GB2366597A - Home delivery receptacle fitted to an existing door - Google Patents

Abstract

A receptacle in the form of a collapsable or folding enclosure is, in use fitted to an internal side of an existing door, such that it is accessable from an external side of the door. Preferably more than one enclosure is fitted to each door and each enclosure collapses or folds such that it does not interfere with the opening action of the door. A second invention (Drawing 2) discloses a retractable screen mesh or roller shutter which, in use, is stretched behind an up-and-over type garage door to provide a secure enclosure for deliveries without allowing access to the building. A third invention discloses a plurality of receptacles which are lockable and openable only via a code.

Description

2366597 Improvements relating to home-delivery With more women working

full time and generally people working long hours, many households are unoccupied for most of the working day. Arrangements with tradesmen are problematic as is conveniently and securely taking delivery of items too large for the letterbox. The growth of internet shopping and home delivery is subject to and restricted by these problems. This invention addresses those problems.

The letterbox is a very useful invention but has limitations in the size of parcels it can securely receive. Any larger than the thickness of a hand or arm and it can assist forced entry or retrieval and theft of parcels deposited. Any form of larger lockers or containers situated near the front door, either built into the structure or set in the ground or porch would present problems in terms of space, structure and cost particularly retro-fitting in existing houses.

Often larger home delivery items are left in the garage or outhouse with instructions about keys under doormats or milk bottles. This is a hit and miss and risky business and with the growth of, and increase in value of such items, home deliveries may become an easy target for thieves.

Any form of larger fixed containers or lockers situated in existing openings or doors, front doors or garage doors would present problems of obstruction when such doors are opened. This invention relates to incorporating secure lockers or depositories in such doors but such lockers or depositories being extendable when full and retractable or collapsible when empty so as not to impede opening door swing or up and over opening mechanism or headroom.

The purpose of the invention is to provide one or a number of secure depositories within existing building openings, front doors or garage doors, that are independently secure from each other, secure from building entry and secure from any building contents, for instance letters already posted through a letterbox. The purpose would be to separately accommodate as wide a range of shape or size of home delivery items as possible. A collapsible depository incorporated in a front door might accommodate items such as parcels etc. up to the size of a television, computer or shopping basket, but an up and over garage door, particularly a double up and over garage door, could accommodate containers for such items as bicycles, white goods, garden equipment and household furniture.

The embodiments herein described refer to up and over garage doors but would apply to other doors and openings in buildings.

One embodiment of the invention is illustrated on drawing no. 1. In this embodiment the depositories consist of strong flexible steel, nylon, or similar or combination of, mesh securely fixed around the openings and fashioned to accommodate separately various shaped and sized deposited items. The mesh would be designed when empty to fold flat with the inner garage door face and clipped, press studded, velcrowed or similar into place to lie flat when the door is up and over and not project down and impede headroom. Preferably, if such a material is available and is strong enough to deter forced entry, a stretchable mesh would be ideal and would simplify the folding back process. The opening in the front door, garage door, or other would be a steel or similar hinged door or flap fitted with a drop latch lock that would be engaged after the delivery is deposited.

Another embodiment illustrated in drawing no. 1, fig's. 3 and 4, is that the depositaries should be formed from a very strong flexible opaque material - woven wire, nylon or similar or combination of. This material would be folded flat and secured in a similar manner to the foregoing mesh material, again a stretchable material if secure would be most appropriate. The purpose of this embodiment is to obscure any view into the garage which may contain valuable items. Again the door or flap would be self locking when the delivery is deposited.

The third embodiment illustrated in drawing no. 1, fig. 2, consists of depositories formed from a concertina folded and/or hinged strong sheet steel or nylon or similar sides and similar backs. These would be concertined open to accept deposits and folded and clipped back to facilitate flat garage door up and over action. This embodiment may form the strongest form of enclosure and would also obscure view in to the garage. Again the door or flap opening to these depositories would be self locking after delivery.

Any of the foregoing may be constructed and designed to be either, individually or collectively, retro-fitted into existing garage doors, front doors and other openings or designed into new.or replacement garage doors, front doors and other openings.

A fourth embodiment is to provide a retractable secure screen or mesh behind the garage door as illustrated in drawing no. 2, fig. 1. This would have the disadvantage in that it would only securely accommodate one delivery at a time but in combination with a parcel locker on the house front door, it may be a simple, useful and cheap option.

A retractable screen, mesh or roller shutter could simply be positioned behind the garage door to securely accommodate a delivery as well as secure existing garage contents. To avoid interference with up and over opening action this mesh or screen would need to be positioned towards the back of the open up and over door.

An improvement of this invention to save space and to allow large items including a car to remain secure in the garage would be to secure a retractable flexible secure mesh or screen into the garage floor say 600mm to 900mm back from the garage door and to securely affix this to about halfway up the garage door as illustrated in drawing no. 2, fig's. 2 and 3.

