DE102014003960A1 - Receiving box for postal items, goods deliveries or the like and use of the receiving box in a method for delivering mail, deliveries of goods or the like - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a receiving box for postal items, goods deliveries or the like and their use in a method for delivering mailpieces, goods deliveries or the like. The receiving box (100) has a housing (10) with a housing opening (30), a housing flap (40), a lock (50) and an operating unit (60). The housing forms and encloses in its interior (10i) a receiving space (20) for receiving via the housing opening (30) supplied mail, deliveries of goods or the like. The housing flap (40) serves to close and release the housing opening (30). The lock (50) is designed for coded controlled unlocking and / or locking the housing flap (40) on the housing (10) by means of a code. A code can be input via the operating unit (60) and a conditional unlocking of the lock (50) can be initiated.

Description

The present invention relates to a receiving box for postal items, goods deliveries or the like as well as the use of the receiving box in a method for delivering mailpieces, goods deliveries or the like.

In the delivery of mail, deliveries of goods or the like, the problem often arises that the delivered items as such are usually not stored in the usual mailbox, either for geometric reasons or because the items represent a significant value and therefore not easy can be deposited in the mailbox. Furthermore, corresponding mail or deliveries of goods often can not be delivered to the front door, because the recipient is currently not found and because neighbors are either not present or are not available to accept the delivery.

The invention is therefore based on the object to provide a receiving box for mail, deliveries of goods or the like, which simplify delivery and secure, on the one hand, larger items in the box can be easily accommodated and on the other hand, access to the box not for everyone without Further, it is possible to ensure the security of the delivered item from unauthorized access in this way.

The object underlying the invention is in a receiving box for mail, goods or the like according to the invention with the features of independent claim 1 and when using the receiving box in a method for delivering mail, deliveries or the like according to the invention with the features of independent claim solved. Preferred developments of the receiving box according to the invention and their use are the subject of the respective dependent claims.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mailbox receiving box, goods delivery and the like having a housing having a housing opening, a housing door, a lock and an operation unit. The housing forms with its interior a receiving space for receiving over the housing opening supplied mail, deliveries of goods and the like and surrounds it. The housing flap serves to close and release the housing opening. The lock is designed for coded controlled unlocking and / or locking the housing flap on the housing by means of a code. A code can be entered via the operating unit and a conditional unlocking of the lock can be initiated.

With this structure for a receiving box, it is possible to the deliverer of the mailing, the delivery of goods or the like prior to delivery the corresponding code for unlocking the lock of the receiving box and thus the housing door, so that he is entitled to open the receiving box on the housing door to deposit the object to be delivered and thereafter to close and lock the housing flap of the receiving box again.

As a result, depending on the dimensions of the receiving box and unlike conventional mailboxes on the one hand, larger objects and on the other hand without personal presence of the addressee, further access by unauthorized third parties is avoided because these the access code for unlocking the lock and the housing door not known is.

In a preferred embodiment of the receiving box according to the invention the operating unit is formed at least with an operating or keypad, via which a code can be entered and in particular a conditional unlocking of the lock and thus the housing door of the receiving box veran veranbar.

In principle, however, other transmission options are conceivable in addition to the control or keypad, in particular in non-haptic form, so that input errors are avoided by these possibilities of code transmission and a time saving is achieved.

Advantageously, several codes for unlocking and / or locking the lock can be stored or be in the receiving box. This can be done via the control unit or in the control unit. Alternatively or additionally, the control unit can also be used to change the code or codes.

In another embodiment of the receiving box according to the invention, it is provided that the operating unit for operation and in particular for code input, code change and / or unlocking via an electromagnetic - in particular electrical or magnetic - has optical and / or radio interface. This can, for. B. means and measures in terms of a USB standard, Bluetooth, WLAN, mobile, barcode, infrared code or the like. Also conceivable are control elements in the sense of a transponder system, by means of magnetic induction or via magnetic strips.

The receiving box can be designed as part of an existing mailbox system, either as an additional element or as an extension of the usual mailbox.

Additionally or alternatively, the receiving box according to the invention can also be formed integrally in a building wall and in particular in a building exterior wall.

