GB2398834A

GB2398834A - A through the wall delivery unit including a refrigerated compartment

Info

Publication number: GB2398834A
Application number: GB0413474A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Penelope Caroline Ruth Wood
Original assignee: Laing Homes Ltd
Current assignee: Laing Homes Ltd
Priority date: 2000-03-16
Filing date: 2000-03-16
Publication date: 2004-09-01
Anticipated expiration: 2020-03-16
Also published as: GB0006392D0; GB2362924B; GB2362924A; GB0413474D0; GB2398834B

Abstract

A delivery unit is in use mounted in an external wall of a property and comprises at least one compartment 14, 16, 18 where at least one of the compartments is cooled by a cooling unit 20. Interior and exterior doors 32, 34 allow access to the compartments from inside and outside the property respectively. The exterior door 32 is capable of being opened manually from inside the or each compartment. Preferably the unit comprises three compartments, a freezer, a fridge and one at ambient temperature. An alarm may be provided which is actuable from inside a compartment. The external door may be fitted with a lock operated by a code and the internal door may comprise a latch.

Description

A DELIi7ER\'t,NIT The invention reifies to a delivery unit.

S Mail order shopping is becoming more popular and with the advent of shopping on the Internet many more goods are being delivered to residential properties. Many people who are out at work all day find mail order and Internet shopping convenient and time efficient but feel unable to take advantage of it, at least for items too large to fit through a letter box, as deliveries are made during the day while they are out at work. If a door ]0 or porch is deft open, there is the risk of theft. Many supermarkets have offered a delivery service for food for some time and the spread of access to the Internet has made this more popular. On a normal visit to the supermarket, well over half of the average customer's purchases are chilled or frozen. Chilled or frozen food cannot be delivered into a porch for example as it will soon reach ambient temperature. ]5

According to the present invention there is provided a delivery unit to be mounted in an external wall of a residential property, the delivery unit having at least one compartment therein for items, such as groceries or the like, the delivery unit including cooling means for cooling items in the or at least one of the compartments, the interior of the or each compartment being accessible through at least one first door and being accessible through at least one second door, the first and second doors being spaced apart so that when the delivery unit is mounted in an external wall of a residential property, the or each first door opens to allow access from outside the property and the or each second door opens to allow access from. inside the property, wherein the or each first door is capable of being opened manually from inside the or each compartment.

In this way, if a child, or an adult for that matter, should become trapped in the or one of the compartments they will be able to manually open at least the first door in order to escape.

Preferably, an alarm is provided which is actuable from inside the or each compartment.

Thus, if someone is trapped in the or one of the conl,pa.rnents they can also activate an alarm.

The delivery unit may be disguised as or fitted within a standard kitchen cupboard.

Preferably, the or one compar4rerlt acts as a refrigerator cooled by the cooling means.

In another embodir.lent the or One corrlpar'.rr.e.t acts as a freezer cocled by the cooling means and in a preferred embodiment there are two or more compartments and at least one compartment acts as a refrigerator, and at least one other compartment acts as a freezer. Conveniently there may also be at least one compartment at ambient temperature in addition to the or each cooled compartment. In a particularly preferred embodiment there are three compartments and one compartment acts as a freezer, one compartment acts as a refrigerator and one compartment is at ambient temperature. In this embodiment then all goods sold by supermarkets can be delivered and placed in the appropriate compartment to be kept at the correct desired temperature. Indeed the or at least one compartment is preferably dimensioned to accept a standard supermarket crate.

The cooling means may be located in any desired position in relation to the compartment or compartments and in one embodiment is located on top of the delivery unit. There is likely to be greater freedom to provide space above the delivery unit and, while the cooling means may not be large, it will require circulation of air for heat exchange and accessibility for servicing. In that case, the or at least one compari.n^, ent to be cooled by the cooling means is preferably at the top of the delivery unit. in other affords, adjacent the cooling means The doors may be spaced apart by the thickness of a wall. In an odd property or in an apartment the minimum distance might be the thickness of a brick, in other words 33/* Of) iicl-,es of c)S m m The dc,orq can he c!n the salme side. of tl e unit but nreferablv the doors are on different sides of the unit Preferably, the doors are on opposite sides of the unit. In that case, each compartment is a pass through enabling items to be passed simply from one side to the other through a wall.

