SI20543A - Secure home delivery method - Google Patents

Abstract

A home delivery system for use by retail outlets such as supermarkets which comprises a container (1) with a lid (2) attached thereto by means of a hinge (3). The lid (2) has co-operating parts (54) with a hole therethrough through which chain or cable (51) extends. The cable (51) has an enlarged head (58) at one end which cannot pass through the aligned holes in the co-operating parts (54) of the lid (2) thereby anchoring the cable (51) to the lid at all times. A locking member (52) is secured to the other end of the cable (51) which is received in docking port (53) in lock assembly (50) secured to wall (59) at the delivery site. Once the locking member (52) has engaged in the docking port (53), it can be released using a key or by selecting the correct combination depending on the type of lock used. As an alternative, the lock can be operated by a "swipe" or "chip card".

Description

The object of the present invention is a convenient iv home delivery box with associated equipment and a method for the safe delivery and delivery of goods at the customer's delivery address.

Electronic shopping and the subsequent delivery of goods to a customer's delivery address are becoming more widespread and popular because it is very practical for customers to order goods through their computer system connected to the Internet.

Some supermarkets already have a home delivery service that allows customers to order goods by telephone or online. Upon receipt of the order, the supermarket staff collects the items ordered and prepares them for delivery to the customer's delivery address. All this becomes extremely inefficient for the supermarket if the customer is not at home during delivery. This is especially problematic where it is not possible to enter the premises at the delivery address during delivery, since goods cannot generally be left unsecured but must be taken back to the supermarket and agreed to a new delivery time.

Supermarkets are increasingly investing in computer technology to enable customers to order goods using a PC, and the problem of how to ensure safe delivery remains an unsolved problem.

Patent GB 2 294 499 discloses and provides a home delivery system that includes a shipping box for delivery goods, a lockable container on the crate that prevents unauthorized access to the inside of the crate, and a projectile for locking the crate.

According to the patent DE 2980850841, a lockable box is known and provided that can be attached to non-moving objects.

The object and object of the present invention is therefore to provide a home delivery method that is based on an affordable delivery box and eliminates, or at least substantially reduces, the drawbacks in the art of known solutions.

The home delivery system of the present invention is characterized by a clamping fixture attached to the delivery point, which includes a locking mechanism, wherein the locking means includes an insertable means that is inserted into the locking mechanism of the clamping arm, thereby locking the box separately to the clamping armature.

The locking means preferably includes a flexible link, e.g. chain or wire.

In one embodiment, the locking fixture or receiving bed may be composed of a frog and ear system, with one ear being either an integral part of the crate or attached to the free end of a flexible link while the other ear is positioned in the delivery position, with the help of a frog lock those ears together.

In another embodiment, a plug-in means is a plug mounted at the free end of a flexible bond that is inserted into a socket mounted on a lock mechanism, said lock having a unlocking means by which the user can unlock the plug from the socket.

Preferably, the plug automatically locks into the socket when inserted. In one embodiment, the unlocking means is an electronic keyboard by which the user can unlock the mechanical assembly of the plug and socket by pressing the correct keys on the keyboard corresponding to the programmed lock unlock code programmed into the electronic keyboard. Alternatively, it is possible to use a lock that operates on a swipe card or personal microprocessor card.

The plug may take any suitable shape. It can be e.g. a flat member with one or more openings into which the locking pin of the locking fixture or receiving bearing is inserted, wherein the pin member or each of the pin members is provided with an associated means which, based on an accepted valid one, only pulls the locked pin member to a user of his own code or each of the pinned pin members from the corresponding opening in the socket, thereby allowing the plug to be pulled out of the socket.

The lockable clamping armature can have a "delivered goods" socket and a "crate return" socket, and the socket can be unlocked from the "crate return" socket by keying in a key code known only to the empty box picker. However, the clamping fixture or receiving bed may include more than one socket for "delivered goods" or for "return boxes". The plug at the free end of the flexible link can also work so that it can unlock the lock on the crate.

Preferably, a locking fixture or receiving bed is provided with a means of attachment to the wall or fence at the delivery address, so that the fixture cannot be removed without special tools.

The invention also provides a method for delivering goods to a delivery address by means of a retractable delivery box, which includes the following steps:

a) filling the box with goods intended for delivery and locking the box so as to prevent unauthorized access to the box;

b) delivering the box to the delivery address and attaching said box to the location itself or to the clamping arm there, by inserting the insertion means on the locking means projecting from the box into the locking means at the delivery address or clamping armature;

c) the consignee uses a locking means to unlock the crate from the delivery address or the clamping arm, thereby accessing the goods therein.

