GB2360197A

GB2360197A - Security storage system

Info

Publication number: GB2360197A
Application number: GB0003099A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gordon Brand; Simon Nunan; Matthew Nunan; Alex Brunwin; Deirdre Nunan
Original assignee: DBX Ltd
Current assignee: DBX Ltd
Priority date: 2000-02-10
Filing date: 2000-02-10
Publication date: 2001-09-19
Also published as: GB0003099D0

Abstract

The system is based on one or more portable receptacles (2) which co-operate with and are releasably lockable to a fixed bracket 1. The bracket may include receptacle support arms 6 which pivot between an extended position (Fig 3) and a position adjacent the bracket body (Fig 2B). The body carries resiliently biassed locking pins 7 which co-operate with corresponding detents (8, Fig 6A) in the rear of receptacle. Lock 3 on the bracket releases the pins 7 and locks 4 release the arms 6. In use for the delivery of goods, a frill receptacle is placed on an extended arm and locked by pins 7. The front of the receptacle carries a sleeve (12 Fig 6B) by way of which an empty receptacle can be slid onto an arm 6 which is then locked adjacent the bracket. The customer and deliverer thus need separate keys to release the container.

Description

1 2360197 A STORAGE SYSTEM

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a secure storage system which, amongst others, is particularly useful in the growing field of e-commerce offering a home delivery service.

Background to the Invention

In the rapidly expanding internet-shopping market one problem is that often the customer has to be at home to receive the delivery of goods ordered on-line. Each time the retailer (or delivery service) attempts to deliver the goods but is unable to because the customer is not at home, the cost of delivery effectively goes up. If after several attempts the goods remain undelivered it may be necessary to ask the customer to go to a warehouse or depot to collect the goods in person, thereby reducing the benefit of a home delivery service. With online supermarket shopping, it is clearly important that foodstuffs are delivered promptly and this requires that the customer remain at home over an agreed period (typically 2 or more hours) to ensure that the customer is in when the delivery vehicle arrives. Any delays can cause serious inconvenience to the customer.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention a storage system comprises the combination of a bracket and a separate receptacle, the receptacle being adapted to cooperate with the bracket when offered up to the bracket to releasably secure the receptacle to the bracket, one of the bracket and the receptacle having at least one lock which is operable to release the receptacle to permit the receptacle subsequently to be removed.

2 In the present invention, a storage system is provided in which a receptacle can be locked to a bracket simply by offering up the receptacle to the bracket where it engages a locking mechanism. Thereafter, the interlocked bracket and receptacle can only be separated by operating a lock to release the locking mechanism. This allows secure deliveries to be made to a customer. The bracket readily accepts different receptacles configured to carry different goods so that potentially the system has uses in many different fields. Each bracket may include the means to support two or more receptacles or an array of brackets may be provided capable of supporting a large number of receptacles.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a bracket for securely receiving a receptacle comprises an integral locking mechanism for engaging a receptacle offered up to the bracket to secure the receptacle to the bracket, the locking mechanism including at least one lock which is operable to release the receptacle to permit the receptacle subsequently to be removed.

Preferably, the bracket comprises a support ledge onto which the receptacle is loaded, thereby allowing the combination of the receptacle and the bracket to be aligned with, and offered up to, the associated locking mechanism. The support ledge may be formed by one or more surfaces defining a recess in the bracket that is configured to receive a portion of the receptacle therein. However, in a preferred example, the bracket comprises a main body portion having a support arm depending therefrorn, wherein loading the receptacle onto the support arm allows the receptacle to be offered up to and engage the locking mechanism to secure the receptacle to the bracket.

3 Preferably, the support arm is rotatably hinged to the main body portion of the bracket so that the support arm can be rotated between a first position in which the support arm lies substantially adjacent to the main body and a second position in which the support arm extends substantially perpendicular to the main body portion.

Preferably, the locking mechanism comprises a number ofresiliently biased locking pins adapted to cooperate with a number of detents formed in one of the bracket and the receptacle to secure the receptacle to the bracket.

Preferably, the locking pins are movable between a normally extended position and retracted position in response to the operation of a first lock.

Preferably, the or each lock and locking pins are provided as an integral part of the bracket.

Preferably, the or each lock is key operated. More preferably, where there are two or more locks each lock is operated by a different key.

Preferably, the locking mechanism comprises a mechanical linkage which cooperates with the first lock and the locking pins, whereby operation of the first lock overcomes the resilient bias of the locking pins to move them to the retracted position. In a preferred example, the mechanical linkage controls the operation of two sets of locking pins provided on the bracket to permit the alternate release of two receptacles mounted on respective sets of pins.

In a preferred example, the locking mechanism includes a second lock for releasably securing a 4 free end of the support arm to the main body.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a receptacle for use with a bracket according to the second aspect of the present invention, the bracket including a main body portion having a support arm depending therefrom, the receptacle comprising means for cooperating with the locking mechanism of the bracket to releasably secure the receptacle to the bracket.