Preferably, the deliver unit includes a dock for the or each first door. In this way, once items have been delivered, the or each door to allow access from outside the property can be locked to prevent theft. Preferably, the lock is operated by a code. In this way the code can be simply givers verbally -to a deli-very company and,I,e,e is no ilOod to send.heln a physical key. P.efera.,;, the code of the lock can be charger. This enables extra security.

l O Preferably, the or each second door to allow access from inside the property is closed by a latch, which is preferably operable from outside the compartment only. In this way, if someone should try to gain entry to the residential property through the delivery unit, they will not be able to do so, as they will not be able to open the second door. Also, the or each second door will conveniently latch closed and so cannot be left closed but l 5 unlocked.

Preferably, the delivery unit includes means for mounting the delivery unit in an external wall of a residential property.

The door to the or each compartment may be visible externally of the residential property or may be accessible through an access door.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a kit comprising the delivery unit of any preceding aspect of the invention and at least one access door for access to the delivery unit in use. Preferably, the or one access door is an outside door.

In the case NTThere there is an outside access door, the kit preferably includes a lock which may be Operated by a code which can preferably be changed.

an According to anothe! aspect of the invention there is provided a residential properly including mounted therein a delivery unit or a kit according to the preceding aspects of the invention.

Three embodiments of the invention will now be described by way a way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: S Figure 1 is a perspective view of a delivery unit in a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view from above of the delivery unit of Figure 1 installed in a residential property; Figure 3 is the view of Figure 2 in greater detail; Figure 4 is a front elevation ofthe residential property of Figures 2 and 3; Figure 5 is a perspective view of a delivery unit in a second embodiment of the invention; Figure 6 is a perspective view of a delivery unit in a third embodiment of the invention; Figure 7 is a side elevation of the delivery unit of Figure 6; and Figure 8 is a plan view of the delivery unit of Figures 6 and 7 in a residential property.

The delivery unit 10 of the first embodiment comprises an insulated housing 12 defining three chambers or compartments 14, 16, 18 one on top of another. A cooling unit 20 is provided at the top of the delivery unit 10 set into the insulation of the housing 12 to cool the top com.par+rn. ent 14 which acts as a freezer, and to cool the middle compartment 16 which acts as a chiller or refrigerator. The lowermost compartment 18 is not cooled by the cooling unit 20 and so is at ambient temperature.

A recounting plate 22 is secured to the base of the housing 12 and extends to each side of the delivery unit 10 as mounting flanges 24 including bolt holes to receive bolts 26 by means of which the delivery unit 10 can be bolted into a concrete floor 28 of a house 30. The housing 1 ^J is generallN, in the form. of a parallelepiped which is deeper than its hei,^,t and taller the I ifs Width. Each. con.p'tmen+ 14, 1 6, 1 8 is approximately square ir1 vcl.ical cross section and has an opening at the front and at the rear. Each complement 14, 16, 18 is dimensioned to receive a standard supermarket crate. which is 600m long by 400 mm wide by 240 mm tall. Each compartment 14, 16, 18 then, may be about 50 C' mm N. ide by 50Q mm 1_1 arid center 1 8nr) m m!cno, to accept th1-ee standard crates end to end. A single door 32 closes off the three compartments 14, 16, 18 at the rear and a single door 34 closes off the compartments 14, 16, 18 at the front. The rear door 32 includes a latch 36 to hold the door 32 closed. The rear door 32 includes a handle 38 Incorporating a lever to release the latch 36 so that the door 39 can be opened. The door 34 at the front does not include a latch and is held closed in the normal manner of a refrigerator or freezer so that the door 34 at the front can be simply pulled open. A panic button 38 is provided on the ceiling of each of the compartments 14, 16,18 and is connected to an alarm 40 inside the house 30.

