Secure package delivery container and method

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a secure package delivery container for receiving an article that does not require credentials to be input by the delivery person. The storage container comprises a container having a door secured by a user engageable locking device operable to be locked without credentials and upon input from the user. A lock activation device is operatively coupled to the user engageable locking device for receiving input from the user. A communications device is provided to communicate with an external device to report the state of the container, activation of the lock, and to receive instructions to lock or unlock the container. A sensing device is provided for identifying the presence of an object in the container. Additionally, sensors are provided to determine the location of container and the presence of delivery personnel. A user engageable opening device is provided to open or close the door when the user engageable locking device is in an unlocked state.

Claims

1. A secure package delivery container, comprising: a container defining an enclosed storage volume, said container having a container body formed of at least one wall and a bottom, said container having a door operatively attached to said container body, said door being adapted to be moved from a closed position to an open position, wherein deliveries can be made into the container through the door; an electronically controlled locking device for securing the door to the container body in the closed position, said electronically controlled locking device operable to be in an unlocked state and permit moving said door into the open position for making a delivery into the container by a delivery person, wherein said door is openable by the delivery person without any type of credential, and without an input from a user or any other source; an electronically controlled lock activation device operably coupled to said electronically controlled locking device, said electronically controlled lock activation device adapted to receive input from the user at a remote location apart from the container and from the delivery person at the container and command said electronically controlled locking device to be in a locked state, wherein the electronically controlled lock activation device is adapted to operably allow the delivery person to lock the door in the closed position after making the delivery and without the any type of credential; and a communications device is in communication with said electronically controlled lock activation device and adapted to transmit signals to or receive signals from an external device, wherein said communications device operably allows the user to be in remote communication with the electronically controlled lock activation device, wherein said door is operably lockable and unlockable by the user, wherein said door is operably lockable in the closed position and not unlockable by the delivery person.

2. The secure package delivery container as set forth in claim 1, further comprising an opening device, said opening device operable to move said door into the open position or the closed position when said electronically controlled locking device is in an unlocked state.

3. The secure package delivery container as set forth in claim 2, wherein said communications device is adapted to transmit signals to or receive signals from said opening device, said communications device is in communication with said opening device to command said opening device to open or close the door.

4. The secure package delivery container as set forth in claim 2, wherein said opening device comprises a switch associated with said container.

5. The secure package delivery container as set forth in claim 2, wherein said opening device comprises a wireless device.

6. The secure package delivery container as set forth in claim 1, wherein said container further comprises a climate control system.

7. The secure package delivery container as set forth in claim 6, wherein said climate control system is a refrigeration or heating system.

8. The secure package delivery container as set forth in claim 1, wherein the container is collapsible.

9. The secure package delivery container as set forth in claim 8, wherein said wall of the container may be comprised of a plurality of sides, at least two of said sides are joined by a hinge.

10. The secure package delivery container as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a device for identifying the presence of an object in the container, wherein the device is selected from the group consisting of a light source, photodetector, IR LED and IR detector, a CMOS sensor, a load cell, proximity sensor, camera and microphone.

11. The secure package delivery container as set forth in claim 1, further comprising an external communications device.

12. The secure package delivery container as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a GPS sensor for determining the location of the container.

13. The secure package delivery container as set forth in claim 1, further comprising at least one of a magnetometer, gyroscope and accelerometer for determining the location of the container.

14. The secure package delivery container as set forth in claim 1, wherein said container further comprises a chute in said wall.

15. The secure package delivery container as set forth in claim 1, wherein said container is insulated.

16. The secure package delivery container as set forth in claim 1, further comprising hardware for securing said container in a location.