Preferably, the means for cooperating with the locking mechanism comprises a number of detents formed in at least one face of the receptacle.

Preferably, the receptacle comprises a first slot formed in one face of the receptacle which is adapted to cooperate with the support arm over at least a portion of its extent and thereby provide a guide when offering up the receptacle to the bracket. Preferably, the first slot comprises a Ushaped channel extending across at least a portion of the one face of the receptacle.

Preferably, the receptacle further comprises a second slot formed in another face of the receptacle, the second slot having the form of a sleeve which is adapted to receive the free end of the support arm and so permit the receptacle to be mounted over the support arm with the support arm extending at least partially through the sleeve so that the receptacle can be secured to the bracket.

Preferably, the receptacle comprises a base and a lid, the lid being hinged to the base. The receptacle may be provided with a lock to secure the lid to the base. Alternatively, or in addition, the receptacle may be adapted to co-operate with the bracket so that the lid cannot be opened when the receptacle is mounted on the bracket.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a receptacle comprises a base section having a base, side walls and end walls, and a lid section which cooperates with the base.section to form a closable container, and an integral locking mechanism comprising a lock and a number of resiliently biased locking pins movable between a normal extended position and retracted position in response to the operation of the lock.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, a receptacle comprises abase, side walls and end walls, wherein one of the base, side or end walls comprises a U-shaped channel and one of the base, side or end walls comprises a sleeve portion having a cross section with dimensions substantially the same as the cross section of the U-shaped channel.

Preferably, one of the base, side and end walls comprises a channel having a number of holes formed in one or both of the side walls of the channel.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, a delivery method utilising the storage system according to the first aspect of the present invention, comprises the step of delivering a receptacle containing goods to the customer by releasably securing the receptacle to the bracket for subsequent unloading by the customer with a customer key.

Preferably, the method further comprises the step of recovering a receptacle placed on the bracket by the customer using a retailer key to release the receptacle from the bracket.

6 Preferably, the deliveiy is made in response to a customer order for goods. Preferably, the customer order is accepted over the Internet.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, a collection method utilising the storage system according to the first aspect of the present invention, comprises the step of collecting a receptacle containing goods placed in the receptacle by a customer by operating the locking mechanism to release the receptacle and subsequently removing the receptacle from the bracket.

Brief Description of the Drawings

An example of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figures 1 A to 1 D show a method of delivering a storage box in an example of a secure delivery system in accordance with the present invention; Figures 2A to 21) show the loading for subsequent removal of the storage box; Figure 3 is a perspective view of an example of a bracket in accordance with the present invention; Figure 4 is a rear view of the bracket shown in Figure 3, illustrating a locking mechanism used to secure a storage box to the bracket; Figures 5A to 5B illustrate the operation of the locking mechanism shown in Figure 4; and, Figures 6A and 6B show in more detail an example of a receptacle in accordance with the present invention for use with the bracket shown in Figures 1 to 5.

7 Detailed Description

Figures 1 A to 1 D and 2A to 21) show an example of a secure delivery system using a bracket 1 and a number of storage boxes 2 which can be securely attached to the bracket 1 to allow goods to be delivered in such a box by or on behalf of a retailer. Although not shown, the bracket 1 would normally be permanently anchored to a section of wall at the customer's home. As will be described below, the design allows a box 2 to be locked to the bracket 1 so that it can only be removed by the customer by operating a first lock 3 using a customer key. After emptying the contents of the box, the customer reverses the box 2 and places it back onto the bracket 1 where it is locked in place using a second lock 4 which can only be released using a retailer key. This allows the retailer to then recover the box for subsequent re-use.

In this dual locking mechanism, one lock can only be opened by the customer to remove the box after it has been delivered, and the other lock can be opened by the retailer or the delivery firm to remove the empty boxes. Whilst a box is locked 2 onto the bracket 1 it cannot be opened. This allows secure delivery whilst the customer is not at home.

Referring to Figure 3, the bracket 1 comprises a main body portion 5 and a pair of support arms 6 hinged to the main body portion 5. Each support arm 6 can be rotated between an extended position (as shown), ready to receive a box loaded onto it, and a closed position, where the free end of the support arm can be locked to the main body using the key operated lock 4. As will be described below, the bracket 1 includes a number of resiliently biased locking pins 7 which are adapted to cooperate with detents 8 (see Figure 6A) formed in the boxes to releasably secure boxes to the bracket. The locking pins 7 are mechanically linked to the key operated lock 3 8 which is operable to release the boxes from the bracket 1.