Preferably, a flexible attachment means is attached to the crate having a plug at one end, the method of locking the crate to the delivery address or clamping fixture includes the step of inserting the plug into the socket on the locking means so that the plug is locked and automatically retained in the socket, until we unlock it.

According to one method, after unlocking the plug, it can be inserted into the lock on the crate, thus unlocking it and allowing access to the goods in it.

The present invention no longer requires the buyer to be at home within the agreed delivery time, which may be impracticable or awkward, since the lockable crate of the present invention eliminates this problem by providing a flexible but reliable method by which individuals may receive their goods delivered even when they are away from home. Once the bin is empty, it can be reattached to the receiving bay so that it is picked up by the delivery vehicle.

The following will be described, by way of example only, as preference lock boxes and the method of their use, based on the following attached drawings:

Figure 1 is a schematic floor plan of one form of a lockable delivery box and a corresponding clamping arm or receiving bed according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is an outline (and partial cross-section) of the lockable delivery box shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side view. the lockable box shown in Figure 2 with the lid open;

Figure 4 is an enlarged view of the clamping arm or receiving bed shown in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is an outline of the armature shown in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is an enlarged layout of the plug that is an integral part of the delivery system shown in Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a side view of the plug shown in Figure 6;

8 is an enlarged schematic cross-section of the locking fixture or receiving bed shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 with a plug inserted into the socket located on the locking fixture or receiving bed,

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the mechanism of Fig. 8, not all parts being sketched for reasons of clarity; and

Figure 10 is a side view of an alternative home delivery system according to the invention.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows a retractable delivery system according to the first embodiment of the present invention, which includes a lockable box 1 to which the hinge 2 is pivotally attached to the hinge 3. The latter can be locked in the closed position by means of lock 4 on its front. The box is made of very strong plastic material (eg PVC), which is lightweight and durable enough to provide long service life while being water resistant. Depending on use, it may also include some insulating material. Preferably, it is designed as shown in the figures, which allows for stacking a large number of crates into one another and stacking them effectively.

The cover 2 has an opening 5 at one of the upper corners, to which a flexible link, preferably a metal wire or a chain 6 is inseparably attached. A plug 7 is attached to the free end of the wire 6, the structure of which will be described later. However, a flexible link can be attached directly to the casing.

A lockable clamping fixture or receiving bed 8 is attached to the fence 10 at the delivery address by means of a plate 16, which firmly holds the fixture 8 on the fence 10 by means of fastening screws and nuts 15, 17 which, once tightened, cannot be removed without using special tools. As these screws are not an integral part of the present invention and are well known, we will not describe them in more detail here.

If there is no fence on the delivery address to which the clamping armature or receiving bed can be attached in the described manner, it is possible to secure the latter in a wall or a fixed pillar, or to attach it in any suitable object in a known manner. It is essential for armature 8 that it must be inseparably attached to the delivery address. In order to avoid any misunderstandings, it should be emphasized that the solution presented is given as an example only.

One type of lockable clamping arm, or receiving bay 8, is better illustrated in Figures 4, 5 and

Ί

8, from which it can be seen that it includes a metal housing 13 having a front side 14 on which there is an electronic keyboard 12 and a slot or socket 9 for "delivered goods" and preferably a slot or socket 11 for "returning boxes". However, it can also be equipped with more than one outlet of each type or as many as one, eg. double or triple sockets.

One type of socket Ί is illustrated in more detail in Figures 6 and 7, which shows that it includes a flat rigid body 7a with preferably two rectangular openings 18 at one end, the purpose of which is given below. Body 7a also includes several circular openings 19, the purpose of which will also be given later. Although three openings are shown, it is thought that the number of openings 19 may be arbitrary. The exact number will depend on what type of lock 4 the crate is fitted with, since these openings interact with the pins in said lock to unlock it in a familiar manner. Each individual plug 7 will have its own combination and arrangement of openings 19 so that the plug 7 can unlock lock 4 on a given individual box 1.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, one can see the lock mechanism for locking plug 7 in slots 9 and 11, respectively.

