LOCKABLE BOX

Abstract

Systems, methods, and apparatuses are provided for securely receiving packages or items from a delivery service and stopping porch pirates from stealing the packages or items. A single door or multi-door embodiment selectively allows access to a lockable box so that a delivery service can place packages or items in the lockable box that a purchaser can later retrieve. The lockable box can have a locking system with rotatable key combinations, temporary key combinations, and/or other features that allow a delivery service to selectively access the lockable box. Some embodiments also integrate the lockable box into existing features of a residence such as a door.

Claims

1. A lockable box system for a door at a home residence, comprising: a door that is rotatable between a closed position and an open position, said door having a substantially rectangular shape with a height, a width, and a depth; a lockable box integrated into said door, wherein said lockable box has a height that is less than said height of said door, and said lockable box has a width that is less than said width of said door, said lockable box further having: a delivery door positioned on an exterior surface of said lockable box, said delivery door is rotatable between a closed position and an open position; and a locking system that selectively locks said delivery door in said closed position and selectively unlocks said delivery door to allow said delivery door to rotate to said open position.

2. The lockable box system of claim 1, wherein said lockable box has a depth that is larger than said depth of said door.

3. The lockable box system of claim 2, wherein said door defines an opening path as said door rotates between said closed position and said open position, and said depth of said lockable box is positioned within said opening path.

4. The lockable box system of claim 1, wherein a top edge, a bottom edge, a left edge, and a right edge of said lockable box are offset by a predetermined distance from a top edge, a bottom edge, a left edge, and a right edge of said door, respectively.

5. The lockable box system of claim 1, wherein said door has a locking system that is separate from said locking system of said lockable box, wherein said locking system of said door selectively locks said door in said closed position and selectively unlocks said door to allow said delivery door to rotate to said open position.

6. The lockable box system of claim 5, wherein said locking system of said lockable box is a keypad that selectively unlocks said delivery door upon receiving a first key combination, and said locking system of said door is a keypad that selectively unlocks said door upon receiving a second key combination, wherein said first key combination is distinct from said second key combination.

7. The lockable box system of claim 1, wherein said locking system of said lockable box is a keypad that selectively unlocks said delivery door upon receiving a key combination, wherein said keypad is an alphanumeric keypad.

8. The lockable box system of claim 1, wherein said locking system of said lockable box selectively unlocks said delivery door upon receiving an authorization signal from a network of computers.

9. The lockable box system of claim 8, wherein said locking system comprises a router that receives said authorization signal from said network of computers, and wherein said network of computers is the Internet.

10. The lockable box system of claim 1, wherein said lockable box defines a volume, wherein a receiving door is positioned on an interior surface of said lockable box, and said receiving door provides access to said volume.

11. A lockable box for selective use for authorized users at a residence, comprising: an outer door positioned on an exterior of a residence, said outer door is movable between a closed position and an open position; an inner door positioned on an interior of said residence, said inner door is movable between a closed position and an open position, wherein said outer door and said inner door define a receiving volume; and a locking system that selectively locks said outer door in said closed position and selectively unlocks said outer door to allow said outer door to move to said open position, wherein said locking system has a keypad that selectively unlocks said outer door upon receiving a key combination.

12. The lockable box of claim 11, wherein said locking system has a router that receives an authorization input from a network of computers, and wherein said locking system selectively unlocks said outer door upon receiving said authorization input.

13. The lockable box of claim 11, wherein said locking system has a router that receives a second key combination from a network of computers, and wherein said locking system replaces said key combination with said second key combination upon receiving said second key combination.

14. The lockable box of claim 11, further comprising a second locking system that selectively locks said inner door in said closed position and selectively unlocks said inner door to allow said inner door to move to said open position.

15. The lockable box of claim 11, wherein said exterior and said interior of said residence are an exterior and an interior, respectively, of a door of said residence.

16. A system for administering access to a lockable box used in conjunction with a home delivery service at a residence, comprising: a lockable box having a body with an interior volume and having one of a lid and a door that encloses said interior volume; a locking device of said lockable box that sets one of said lid and said door in a locked state and an unlocked state, wherein said locking device sets one of said lid and said door from said locked state to said unlocked state in response to a unique input to said locking device; a transceiver of said lockable box in operable communication with said locking device; and an electronic device, wherein said transceiver is in operable communication with said electronic device via a network of computers, wherein said electronic device sets said unique input of said locking device.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said electronic device is a mobile device having a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium provides a graphical user interface that allows a user to set said unique input of said locking device.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein said network of computers is the Internet.

