AU2014203274A1 - Parcel Nest Home Delivered Parcel Receiving & Storage System - Google Patents

Abstract

Patent Request Abstract The Parcel Nest is a secure parcel receiving and storage unit for domestic residences. The unit comprises a weatherproof expandable storage box (which can be mounted on a stand, integrated into a fence or secured to the ground), a lockable rear (residence-facing) door and; an oven-style front door, mounted behind which are a series of one-way fingers (leaflets) that fold back into the box on parcel insertion, then spring closed once the parcel is inside, thereby preventing parcel removal via the front aperture. > -n z0

Description

1 Patent Request Description Title of invention [0001] Parcel Nest. Technical Field / Problem [0002] Futile or unsecured / unattended home deliveries of parcels. Background [0003] As internet shopping drives the volume of home delivered parcels higher, current delivery mechanisms have limitations and carry risks. Many parcels are left unsecured at residences (therefore at risk of theft). Many deliverers leave a "Sorry we missed you" slip in the letterbox (deemed a "futile delivery") requiring the parcel recipient to make inconvenient and costly alternate delivery arrangements, and many parcels are being delivered to third party interim storage locations (but thus do not constitute "home delivery"). The Parcel Nest has been designed to provide a simple mechanical solution to the cost problem of futile delivery attempts, the security problem of unsecured unattended home deliveries, and the convenience problem of third party delivery and remote storage locations.

2 Summary of invention [0004] The Parcel Nest allows for secured parcel receiving and storage at domestic residences via two unique features. [0005] The first unique feature of the Parcel Nest is the one-way "valve" mechanism - a series of vertical and horizontal fingers (metal or polycarbonate) mounted around the periphery of the front aperture of the Parcel Nest receptacle. These fingers, or "leaflets", allow for easy parcel insertion into the Parcel Nest and then function as a physical barrier to parcel removal via the front aperture. The fingers are spring-loaded to fold back 90 degrees into the body (or lumen) of the Parcel Nest as the incoming parcel is pushed against them. Once the parcel is inside the Parcel Nest and has cleared the tips of the fingers, the fingers gently spring back to (but not beyond) their original position, preventing a physical barrier to the inserted parcel being extracted from the front of the unit. [0006] This unique one-way valve mechanism, inspired by the mechanics of a heart valve, provides simple mechanical security and removes the need for combination lock details, electronic codes or keys to be shared with deliverers needing to secure a parcel at a residence. The mechanism enables multiple deliveries to be secured in the Parcel Nest, restricted only by size constraints.

3 [0007] The second unique feature of the Parcel Nest is the expandable body of the unit. The Parcel Nest expands and contracts based on the size of the parcel inserted, accommodating a range of parcel sizes. This provides a clear visual indicator of the presence of a large delivered parcel, and because it is easily concertinaed down after parcel removal, the unit footprint is reduced for discretion when not in use. The Parcel Nest body is comprised of three external metal or hard plastic modules fixed atop a sliding expansion bracket (mounted on a stand or on the ground) and two inner floating sheaths (metal or plastic) which are hidden when the Parcel Nest is fully closed / concertinaed in and which are exposed when the Parcel Nest is fully expanded / concertinaed out. As a large parcel is inserted in the Parcel Nest, it pushes against the closed back door of the unit (fixed to the rear-most body module) and the physical force triggers the sliding expansion bracket to extend and separate the three external modules, thereby 'expanding' the unit. The inner 'floating' sheaths provide physical protection of the goods inside the Parcel Nest and the visibility of the inner sheaths from the exterior of the unit indicates to the parcel recipient that there is a delivery inside the Parcel Nest. [0008] The Parcel Nest can be secured as a freestanding unit on the Parcel Tree secure stand, or mounted into a fence or door, or secured directly onto the ground or beside a building entrance. The weatherproof metal and / or plastics materials and design elements provide parcels with physical protection from rain. The oven-style front door of the Parcel Nest incorporates a traditional mail delivery slot, enabling the Parcel Nest to be employed as 4 both a traditional mailbox as well as a means of securely receiving home-delivered parcels. Should the resident wish to secure their mail and not employ the full functionality of the Parcel Nest parcel receiving & storage system, they can simply lock the front door of the Parcel Nest via a simple keyed lock, thereby restricting the Parcel Nest's use to traditional mail receiving and storage. [0009] The Parcel Nest solves a range of problems and caters to the evolving shopping and parcel receiving demands of the internet economy. - [0010] the Parcel Nest mitigates risk, decreases expense and provides peace-of-mind to parcel deliverers and recipients alike by reducing parcel theft and damage incurred by leaving deliveries exposed to the elements. - [0011] the unique one-way valve mechanism of the Parcel Nest enables anyone to deliver a parcel, rather than requiring select deliverers to have a key, code or combination to a lock - [0012] the Parcel Nest removes the 'futile delivery' frustration of consumers when they receive a "Sorry we missed you" card in their mailbox. - [0013] the Parcel Nest reduces costs borne by parcel recipients that receive a "Sorry we missed you" card in their letter box, and who otherwise have to spend time and money on petrol driving to a third party parcel storage location or incurring the cost of phone calls to arrange for an alternate delivery time.

