US20200138225A1

US20200138225A1 - Front Opening Package Delivery Box

Info

Publication number: US20200138225A1
Application number: US16/182,691
Authority: US
Inventors: Paul Martin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2018-11-07
Filing date: 2018-11-07
Publication date: 2020-05-07

Abstract

A front opening package delivery box for safely receiving packages includes a housing comprising a top side separated from a bottom side, a left side separated from a right side, and a front side separated from a back side forming a package cavity. The front side has a door aperture and the bottom side has a plurality of mounting apertures to fix the housing to a deck. A door swingably moves from a closed position covering the door aperture to an alternate open position. A handle is coupled to the front face of the door proximal the top edge. A lock mechanism is coupled to the door and is selectively engageable with the housing to secure the door in the closed position. A keypad is coupled the door and is in operational communication with the lock mechanism to engage and disengage the lock mechanism from the housing.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

(2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98.

The disclosure and prior art relates to delivery boxes and more particularly pertains to a new delivery box for safely receiving packages.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a housing comprising a top side separated from a bottom side, a left side separated from a right side, and a front side separated from a back side. The top side, the bottom side, the left side, the right side, the front side, and the back side form a package cavity. The front side has a door aperture extending through to the package cavity and the bottom side has a plurality of mounting apertures extending through to the package cavity. Each of the plurality of mounting apertures is configured to receive a bolt to fix the housing to a deck or a porch. A door is coupled to the housing and has a front face, a rear face, a top edge, a bottom edge, a left edge, and a right edge. A pair of hinges is coupled to the left edge and the right edge proximal the bottom edge. The pair of hinges is coupled to the right side and the left side of the housing within the door aperture proximal the bottom side and the front side. The door swingably moves from a closed position covering the door aperture to an alternate open position. A handle is coupled to the front face of the door proximal the top edge. A lock mechanism is coupled to the rear face of the door and is selectively engageable with the housing to secure the door in the closed position. A keypad is coupled to the front face of the door and is in operational communication with the lock mechanism to engage and disengage the lock mechanism from the housing.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a front opening package delivery box according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure along line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 5 thereof, a new delivery box embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.
As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5, the front opening package delivery box 10 generally comprises a housing 12 comprising a top side 14 separated from a bottom side 16, a left side 18 separated from a right side 20, and a front side 22 separated from a back side 24. The top side 14, the bottom side 16, the left side 18, the right side 20, the front side 22, and the back side 24 form a package cavity 26 to store a plurality of packages 28. The front side 22 has a door aperture 30 extending through to the package cavity 26 and the bottom side 16 has a plurality of mounting apertures 32 extending through to the package cavity 26. Each of the plurality of mounting apertures 32 is configured to receive a bolt 34 to fix the housing 12 to a deck 36 or a porch to prevent a thief from removing the housing 12. A door 38 is coupled to the housing 12 and has a front face 40, a rear face 42, a top edge 44, a bottom edge 46, a left edge 48, and a right edge 50. A pair of hinges 52 is coupled to the left edge 48 and the right edge 50 proximal the bottom edge 46 of the door. The pair of hinges 52 is also coupled to the right side 20 and the left side 18 of the housing within the door aperture 30 proximal the bottom side 16 and the front side 22. The door 38 swingably moves from a closed position 54 covering the door aperture 30 to an alternate open position 56 exposing the package cavity 26 to place and remove package deliveries. A handle 58 is coupled to the front face 40 of the door proximal the top edge 44.
A lock mechanism 60 may comprise a three-point lock 61 coupled to the rear face 42 of the door with a top arm 62, a right arm 64, and a left arm 66. A plurality of channel guides 68 may be coupled to the rear face 42 of the door and comprises a top guide 70, a right guide 72, and a left guide 74. A top lock bar 76, a right lock bar 78, and a left lock bar 80 are coupled to the three-point lock 61. The top lock bar 76 is coupled to the top arm 62 and through the top guide 70 and is slidably engageable with a top receptacle 82 within the top side 14 of the housing. The right lock bar 78 is coupled to the right arm 64 and through the right guide 72 and is slidably engageable with a right receptacle 84 within the right side 20 of the housing. The left lock bar 80 is coupled to the left arm 66 and through the left guide 74 and is slidably engageable with a left receptacle 86 within the left side 18 of the housing. The three-point lock 62 slides each of the top lock bar 76, the right lock bar 78, and the left lock bar 80 into the top receptacle 82, the right receptacle 84, and the left receptacle 86, respectively, when engaged to lock the door 38 in the closed position 54 and alternatively retracts each of the top lock bar 76, the right lock bar 78, and the left lock bar 80 from the top receptacle 82, the right receptacle 84, and the left receptacle 86, respectively, when disengaged to unlock the door 38 and allow the door to move to the open position 56.
A keypad 88 is coupled to the front face 40 of the door and is in operational communication with the lock mechanism 60. The keypad 88 may comprise a display screen 90 and a plurality of keys 92. The display screen 90 and the plurality of keys 92 may be illuminated by LEDs. The plurality of keys 92 is configured to enter a passcode to engage and alternatively disengage the lock mechanism 60 from the housing 12. A CPU 94 may be coupled to the keypad 88 and in operational communication with the plurality of keys 92. A barcode scanner 96 may be coupled to the keypad 88 and in operational communication with the CPU 94. The barcode scanner 96 is configured to scan a barcode on a package being delivered to automatically disengage the lock mechanism 60. A Wi-Fi chip 98 may be coupled to the keypad 88 and in operational communication with the CPU 94. The Wi-Fi chip 98 allows the keypad 88 to communicate with a smartphone app to send notifications and track delivery history. A battery 100 may be coupled to the keypad 88. The battery 100 is in operational communication with, and provides power to, the CPU 94 and the barcode scanner 96.
In use, a user provides the passcode as part of shipment information to allow a delivery person to disengage the lock mechanism 60, move the door 38 from the closed position 54 to the open position 56, place the package being delivered into the package cavity 26, return the door 38 to the closed position 54, and engage the lock mechanism 60. The delivery person may alternatively scan the barcode on the package with the barcode scanner 96 to automatically disengage the lock mechanism 60.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.