19. The system of claim 16, further comprising a second door that rotates between a closed position and an open position, wherein said second door provides access to said lockable box.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein said locking device is an alphanumeric keypad, and said unique input is a key combination.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the disclosure and together with the general description of the disclosure given above and the detailed description of the drawings given below, serve to explain the principles of the disclosures.

[0024] FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a lockable box in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

[0025] FIG. 1B is a left elevation view of the lockable box in FIG. 1A in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

[0026] FIG. 1C is a front elevation view of the lockable box in FIG. 1A in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

[0027] FIG. 1D is a right elevation view of the lockable box in FIG. 1A in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

[0028] FIG. 1E is a top plan view of the lockable box in FIG. 1A in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

[0029] FIG. 1F is a rear elevation view of the lockable box in FIG. 1A in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

[0030] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another lockable box in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

[0031] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of yet another lockable box in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

[0032] FIG. 4A is a front elevation view of a lockable box integrated into a door in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

[0033] FIG. 4B is a front elevation view of the lockable box in FIG. 4A with a delivery door in an open position in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

[0034] FIG. 4C is a front elevation view of the lockable box in FIG. 4A with the door and the delivery door in an open position in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

[0035] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a further lockable box integrated into the housing structure in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

[0036] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a lockable box with multiple interior volumes in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

[0037] FIG. 7 is a diagram of a locking device on a lockable box in operable communication with an electronic device in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and

[0038] FIG. 8 is a diagram of an administrative system for disseminating key codes in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

[0039] To assist in the understanding of the embodiments of the invention the following list of components and associated numbering found in the drawings is provided herein:

TABLE-US-00001 Component No. Component 2 Lockable Box 4 Body 6 Lid 8 Lock 10 Handle 12 Delivery Door 14 Door 16 Door Lock 18 Door Handle 20 Inner Door 22 Transceiver 24 Network 26 Electronic Device 28 First Group 30 Second Group

[0040] It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale, and various dimensions may be altered. In certain instances, details that are not necessary for an understanding of the invention or that render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted. It should be understood, of course, that the invention is not necessarily limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0041] The invention has significant benefits across a broad spectrum of endeavors. It is the Applicant's intent that this specification and the claims appended hereto be accorded a breadth in keeping with the scope and spirit of the invention being disclosed despite what might appear to be limiting language imposed by the requirements of referring to the specific examples disclosed. To acquaint persons skilled in the pertinent arts most closely related to the invention, a preferred embodiment that illustrates the best mode now contemplated for putting the invention into practice is described herein by, and with reference to, the annexed drawings that form a part of the specification. The exemplary embodiment is described in detail without attempting to describe all of the various forms and modifications in which the invention might be embodied. As such, the embodiments described herein are illustrative, and as will become apparent to those skilled in the arts, may be modified in numerous ways within the scope and spirit of the invention.

[0042] Although the following text sets forth a detailed description of numerous different embodiments, it should be understood that the detailed description is to be construed as exemplary only and does not describe every possible embodiment since describing every possible embodiment would be impractical, if not impossible. Numerous alternative embodiments could be implemented, using either current technology or technology developed after the filing date of this patent, which would still fall within the scope of the claims. To the extent that any term recited in the claims at the end of this patent is referred to in this patent in a manner consistent with a single meaning, that is done for sake of clarity only so as to not confuse the reader, and it is not intended that such claim term by limited, by implication or otherwise, to that single meaning.

[0043] Various embodiments of the invention are described herein and as depicted in the drawings. It is expressly understood that although the figures depict lockable boxes, doors, and locking systems, the invention is not limited to these embodiments.

