GB2566281A

GB2566281A - Parcel Box

Info

Publication number: GB2566281A
Application number: GB1714357.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Davidson Warren
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2017-09-06
Filing date: 2017-09-06
Publication date: 2019-03-13
Also published as: GB201714357D0

Abstract

A box for receiving parcels which can be attached to the front door of the house by means of pivoting latches or hooks 1. The hooks/latches are rotated inwards to push through the letterbox and then rotate outwards to lock behind hooks (or plates or latches) already on the back of the front door. The opening of the box is a cradle 5 and when the cradle handle 6 is pulled downwards this opens to allow the parcel to be deposited. When the door is closed the parcel will fall onto brushes 9 which break the parcel's fall into the box. The shape of the cradle when opened again would block access to the parcel below. There is a separate door 11 with a lock 12 for the owner to retrieve the parcel. Alternative models may also issue a receipt when the parcel has been deposited. This could be recognised by a sensor on the brush being triggered when the parcel falls onto it, or a weighing mechanism in the box.

Description

This invention relates to a receptacle for receiving parcels when the recipients are not home.

Some existing parcel boxes are difficult to mount, requiring either a large wall area or space for posts and knowledge of DIY. This invention solves this problem by being easily attached to the front door, the only DIY required is to attach a couple of hooks / plates or latches to the back of the front door.

Parcel boxes need to be secure to prevent theft. Some existing boxes require the door of the box to be left open for the postman, who then closes the box to the locked position after delivering the parcel. The problem with this is that it would prevent any further parcels being delivered that day by other couriers. The other boxes that are more of a drop box design risk the parcel being damaged in the fall. To overcome these problems the opening of the box is a cradle and the shape of the cradle when opened blocks access to parcels in the box below. When a parcel is deposited in the cradle on delivery and the cradle door is shut by raising the handle the parcel falls on to brushes, breaking it's fait

The parcel box is attached to the door by pivoting latches or hooks on the back of the box Which are turned inwards so that they can be pushed through the letter box of the front door of the house. The hooks are then turned outwards and locked behind the hooks/plates already attached to the back of the front door. This will securely attach the parcel box to the front door and prevent any unauthorised attempts to forcibly remove the box.

The opening of the box is a pivoting cradle and when the cradle handle is pulled down the cradle will open for the parcel to be deposited inside. The pivot will be part way in on the side of the box, either by a bolt/nut/screw or other pivoting mechanism. The back of the cradle may have a brush along the edge. Below the cradle there will be one or more brushes, which have compressible supports. There will be a door for the owner to open to retrieve the parcel either on the side of the box or on the front {further below the cradle opening). This door would have a lock which could be either a padlock or an integral lock.

An optional feature is a receipt dispenser on the side or front of the box. This could be triggered by a mechanism to ensure that the parcel has been deposited, which could include a sensor on the brush, or scales for weight, issuing a receipt would solve the problem of 'signed for' packages.

Other optional aspects to the invention are that it can be made of various sizes, and made of alternative materials. The materials would likely include either plastic, stainless steel of other metal with a protective coating of some kind.

The invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a rear view of the parcel box with rotating latches or hooks which are used to attach the box to the property front door.

Figure 2 shows a side view of the box and the box's pivoting latches or hooks being pushed through the front door of the property. (Please Note: Only one hook is shown because the second would be obscured from view by the first. Also the hook/latch is being shown in the horizontal position).

Figure 3 shows the view from the rear of the open front door of the property after the box's latches/hooks have been pushed through and how they would attach to the door. Dotted lines in this figure denote the pivoting of the latches or hooks.

Figure 4 shows the rear of the property's door with the box's pivoting latches or hooks in the final position between the door and the door hooks/plates or latch, completing the attachment

Figure 5 shows the rear view from a different angle so that the door hooks / latch can be seen at a different angle.

Figure 6 shows the front Of the parcel box in it's closed position.

Figure 7 shows the front of the parcel box with the cradle door opening open.

Figure 8 shows the parcel box from a side view as if it was transparent, where the items hidden inside the box are notated with dotted lines. This diagram shows the cradle in a closed position and the brushes. (Please note that there are two hooks/latches, but only one is shown in this view as the other one would be obscured from view by the first).

