A PACKAGE RECEIVING AND RETURNING DEVICE

Abstract

A package receiving and returning device for fitting to a sloping roof/building. The device has a storage cavity with an opening, a frame bounding the opening and a displaceable cover arranged in the frame which displaces from a closed first position wherein the opening is sealed thereby preventing access to the storage cavity, to an open second position which permits access to the storage cavity. A sensor detects presence of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). A verification system verifies a designated UAV for a requested delivery or collection. An automated mechanism displaces the cover between the first and second positions when activated upon detection of the verified UAV to allow a payload to be delivered into, or retrieved from, the storage cavity. The automated mechanism positions the cover to define an entrance that corresponds to the features of the UAV and/or a payload to be received/returned, and/or environmental conditions.

Claims

1. A package receiving and returning device for fitting to a part of a sloping roof/building comprising: a storage cavity with an opening; a frame bounding the opening and a displaceable cover arranged in the frame which displaces from a closed first position, wherein the opening is sealed, thereby preventing unauthorized access to the storage cavity, to an open second position which permits access to the storage cavity; at least one sensor detects presence of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV); a verification system is operable to verify a designated UAV for a requested delivery or return; and an automated mechanism displaces the cover between the first and second positions when activated upon detection of the verified UAV to allow a payload to be delivered into, or retrieved from, the storage cavity, wherein the automated mechanism operates a positioning means to position the cover to define an entrance that corresponds to the features of the UAV and/or a payload to be received/returned, and/or environmental conditions.

2. The package receiving and returning device according to claim 1 wherein the storage cavity includes a water drainage tray to permit drainage of rainwater.

3. The package receiving and returning device according to claim 1 wherein the cover comprises a window.

4. The package receiving and returning device according to claim 1 wherein the cover comprises hard composite plastic that matches a style and type of a roof.

5. The package receiving and returning device according to claim 1 wherein the cover includes one or more photovoltaic cells.

6. The package receiving and returning device according to claim 1 wherein the cover comprises two or more cover panels.

7. The package receiving and returning device according to claim 6 wherein the two or more cover panels bi-fold to open.

8. The package receiving and returning device according to claim 1 wherein the cover folds substantially downwards on the frame into the open second position.

9. The package receiving and returning device according to claim 1 wherein the positioning means includes a worm screw positioning mechanism.

10. The package receiving device according to claim 1 comprising an enclosed receiving compartment with a displaceable drip tray.

11. The package receiving device according to claim 1 comprising a weather sensing means.

12. The package receiving device according to claim 1 wherein the frame comprises side baffles.

13. The package receiving device according to claim 1 wherein the open second open position enlarges an effective footprint of a footprint.

14. The package receiving device according to claim 1 comprising a net structure for package receiving or returning.

15. The package receiving device according to claim 1 wherein the verification system is configured to send a message to a mobile communication device to alert a user of a delivery or collection.

16. The package receiving device according to claim 1 wherein the verification system is configured to receive an acceptance message from a mobile communication device to acknowledge that a delivery or collection is accepted.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

[0084] FIG. 1 shows an isometric view of a frame and displaceable cover of a device according to the first aspect of the present invention, in a first closed position;

[0085] FIG. 2 shows a reverse isometric view of the frame and displaceable cover shown in FIG. 1;

[0086] FIG. 3 shows an isometric view of a device according to the present invention comprising the frame and displaceable cover shown in FIG. 1 fitted to a sloped surface in a second open position;

[0087] FIG. 4 shows a reverse isometric view of the device shown in FIG. 3;

[0088] FIG. 5 shows an isometric view of the frame and displaceable cover shown in FIG. 1 in an intermediate position between the first and second positions;

[0089] FIG. 6 shows a reverse isometric view of the frame and cover shown in FIG. 1 in an intermediate position between the first and second positions;

[0090] FIGS. 7a and 7b show isometric views of ends a screw mechanism comprised by the frame and cover shown in FIG. 1;

[0091] FIG. 8 shows an exploded isometric view of the screw mechanism shown in FIG. 7;

[0092] FIG. 9 shows an exploded isometric view of the frame and cover shown in FIG. 1;

[0093] FIG. 10 shows a reverse exploded isometric view of the frame and cover shown in FIG. 1;

[0094] FIG. 11 shows a reverse exploded isometric view of the screw mechanism embodiment shown in FIG. 7;

[0095] FIG. 12 shows profile views of the displaceable cover shown in FIG. 1 in the first closed position, the second open position and an intermediate position; and

[0096] FIG. 13 shows an example of a system of operation including a device according to the first aspect of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

[0097] FIGS. 1 to 12 show a package receiving device 99 according to the first aspect of the present invention and components thereof. The device 99 comprises a compartment 200, a frame 105 surrounding an opening into the compartment 200, and a displaceable cover 100 which is arrangeable to close the opening.