[0044] Now referring to FIGS. 1A-1F, various views of a lockable box 2 are provided. The lockable box 2 has a body 4 that defines an interior volume, which receives packages or products. A lid 6 is selectively positioned over an aperture defined by the body 4 to completely enclose the interior volume. Further depicted are a locking device 8 and a handle 10. The locking device 8 sets the lid 6 and the lockable box 2 in a locked state or in an unlocked state. Once in the locking device 8 is in the unlocked state, a user may engage the handle 10 to remove or open the lid 6 and access the interior volume of the lockable box 2. Also shown are exemplary dimensions of the lockable box 2. However, one skilled in the art will appreciate that the lockable box 2 may have any shape with any range of dimensions.

[0045] Now referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, perspective views of further embodiments of the present invention are provided. These embodiments have a delivery door 12 as opposed to a lid 6. The delivery door 12 rotates between an opened position and a closed position, and the user may unlock the locking device 8 and engage the handle 10 to open the door.

[0046] Now referring to FIGS. 4A-4C, various views of another embodiment of the lockable box 2 are provided. In this embodiment, the lockable box 2 is integrated into a door 14. As depicted, the door 14 also has a lock 16 and a handle 18. The door 14 may have a substantially rectangular shape with a length, a height, and a width. Similarly, the depicted lockable box 2 has a length, a height, and a width. In this embodiment, the lockable box 2 has a smaller length and height than the door 14, but a larger width. This allows the door 14 and lockable box 2 to open and close as the door 14 would normally close. Stated another way, a door 14 without a lockable box 2 defines a first opening volume that the door 14 passes through as the door 14 opens and closes. The door 14 with the lockable box 2 defines a second opening volume that is substantially the same as the first opening volume.

[0047] Now referring to FIG. 5, a perspective view of yet another lockable box 2 is provided. This lockable box 2 has a delivery door 12 as depicted in other embodiments, and this lockable box 2 further has an inner door 20 that is configured to rotate between a closed position and an open position. Therefore, a delivery service can access the lockable box 2 through the delivery door 12 and place the package in the lockable box 2. Then, the user can access the lockable box 2 through the inner door 20 from inside the home to receive the package. The integrated lockable box 2 can be positioned between two studs, three studs, four studs, etc. to save space in other areas of the home.

[0048] Now referring to FIG. 6, a perspective view of a further lockable box 2 is provided. This lockable box 2 has multiple points of access into the interior volume of the body 4. The interior volume of the body 4 can also be divided. In the depicted embodiment, a lid 6 is positioned over one opening or point of access to one compartment of the interior volume, and a delivery door 12 provides access to another compartment of the interior volume.

[0049] The segregated compartments allow for different environments within each compartment. A first compartment may be insulated to maintain the temperature of cold groceries, and then the remaining groceries can be placed in the second compartment. The first compartment may be configured, for example, to receive dry ice and/or a cooling loop to maintain a temperature that is less than the temperature of the ambient environment.

[0050] Now referring to FIG. 7, a diagram of a locking system with a remote electronic device 26 is provided. The lockable box 2 has a locking device 8 as described in other embodiments herein. The lockable box 2 also has a transceiver 22 that is in operable communication with the locking device 8. The transceiver is configured to send and receive signals to a network 24, which is in operable communication with an electronic device 26 such as a desktop computer, a mobile device, etc. A homeowner can operate the electronic device 26 from a remote location to interact with the locking device 8 and, for example, set one or more key codes for the locking device 8 to allow another person or delivery service to access the lockable box 2. It will be understood that the network 24 can be the Internet and/or the Internet in addition to Wi-Fi routers and other transceivers that establish an operable communication between the electronic device 26 and the transceiver 22 on the lockable box 2. In addition, the electronic device 26, network 24, and/or transceiver 22 of the lockable box 2 may be in operable communication with a remote server that can store data (e.g., see administrative system described below).

[0051] Further still, the electronic device 26 may have a graphical user interface that the homeowner can interact with to send and receive signals with the network 24 and control the lockable box 2. Thus, the electronic device 26 may have a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that is configured to provide a graphic user interface on a display unit of the electronic device 26 and to provide the various functions and operations described herein.

[0052] Now referring to FIG. 8, an administration system for the lockable box is provided. Again, the homeowner is in control of an electronic device 26 that may be remotely located from the home and/or the lockable box 2. The homeowner, through the electronic device 26, can establish key codes or unique inputs for the locking device on the lockable box. For instance, the homeowner can define a first group 28 and a second group 30 of key codes in the administrative system. The homeowner may set each key code or groups of key codes 28, 30 manually, meaning the homeowner can set a key code related to a birthday or some other significant number. Alternatively or in addition, the homeowner can have the electronic device 26, the network 24, the server, or the locking device 8 generate a random sequence of characters for the key code.