Figure 9 shows the parcel box from a side view as if it was transparent. This time the cradle is in the open position and demonstrates the prevention of unauthorised access to the parcel below. (Please note again that only one hook/latch is shown as the other would be obscured from view at this angle. This time the hook/latch is in the horizontal position.

First of all the recipient would attach the parcel box to the front door 14 (figure 2) to secure it and make it obvious to the postman or courier. To do this they would turn the pivoting latch or hooks 1 (see figure 1) inwards horizontally 2 (figure 1) so that they would fit through the letter box (see figure 2). Once the latches/hooks are through the door they are then rotated outwards 2 (figures) and are put between the door and the door hooks/plates/ latches 4 (see figure 3). The first support section 3 (figure 3) (which is attached to the box) of the box's pivoting hooks 1 can extend slightly (horizontally away from the parcel box) so that second section of the hook or latch 1 (which is at right angles to the support section) can clear either the door hooks if rotated from below, or the letter box flap if rotated upwards. The front letter box flap would have been pushed back horizontally into the top of the letterbox during this process and the back letterbox flap 13 (if there is one) can be moved up out of the way. Then after the box's latches or hooks 1 have been rotated they can be slotted in between the door and the door hooks/ latch 4 to secure the box to the door (see figures 3,4 and 5).

The postman or courier would see the parcel box as shown in Figure 6 and pull down the cradle handle 6 to open the box. The cradle 5 would then pivot around a pivoting point 7 (figure 7) which could be a screw or bolt or other mechanism that the cradle pivots around. This pivoting would mean that the cradle opens to show the interior when the cradle handie 6 is pulled down. So he would then see the open cradle as shown in figure 7 and deposit the parcel in the cradle interior 17. He would then close the box by lifting the cradle handle 6 upwards to close the cradle door. Once the cradle door is closed (see figure 8) the back of the cradle will tilt downwards and the parcel would fall out onto the brushes 9 below. The brushes will break the fall of the parcel until it rests at the bottom of the box. The brushes may have a compressible support 10 to provide some give and flexibility further cushioning the fall of the parcel. The number of brushes would depend upon the size of the box. There may be further cushioning at the bottom of the box 18.

If a n unauthorised person attempts to get at the parcel by opening the parcel box, the shape of th e cradle when opened blocks access to the parcel below 19 (figure 9), because the rear of the cradle 5 is tilted upwards (see figure 9).

When the recipient of the parcel wants to retrieve it he or she would go to the Owner's door 11 (see figures 1,2,3,6,7,8 or 9] which could either be on the side or front panel of the box and open the lock 12 which could either be a padlock or an integrated lock, which could either be opened by a key or a combination. Note: the name Owners Door' was attributed to it to distinguish it from the property's front door or the cradle opening. The person opening the Owner's Door does not have to be the owner, only someone legitimately retrieving the parcel on behalf of the owner of the parcel

The top of the box will have a slight overhang at the front 8 (figures 6,8) to help prevent rain from enteri ng the box whilst it is on the door.

if it is inconvenient for the parcel box to be left on the property's front door after the parcel has been delivered, then the box can easily be unlatched from the front door and kept in a storage area elsewhere. Then it can be brought out again when another parcel which is too big for the letter box has been ordered.

Claims

1. A parcel box comprising attachment means for securely attaching the parcel box to the property's front door, a cradle opening to allow the postman or courier to post the parcel which is shaped and pivoted to prevent access after the parcel has been deposited and brushes to cushion the parcel's fall

2. A parcel box according to claim 1, in which the attachment to the front door is made by two hooks/latches (or other attachment mechanism) which are pushed through the front door's letter box and the hooks/latches pivoted to slot behind hooks or plates or fetches already on the back of the front door to secure it.

3. A parcel box according to claim 1, in which the opening for the postman or courier is obtained by pulling down the cradle handle, the cradle then pivots and the back of the cradle goes up preventing unauthorised access to parcels already deposited, the new parcel is deposited inside the cradle and the handle is shut causing the back of the cradle to lower and the parcel to fall onto brushes which have cushioning supports to break the fall.