Claims

1. A front opening package delivery box comprising:

a housing comprising a top side separated from a bottom side, a left side separated from a right side, and a front side separated from a back side, the top side, the bottom side, the left side, the right side, the front side, and the back side forming a package cavity, the front side having a door aperture extending through to the package cavity, the bottom side having a plurality of mounting apertures extending through to the package cavity, each of the plurality of mounting apertures being configured to receive a bolt to fix the housing to a deck or a porch;

a door coupled to the housing, the door having a front face, a rear face, a top edge, a bottom edge, a left edge, and a right edge, a pair of hinges coupled to the left edge and the right edge proximal the bottom edge, the pair of hinges being coupled to the right side and the left side of the housing within the door aperture proximal the bottom side and the front side, the door swingably moving from a closed position covering the door aperture to an alternate open position;

a handle coupled to the door, the handle being coupled to the front face of the door proximal the top edge;

a lock mechanism coupled to the door, the lock mechanism being coupled to the rear face of the door and being selectively engageable with the housing to secure the door in the closed position, the lock mechanism comprising

a three-point lock coupled to the door, the three-point lock being coupled to the rear face of the door and having a top arm, a right arm, and a left arm,

a plurality of channel guides coupled to the door, the plurality of channel guides being coupled to the rear face of the door and comprising a top guide, a right guide, and a left guide,

a top lock bar coupled to the three-point lock, the top lock bar being pivotally coupled to the top arm and extended through the top guide, the top lock bar being slidably engageable with a top receptacle within the top side of the housing,

a right lock bar coupled to the three-point lock, the right lock bar being pivotally coupled to the right arm and extended through the right guide, the right lock bar being slidably engageable with a right receptacle within the right side of the housing; and

a left lock bar coupled to the three-point lock, the left lock bar being pivotally coupled to the left arm and extended through the left guide, the left lock bar being slidably engageable with a left receptacle within the left side of the housing, and

wherein the three-point lock slides each of the top lock bar, the right lock bar, and the left lock bar into the top receptacle, the right receptacle, and the left receptacle, respectively, when engaged to lock the door in the closed position and alternatively retracts each of the top lock bar, the right lock bar, and the left lock bar from the top receptacle, the right receptacle, and the left receptacle, respectively, when disengaged to unlock the door and allow the door to move to the open position; and

a keypad coupled to the door, the keypad being coupled to the front face of the door and in operational communication with the lock mechanism to engage and disengage the lock mechanism from the housing.

2. (canceled)

3. The front opening package delivery box of claim 1 further comprising the keypad comprising a display screen and a plurality of keys, the plurality of keys being configured to enter a passcode to engage and alternatively disengage the lock mechanism.

4. The front opening package delivery box of claim 3 further comprising:

a CPU coupled to the keypad, the CPU being in operational communication with the plurality of keys;

a barcode scanner coupled to the keypad, the barcode scanner being in operational communication with the CPU; and

a battery coupled to the keypad, the battery being in operational communication with, and providing power to, the CPU and the barcode scanner.

5. The front opening package delivery box of claim 4 further comprising a Wi-Fi chip coupled to the keypad, the Wi-Fi chip being in operational communication with the CPU.

6. A front opening package delivery box comprising:

a lock mechanism coupled to the door, the lock mechanism comprising:

a three-point lock coupled to the door, the three-point lock being coupled to the rear face of the door and having a top arm, a right arm, and a left arm;

a plurality of channel guides coupled to the door, the plurality of channel guides being coupled to the rear face of the door and comprising a top guide, a right guide, and a left guide;

a top lock bar coupled to the three-point lock, the top lock bar being pivotally coupled to the top arm and extended through the top guide, the top lock bar being slidably engageable with a top receptacle within the top side of the housing;

a left lock bar coupled to the three-point lock, the left lock bar being pivotally coupled to the left arm and extended through the left guide, the left lock bar being slidably engageable with a left receptacle within the left side of the housing;

wherein the three-point lock slides each of the top lock bar, the right lock bar, and the left lock bar into the top receptacle, the right receptacle, and the left receptacle, respectively, when engaged to lock the door in the closed position and alternatively retracts each of the top lock bar, the right lock bar, and the left lock bar from the top receptacle, the right receptacle, and the left receptacle, respectively, when disengaged to unlock the door and allow the door to move to the open position;

a keypad coupled to the door, the keypad being coupled to the front face of the door and in operational communication with the lock mechanism, the keypad comprising a display screen and a plurality of keys, the plurality of keys being configured to enter a passcode to engage and alternatively disengage the lock mechanism from the housing;

a barcode scanner coupled to the keypad, the barcode scanner being in operational communication with the CPU;

a Wi-Fi chip coupled to the keypad, the Wi-Fi chip being in operational communication with the CPU; and