17. A secure package delivery container, comprising: a container defining a storage volume, said container having a container body formed of at least one wall and a bottom, said container having a door operatively attached to said container body, said door being adapted to be moved from a closed to an open position without input of any type of credential by a delivery person making a delivery into the container; a electronically controlled locking device for securing the door to the container body in the closed position, said electronically controlled locking device operable to be locked without the any type of credential; a lock activation device operably coupled to said electronically controlled locking device, said lock activation device for receiving input from a user and commanding said electronically controlled locking device to be in a locked state; and a communications device in communication with said lock activation device and adapted to transmit signals to or receive signals from an external device, wherein the lock activation device comprises a locking switch external to the container, wherein activating the locking switch by the delivery person locks the container, wherein the electronically controlled locking device can be locked by activating the locking switch or by a signal to the lock activation device wherein the container is adapted to be unlocked without the any type of credential to receive delivery of a package and then be locked by the locking switch without the any type of credential.

18. A method for receiving delivery of packages to a container and remotely controlling the locking and unlocking of the container, the method comprising: providing a container defining an enclosed storage volume, said container having a container body formed of at least one wall and a bottom, said container having a door operatively attached to said container body, said door being adapted to be moved from an open position to a closed position, wherein the container comprises an electronically controlled locking device for securing the door to the container body in the closed position, said electronically controlled locking device operable to be locked without any type of credential and upon an input from a user apart from a delivery person, wherein the electronically controlled locking device is in communication with an electronically controlled lock activation device for receiving input from the user or the delivery person and commanding said electronically controlled locking device to be in a locked state, wherein the electronically controlled lock activation device is in communication with a lock switch disposed in said container, wherein by triggering the lock switch the electronically controlled lock activation device will lock the door in the closed position without the any type of credential; opening the door by the delivery person for making a delivery without the any type of credential; closing the door wherein the door is unlocked; allowing the door to be locked by either triggering the lock switch by the delivery person without the any type of credential or remotely locking the door by the user for securing the door to the container body in the closed position, wherein the door is locked without the any type of credential; communicating the locked state to the user; sensing the presence of a delivery person in proximity to the container body; signaling the presence of the delivery person to the user through the communications device; the user then remotely unlocking the door for receiving a second delivery; and repeating the steps beginning with opening the door by the delivery person for making a delivery without the any type of credential.

19. The method for receiving delivery of packages to a container and remotely controlling the locking and unlocking of the container of claim 18, wherein the sensing the presence of the delivery person is with at least one of a camera and a motion detector, wherein signaling the presence of the delivery person is with at least one of a text message, email and telephone communication.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) While the claims are not limited to a specific illustration, an appreciation of the various aspects is best gained through a discussion of various examples thereof. Referring now to the drawings, exemplary illustrations are shown in detail. Although the drawings represent the illustrations, the drawings are not necessarily to scale and certain features may be exaggerated to better illustrate and explain an innovative aspect of an example. Further, the exemplary illustrations described herein are not intended to be exhaustive or otherwise limiting or restricted to the precise form and configuration shown in the drawings and disclosed in the following detailed description. Exemplary illustrations are described in detail by referring to the drawings as follows:

(2) FIG. 1 is an environmental view of an embodiment of a secure package delivery container;

(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a secure package delivery container with the door in an open position;

(4) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a secure package delivery container with the door in a closed position;

(5) FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a secure package delivery container with a climate control system;

(6) FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a secure package delivery container with a microphone, camera and motion detector;

(7) FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a secure package delivery container having a hexagonal body and a sliding door;

(8) FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a secure package delivery container with a parcel sensing device;

(9) FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a secure package delivery container with a location sensing device;

(10) FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a secure package delivery container with wireless communications;

(11) FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a secure package delivery container with object sensing;

(12) FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a collapsible secure package delivery container;

(13) FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a secure package delivery container having an ornamental construction; and

(14) FIG. 13 is a flowchart of the method of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(15) Exemplary illustrations of secure package delivery container are shown in the attached drawings. However, the embodiments discussed herein are not intended to be exhaustive or limit the invention to any particular form. The terminology which has been used is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings and the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

(16) As used herein, the phrase “state of the container” refers to any characteristic of the container, including, but not limited to, whether the container is locked or unlocked, the presence of an object in the storage volume of the container, whether an object is moving within the container, the air temperature of the storage volume, the location of the container, the direction the container is traveling, the velocity of the container, whether the container is receiving power, whether the container is being heated, whether the container is being cooled or indicia of the contents of the container.

