel 62 as shown in figures 11 and 12. Door 57 is a planar member being rectangular having, side edges, end edges and corners, 15 whereby the edges are formed as a lip, which in use face inwardly of the housing or compartment 9. Door 57 is movably mounted by door mounting means on or at two corners which are located in line on a first vertical edge of the door 57. Other forms of mounting include butt hinges. 20 The door mounting means includes a vertically oriented elongate rod member 63 extending vertically adjacent a rear inner edge with one lip to extend through an upper rod lip aperture and a lower rod lip aperture 64 (see figure 2), whereby the rod slidably extends through both apertures, at a lower end 65 into a base end rod holding means and at the upper end 67, at an upper rod end whereby the ends of the rod member 63 are hidden from view to provide 25 better security. The edge of the floor 61 facing the doorway is recessed similar to the recess of the vertical edge 5 to allow the door 57 to be flush mounted to an outside edge of the first compartment 3. Door locking means 59 is in the form of a key lock 63 in a front of the door 57 with 30 articulated rod members 69 being vertically oriented with a central toggle member 71 whereby movement of the key causes the toggle member 71 to rotate about its centre to move the articulated rod members 69 up or down as required and into corresponding -10 apertures, downwardly in the perimeter floor lip 69 at the door opening and upwardly into a door opening top channel 71 (see figure 15). Channel 71 has a top horizontal inwardly facing lip 72. The articulated rod members 69 are 5 located adjacent or close to a second vertical edge of the door 57 being distal to the door mounting means. As shown in figure 8 and 15 the flap member stop means 43 is shaped and dimensioned to protrude beyond an outer surface of the flap member 33. Slide member 47 and holding 10 means 49 are shaped and dimensioned with respect stop means 43 (of the flap member 33) and the perimeter recess 55, to have an inner vertical portion 73 extending from a planar portion 75 (having an upper outer surface facing the second compartment 5 to be a floor of the second compartment 5 and a bottom surface facing the first compartment 3 to be a roof) which then has a horizontal outward facing portion 77 leading to a downward lip portion 79 15 so that when the slide member 47 is in a closed position ( ie being in the housing to separate compartments 3 and 5 as seen in figure 15) the lip portion 79 is located outside of the door 57 but extending less than the distance of the stop member 43 from the outside surface of the flap member 33 to form a horizontal recess 81 there between. 20 The horizontal recess 81 is sized to allow the flap member stopping means to be able to be rotated into the pulling means of the slide member and/or also the pulling means to be used when the flap member is closed. Flap member 33 is shaped with its stop member 43 whereby, the flap member 33 can only be 25 opened when the slide member 47 is in a closed position as shown in figures 8 & 15. This means that slide member 47 can only be activated ie pulled out from the housing when the flap member 33 is closed. Planar portion 75 of slide member 47 also has a slide member stopping means 83 located approximately at an opposite end to the step shaped holding means 49. Slide member stopping means 83 is located underneath slide member 47 on the 30 bottom surface at any desired location and can be formed as a downwardly protruding and vertical lip or strip being horizontally oriented in a direction from the side of the housing to the other side of the housing. Slide member stopping means 83 can be located predetermined distance from an end of the slide member to prevent the slide member from - 11 being completely removed from the housing and can be formed with a lip or tabs if necessary which can possibly allow the slide member 47 to be removably or non removably attached to the housing to prevent unwanted removal. 5 Slide member 47 has a parcel confirmation receipt means 85 (see figure 1) which can be for example an electronic readably bar code affixed to an upper side of the slide member so that after the slide has been pulled out to allow a package to drop into the first compartment 3 the use like fore example a courier drive can use a portable reader to scan the bar code which provide confirmation that the parcel has been delivered. 10 As shown in figures 16-18 there can be the box mounting means 23 comprising a platform member 102 joined or connected to one end of an elongate member 104. A reinforcing member 106 is joined or connected to an opposite end of the elongate member 104. Platform member 102 is a planar plate member with fixing apertures, which extends in a substantially 15 horizontal plane with respect to the elongate member which is meant when in use to be oriented substantially vertically. The flap member 33 is adapted to close the second and third compartments 5 & 7 and only is able to open and or close when the slide member is located in place between the first and 20 second compartments ie in a closed position due to the interaction of the flap member stopping means 43. The flap member stopping means 43 is located at a lowest position on an outside of the flap member 33 which in use does not allow the flap member 33 to be opened when the slide member is not closed, as the stop member of flap member 33 abuts or hits a top of the slide member to prevent any further movement of the flap member. 25 As the slide member 47 has a recess as part of the shape of the pulling means, this recess is sized to receive the flap ember stopping means 43 when the flap member 33is opened. This also means that the slide member 47 can not be opened when the flap member 33 is opened ie in a horizontal position. 30 Only when the flap member 33 is closed (the stopping member 43 will be out of the way to be located above the pulling means) will one be able to pull out the slide member 47 from between the first and second compartments.