The operating unit may be formed on the housing flap or a non-movable housing wall. It can also have a display in addition to the keypad, z. As an acoustic display and / or a visual display, for. B. in the manner of a liquid crystal display, an LED display or the like.

The code (s) stored may or may be released for certain groups of people. It may also be one-time codes, which expire after a single entry in its validity, so that after depositing a shipment, even if the code entry was observed by an unauthorized third party, re-entering the same code not to unlock the lock and the housing flap leads.

Particularly preferred is an embodiment in which certain states in connection with the receiving box and in particular in connection with the lock, the housing flap or the receiving space detected, displayed, transmitted to a deliverer or the owner of the receiving box by an appropriate signaling.

This can be a locking state of the receiving box, which indicates whether the lock and / or the housing flap are in a locked state or in an unlocked state.

It may be an opening state, which describes whether the housing flap and thus the housing are open or closed.

Furthermore, it is conceivable that a delivery, deposit or filling state is detected, which indicates whether a delivery has been made, whether the receiving box was legitimately accessed and / or whether one or more items were deposited in the receiving space of the receiving box, possibly with a corresponding identification code of the delivery.

In this way, on the one hand the recipient can be informed to z. B. as soon as possible to teach the reception box. On the other hand, it is conceivable that by signaling the deliverer can provide evidence that the expected delivery was actually delivered and thus the risk has passed to the recipient.

In a further embodiment, the receiving box according to the invention in the housing or in the housing flap on a letter slot, thereby acting as a mailbox. Thus, the receiving box can completely replace a normal mailbox and additionally offers the advantages described above.

• (A) Übermitteln eines Codes (C) zum Entriegeln des Schlosses (50) der Empfangsbox (100) an einen Zusteller (Z),
• (B) Eingeben des übersandten Codes an der Bedieneinheit (60) der Empfangsbox (100) durch den Zusteller (Z) und dadurch Entriegeln des Schlosses (50),
• (C) Öffnen der mit dem Entriegeln des Schlosses (50) entriegelten Gehäuseklappe (40) der Empfangsbox (100) durch den Zusteller (Z),
• (D) Hinterlegen einer zuzustellenden Postsendung (P), Warenlieferung oder dergleichen über die Gehäuseöffnung (30) im Aufnahmeraum (20) der Empfangsbox (100) durch den Zusteller (Z) und
• (E) Schließen und Verriegeln der Gehäuseklappe (40) am Gehäuse (10) der Empfangsbox (100) durch den Zusteller.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the use of the receiving box according to the invention in a method for delivering a mail item, a goods delivery or the like is defined. Such a method comprises the steps:

• (A) transmitting a code (C) for unlocking the lock ( 50 ) of the receiving box ( 100 ) to a deliverer (Z),
• (B) Entering the transmitted code on the control unit ( 60 ) of the receiving box ( 100 ) by the deliverer (Z) and thereby unlocking the lock ( 50 )
• (C) opening with the unlocking of the lock ( 50 ) unlocked housing flap ( 40 ) of the receiving box ( 100 ) by the deliverer (Z),
• (D) depositing a mail item to be delivered (P), delivery of goods or the like via the housing opening ( 30 ) in the recording room ( 20 ) of the receiving box ( 100 ) by the deliverer (Z) and
• (E) closing and locking the housing flap ( 40 ) on the housing ( 10 ) of the receiving box ( 100 ) by the deliverer.

According to the invention, in such a use and such a method it is achieved in an advantageous manner that the deliverer is able to unlock the lock of the receiving box by authorization by means of the transmitted code in order to open the housing flap by depositing the mail item, the delivery of goods or the like even in the absence of the actual recipient or addressee to deliver the appropriate shipment, without the risk that unauthorized third parties have access to the shipment or that the shipment is damaged by weather conditions, if these z. B. in the outdoor area of the house of the addressee is deposited outdoors. Also, the deliverer is independent of the presence of any neighbors who could accept the delivery.