Referring to Figures 1 A to I D and Figure 6A, to install a box 2, the support arm 6 may be unlocked by the associated key operated lock 4 using a universal key held by the retailer or delivery firm and dropped into the extended position. A box 2 is then loaded onto the support arm 6 so that the support arm 6 cooperates with a U-shaped channel 9 formed in the base 10 of the box and offered up to the locking pins 7 where they are latched in the detents 8 formed in the back face 11 of the box, thereby securing the box 2 to the bracket 1. As will be described below, to remove the box 2 the customer must operate the lock 3 using a customer key in their possession to cause the locking pins 7 to retract.

Referring to Figures 2A to 21) and Figure 6B, once a customer has emptied the contents of a box 2, the box can then be resecured to the bracket 1 for subsequent collection by the retailer. As before, the support arm 6 is lowered into an extended position. However, in this arrangement, the position of the box 2 is reversed so that it can be loaded with the support arm 6 extending through a sleeve 12 forTned in the front face 13 of the box. The support arm 6 is then raised into the closed position where the free end 14 of the support arm 6 can then engage the lock 4 and be secured. The assembly is thus arranged so that only a party holding the retailer key can release the box for subsequent re-use.

Figures 4, 5A and 5B show the operation of the locking mechanism. A key inserted into the lock 3 on the front of the bracket 1 may be rotated 45 ' to the left or 45 ' to the right. In the passive position all four locking pins 71 to 74 are protruding through the casing of the bracket. When viewed from the rear (Figure 4), if the key is rotated to the left the lock lever plate 20 will move 9 clockwise causing the push rods 21 and 22 to move downwards and push rods 23 and 24 to move upwards. This in turn will rotate bell cranks 25 and 26 and bell crank striker pins 27 and 28 will push against the back flange of the locking pins 71 and 72 and against the springs 29 and 30 causing the locking pins 71 and 72 to be retracted into the body of the casing of the bracket 1. At the same time, bell cranks 31 and 32 will rotate moving their striker pins away from the locking pin back plates thus leaving locking pins 73 and 74 in the passive position as still protruding from the casing. By returning the key to the mid-position the locking pins 71 and 72 will be returned by springs to the protruding position.

Rotation of the key to the right will turn the lock cam lever anticlockwise causing push rods 23 and 24 to move downwards and push rods 21 and 22 to move upwards. This movement will then cause locking pins 73 and 74 to retract leaving locking pins 71 and 72 to remain in the protruding position. Returning the key to the mid position will, as before, allow the locking pins 73 and 74 to return to the protruding position.

In the normally static position, each locking pin 7 is able to be manually pushed in against their respective springs to the retracted position thus allowing a box to be slid onto the support arm and latched the respective detents 8 built into the box the main casing of the bracket (see Figure 6A).

Whilst in the above example the bracket includes a key operated locking pin system which cooperates with detents on the box, it is similarly possible for the box to incorporate such a locking mechanism which cooperates with detents provided in the bracket.

As can be seen from the drawings, the box and bracket co-operate when the box is mounted on the bracket to prevent the lid of the box being opened. In addition (although not shown), the box may be provided with a lock to secure the lid closed.

Furthermore, although in the above example each bracket has the means for supporting two boxes it could instead be designed to support any number of brackets. Brackets can be arranged to create an array having any number of support arms.

Finally, to accept postal deliveries, a box may be provided with a slot to form a letter box which can be locked in place by the customer to allow a delivery service (who do not deliver in boxes) to make a secure delivery whilst the home owner is out.

The versatility of the storage system of the present invention makes it suitable for use in a number of fields and businesses, examples of which are outlined below:

1. General storage - including left luggage, security boxes, sports lockers etc.

2. Waste disposal - including sharps, medicines, soiled diapers and other sanitary goods, dog waste etc.

3. Deliveries and collections - including postal services, general deliveries (particularly supermarket internet shopping), medical specimens, film processing, shoe repairs, dry cleaning, flowers etc.

4. Packaging - for consumer electronics, specialist instrumentation etc.

It will be appreciated that the materials and dimensions of the boxes will depend on the intended 11 use. For example, the boxes could be provided with insulation to keep goods warm or cold (as appropriate) during transport and storage. In addition, the boxes may be provided with a refrigeration unit with appropriate electrical sockets to accept an electrical plug when mounted on the bracket. Similarly, the placement of the bracket will depend on the intended use of the system. The bracket can be provided in the home, at the business or in a public place and secured to an appropriate supporting structure such as a wall or post.