- 12 Platform member 102 can be rectangular in shape having an axis at right angles to a longest side. Elongate member 104 can be a post having a box cross section which can be solid or hollow. Reinforcing member 106 can include a bar like elongate member like for example a 5 solid steel bar having a main axis coincident with the length, oriented at right angles to the elongate member 104 but oriented parallel with the axis of the platform member or at right angle to the sides of the housing to provide some lateral resistance. Advantages 10 a) Safe b) Secure and tamper proof c) Modest cost d) Hidden hinges e) Weather proof 15 f) Pleasing appearance g) Sturdy construction h) Less need for parcel recipient to go elsewhere to pick up the parcel i) Less hassle and less cost to the courier driver j) Box can be used for residential, commercial and industrial addresses 20 k) More likely to be able to deliver parcels 1) Able to receive most parcels m) Able to provide confirmation of receipt using machine readable code n) No complicated running parts o) No need for electrical connection 25 Variations Throughout the description of this specification, the word "comprise" and variations of that word such as "comprising" and "comprises", are not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps. 30 - 13 It will also be understood that where a product, method or process as herein described or claimed and that is sold incomplete, as individual components, or as a "kit of Parts", that such exploitation will fall within the ambit of the invention. These and other features and characteristics of the present invention, as well as the method of 5 operation and functions of the related elements of structures and the combination of parts and economics of manufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, all of which form part of this specification, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in the various figures. 10 For purposes of the description hereinafter, the terms "upper", "lower", "right", "left", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "lateral", "longitudinal" and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as it is oriented in the drawing figures. However it is to be understood that the invention may assume various alternative variations, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices 15 illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification are simply exemplary embodiments of the invention. Hence specific dimensions and other physical characteristics related to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting. The box can be fabricated from any suitable material such as steel and/or plastics and/or 20 timber as suitable to meet costs and purpose. The housing as a whole can be dimensioned to suit particular needs like for example, approximately 850mm in height from the top to bottom, width of say 300mm and a depth of say 450mm. Any number of third 7 and fourth 9 compartments or compartments beyond the first 3 and second 5 compartments are possible. In yet other variations, the second compartment 5 need not have the flap member 33 closing 25 it and so can be an open ended compartment (eg both ends) if desired or the flap member 33 may extend further upwards to close any or all compartments above the first compartment 3. There may be separate flap members 33 for any compartment above the first compartment 3. Any of the compartments can be shaped and dimensioned to suit any requirements. Also at 30 least the top compartment 9 can as shown overhang at a front side and rear side or possibly on the sides as well which can assist in keeping rain out or making it harder to access any - 14 letters or parcels as placed inside any compartment. First and second compartments 3 and 4 can have for example a depth from top to bottom of 50mm whereas third compartment can be 160mm and further compartment can be about 500mm whereby the third compartment 7 need not be as large as the fourth compartment 9 to allow for the fact that the third 5 compartment is a transitory compartment whereby the fourth complete may need to be bigger to store and secure the parcels. Though a rectangular shape is shown for the box, equally any other shapes or combinations are also possible. The size of the apertures or depth from compartment to compartment can 10 be varied. Additionally any parts or components can be fabricated as one piece items or parts joined or connected together eg by welding or by bolting. Strengthening means can also be included such as for example ribs or lips or an item can be planar with one layer or be hollow. Though a hinged door 57 has been shown as allowing access to the first compartment 3 equally other access means are possible such as hinged flaps or there can be 15 more than one access to this compartment that is lockable in some way. The door is shown as having an inwardly facing perimeter lip which assists in weather proofing and reducing unwanted access and providing means to lock. Flap member stopping means 43, slide member stopping means 83 and deflection means 53, 20 can extend either completely across from side to side or be in portions or extend only part of the side to side distances. The locking means 59 and hinging 35 and 63 can all be varied to suit the size of box or level of security required. Drainage means can be incorporated such as aperture or drainage channels or flashings. The box mounting means 23 need not be used, if other suitable mounting is possible such as side mounting to a wall, fence or post or the 25 box can be mounted on top of a fence or pole sit directly on the ground. The parcel confirmation receipt means 85 can be at least one bar code attached to the slide member but equally other forms of readable means either locally or remotely readable are equally possible for this box 1 of the present invention. 30 It will of course be realised that while the foregoing has been given by way of illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as is hereinbefore described.