In an advantageous embodiment of the inventive use and the method for delivery, it is provided that the code that allows a legitimate unlocking the lock and thus the housing door, at the same time the order of the deliverer for the delivery of the mail, the consignment or the like. This can be z. B. in the context of the task of ordering at a mail order or the like. Also, there z. B. already online corresponding shipping data, such as address and just the unlocking be deposited, so that upon delivery to the deliverer on site with the delivery documents and the unlock code is available.

In another advantageous embodiment of the use and the method according to the invention for delivery, it is provided that with the delivery of a mail, a delivery of goods or the like by a deliverer in the receiving box also brought a signal for display or to the deliverer and / or the addressee and Receiver of the program is sent, which describes one or more states of the receiving box. Such conditions may, as already explained above, relate to the locking state of the lock and / or the housing door, an opening state of the housing door and a delivery state or status. On the one hand, the deliverer can receive proof of the actual delivery effected by these measures, on the other hand, the recipient can be informed of the effected delivery, so that he takes out timely delivered valuables from the receiving box.

These and other aspects of the present invention will be further explained in connection with a preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying figures.

1 - 15 show a schematic and sectional side view of an embodiment of the receiving box according to the invention in various intermediate states, which are occupied by the receiving box in their use in a method for delivering mail, deliveries of goods or the like.

The technical features and properties set out in the figures can be individually isolated and optionally combined with each other and combined without restriction.

Structurally and / or functionally identical, similar or identically acting features or elements are referred to below in connection with the figures with the same reference numerals. Not in every case, a detailed description of these features is repeated for each figure individually.

The illustrated in the figures embodiment of the receiving box according to the invention 100 has a housing 10 with a housing opening 30 , a housing flap 40 , a castle 50 and a control unit 60 on.

The housing 10 forms and encloses in its interior 10i a recording room 20 for receiving via the housing opening supplied mail items P, goods deliveries or the like.

The housing flap 40 serves to close and release the housing opening 30 , The castle 50 is for coded controlled unlocking and / or locking the housing door 40 on the housing 10 formed by means of a code. About the control unit 60 is a code entered and a conditional unlocking the lock 50 and thus the housing flap 40 veranlassbar.

1 shows a schematic and sectional side view of an embodiment of the receiving box according to the invention 100 ,

The reception box 100 consists essentially of a housing 10 with a housing opening 30 passing through a housing flap 40 is either closed, like that in 1 is shown, or by pivoting about a z. B. by a hinge 70 defined pivot axis A is released. The inner 10i of the housing 10 defines a recording room 20 in which mail, goods or the like about the housing opening 30 can be introduced and stored there.

In the in 1 shown state closes the housing flap 40 the housing opening 30 and cover it off, leaving it through the interior 10i of the housing 10 formed reception room 20 is completely completed. This provides protection against weather conditions and unauthorized access.

Through a castle 50 with a latch 51 and a bolt receptacle 52 is the housing flap 40 in the case 10 locked and therefore can not get around by the hinge 70 defined pivot axis A is pivoted and thus opened.

Another component of the reception box 100 is the control unit 60 , This one is here on the housing flap 40 trained and has a control or keypad 65 with buttons 66 on.

However, such an arrangement is not mandatory. For example, the operating unit 60 also on the actual housing 10 and there be arranged on a side wall or on the upper part. It is also conceivable that the operating unit 60 separately to the housing 10 arranged and with the rest of the receiving box 100 connected via a cable or other transmission means. The operating unit 60 can z. B. in another area of a Mailbox system, be embedded in the control panel of a bell system or in a building wall.

Also, is the provision of key elements 66 not necessarily. Rather, it also makes sense to form touch-sensitive surfaces on a so-called touch panel.

In the 2 is shown as a deliverer Z with his hand on the control unit 60 enters the unlocking code sent to him beforehand. Upon entering the correct code, the operating unit responds 60 by taking the lock 50 so controls that the bolt 51 in the direction of the arrow from the bolt receptacle 52 is removed to the left.

3 shows the intermediate state of the receiving box 100 after finished moving out of the bolt 51 from the bolt receptacle 52 , The pivoting arrow on the top left indicates the pivoting direction, with which the now unlocked housing flap 40 about the axis A of the hinge 70 can be pivoted around the housing opening 30 release.