5 - [0014] the Parcel Nest reduces delivery costs that are ultimately spread across the supply chain by reducing the number of futile deliveries and the fuel, wage, time, double-handling and third party storage location costs incurred by suppliers and transport intermediaries. - [0015] the Parcel Nest has the potential to reduce the carbon footprint of delivery companies by decreasing the number of futile deliveries and the fuel consumption required for redeliveries or the intended parcel recipient driving to a third party pickup point. [0016] The Parcel Nest may be better understood by reference to the illustrations of embodiments of the invention that are detailed in the following attachments; [0017] Attachment 1. (Fig 1 - Parcel Nest Schematics.pdf) shows the Parcel Nest mounted on a Parcel Tree stand, with the Parcel Nest with its front and rear doors closed and in the contracted / compressed position. [0018] Attachment 2. (Fig 2 - Parcel Nest Schematics.pdf) shows the Parcel Nest mounted on a Parcel Tree stand, with the Parcel Nest with the front door open and in the expanded position. Note the fingers or leaflets mounted in the frame of the front-most body module of the Parcel Nest unit. Note the sliding expansion bracket connecting the Parcel Nest body to the Parcel Tree stand. This bracket can be used to secure the Parcel Nest to the ground, into a fence or as depicted, stand-mounted.

6 [0019] Attachment 3. (Fig 3 - Parcel Nest Closed.pdf) shows the Parcel Nest from the front view, mounted on the Parcel Tree stand, with the Parcel Nest front door closed and in the contracted / compressed position. Note the lockable push-button to open the oven-style front door and the mail slot incorporated in the front door. [0020] Attachment 4. (Fig 4 - Parcel Nest Closed & Expanded.pdf) shows the Parcel Nest from the front view, mounted on the Parcel Tree stand, with the Parcel Nest front door closed and in the expanded position (indicating the presence of a parcel inside). Note the two inner floating sheaths now visible, indicating the unit is in its expanded position. [0021] Attachment 5. (Fig 5 - Parcel Nest Open and Expanded.pdf) shows the Parcel Nest from the front view, mounted on the Parcel Tree stand, with the Parcel Nest front door open and in the expanded position. Note the spring mounted one-way fingers or leaflets at the front of the unit that fold inwards 90 degrees to allow parcel insertion, then spring back to their closed position once a parcel is inside, preventing removal of the parcel from the front aperture of the Parcel Nest. [0022] Note that the measurements indicated in the diagrams depicted in Attachments 1 to 5 inclusive are one embodiment of the invention and the scope of this invention is not limited to such dimensions.

Claims (4)

1. A parcel receiving and storage receptacle for outdoor use with an array of spring-loaded rigid fingers or leaflets incorporated into the front aperture of the receptacle that fold ninety degrees into the receptacle on parcel insertion and revert to but not beyond their original secured position once the parcel is inside the receptacle.

2. A parcel receiving and storage receptacle comprising multiple outer body sheaths fixed to a sliding expansion bracket and multiple floating inner body sheaths that become visible on the concertinaed expansion of the unit that results from parcel insertion via the front aperture and which are then hidden via compression of the receptacle on parcel removal via a lockable rear door.

3. A parcel receiving and storage receptacle that combines the claims 1 and 2.

4. A parcel receiving and storage receptacle as herein before described with reference to Attachments 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 and their accompanying drawings.