ES1277254U - Smart mailbox (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) - Google Patents

Abstract

Smart mailbox, which can be linked to a vertical wall to house mail and parcels, comprising: -a drawer (1), - a door (2) for opening and closing the drawer (1), and - some locking elements (4) to lock the door (2) on the drawer (1), the intelligent mailbox being characterized in that it comprises an intelligent lock (3) linked to the door (2), to actuate the elements lock (4), which in turn comprises an internal processor and a transmitter element for wireless communication with an external mobile device (5), equipped with a specific computer application. (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

DESCRIPTION

Smart mailbox

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention falls within the technical field of large parcel receptacles with devices to prevent deposited items from being improperly removed, and relates in particular to a smart mailbox.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

At present, the business model in which the buyer does not go to an establishment, but rather consults a catalog and places an order remotely, either by remote means, is widely known and is in a high degree of development. communication by telephone (telephone, fax, etc.) or telematics, through, for example, the Internet. This business model, also known as "ecommerce" by its name in English, implies the need for storage terminals to which companies send their products for storage until the moment the buyer comes to collect them.

On the other hand, the "last mile" is known as the management of parcel transport focused on the last journey to be made in the final delivery. It corresponds to the journey that is made once several packages have been grouped in a certain place and that from there they are distributed in the corresponding locality. For this reason, it is also known as capillary distribution, because within a locality the distributions are made in different areas or branches. In supply chains focused on the final consumer and retail sector (B2C), the last mile consists of direct delivery to the customer either at a delivery / collection point, an automated storage terminal or at their own home.

Said storage terminals typically comprise a plurality of lockers of varying sizes, in which packages containing the purchased products are kept. The storage terminal further comprises automated and computerized management means for managing the storage of the packages in the lockers, where the management means are usually located at a remote location from the lockers.

Storage terminals are usually located in places with easy access and a high number of people, such as public transport stations, airports, shopping centers, gas stations, etc. These are solutions suitable for urban environments, but they are not usually applied in rural areas or areas with a dispersed population.

The most versatile solution consists of the use of traditional mailboxes, but modified in their dimensions to be able to house packages that are much larger than the usual letters or postal items. Some patent documents relating to this type of mailbox are known in the current state of the art. For example, the Spanish patent with publication number ES2814399 describes a mailbox equipped with an intelligent lock that can be synchronized with a server or any other type of external device, without connection or direct indirect communication between them, that provides the necessary codes for its opening through the use of real time. For this, the lock is provided with electronic means for generating and storing dynamic codes that vary as a function of time and the identity of the electronic means itself. The mailbox therefore comprises a PCB to which are connected, on the one hand, an interface through which to enter the opening code, some power supply means and the lock itself in the form of a solenoid or another, which will allow the opening door when activated by the signal sent from the PCB.

The Spanish utility model, with publication number ES1190433, refers to an electronic mailbox that allows the use of the bluetooth system to receive and return items from electronic sales or e-commerce operations. The mailbox also allows secure signing through signature code, while optimizing route scheduling, reducing costs and saving time.

There is still a need for an intelligent mailbox, simple and inexpensive to configure and that allows a safe exchange of goods.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention consists of a smart mailbox that can be coupled to a wall, wall or similar vertical facing, comprising a drawer and a drawer opening and closing door equipped with an intelligent lock.

The smart lock has wireless communication elements, preferably bluetooth, with an external mobile device equipped with a specific application. This application acts as a key to the intelligent mailbox lock and, each time the lock and the application are synchronized, they unlock single-use opening codes that are then issued by the user from wherever they are located.

These codes issued by the user are previously provided by the online store where a purchase is being made, and are incorporated into the delivery address. The code ends up being received by the carrier who is in charge of inserting it into the mailbox's smart lock, preferably by means of a keypad enabled for this purpose. If the code entered is correct, the lock proceeds to unblock the door, allowing it to be opened for the introduction of the merchandise inside the drawer, or for the extraction of said merchandise if it is a return.

Inside the mailbox, upon closing, the carrier can scan a QR code where they can obtain the personal information of the issuer of the code, that is, the owner of the mailbox, with which to certify the delivery or return.

All the electronic elements of the mailbox are located only in the door, which facilitates repair or replacement in the event of a breakdown.

The material from which the mailbox is made is polyester reinforced with fiberglass. This material does not rust unlike a metal mailbox or expand with prolonged exposure to the sun unlike a plastic one.

The specific application can only be downloaded by the mailbox owner. From the application, the owner can issue single-use codes that he assigns to orders so that the carrier can use them on the keypad of the smart lock. When the owner wants to collect the order from inside the mailbox, he has to press a button called "open mailbox" in the application. In this way the mailbox and the application are synchronized and the code history is updated, also releasing new opening codes ready to be issued From the application, the owner can also register users who can use his mailbox, who can also issue codes and synchronize with the mailbox.

The intelligent mailbox thus described supposes a simple and economic solution that allows to overcome the disadvantages of the current state of the art.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To complement the description that is being made and in order to help a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, according to a preferred example of a practical embodiment thereof, a set of drawings is attached as an integral part of said description. where, for illustrative and non-limiting purposes, the following has been represented:

Figure 1.- Shows a perspective view of the smart mailbox embedded in a wall and with the door open.

Figure 2.- Shows a front view of the smart mailbox with the door closed.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

A detailed explanation of a preferred embodiment of the object of the present invention is provided below, with the aid of the aforementioned figures.

The intelligent mailbox that is described, shown schematically in figure 1, is intended to be linked to a wall, wall or similar vertical facing, to house correspondence and parcels intended for a user inside. For this, said smart mailbox is made up of a drawer (1) and a door (2) for opening and closing the drawer (1) equipped with an intelligent lock (3) and locking elements (4), operable by the lock. smart device (3), to lock the door (2) on the drawer (1).

The smart lock (3) comprises at least one button panel and a screen located on the external face of the door (2) and an optical reading device located on the internal face of said door (2). Said smart lock (3) also comprises an internal processor and a transmitter element for wireless communication with an external mobile device (5), equipped with a specific computer application. In this preferred embodiment, the communication between the smart lock (3) and the mobile device (5) is carried out via bluetooth.

The drawer (1), which in the preferred embodiment shown here is embedded in an external wall of a house, is made of polyester reinforced with fiberglass and is dimensioned to be able to house large packages inside.

The door (2) is linked to the drawer (1) by means of hinges (6) located on a side edge, and can incorporate a through slot (7) to allow the introduction into the drawer (1) of ordinary correspondence without the need for door tamper (2), which makes the Smart Mailbox completely replace a traditional mailbox.

Claims (5)

1. Smart mailbox, which can be linked to a vertical wall to house mail and parcels, comprising: - a drawer (1), - a door (2) for opening and closing the drawer (1), and - some locking elements (4) to lock the door (2) on the drawer (1), the intelligent mailbox being characterized in that it comprises an intelligent lock (3) linked to the door (2), to actuate the elements lock (4), which in turn comprises an internal processor and a transmitter element for wireless communication with an external mobile device (5), equipped with a specific computer application. 2. Smart mailbox according to claim 1, wherein the smart lock (3) further comprises a keypad and a screen located on the outside of the door (2) and an optical reading device located on the inside of the door ( 2). 3. Smart mailbox according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the door (7) incorporates a through slot (7) for introduction into the ordinary correspondence drawer (1) without manipulating said door (2). 4. Smart mailbox according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the communication between the smart lock (3) and the mobile device (5) is carried out via bluetooth. 5. Smart mailbox according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the drawer (1) is made of polyester reinforced with fiberglass and is sized to be able to house large packages inside.