The 4 shows the status of the receiving box 100 after pivoting the housing flap 40 about the axis A of the hinge 70 , It becomes clear that the bolt 51 and the bolt receptacle 52 of the castle 50 now disengaged, the housing flap 40 around the axis of the hinge 70 was pivoted around to the left and thus the housing opening 30 is exposed for outside access.

According to 5 can now a package P as mailing, goods delivery or the like in the interior 10i of the housing 10 and thus in the recording room 20 for shipments via the housing opening 30 be introduced and deposited there.

The 6 shows the embodiment of the receiving box according to the invention 100 with already in the recording room 20 deposited package P. The pivoting arrow now gives the possibility of folding back the housing flap 40 in the in 1 shown starting position to the receiving space 20 and thus the case 10 and the housing opening 30 to close.

The 7 shows the reception box 100 with the housing flap folded back into the closed position 40 , so in the closed state of the housing 10 and the housing opening 30 with inside 10i of the housing 10 contained package P, but the bar 51 not yet with the bolt receptacle 52 engaged. The sliding arrow in the area of the bolt receptacle 52 However, indicates the possibility of driving back and intervention of the bolt 51 in the bolt receptacle 52 at.

8th shows the reception box 100 this embodiment with already locked lock 50 wherein the locking is achieved by engaging the bolt 51 in the bolt receptacle 52 ,

The locking and thus the intervention of the bolt 51 of the lock in the bolt receptacle 52 can either be done automatically, z. B. after closed housing flap 40 a certain amount of time has elapsed, or due to an operation on the operating unit 60 by the deliverer Z. The locking can also be done remotely.

In the in 8th state shown, the package P is protected and secure against unauthorized third party access inside 10i of the housing 10 ,

At a convenient time for the recipient E and addressees this can according to 9 via a manual input on the operating unit 60 using the keypad 65 with the keys 66 Enter an appropriate unlock code and extend the latch 51 of the castle 50 from the bolt receptacle 52 in the direction of arrow according to 9 and thus unlocking the housing flap 40 cause.

10 shows the state with already from the bolt receptacle 52 of the castle 50 retracted latch 51 , so that according to the Verschwenkpfeil the housing flap 40 about the pivot axis A of the hinge 70 can be pivoted around by releasing the housing opening 30 the housing 10 to remove the package P to open.

Basically, the access codes for the deliverer Z on the one hand and for the owner E or owner of the receiving box 100 on the other hand be the same. However, it is advisable to provide different codes, z. B. for the owner E a fixed owner code and for the deliverer Z a delivery code, eg. B. in the sense of a one-time code, which expires after one-time use in its validity. The generation and feeding of new deliverer codes can be done automatically without the owner having to know or know the current delivery code in every single case.

According to the 11 is after swiveling the housing flap 40 about the axis A of the hinge 70 the housing opening 30 released, so according to 12 the delivered package P by the owner E through the housing opening 30 from the inside 10i of the housing 10 and the recording room 20 can be removed.

After removal of the delivered package P from the recording room 20 of the housing 10 the receiving box 100 then the housing flap 40 according to the pivoting arrow about the axis A of the hinge 70 pivoted back around the housing opening 30 and the case 10 to close, like this in 14 is shown schematically.

After a certain period of time or via a specific operator action can then according to the in 14 illustrated sliding arrow of the bolt 51 in the bolt receptacle 52 of the castle 50 be retracted so that the in 15 illustrated locked state of the housing door 40 in the case 10 results.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

casing

10i

Heart, interior of the housing

20

accommodation space

30

housing opening

40

Housing flap, lid

50

lock

51

bars

52

Bolt receiver

60

operating unit

65

Control panel, keypad

66

Key element, key

70

hinge

100

Receiving box, delivery box

A

swivel axis

e

owner

Z

Deliverer

Claims (10)