(17) With initial reference to FIG. 1, an embodiment of a secure package delivery container 100 is shown located on a porch 10 of a structure with a doorbell 20 mounted on a wall 30 by a door 25. The secure package delivery container 100 comprises a container 110 having a container body 120 formed of at least one wall 130 and a bottom 140. The secure package delivery container 100 has a door 150 adapted to be moved from an open position to closed position.

(18) A user engageable locking device 160 secures the door 150 to the container body 120 in a closed position. The user engageable locking device 160 is operable to be locked without credentials and upon an input from a user. As used herein “credentials” shall refer to any means used to identify a user including, but not limited to, a barcode, an RFID tag, a numerical code, an alphanumerical code, a key, a combination, a wireless input, or a user identification. A lock activation device 170 is operably coupled to the user engageable locking device 160. The lock activation device 170 is provided for receiving input from a user and commanding the user engageable locking device 160 to be in a locked or unlocked state. The lock activation device 170 may be integrated with the user engageable locking device 160, mounted on the container 110 or door 150, or located remotely, for example, integrated with the doorbell 20 or otherwise remotely located as described further herein. In an embodiment, the lock activation device 170 is a suitable switch such as a button.

(19) Upon successfully placing a package into the container 100 and closing door 150 the user may press the button/lock activation device 170 to lock the container 100. Upon pressing the lock activation device 170 communications may be sent to notify the recipient of the successful delivery, as is described more fully below.

(20) Referring also to FIG. 2, the secure package delivery container with the door 150 in an open position is shown, revealing a storage volume 105. In the immediate embodiment, the door 150 is operatively attached to the container body 120 by a pair of hinges 145. A locking mechanism 163 associated with the user engageable locking device 160 is shown securely attached to the door 150 and positioned to permit the door 150 to be locked in a closed position. Although the container body 120 is disclosed in a rectangular shape in the present embodiment, any suitable shape is contemplated, including a cylindrical body, a hexagonal body, a square body, etc. Likewise, any suitable number of walls 130 may be provided to be within the spirit and scope of the present mention. The container 110 may be formed of wood, plastic, metal, stone, and any composite material known in the art or hereinafter developed. A track 185 is shown to attach identification means such as a recipient's name or address number. Hardware 190 is shown attached to the bottom 140 for securing the container 100 in a location.

(21) Referring now also to FIG. 3, in a non-limiting embodiment the secure package delivery container 100 is shown with the door 150 in a closed position. In the present embodiment, the container body 120 includes a chute 195 located within a wall 130. Preferably, the chute is of a size adequate to accept a range of package sizes but will not allow for reaching into the container to retrieve any packages. It is expressly intended that the secure package delivery container 100 may not have a chute.

(22) Referring now also to FIG. 4, in a non-limiting embodiment, the secure package delivery container 100 is shown having a climate control system 200 located on the back side 125. The climate control system 200 may be a refrigeration system 205 or heating system 207. Power is provided to the refrigeration system 205 or heating system 207 by power cord 203. Additionally, insulated walls 210 may be provided to improve the efficiency of the climate control system 200. In the present embodiment electrical power is provided by an electric power cord 203, however other means may be provided to power the container 100 such as batteries, solar power, or wind power. It is contemplated that any necessary power conditioning circuitry is contained within the secure package delivery container 100.

(23) Referring now also to FIG. 5, in a non-limiting embodiment the secure package delivery container 100 is shown having an external communications device 225 on the outside of the container 100. Examples of an external communications device 225 include a microphone 230 and camera 220 for providing communications between a user and delivery person or other person in proximity to the container 100. The external communications device 225 may also include a motion detector 221. The external communications device 225 is capable of sensing the presence of a person such as a delivery person approaching the container 100. Communications are enabled through the communications device 165 described further below. Communications systems may be adapted from existing systems such as the system disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,819,867 titled, Low-Power-Consumption Audio/Video Recording and Communication Doorbell. Other communications systems known to those skilled in the art may also be used.