[0053] Next, regardless of how the key codes are initially established, the homeowner can set parameters for each key code or group of key codes 28, 30. Parameters can include whether the key code is perishable, and if so, how long the key code is usable. For example, the homeowner can set the key code as perishable and the key code would expire at a predetermine point in time or after a predetermined period of time. Further still, the key code could expire after a number of uses, e.g., one, two three, etc. In addition, the homeowner can set is a time window for the key code to work on the locking device where the time window has a predetermined start (e.g., a start time or number of uses) and a predetermined expiration (e.g., a stop time or number of uses). This can be useful if the homeowner needs to disseminate a key code for ad hoc access to the lockable box 2. As a result, even if a delivery service intentionally or unintentionally disseminated the key code, the key code would be useless after the key code has perished.

[0054] The parameters can further include who has access to these key codes. In one example the homeowner establishes a single key code for the locking device of the lockable box, then disseminates the key code as the homeowner sees fit, and the homeowner can manually rotate the key code as needed. Further, the lockable box 2 can have further features such as a barcode scanner, wherein the homeowner can set a key code as a bar code that a delivery service or third party can scan and then access the lockable box. In addition, the homeowner can establish a second group 30 of key codes that have different parameters. It will be appreciated that while two groups 28, 30 are described, the homeowner can set any number of groups and combinations of parameters. These various features and parameters address the problem of dissemination of key codes that cause the compromise of a lockable box.

[0055] The parameters associated with key codes and groups of key codes can have other applications in addition to access to the lockable box. In a licensing scheme, a third party or delivery service can lease a lockable box to a homeowner like a cable box is licensed to a homeowner. The homeowner can be billed by, for example, the number of times the delivery service accesses the lockable box, a flat periodic rate, or even by the number of packages or items scanned into the lockable box using the barcode scanner. The barcode scanner can also ensure a complete delivery of the package or packages and then prompt the electronic device with an indication of a complete delivery.

[0056] The invention has significant benefits across a broad spectrum of endeavors. It is the Applicant's intent that this specification and the claims appended hereto be accorded a breadth in keeping with the scope and spirit of the invention being disclosed despite what might appear to be limiting language imposed by the requirements of referring to the specific examples disclosed.

[0057] The phrases at least one, one or more, and and/or, as used herein, are open-ended expressions that are both conjunctive and disjunctive in operation. For example, each of the expressions at least one of A, B, and C, at least one of A, B, or C, one or more of A, B, and C, one or more of A, B, or C, and A, B, and/or C means A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, or A, B, and C together.

[0058] Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing quantities, dimensions, conditions, and so forth used in the specification, drawings, and claims are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term about.

[0059] The term a or an entity, as used herein, refers to one or more of that entity. As such, the terms a (or an), one or more and at least one can be used interchangeably herein.

[0060] The use of including, comprising, or having, and variations thereof, is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Accordingly, the terms including, comprising, or having and variations thereof can be used interchangeably herein.

[0061] It shall be understood that the term means as used herein shall be given its broadest possible interpretation in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 112(f). Accordingly, a claim incorporating the term means shall cover all structures, materials, or acts set forth herein, and all of the equivalents thereof. Further, the structures, materials, or acts, and the equivalents thereof, shall include all those described in the summary of the invention, brief description of the drawings, detailed description, abstract, and claims themselves.

[0062] The foregoing description of the invention has been presented for illustration and description purposes. However, the description is not intended to limit the invention to only the forms disclosed herein. In the foregoing Detailed Description for example, various features of the invention are grouped together in one or more embodiments for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed invention requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into this Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate preferred embodiment of the invention.

[0063] Consequently, variations and modifications commensurate with the above teachings and skill and knowledge of the relevant art are within the scope of the invention. The embodiments described herein above are further intended to explain best modes of practicing the invention and to enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention in such a manner, or include other embodiments with various modifications as required by the particular application(s) or use(s) of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the claims be construed to include alternative embodiments to the extent permitted by the prior art.