Receiving box ( 100 ) for mail (P), deliveries of goods and the like, comprising: a housing ( 10 ) with a housing opening ( 30 ), a housing flap ( 40 ), a castle ( 50 ) and a control unit ( 60 ), wherein: the housing ( 10 ) with its interior ( 10i ) a recording room ( 20 ) for receiving via the housing opening ( 30 ) supplied mail, deliveries of goods and the like forms and encloses this, the housing flap ( 40 ) for closing and releasing the housing opening ( 30 ), the lock ( 50 ) for the coded controlled unlocking of the housing flap ( 40 ) on the housing ( 10 ) is formed by means of a code and via the operating unit ( 60 ) enter a code and a conditional unlocking of the lock ( 50 ) is veranlassbar. Receiving box ( 100 ) according to claim 1, wherein the operating unit ( 60 ) a control or keypad ( 65 ), via which a code can be entered and a conditional unlocking of the lock ( 50 ) is veranlassbar. Receiving box ( 100 ) according to one of the preceding claims, in which one or more codes for unlocking the lock ( 50 ) can be stored and / or changed, in particular via or in the operating unit ( 60 ). Receiving box ( 100 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the operating unit ( 60 ) has an electromagnetic, optical and / or radio interface for operation, for code deposit, for code input and / or for unlocking, in particular via communication by means of USB, Bluetooth, WLAN, mobile radio, barcode, infrared, magnetic induction, magnetic strip or electromagnetic transponder. Receiving box ( 100 ) according to one of the preceding claims, which is designed as part of a mailbox investment and / or integrated into a building wall. Receiving box ( 100 ) according to one of the preceding claims, which is designed to and has means to detect at least one of the following states and to display at least one signal representing the respective state and / or an identification of the delivered and deposited mail item (P), goods delivery or the like the authorized deliverer (Z) and / or the authorized owner (E) of the receiving box ( 100 ), namely a locking state indicating whether the lock ( 50 ) and the housing flap ( 40 ) are locked or unlocked, an opening state, which indicates whether the housing flap ( 40 ) and thus the housing opening ( 30 ) of the housing ( 10 ) are open or closed, and a delivery or storage state indicating whether a mail item (P), goods delivery, or the like in the receiving space ( 20 ) of the receiving box ( 100 ) is deposited. Receiving box ( 100 ) according to one of the preceding claims, which in the housing ( 10 ) or the housing flap ( 40 ) has a letter slot to thereby act as a mailbox. Using a receive box ( 100 ) according to one of the preceding claims in a method for delivering mailpieces (P), deliveries of goods or the like, comprising the steps of: (A) transmitting a code for unlocking the lock ( 50 ) of the receiving box ( 100 ) to a deliverer (Z), (B) inputting the transmitted code to the operating unit ( 60 ) of the receiving box ( 100 ) by the deliverer (Z) and thereby unlocking the lock ( 50 ), (C) opening with the unlocking of the lock ( 50 ) unlocked housing flap ( 40 ) of the receiving box ( 100 ) by the deliverer (Z), (D) depositing a mail item to be delivered (P), goods delivery or the like via the housing opening ( 30 ) in the recording room ( 20 ) of the receiving box ( 100 ) by the deliverer (Z) and (E) closing and locking the housing flap ( 40 ) on the housing ( 10 ) of the receiving box ( 100 ) by the deliverer (Z). Use according to claim 8, wherein the transmission of the code for unlocking the lock ( 50 ) with an order of the deliverer (Z) for delivering the mail item (P), the delivery of goods or the like takes place, in particular together with an order. Using the receiving box ( 100 ) according to one of claims 8 or 9, wherein with the delivery of a mail item (P), delivery of goods or the like by a deliverer (Z) in the receiving box ( 100 ) at least one of the following states is detected and at least one signal representing the respective state and / or an identification of the delivered and deposited mail item (P), delivery of goods or the like is displayed, sent to the instructed deliverer (Z) and / or to the authorized owner (E) the receiving box ( 100 ), namely a locking state indicating whether the lock ( 50 ) and the housing flap ( 40 ) are locked or unlocked, an opening state indicating whether the housing flap ( 40 ) and thus the housing opening ( 30 ) of the housing ( 10 ) are open or closed, and a delivery or storage state indicating whether a mail item (P), goods delivery, or the like in the receiving space ( 20 ) of the receiving box ( 100 ) is deposited.

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