GB2347405A

GB2347405A - Container for receiving delivered goods

Info

Publication number: GB2347405A
Application number: GB9904973A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gordon George Troy
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-03-05
Filing date: 1999-03-05
Publication date: 2000-09-06
Also published as: GB9904973D0

Abstract

A container 11 for receiving bread or other delivered goods comprises a closure 12 having a lock which is activated by an article being placed in the container 11. The lock preferably comprises a catch 17 for cooperating with a latch 16 which is depressed by the weight of the article. A second closure 18 is provided, preferably secured by a padlock 19.

Description

CONTAINER This invention relates to containers, and particularly to containers which may be located outside business or domestic premises to receive deliveries such as mail and newspapers.

Such containers are not normally locked-to provide deliverymen with keys (or codes in the case of combination locks) would be troublesome for the delivery men, not to mention expensive.

In connection with a projected home delivery service for more valuable articles, or articles at least more likely to be pilfered, it would, however, be desirable to provide lockable containers which could be accessed for delivery purposes. The present invention provides such a container.

The invention comprises a container having a closure and a lock for the closure activated by an article being placed in the container.

The lock may be activated by the weight of the article, and may have a base with a latch normally resiliently elevated from the base but depressed by the weight of the article or otherwise by the article, the closure having a catch which, on closing, engages the depressed latch, but does not engage the latch in its elevated position.

Removal of the article may deactivate the lock or enable its deactivation.

The container may have a second closure, conventionally lockable, for example with a padlock, through which the article can be removed.

The container may be of elongated shape, having the article-activated closure at the end-a model is the familiar US type mailbox that sits on a post at the entrance to the driveway to a residence, though the actual size and shape may be adapted to the articles intended to be delivered. One service envisaged is the daily delivery of a loaf of bread, and the container could then be an elongate, square-section box with a closure at each end.

The article-activated closure may comprise a hinged flap, and the hinge may be horizontal, the flap depending from it.

Embodiments of containers according to the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a lengthwise section through one embodiment, empty; and Figure 2 is a section like Figure 1 with an article in the container, which is locked.

The container 11 illustrated in the drawings comprises a square section box having a closure 12 and a lock 13 for the closure 12 activated by an article 14 being placed in the container 11. The lock 13 is activated by the weight of the article 14-in this case, a loaf of bread.

The container 11 has a base 15 with a latch 16 normally resiliently elevated from its base 15-Figure 1-but depressed-Figure 2-by the weight of the article 14.

The closure 12 has a catch 17 which, on closing, engages the depressed latch 16 (elevating it slightly by a camming action to pass beneath) but does not engage the latch 16 in its elevated position.

Thus the empty container 11 is accessible to insert a loaf of bread, but when the closure 12 is closed after insertion of the loaf, it is locked.

The container 11 has a second closure 18, conventionally lockable by a padlock 19. This second closure 18 is at the end of an elongate container opposite the end with the article activated closure. Removal of the loaf through this closure 18 unlocks the closure 12.

The article activated closure 12 comprises a hinged flap, depending from an upper horizontal hinge 21. As seen in Figure 2, the flap does not hinge through bottom dead centre position, so that it swings down and engages the latch 16 by gravity, not requiring any special attention by the delivery man, other than to ensure that the closure 12 is locked.

Other mechanisms and modes of operation can, of course, be envisaged which would bring about the same effect of locking by insertion of an article, and different arrangements and configurations even using the same resilient latch locking technique. For example, only one closure may be provided, which is lockable by insertion of an article but openable by a key or by a combination lock code or otherwise.

And while the weight of the article is effective in a locking arrangement for articles such as bread loaves, bottles of milk and so forth, it may not be so for mail, in which case the act of insertion may require a resiliently biassed latch to be manually depressed to a locking position, or a weight to be lowered on to such a latch, before the mail can be inserted.

Multiple cavity containers may be provided with a single closure 12 or separate closures 12, and separate closures 18 or a common closure 18.

Containers may be fabricated in any suitable materials, such, for example, as metals, plastics, wood and so forth. For food and beverage deliveries the container may be insulated as by having a double wall with a foam filling or by being lined internally with an insulating material or by having a rigid insert of e. g. polyurethane or polystyrene foam, and may be refrigerated as by comprising an ice box, adapted perhaps for dry ice containment, or by evaporation of water.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A container having a closure and a lock for the closure activated by an article being placed in the container.
2. A container according to claim 1 in which the lock is activated by the weight of the article.
3. A container according to claim 2 having a base with a latch normally resiliently elevated from the base but depressed by the weight of the article and the closure has a catch which, on closing, engages the depressed latch, but does not engage the latch in its elevated position.
4. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 3 having a second closure conventionally lockable.
5. A container according to claim 4 in which the second closure is lockable with a padlock.
6. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 5 of elongated shape having the article-activated closure at one end.
7. A container according to claim 6 having a conventionally locked closure of the other end.
8. A cointainer according to any one of claims 1 to 7 in which the article activated closure is a hinged flap.
9. A container according to claim 8 in which the hinge is horizontal and the flap depends from it.
10. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 9 configured to receive deliveries of household supplies such as bread, mail, newspapers and like-sized articles.