(24) Referring now also to FIG. 6, in a non-limiting embodiment, the secure package delivery container 100 is shown having an octagonal body 110 and a sliding door 153 movable in an opening direction 155. The door 153 may be actuated by any means known to those skilled in the art, including but not limited to, a slider crank, a rack and pinion, ballscrews, servo motors, and the like. The container 100 may further include a drain (not shown) at the bottom.

(25) Referring now also to FIG. 7, in a non-limiting embodiment the secure package delivery container 100 is shown with a parcel sensing device 240 for identifying the presence of an object in the container 100. In the present embodiment the parcel sensing device 240 is a load cell 241 which would determine the state of the container by identifying the presence of the object by its mass, similar to that of a bathroom scale. Information regarding the state of the container may be communicated to the recipient by the communications device described further below.

(26) Referring now also to FIG. 8, in a non-limiting embodiment the secure package delivery container 100 is shown with a location sensing device 250. A GPS chip (not shown) provides the actual location of the container 100 within a range of approximately 5 meters by communicating with satellites and transmitting the data to an external device (not shown) using wireless connectivity. Examples of such a chip include the Nano Hornet GPS module having an integrated patch antenna. Another example is the BCM47755 chip by Broadcom capable of communicating with L1 and L5 satellites. The location sensing device 250 may also comprise at least one of a magnetometer, gyroscope or accelerometer for determining the location, or movement, of the container 100. A magnetometer senses magnetic fields and can provide a heading relative to the Earth's magnetic North Pole. A gyroscope provides orientation details about the container 100. The accelerometer detects how fast the container 100 is traveling at any given time.

(27) Referring now also to FIG. 9, in a non-limiting embodiment the secure package delivery container 100 is shown having a wireless communications device 165. The wireless communications device 165 is in communication with the lock activation device 170 to transmit signals to and receive signals from the lock activation device 170. A processor 168 is provided to retrieve instructions and execute arithmetic logic units. Nonvolatile memory (not shown) may be provided to store instructions. Alternatively, a microcontroller may be substituted for processor 168. The processor 168 and microcontroller are known to those skilled in the art.

(28) The wireless communications device 165 is also in communication with the user engageable locking device 160 to command the user engageable locking device 160 to be in a locked state. Further, the communications device 165 may provide instructions to command the user engageable locking device 160 to be in an unlocked state. The communications device 165 may notify the recipient of delivery of a package and accordingly may institute instructions to unlock the container 100 so that an additional package may be deposited therein. Therefore, a recipient may remotely unlock the container 100 prior to delivery of a second, third or subsequent parcel. Alternatively, the user and delivery person or other person in proximity to the container 100 may communicate through the external communications device 225 (as described in reference to FIG. 5). The communications device 165 may transmit signals to or receive signals from an external device 173, including, but not limited to: a cellular telephone 172, a doorbell 175, a security system 179, a home controller 177 or an Internet server 178. The external device 173 may be any device known in the art or developed in the future capable of transmitting signals to or receive signals from the communications device 165. The communications device 165 may be integrated with the user engageable locking device 160 to transmit signals therefrom. Although the operation of a transmitter has been disclosed, the invention also contemplates the addition of a receiver, or a transceiver in place of a transmitter and receiver. It should be understood that any means known in the art, or developed in the future, for communicating wireless signals is intended to be within the spirit and scope of the present embodiment. It should be understood that a number of frequency bands may be operationally enabled in the present embodiment to communicate with various devices, for example 850 MHz, 1900 MHz and 1700 MHz to communicate with cellular phones 2.4 GHz and/or 5 GHz to communicate with a Wi-Fi router, 3.5 GHz to communicate with satellite and 2400 MHz to communicate with Bluetooth.