[0098] The displaceable cover 100 is in the form of a bipartite window 100 arranged within the frame. The cover 100 is displaceable between at least a first closed position or arrangement in which it closes, blocks and seals the opening into the compartment 200 bounded by the frame 105 and a second open position or arrangement in which the opening into the compartment 200 bounded by the frame 105 is open, thereby enabling receipt or collection of a package or other object through the opening. The cover is displaced between the first and second positions by an automated mechanism responding to detection of an UAV.

[0099] The device 99 is for installation in a sloped structure such as a building roof 300. The device being arranged such that the frame 105 and the opening of the compartment 200 are generally parallel to and flush with the surface of the structure or roof 300.

[0100] In the illustrated embodiment, the frame 105 and the displaceable cover 100 (which are shown in detail in FIGS. 1, 2, 5 and 6) are in the form of a skylight. The illustrated cover 100 comprises two rectangular glass panels 6, 10 connected together by a hinge 4 which extends along a long edge of each panel 6, 10. The illustrated frame 105 is rectangular and is formed from a thermoplastic material.

[0101] It will be appreciated that the cover and/or frame may be of a different structure or formed from other suitable materials without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims. The cover may be partially or substantially transparent, translucent or opaque, and may be formed from three or more interconnected panels.

[0102] The structure 300 in which the device 99 is installed is envisaged to be a roof of a building or premises, for example a domestic or commercial property. The cover may comprise or be formed from a hard composite plastic that matches the roof style and type, or may comprise or be formed from any of the following without limitation: glass, composite plastic and/or photovoltaic cells, depending on whether or not the user wants to use the device to be arranged as a window or skylight, and/or whether the user wishes the device to match the surface of the roof.

[0103] The frame 105 comprises and supports a mechanism 66 for displacing the cover 100 between its first open position and its second closed position. The mechanism 66 is arranged to fold the two panels 6, 10 of the illustrated cover together about their mutual hinge 4 so as to open the opening to the cavity 200 of the device 99 for delivery purposes (by displacing the cover 100 into the second position).

[0104] The mechanism 66 comprises two leadscrews 2 and a pair of motors 3. Each leadscrew extends along one long side of the rectangular frame 105. Each leadscrew comprises an elongate housing 5, a screw 2 and a nut 23 which is displaced along the screw 2 as the screw 2 is rotated. Each leadscrew is mounted on the inside (downward facing) surface of the frame 105 by a pair of L-shaped brackets 82 and is driven by one of the motors 3. The motors 3 may be permanently wired into the electrical system of the building in whose roof the device is installed.

[0105] The two nuts 23 comprise elements which project from the screws 2 through slots 46 in the housings 45 and in side wall 64 of the frame 105 which surround and are at right angles to the opening of the compartment 200 such that they project into the opening where they are connected to upper corners of the upper panel 6 of the displaceable cover 100. As the screws 2 are rotated by the motors 3, the screws are displaced along the length of the screws 2 within the housings 5.

[0106] The two leadscrews 2 are mirror images of each other and in use are driven at the same rate by the motors 3, such that the two nuts 23 remain level with each other in use.

[0107] The lower edge of the lower panel 10 of the pair of panels 6, 10 comprised by the displaceable cover is connected to the lower short edge of the frame 105 by a hinge mechanism and the upper edge of the lower panel 10 is connected to the lower edge of the upper panel 6 by a hinge 4.

[0108] Therefore, as the nuts 23 are displaced along the screws 2, channels 5 and slots 46, the upper edge of the upper panel 6 will be displaced across the opening of the compartment 200, thereby causing the distance between the upper edge of the upper panel 6 and the lower edge of the lower panel 10 to vary and the two panels 4, 6 to fold together and apart.

[0109] When the nuts 23 are displaced to the upper ends of the screws 2, channels 5 and slots 46, the upper and lower panels 6, 10 will be parallel to each other and flush with frame 105 and the opening of the compartment 200, such that the cover 100 is in its first closed position and the opening of the compartment 200 is closed.

