EP3075288B1 - Device for locking the package compartment of a mailbox and use of the device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a device for locking the parcel compartment of a mailbox according to the preamble of claim 1.

There are a variety of devices for holding letters and newspapers as well as parcels, commonly known as home mailboxes. In DIN 32617, the minimum requirements are specified in order to standardize the use of sufficiently large and functional in-house mailboxes. It should, for example, in addition to the format DIN C4 across even the newspaper in the mailbox fit, and the standard specifies the depth of the box. A theft protection for inserted packages is not mentioned.

The purchase of goods via the Internet and the associated delivery of goods via parcel delivery services such as mail or couriers has increased massively in recent years. If the value of such packages is rather low, the packages will not be sent by registered mail and deposited by the delivering postman or parcel courier in the parcel compartment of the mailbox, without any notification of the recipient. Since usually only the letter box is secured by a lock, there is the danger in a freely accessible parcel compartment that a parcel is stolen by a third person before the emptying of the mailbox by the recipient.

There are various solutions for locking a parcel compartment and thus for protection against unauthorized access by third parties. For example, in the patent CH 597 809 describes a mailbox with two compartments, which is locked after inserting a package. The unlocking of both compartments is done by the common lock of the letter compartment. The disadvantages of the proposed solution are above all the dependence of the function of size and ev. Weight of the package, as well as the mechanics, which contains an aging spring mechanism.

In the publication of the German Patent Office with the number DE 198 23 312 A1 a device with automatic mechanical anti-theft device is described in which the parcel compartment is locked due to the package weight and then can only be opened by means of a key. This solution does not work on lightweight packages and is based on springs that lose their power after a few years and require maintenance.

The international application WO 2012/084433 A1 describes a parcel box for theft-proof storage of parcels. The locking is again due to the package weight. The disadvantage of this solution are the complex mechanical design, the dependency on the package weight and possibly its shape, and the necessary maintenance due to the highly stressed cord. A further is known in the European patent specification EP 2 241 226 A1 described box for theft-proof recording and storage of packages. Again, that is Mechanics quite complex and the function depends on the weight and possibly the package form.

In the patent CH 597 810 Four solutions for locking a parcel compartment are described. However, these are all relatively complex and dependent on either the weight or the size of the package. The package compartment must be unlocked in three variants by a button in the letter box, in the fourth variant, this happens automatically when opening the letter compartment.

In the EP 2 835 479 A1 a mechanism for a safe deposit box is described. In a first step, a slider placed in the door is manually moved from a first position to a second position. Subsequently, in a second step, the door can be closed and locked in a third step by means of a key. The disadvantage of this solution is, above all, that the slide requires an additional operating step when the user closes the parcel compartment.

The US 5 407 126 A discloses a one-door mailbox that, in an initial state of pre-locking, allows the postman to open the door, load mailpieces, and then actively lock the door. Unlocking is possible only with the aid of a key, whereby at the same time the initial state of the pre-locking is restored.

The US 5,692,674 describes a self-locking mailbox with a latching mechanism that allows a single opening and closing of the mailbox door from an initial state before it is locked.

The US 2008/0142522 A1 discloses a mailbox having a flap which can also be once opened and closed again from an initial state, but then locked.

Important criteria for mailboxes with letter box and parcel compartment are security against theft, simple construction, cost-effective production and assembly, if possible not to be replaced during the lifetime wear parts and very important: the ease of use by the owner and the postman. All known mailboxes, as mentioned above, satisfy these criteria only partially or inadequately.

The present invention is therefore based on the object to provide a device in which the aforementioned disadvantages are eliminated.

This object is achieved by the features specified in claim 1. An advantageous embodiment is specified in the dependent claims.

The invention presented here allows the cost-effective production of a theft-proof mailbox with two compartments. The mechanics are intentionally simple. For example, only low-cost standard profiles are used for the construction, and care is taken to ensure that they only have to be processed on one side if possible. For easy installation no complicated tools and devices are needed.

By eliminating tiring components such as springs results in a maintenance-free operation.

Overall, with the invention presented here, a protection against theft of delivered packages at low production costs, low installation costs and virtually no service and maintenance costs. Likewise in relation to in the pamphlets EP 2 835 479 . US 5692674 A such as US 2008/0142522 A1 described invention no additional operation necessary. The mechanism presented here also works regardless of the size and weight of the package.

Fig. 1

Eine Anordnung von Bestandteilen für einen erfinderischen Briefkasten mit einem Brieffach und einem Paketfach mit Diebstahlschutz.

Fig. 2

Erfinderischer Briefkasten: Einbau in einen handelsüblichen Briefkasten mit Brief- und Paketfach. Für eine bessere Sichtbarkeit des Mechanismus wurde hier ein sehr kleiner Briefkasten gezeichnet.

Fig. 3

Erfinderischer Briefkasten: Verriegelungsvorrichtung bei geschlossenem Paketfach vor dem Einlegen eines Pakets.

Fig. 4

Erfinderischer Briefkasten: Öffnen des Paketfachs zum Einlegen eines Pakets.

Fig. 5

Erfinderischer Briefkasten: Schliessen des Paketfachs nach dem Einlegen eines Pakets.

Fig. 6

Erfinderischer Briefkasten: Verriegeltes Paketfach nach dem Einlegen eines Pakets.

Fig. 7

Erfinderischer Briefkasten: Geöffnetes Brieffach und damit entriegeltes Paketfach zur Entnahme eines Pakets.

Fig. 8

Erfinderischer Briefkasten: Schliessen des Paketfachs nach dem Abschliessen des Brieffachs.