Claims

A storage system comprising the combination of a bracket and a separate receptacle, the receptacle being adapted to cooperate with the bracket when offered up to the bracket to releasably secure the receptacle to the bracket, one of the bracket and the receptacle having at least one lock which is operable to release the receptacle to permit the receptacle subsequently to be removed.
2. A bracket for securely receiving a receptacle comprising an integral locking mechanism for engaging a receptacle offered up to the bracket to secure the receptacle to the bracket, the locking mechanism including at least one lock which is operable to release the receptacle to permit the receptacle subsequently to be removed.
3. A bracket according to Claim 2 which comprises a support ledge onto which the receptacle is loaded, thereby allowing the combination of the receptacle and the bracket to be aligned with, and offered up to, the associated locking mechanism.
4. A bracket according to Claim 2, wherein the support ledge is formed by one or more surfaces defining a recess in the bracket that is configured to receive a portion of the receptacle therein.
5. A bracket according to Claim 2 or 3, wherein the bracket comprises a main body portion having a support arm depending therefrom, whereby loading the receptacle onto the support arm allows the receptacle to be offered up to and engage the locking mechanism to secure the receptacle to the bracket.
6. A bracket according to Claim 5, wherein the support arm is rotatably hinged to the main body portion of the bracket so that the support arm can be rotated between a first position in which the support arm lies substantially adjacent to the main body and a second position in which the support arm extends substantially perpendicular to the main body portion.
7. A bracket according to any proceding claim, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a number of resiliently biased locking pins adapted to cooperate with a number of detents formed in one of the bracket and the receptacle to secure the receptacle to the bracket.
8. A bracket according to Claim 7, wherein the locking pins are movable between a normally extended position and retracted position in response to the operation of a first lock.
9. A bracket according to Claim 7 or 8, wherein the or each lock and locking pins are provided as an integral part of the bracket.
10. A bracket according to any proceding claim, wherein the or each lock is key operated, and preferably where there are two or more locks each lock is operated by a different key.

W 13
11. A bracket according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a mechanical linkage which cooperates with the first lock and the locking pins, whereby the operation of the first lock overcomes the resilient bias of the locking pins to move them to the retracted position.
12. A bracket according to Claim 11, wherein the mechanical linkage controls the operation of two sets of locking pins provided on the bracket to permit the alternate release of two receptacles mounted on respective sets of pins.
13. A bracket according to Claim 5, wherein the locking mechanism includes a second lock for releasably securing a free end of the support arm to the main body.
14. A receptacle for the use with a bracket according to any of Claims 2 to 13, the bracket including a main body portion having a support arm depending therefrom, the receptacle comprising means for cooperating with the locking mechanism of the bracket to releasably secure the receptacle to the bracket.
15. A receptacle according to Claim 14, wherein the means for cooperating with the locking mechanism comprises a number of detents formed in at least one face of the receptacle.
16. A receptacle according to Claim 14 or 15, which comprises a first slot formed in one face of the receptacle which is adapted to cooperate with the support arm over at least a portion of its extent and thereby provide a guide when offering up the receptacle to the 0 4r bracket.
17. A receptacle according to Claim 16, wherein the first slot comprises a U-shaped channel extending across at least a portion of the one face of the receptacle.
18. A receptacle according to Claim 17, further comprising a second slot formed in another face of the receptacle, the second slot having the form of a sleeve which is adapted to receive the free end of the support arm and so permit the receptacle to be mounted over the support arm with the support arm extending at least partially through the sleeve so that the receptacle can be secured to the bracket.
19. A receptacle according to any of Claims 14 to 18, which comprises a base and a lid, the lid being hinged to the base.
20. A receptacle according to Claim 19 which is provided with a lock to secure the lid to the base.
21. A receptacle according to Clairn 19 or 20 which is adapted to cooperate with the bracket so that the lid cannot be opened when the receptacle is mounted on the bracket.
22. A receptacle comprising a base section having a base, side walls and end walls, and a lid section which cooperates with the base section to form a closable container, and an integral locking mechanism comprising a lock and a number of resiliently biased locking pins movable between a normal extended position and retracted position in response to the operation of the lock.
23. A receptacle comprising a base, side walls and end walls, wherein one of the base, side or end walls comprises a U-shaped channel and one of the base, side or end walls comprises a sleeve portion having a cross section with dimensions substantially the same as the cross section of the U-shaped channel.
24. A receptacle according to Claim 22 or 23 wherein one of the base, side and end walls comprises a channel having a number of holes formed in one or both of the side walls of the channel.
25. A delivery method utilising the storage system according to Claim 1, comprising the step of delivering a receptacle containing goods to the customer by releasably securing the c receptacle to the bracket for subsequent unloading by the customer with a customer key.
26. A method according to Claim 25, which further comprises the step of recovering a receptacle placed on the bracket by the customer using a retailer key to release the receptacle from the bracket.
27. A method according to Claim 25 or 26, wherein the delivery is made in response to a customer order for goods, and preferably the customer order is accepted over the Internet.
28. A collection method utilising the storage system according to Claim 1 comprising the step of collecting a receptacle containing goods placed in the receptacle by a customer by - ',. 0.:

I. AW operating the locking mechanism to release the receptacle and subsequently removing the receptacle from the bracket.