[0110] As the nuts are displaced own the screws 2, channels 5 and slots 46, the two panels 4, 6 will fold with respect to each other and outwards with respect to the frame 105 and the opening of the compartment 200. The second open position is an arrangement where the panels 6, 10 are folded at least partially together such that an opening is provided between the upper edge of the upper panel 6 and the upper edge of the frame 105.

[0111] In some embodiments, the second position may be an arrangement wherein the nuts 23 and the upper edge of the upper panel 6 have been displaced most or substantially all of the way from the upper edge of the frame 105 towards the bottom edge of the frame 105 such that the opening of the compartment is mostly or substantially uncovered. In alternative embodiments, in the second position the nuts 23 and the upper edge of the upper panel 6 have been displaced half or less than half of the way from the upper edge of the frame 105 towards the bottom edge of the frame 105 such that the opening of the compartment is only half or less than half uncovered.

[0112] In open or partially open arrangements, the panels 6, 10 fold outwards from the frame 105 away from the compartment 200. Therefore the upper panel 6 may be arranged to act as a scoop or chute which may guide a package into the compartment (for example, as shown in FIG. 3) by forming a slope angled in the opposing direction from the surface 300 in which the device 99 is installed.

[0113] The illustrated frame 105 comprises four side walls 64 which are arranged at right angles to the opening of the compartment 200 and to the surface of the structure 300 in which the device 99 is installed. The side walls 64 are arranged to define a rectangular aperture which defines the opening into the compartment 200. The two side walls which extend at an angle up surface of the structure 300 (between the two side walls which extend generally horizontally) comprise elongate slots 46 extending along their length through which the nuts 23 of the leadscrews protrude. The frame 105 further comprises a flange extending outwards from the upper edges of the side walls substantially parallel to the opening of the compartment 200 and the surface of the structure 300. The flange is at right angles to the side walls 64 and acts to prevent any gaps between the opening of the compartment 200 and the surface of the structure 300. An electronics module 32 is supported on the exterior upwards facing surface of the flange above the upper edge of the opening of the compartment 200. The leadscrews 2 are supported on the downwards facing underside of the flange by brackets 82 adjacent the sloped side walls 64 of the frame 105.

[0114] The device 99 comprises a compartment 200 to whose opening the frame 105 is fitted; the frame being located underneath the opening surrounded by the frame 105. The compartment comprises a generally square horizontal base 57, two side walls 55 with sloped upper edges which meat the sides of the frame 105, and a substantially vertical rear wall arranged opposite the frame 105 and extending between the base 57 and the upper edge of the frame 105.

[0115] The rear wall comprises a door 56, with a side hinge and a handle 54. The base 57 and a portion of the rear wall define a tray 58 which is arranged for receipt of rainwater, in the form of a displaceable drip tray 58. The tray comprises a handle 53.

[0116] The frame 105 comprises two side wing baffles 1, which extend outwards from flange portion of the frame adjacent the sloping edges of the opening of the compartment 200. The baffles 1 extend substantially perpendicularly to the surface of the structure 300 in which the device is installed. The baffles 1 enlarging progressively as they extend from the upper edge towards the bottom edge of the frame 105.

[0117] These baffles 1 may help guide a delivery package into the compartment 200, in cooperation with the upper folded panel 6 of the cover 100 by providing side boundaries of a defined area, slide or chute for delivering a package into. In this way the package may be prevented from being blown to either side of the delivery area, as well as to below.

[0118] FIG. 13 discloses a system of operation including the package receiving and returning device 99. This system is intended for use when unknown or unexpected deliveries or collection requests are detected.

[0119] The device 99 is fitted to a roof 300. A sensor 70 detects present of an UAV. Upon detection of the UAV 400 the verification system is activated so that the UAV 400 can be identified and verified. The verification process includes transmission of a signal from the sensor 70 to a remote electronic device 500 to advise a user that an UAV 400 has arrived.

[0120] A user is then prompted to either accept or decline the delivery or collection. If the delivery/collection is accepted an acknowledgment signal is returned to the device to permit opening of the cover to receive the UAV. If the delivery/collection is declined a signal is sent to the device and onto the UAV to advise of decline acceptance.

[0121] The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention as defined by the claims.