Inside the clamping arm 8, there is a pair of housing elements 30 on each side of each slot 9 and 11 respectively. Each of these housing elements 30 is provided with a pivot pin 31, which has a pivot lever 31 at each end which is farther from the axis. 32, pin stop 36, pivotally attached to part 37. Each stop 36

- 8 is configured to rotate counter-clockwise under pressure 38, but is mounted on lever 31 in such a way that it can only rotate counter-clockwise, since stop 36 with its lower end engages part 28, which prevents it from rotating clockwise. Each of the housing elements 30 also includes a lever 33, and between said lever 33 and the mounting point on the lever 31, a spring 34 extends which pushes the lever 31 upward so that the stop of the stopper 36 protrudes through a corresponding rectangular opening in plug 7. When into the slot or socket 9 oz. 11, insert plug 7, which, in the classification shown, with its front end 40, will press against both stoppers 36 and rotate counter-clockwise until plug 7 is fully inserted into the slot, then the stoppers under spring pressure 38 will jump in the opening 18, thereby holding and locking plug 7 in position. If the user tries to pull the plug 7 from the socket 9 or. 11, movement is disabled because the stop 36 cannot be rotated clockwise, so plug 7 remains in the socket 9 or.

11.

As can be seen more clearly from Figure 8, each of the levers 31 is held in a raised locked position by the C-shaped foot 28a of Article 26, which is located below the bottom of the stopper 36 which it contacts. The C-shaped member 26 is pivotally coupled to Article 24 in point 25 and the pivot 23 is pivotally coupled to the actuator 22 of the electromagnet 21, whereby a spring 22 is applied to the actuator.

29.

When the actuator 22 on the solenoid 21 engages and moves to the right, in the displayed classification, article 24 rotates article 26 in the direction of arrow A, ie. counter-clockwise, thereby pulling the leg 28a of Article 26 from below the stopper 36. The consequence is that the user can pull the plug 7 from the socket 9 or. 11, as both the stoppers 36 and the levers 31 to which the stoppers are attached are moved down in the direction of arrow B, because when pulling the plug, the edges 18a of the openings 18 on the plug 7 are locked behind the stopper 36. The solenoid is switched on by a valid code which the user types it into the keyboard 12 in a familiar manner. After the plug 7 is pulled out of the socket, the levers 31 and the stoppers attached thereto 36 return to the raised position shown in Fig. 8 due to the operation of the spring 34. In addition, the solenoid 21 is also switched off and the locking member 26 returns to its position, shown in Figure 8, ready to re-insert plug 7.

The delivery system of the present invention is used as follows. The customer sends his order by phone or online to the supermarket, who then collects the ordered goods and places the items in the delivery box 1. Then the box 1 is closed and the lock 4 is locked and the full box can then be loaded onto the delivery vehicle. The delivery driver then leaves the full box 1 in front of the delivery address and inserts the plug 7 into the socket 9 at the front of the receiving bed or clamping arm 8.

The delivered goods are now firmly locked to the delivery address, from which they cannot be removed until the recipient enters the correct code into the keypad 12. After doing so, the plug 7 is unlocked and can be pulled out of the "delivered goods" socket. box 1 is free and can be taken to premises at the delivery address. When the user does so, he inserts the plug 7 into the lock 4, and the pins in the lock 4 are joined with a series of openings 19 on the plug that are unique to that customer, thereby unlocking the lock 4.

When the addressee empties the box, it can again place it in front of the building and hook it to the clamping arm or receiving bay 8 by inserting the plug 7 into the socket 11 for "returning the boxes". Now the empty box 1 is locked again and cannot be removed from the clamping arm 8 until the delivery driver enters the corresponding master code into the keyboard 12, thus triggering the solenoid 21 which rotates the lever 26 anticlockwise and enables the stop stop 36 attached to the lever 31 to move downwards from the openings 18 to allow the plug 7 to be pulled out of the socket 11 in the same manner as described in socket 9 for "goods delivered".

Box 1 is preferably also provided with a means of affixing a seal or security label which may be affixed to the supermarket prior to delivery, thereby allowing the customer to determine from a glance that no one has tampered with box 1 from the moment he left the warehouse. oz. the supermarket until it was removed from the delivery location at the delivery address.

Delivery socket 9 may include an electronic means of recording the date and time of delivery, as well as a means of printing a list of all deliveries made.

Since the system of the invention can be used by several supermarkets, each of them will need its own master code, so the socket to return the crates must allow different master codes to be used. The lockbox supplier will therefore need to keep a register of these master codes as well as the codes of all users in case they forget their code and would like to obtain the goods purchased.

The lock must be open repeatedly. It can be e.g. the recipient happens to explain all the food from box 1 and already attaches it back to the armature 8 when it discovers that some of the goods have been damaged or that one of the inner packets owned by the supermarket and to be returned has remained outside and that the box should be reopened. The user must therefore be able to unlock box 1 from the receiving bay 8 and open it again. This is done in such a way that the sockets for "delivered goods" and "crates returned" are unlocked by unlocking them all at the same time, based on the right keypad.