The present invention will be explained below with reference to embodiments with reference to drawings. Showing:

Fig. 1

An arrangement of components for an inventive mailbox with a letter box and a parcel compartment with anti-theft protection.

Fig. 2

Inventive letterbox: Installation in a standard mailbox with letter and parcel compartment. For a better visibility of the mechanism, a very small mailbox was drawn here.

Fig. 3

Inventive mailbox: Locking device with the parcel compartment closed before inserting a parcel.

Fig. 4

Inventive Mailbox: Open the package tray to load a package.

Fig. 5

Inventive mailbox: Close the parcel compartment after inserting a parcel.

Fig. 6

Inventive Mailbox: Locked package tray after inserting a package.

Fig. 7

Inventive mailbox: Open letterbox and unlocked parcel compartment to remove a parcel.

Fig. 8

Inventive mailbox: Close the parcel compartment after closing the mailbox.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of the components of an inventive mailbox with a first mechanism 20 and a second mechanism 21 and a third mechanism 22. Fig. 1 shows a long profile 1, the lower end protrudes into the guide plates 2. Not drawn here is the second guide plate, which is constructed mirror-symmetrically to the first. In Fig. 2 both guide plates are shown. At the lower end of the profile 1, a pendulum holder 7 is attached, on which the pendulum 6 is freely rotatable. The lower pin of the pendulum, 6b, projects into the recesses 5 of the guide plates 2. The spacers 3a resp. 3b position the two guide plates. The hook 4 is attached to the door of the parcel compartment and is located with the door closed between the guide plates. The pins 8 limit the lowest position of the profile 1 in the guide plates. However, the bolt 11 is not raised, for example, only by the opening of the lock 9 and the associated movement of the lever 10.
The entire mechanism is mounted inside the mailbox, preferably on the side wall.
Fig. 2 shows the mechanism, installed in a mailbox. So that the installation is easy to recognize, a very small letterbox was drawn here. The mechanism is mounted, for example with a spacer plate 12 on the inner wall, the hook 4 on the PaketfachTüre 13. The handle 14 on the parcel compartment door is used here only the illustration. The mailbox door 15 carries the lock with the bolt.

The Fig. 3 to 8 show different phases in the opening and closing of the letter compartment respectively the parcel compartment of an inventive mailbox.

Fig. 3 shows the situation with the letter and parcel compartment closed, before inserting a parcel. For example, a courier can now deliver a package.
The pin of the pendulum 6 is located on the level of the recess 5 and carries the profile 1, the hook 4 is located behind the pendulum.

Fig. 4 shows what happens the first time the parcel compartment is opened, for example by a courier. The hook 4 is moved in the direction of the arrow and takes the pendulum 6, the profile 1 falls down.

In Fig. 5 the parcel compartment was fully opened, the profile 1 rests on its pins 8 and the pendulum 6 is tilted. For example, a courier now places goods in the parcel compartment. During the subsequent closing of the parcel compartment, the hook 4 slides in the direction of the arrow below the pendulum, the pendulum holder and the profile 1, which are slightly raised in the process.

Fig. 6 shows the now locked package tray. When trying to open this, the hook 4 is on profile 1. It can only be unlocked by opening the letter compartment.

It is understood that not necessarily an item must be deposited in the parcel compartment to lock the parcel compartment.

Fig. 7 shows the unlocking of the parcel compartment when opening the letter compartment by the owner. By the bolt 11 on the lock 9 of the letter Tray the profile 1 is pulled up and the door of the parcel compartment can be opened thanks to the released hook 4.

Fig. 8 shows the parcel compartment after closing the letter compartment with the lock 9, the subsequent closing of the parcel compartment. The hook 4 slides under the pendulum 6 through. The device is thus again in the position according to Fig. 3 , The same position is achieved if the parcel compartment is closed or not opened in front of the letter compartment.

Claims (3)

1. A device for a mail box comprising at least a letter compartment and a parcel compartment, with a first mechanism (20), a second mechanism (21) and a third mechanism (22), characterised in that the first mechanism (20) comprises at least a profile (1) and a pendulum (6) with an upper and a lower pivot pin (6b), the third mechanism (22) comprises a lock (9) firmly attached to the letter compartment and the second mechanism (21) comprises two guide plates (2) each with a recessed slot (5), and also with a hook (4) firmly attached to the parcel compartment door (13), wherein the pendulum (6) is pivotably connected by means of its upper pivot pin with the first mechanism (20) and is pivotably mounted by means of its lower pivot pin (6b) in the recessed slot (5) in the second mechanism (21), so that operation of the device is rendered possible, wherein, in a first step, the profile (1) is raised by opening the letter compartment using the lock (9), until the pendulum (6) is perpendicular to its lower pivot pin (6b) and, in a second step, the empty parcel compartment is closed, whereby the hook (4) is pushed horizontally beneath the pendulum 6) and, in a third step, by opening the empty parcel compartment, the hook (4) moves horizontally in the opposite direction simultaneously taking the pendulum (6) with it wherein the profile (1) moves further down until it rests with the pins (8) on the guide plates (2) and, in a fourth step, by closing the parcel compartment containing an item, the hook (4) moves horizontally beneath the profile (1) and the parcel compartment containing an item remains locked until the letter compartment is opened using the lock (9), therefore meaning that unlocking and opening the parcel compartment is only possible by unlocking the letter compartment.
2. A device according to one of the Claims 1, characterised in that the third mechanism (22) comprises at least one mechanical element and an electronic lock.
3. A device according to Claim 1, characterised in that a visual display indicates to the user whether the parcel compartment's status is "unlocked" or "locked".

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