Figures 2, 3 alla 4 sLoNv the dclivc-y -Emil 1 mounted in a house 30 by means of the mounting plate 22 and bolts 26. As shown, the delivery unit 10 lies alongside an internal wall 42 and the front opening of the compartments 14, 16, 18 is approximately aligned with the inner skin 44 of the external wall 46. Prom inside the house 30, the delivery unit I O will be built in, in the manner of a built-in oven. Thus, cover boards (not shown) will be brought up to the edges of the rear face of the delivery unit] 0 so that it is not possible to see past it. A hatch (not shown) may be provided for access to the cooling unit 20.

Externally of the house 30, the delivery,, unit 10 is hidden behind an access door 48 which is hinged to the outer skin 50 of the external wall 46. The access door 48 is slatted as scour in. Figure 4 to allow ambient air circulation and removal of heat from the heat exchanger of the cooling unit 20. The door 48 includes an emergency exit bar 52 on its rear surface to enable the door 48 to be opened from inside. On the outer surface of the door 48 there is a handle 54 and a keypad 56. The keypad 56 enables input of a code to deactivate a lock to lock the access door 48 closed. Once the lock has been deactivated the door 48 can be opened using the handle 54. ?5

in CUP, the cNner Of the house on flail! place an order with a supermarket and Will te]1 them the code to unlock the access door 48. The delivery man will arrive with the goods ordered and wi]] ente, the code using the keypad 56. This Ni]l unlock the access door 48 which can then be pulled open using the handle 54. Once the access door 48 is 0 pen, the Wont door 4 of the deli:er unit In can he pulled onen and the goods can then be placed in the releN ant compartments 14, 16, 18 depending upon whether they need to be frozen, chilled or at ambient temperature, respectively. Each compartment 14, 16, 18 is dimensioned to accept a standard supermarket crate so if the goods are pre-sorted by required temperature in the crates, the delivery man can simplest put one or more crates mto each compartment id, 16, i8. He will then close the front door 34 of the delivery unit i O and close the access door 48. s

When the owner of the house 30 returns they will operate the lever to release the latch 36 on the rear door 32 of the delivery unit 10 end remove the goods frown the compartmerits 14, 16, ]ú to be put away in, their cupboards, fridge or freezer as appropriate.

It should be noted that t the access door 48 Is open, a person cannot go through one of the compartments 14, 16, 18 to gain entry to the house 30 as the latch 36 will hold the rear door 32 of the delivery unit 10 closed and the lever to open the rear door 32 is inside the house and its associated mechanism is inside the rear door 32.

If a person, in particular a child, should crawl into one of the compartments 14, 16, 18 and the rear door 32 become closed behind them, they would not be able to get back into the house through the rear door 32. However, they can press the panic button 38 in the ceiling of the relevant compartment id, id, 18 and that will set off the alarm 40 inside the residential property 30 to summon help. Also, they will be able to push open the front door 34 of the delivery unit 10 and reach through the opening thus created to operate the emergency bar 52 to open the access door 48 so that they can escape to outside the house 30.

While the delivery unit 10 described is particularly suitable for supermarket goods, it could equally be used for delivery of items from other retailers' which can be placed in the ambient compartment if they do not require cooling.

The code for the keypad 56 can be changed on a regular basis for additional security.

SO

If the cooling unit 20 should require maintenance it is easily accessible through the access door 48 and. if required. a hatch may be provided For access from inside the house 30 as well.

The second embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figure S. The second embodiment is similar to the first embodiment and only the differences will be described. The sarr.e rc-ference numerals 11 be used for equipment features.

In the delivery unit 10 of the second embodiment, there are three compartments 14, 16, 18, but they are in a different arrangement from the first embodiment. Thus, the housing 12 of' the delivery umt 1() Is square In cross section. 1lle chiller compartment 16 is the lowest compartment and takes up the full width of the deliver; unit]O with the other two compartments]4, 18 being of the same dimensions as in the first embodiment and being side by side. When people shop at a supermarket, they typically buy more chilled goods than goods to be frozen or kept at ambient temperature and so a larger chiller compartment 16 may be desirable. Also, the delivery unit 10 of the second embodiment is relatively short and will fit within the standard 600 mm depth of a standard kitchen unit 10 so that the delivery unit can be disguised as or fitted within a standard kitchen cupboard.

Figures 5, 7 and 8 show the third embodiment and again the only differences frown the first and second embodiments will be described. The same reference numerals will be used for equivalent features.