A further, simpler delivery system of the present invention is shown in Figure 10.

This embodiment includes a box 1 with a lid 2 attached to it by means of a hinge 3. The lid 2 has jointly acting portions 54 through which a hole through which a chain or a wire 51 runs through. At one end, the wire 51 has a thickened head 58 which it cannot go through the aligned holes in the joint parts 54 of cover 2, so wire 51 is connected to the cover at all times. A locking member 52 is secured to the other end of the wire 51, which is inserted into the receiving socket 53 in a lock assembly 50 secured to the wall 59 at the delivery address. In the embodiment shown, three receptacles are shown so that more than one crate can be locked to the lock of view ·, receiving station 50. It is understandable that the number of sockets can be arbitrary. When the locking member 52 is locked in the receptacle 53, it can be unlocked by a key or by using the right combination, depending on the type of lock used. Alternatively, it is possible to use a lock that operates on a sliding or microprocessor card. i

Claims (14)

Patent claims 1. A home delivery system comprising a shipping crate (1) for delivery goods, a lockable means (4) on the crate (1) preventing unauthorized access to the inside of the crate, and a projecting means (6) for locking the crate (1), characterized in that a clamping fixture (8) is provided to the delivery address including a locking mechanism, the locking means including an insertable means (7) being inserted into the locking mechanism of the clamping armature (8), thereby enclosing the crate ( 1) detaches separately to clamping armature. Delivery system according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking means (6) includes a flexible link. Delivery system according to claim 2, characterized in that the flexible link (6) is a chain or wire. Delivery system according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking means (6) includes an integral part of the crate (1), which protrudes therefrom and also includes a hole, and an ear attached to the delivery point, wherein the said part of the crate and the ear can be locked together with the help of a frog. Delivery system according to claim 2 or claim 3, characterized in that the insertable means (7) is a plug mounted at the free end of the flexible link (6) to be inserted into the socket (9, 11), mounted on the lock mechanism, wherein said lock includes an unlocking means (21, 22, 24, 26) by which the user can unlock the plug (7) from the socket (9, 11). Delivery system according to claim 5, characterized in that the plug (7) is automatically locked into the socket (9, 11) when inserted into it. Delivery system according to Claim 5 or Claim 6, characterized in that the unlocking means includes an electronic keyboard (12) by which the user can unlock the mechanical assembly of the plug (7) and the socket (9, 11) if he selects the correct keys on the keyboard (12) corresponding to a unique user-only code. Delivery system according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the plug (7) is a flat member with at least one opening (18) into which the locking pin (s) (36) of the locking clamping arm (8) sinks, wherein (co) pin (s) (36) equipped with (i) a means of attachment which, by virtue of an accepted valid one, only pulls the pin (s) of pin (s) (36) from the corresponding opening (18) ) in the plug (7), allowing the plug (7) to be pulled out of the socket (9, 11). Delivery system according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the locking armature has a socket (9) for "delivered goods" and a socket (11) for "return boxes", the power being a plug (7) unlock from the socket (11) for "return crates" using the master code. Delivery system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the flexible link (6) in combination with the locking means (4) on the box (1) locks the box (1) and prevents unauthorized access to it. Delivery system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the clamping arm (8) has a means (15, 16, 17) for fixing it to the wall or fence (10) at the delivery address. 12. Method of delivery to a delivery address using a retractable delivery box, which includes the following steps: (a) filling the crate (1) with goods intended for delivery and locking the crate in order to prevent unauthorized access to the crate; b) delivering the box (1) to the delivery address and coupling said box (1) to the location itself or to the clamping arm (8) there such that the insertion means (7) on the box means (6) projecting from the box ( 1), inserted into the locking means on the delivery address or on the clamping arm (8); c) the recipient uses a locking means to unlock the box (1) from the delivery address or clamping arm. Method according to claim 12, characterized in that the insertable means (7) is a plug and the locking means (8) is attached to the box by a flexible linking member, and that the step of connecting the box (1) to the delivery address or clamping arm includes also the step of inserting the plug into the socket (9, 11) on the locking means, with the lock automatically holding the plug in the socket (9, 11) until it is unlocked by the recipient. Method according to claim 13, characterized in that the box (1) is locked with a lock (4) which prevents unauthorized access to the box, the method also comprising the step of inserting a plug (7) pulled from the socket (9, 11) ), to the lock (4), thereby unlocking it and giving access to the goods and allowing the recipient to open the crate (1