(29) Accordingly, the communications device 165 is capable of sending signals to and receiving signals from any wireless devices known in the art. Furthermore, it should be understood that the secure package delivery container 100 of the present invention may be hard wired, such as by a LAN, WAN or Ethernet cabling using any suitable protocol known to those skilled in the art. The communications device 165 may communicate the state of container to any external device 173.

(30) The communications device 165, including any external device 173, is operable to remotely instruct the opening of the door 150 of the container 100 when the user engageable locking device 160 is in an unlocked state. The opening mechanism (not shown), as known to those skilled in the art, is activated by the communications device 165 to open or close the door 150. This capability allows for remotely instructing the opening of the door 150 thus allowing a delivery into the container 100 by a delivery person without requiring the delivery person to open the door. Similarly, the door 150 may be closed in the same manner thus allowing the delivery person to leave a delivery without opening or closing the door 150.

(31) Referring now also to FIG. 10, in a non-limiting embodiment the secure package delivery container 100 is shown with alternative object sensing devices 240. A load cell 241, proximity sensor 242, IR LED 244 and IR detector 245, or other light source photodetector (not shown) may be used to detect the presence of an object in the container. Signals indicative of the state of the container from the object sensing devices 240 may be communicated wirelessly or by cable to an external device 173. Alternatively, a lowlight CMOS 243 may be used to identify the presence of an object in the container 100. Likewise, a light 260 and video camera 270 may be employed to identify the presence of an object in the container 100 and the signals from the camera may be communicated to an external device 173 by way of the communications device 165.

(32) Referring now also to FIG. 11, in a non-limiting embodiment, a collapsible secure package delivery container 100 is shown having a back wall 125, the front wall 115 and a plurality of hinges 147. The container 100 of the immediate embodiment may be assembled by any suitable means known in the art including threaded fasteners.

(33) Referring now also to FIG. 12, in a non-limiting embodiment the secure package delivery container 100 is shown having an ornamental construction. In the immediate embodiment the container 100 has the appearance of a bench.

(34) Referring now also to FIG. 13, in operation, the container 100 is initially in an unlocked state 300. Therefore, no credentials are needed to open the container 100 and put a package inside. A delivery 302 can then be made to the container 100. The delivery person has the option of activating 304 the locking device 160 with the lock activation device 170. If activated, the container is then in a locked state 306. The lock status is communicated 308 to the user of the system through the communications device 165 to an external device 173. The user is then aware that a package has been delivered and the container 100 is in a locked state. The user can then remotely unlock 310 the container 100 through the communications device 165 thus allowing for another delivery.

(35) When a delivery is being made, external communications device 225 such as a microphone 230, camera 220 and/or motion detector 221 can be used to sense the presence of the delivery person preparing to make a delivery. The delivery person's presence can be communicated via the communications device 165 to an external device 173. The system user has ability to communicate with the delivery person and decide whether to unlock the door 150. Alternatively, the user can simply remotely unlock the container 100 when made aware there is a delivery in progress. This can be accomplished by the user receiving an email, telephone call, or text or having the camera 220 display a live feed of the delivery person to the user's smart phone or other device. Assuming that the user finds the delivery to be acceptable the door 150 is unlocked and the delivery is made. The delivery person can choose whether to lock the container 100 by activating the activation device 170, which in an embodiment is a button on the container.

(36) The method can then be repeated for subsequent deliveries beginning with the step of the container being in an unlocked state 300. Thus, repeated deliveries may be made without the need of credentials to either unlock or lock the container 100. Advantageously, the container 100 does not automatically lock upon closure and instead can be locked by the lock activation device 170, or remotely through the communications device 165. This prevents the risk of a child unintentionally locking themselves inside the container 100. It also unburdens the delivery person from needing to know any credentials for unlocking or locking the container. This will aid in the efficient and more expedient delivery of packages since the delivery person will not need to spend time searching for or inputting credentials such as a key or code to open the container.