In the third embodiment, the housing 12 ofthe delivery unit 10 is on legs 58 which can be sunk into a concrete floor 28 to secure them. There are only two compartments 14, 16 a large chiller compartment 16 on top of a smaller freezer compartment 14. Each compartment 14, 16 has a separate front door 60, 62 for input of goods and a separate door 64, 66 for removal of goods inside the house,0. The input doors 60, 62 are on the front face of the rectangular housing 12, but contrary to the first and second embodiments, the doors 64, 66 for removal of goods are on the side of the housing 12 The doors 64, 66 for removal of goods are adjacent but spaced from the front corner 67 Ofthe housing 12.

As show-, in Figure 8, the unit 10 of the third embodiment Carl be arranged in a house 3() in a similar manner to the delivery unit 10 of the first embodiment as shown in Figure 2, with the inner skin 44 of the external wall 46 lying adjacent the land 74 between the doors Ed, 65 and the cor..er of the housing 12;. in the third embodiment there is no access door 48 and the doors 60. 62 have individual locks 68. 70 which an be overcome by pressing the release button 72 inside each compartment 14, 16.

it is seen that, m each of the embodiments, goods can be delivered to a residential property and deposited in the delivery unit 10, where they are safely locked away at the appropriate temperature. The owner of the property can remove them at their leisure and in the comfort of their home, to use them or put them away elsewhere.

Claims

1. A delivery unit to be mounted in an external wail of a residential property, the delivery unit having at least one compartment therein for items, such as groceries or the dike, the delivery unit including cooling means for cooling items in the or at least one of the compartments, the interior of the or each compartment being accessible through at least one first door and being accessible through at least one second door, the first and second doors lacing spaced apart so that when title deli-e, unit is mnt,nted in an external wall of a residential property, the or each first door opens to allow access from outside the property and the or each second door opens to allow access from inside the property, wherein the or each first door Is capable of being opened manually from inside the or each compartment.

2. A delivery unit as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein an alarm is provided which is actuable from inside the or one compartment.

3. A delivery unit as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the delivery unit is disguised as or fitted within a standard kitchen cupboard.

4. A delivery unit as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the or one compartment acts as a refrigerator cooled by the cooling means.

5. A delivery unit as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the or one compartment acts as a freezer cooled by the cooling means.

6. A delivery unit as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein there are two or more compartments and at least one compartment acts as a refrigerator, and at least one other compartment acts as a freezer

7. A delivery Unit as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein there is at least one compartment at ambient temperature in addition to the or each cooled compartment. lo

8. A delivery unit as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein there are three compartments and one co Apartment acts a freezer, one compartment acts as a refrigerator and one compartment is al ambien, temperature.

9 A delivery unit as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the or at least one compartment is dimensioned to accept a standard.supennarket crate.

10. A delivery unit as claimed in any preceding claim, v;hcrein the cooling means is located in use on top of the delivery unit.

i. A delivery unit as ciamed In claim 1 U7 wileren the or at least one compartment to be cooled by the cooling means is at the top of the delivery unit, in use.

12. A delivery unit as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the or each first door is on a different side of the unit from the or each second door.

13. A delivery unit as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the delivery unit includes a lock for the or each first door.

14. A delivery unit as claimed in claim 13, wherein the or each lock is operated by a code.

15. A delivery unit as claimed in claim 14, wherein the code of the or each lock is changeable.

] 6. A delivery unit as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the or each second door to allow access from inside the property is closed by a latch.

17. A delivery unit as claimed in claim 16, Herein the iatcl is operable frond 0 outside the or each compartment only. 1 1

] 8. A kit comprising the delivery unit of any preceding claim and at least one access door for access to the delivery unit in use.

19. A kit as claimed in claim 18, wherein the or one access door is an outside door.

20. A kit as claimed in claim 19, wherein the kit includes a dock for the outside access door.

21. A kit as claimed in claim 20, wherein the lock is operated by a code.

22. A Kit as claimed in claim 2 i, wherein the code Is changeable

23. A residential property including mounted therein a delivery unit or a kit according to any preceding claim.