The method would be as follows. On leaving the house and garage, perhaps with a car remaining in the garage leaving 600mm or 900mm of space at the entrance, the owner, anticipating a delivery, would pull up or down (depending on the mechanism employed) a retractable flexible secure screen or mesh and secure it between about mid point horizontally along the garage door and then close the up and over door. The delivery man would open the door, place the delivery in the space in front of the mesh or screen close and lock the door and the flexible mesh or screen would enfold the delivery. To prevent entry around the sides of the mesh or screen this could be designed with a flexible return affixed to the jambs of the door. Again a stretchable material, mesh or screen would be appropriate, if secure enough, otherwise the design fit would be loose and baggy along the lines of a goalkeeping net or fishing net.

The foregoing inventions would apply to a large number of household and business deliveries. However there remains a need for some other improved methods of delivery and collection in the absence of the foregoing.

It has been mooted that local post offices, shops, pubs, garages or similar communal meeting place, should provide a reception and pick-up service for such home deliveries.

There are problems related to space, security and restricted opening times associated with such arrangements.

The purpose of this invention is to overcome such problems and provide secure and anonymous depositories and pick-up arrangements for such items. To overcome restrictions of opening hours it is proposed that the depositories should be situated outside the lockable premises, post office, public house, garage etc. either in an unlocked outhouse, shelter or kiosk possibly in the carpark or forecourt etc.

The key to this invention is twofold, one that the goods delivered would be bar coded or PIN numbered to which only the specific customer of the delivery would be privy and two that this bar code or PIN number would, when deposited, activate a transmitted signal relayed to the specific customer by electronic means - telephone, mobile, pager or internet/email as, when and during the time the item is deposited. This device would avoid the need, anxiety and time wasted of customers checking the delivery with suppliers or making fruitless pick-up journeys.

The method of this invention is as follows. On ordering goods electronically, by telephone or other means, a delivery drop-off and collection point secure depository, as described above, would be arranged and nominated. The goods to be delivered would be affixed with a bar code, PIN number or similar of which the customer would be confidentially informed. On deposit of said goods into said depository the bar code or PIN number would be electronically or by other means registered into the electronics of the depository. This would lock the depository until unlocking by customers' codes but also trigger a delivery completed signal relayed to the customer electronically. The same signal would simultaneously be accessible electronically to potential deliverers for them to ascertain the current vacancy/occupancy of the depositories prior to delivery.

S.

Improvements relating to home.delivery Key Sheet Drawina No. 1 Fig. 1 Perspective view of front door showing 2 depositories/lockers with top locker illustrating delivered parcel in mesh enclosure and open locker door and bottom locker illustrating partially unfolded concertina sided locker and open locker door.

Eig, 2 Section through door to show net or mesh enclosure and bottom concertina locker.

Fig, 3 Perspective view of up and over garage door incorporating 3 depositories/lockers. large bottom locker with downswing flap/door assisting entry of goods over bottom door frame and showing mesh/net enclosure. Top left-hand locker showing partial folded concertina locker and top right-hand showing opaque material holder/enclosure.

Fig, 4 Sectional view of garage door showing mesh/net bottom locker/enclosure and top opaque material holder/enclosure.

DLawina No. 2 Fig, 1 Section through garage up and.over door and entrance illustrating sequential position of door up and over and retractable grill/screen position behind door mechanism.

Fig, 2 Sectional view of garage door with goods delivered and flexible baggy net or screen fixed to floor and horizontal mid-height of garage door.

Fig, 3 Sectional drawing of up and over garage door with car in garage and sequential opening and closing of door and positions of draped net or screen.

Fig, 4 Plan sectional illustration of garage door showing draped loose net, mesh or screen affixed to sides of garage door jambs Improvements relating to home delivery Cla' s (1) Retractable and/or collapsible lockers or depositories within building openings.

(2) Retractable or collapsible lockers and depositories within building opening designed so as not to impede the opening action of such openings or doors.

(3) A combination of retractable or collapsible lockers or depositories in any building opening or door each locker self-contained.

(4) Retractable or collapsible lockers and depositories as in claims 1), (2) & (3) utilising strong stretchable mesh to securely enclose delivery and prevent forced building entry.

(5) Retractable or collapsible lockers and depositories as in claims (1), (2) & (3) utilising strong opaque flexible material to enclose delivery and prevent forced building entry and external view of criteria.

(6) Retractable or collapsible lockers and depositories as in claims (1), (2) & (3) utilising concertina action steel or plastic or similiar formation enclosing delivery, preventing forced building entry and external viewing of criteria.

(7) A retractable screen, mesh or roller shutter stretched behind the opening action of any building opening, door, roller shutter, or up and over door that can provide secure enclosure & depository for deliveries whilst preventing building entry.

(8) A retractable secure screen, mesh or flexible material, retractable from the floor but positioned within the up and over action of the door that is fixable to the up and over door around mid height and the door jambs to create a secure enclosure and depository within a plan area less than the area of the open position of the up and over door.

(9) A community secure depository of numerous and various lockers or depositories which receive -7.

deliveries that are electronically or otherwise locked, wherein that secure depository is not openable without the code.

(10) A community secure depository as in claim (9) wherein the deposit of delivery electronically messages the customer that the delivery has been deposited.

(11) A community secure depository as in claim(9) wherein occupation of deposit boxes is electronically receivable by potential depositors.