Secured receiving arrangement for a delivered parcel

Abstract

A secured receiving arrangement for a delivered parcel includes a parcel receptacle for the delivered parcel to be enclosed therein; a lock arrangement to lock and unlock the lid of the parcel receptacle; and a securing device to secure the parcel receptacle to a door at the property to where the delivered parcel is addressed. The securing device is attached at one end to the parcel receptacle and at the other end includes an abutment such that when the securing device is slid under the door and the door is then closed, un-securing the parcel receptacle from the door is prevented by the abutment of the securing device engaging the internal side of the door.

Claims

1. A secured receiving arrangement for a delivered parcel, said secured receiving arrangement including: a parcel receptacle including a hinged lid, wherein the hinged lid includes an open position wherein an internal chamber of the parcel receptacle becomes accessible for a delivered parcel to be enclosed therein, and wherein the hinged lid of the parcel receptacle further includes a locked position wherein the internal chamber of the parcel receptacle removes external access from a delivered parcel enclosed therein said parcel receptacle; a lock arrangement adapted to lock the lid of the parcel receptacle into the locked position when the lid of the receptacle is closed and wherein the lock arrangement is further adapted to unlock the lid from the locked position to the open position; a securing device fixed to the parcel receptacle by a pivot arrangement and adapted to secure the parcel receptacle to a door at a property to where the delivered parcel is addressed, wherein the securing device includes a first distal end fixed to the parcel receptacle and a second distal end, wherein the second distal end includes an abutment, wherein the abutment is adapted to engage an internal side of the door to which the parcel receptacle is securable thereto, said securing device further including an intermediate length between the first distal end and the second distal end, wherein the intermediate length is comparable to a depth of the door to which the parcel receptacle is securable thereto, such that when the securing device is slid under a bottom rail or edge of the door to which the parcel receptacle is securable thereto and the door is closed within a corresponding door frame, un-securing the parcel receptacle from the door to which the parcel receptacle is securable thereto is prevented by the abutment of the securing device engaging the internal side of the door.

2. The secured receiving arrangement for a delivered parcel of claim 1 wherein the pivot arrangement includes a rod configured at or towards a bottom edge of a rear side of the parcel receptacle.

3. The secured receiving arrangement for a delivered parcel of claim 2 wherein the first distal end of the securing device includes a loop wherein the loop of the securing device is supported by the rod configured at or towards the bottom edge of the rear side of the parcel receptacle.

4. The secured receiving arrangement for a delivered parcel of claim 3 wherein the securing device is pivotally rotatable from an extended position, wherein the extended position allows the securing device to be slid under the bottom rail or edge of the door.

5. The secured receiving arrangement for a delivered parcel of claim 4 wherein the rear side of the parcel receptacle includes a slot, wherein the slot is configured to internally receive the abutment of the second distal end of the securing device, when said securing device is in a retracted position.

6. The secured receiving arrangement for a delivered parcel of claim 5 wherein the securing device is a single strip including a loop at the first distal end and a larger loop at the second distal end defining the abutment.

7. The secured receiving arrangement for a delivered parcel of claim 6 wherein the loop of the second distal end of the securing device is configured to receive a shackle of a pad lock so as to pad lock the securing device to a fixture at the address of the delivered parcel.

8. The secured receiving arrangement for a delivered parcel of claim 1 wherein a rear side of the parcel receptacle includes a raised shoulder, wherein the raised shoulder defines a passage way to support a rod to which said rod supports the lid of the parcel receptacle in a hinged arrangement between the open position and the lock position.

9. The secured receiving arrangement for a delivered parcel of claim 1 wherein a front side, left side, right side and or a rear side of the parcel receptacle includes grooves and/or slots to provide a user grip-able handle.

10. The secured receiving arrangement for a delivered parcel of claim 1 wherein the lock arrangement includes a latch and a latch striker.

11. The secured receiving arrangement for a delivered parcel of claim 10 wherein the latch striker is included on an underside of the lid to engage a latch fixed on an internal surface of the parcel receptacle.

12. The secured receiving arrangement for a delivered parcel of claim 11 wherein the lock arrangement includes a key, code and/or an electronic activate-able switch to unlock the latch striker from the latch when the lock arrangement is in the locked position.

13. The secured receiving arrangement for a delivered parcel of claim 1 wherein a width of the intermediate length will be greater than a thickness of the intermediate length.

14. The secured receiving arrangement for a delivered parcel of claim 1 wherein an underside of the parcel receptacle includes raised rounded contour extensions to facilitate sliding of the parcel receptacle over surfaces.

15. The secured receiving arrangement for a delivered parcel of claim 1 wherein the parcel receptacle is an assembly formed from an underside panel, rear side panel, left side panel, right side panel and the lid.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the secured receiving arrangement for a delivered parcel in a preferred embodiment of the invention.

(2) FIG. 2 is a part exploded perspective view of the rear side of the secured receiving arrangement for a delivered parcel in a preferred embodiment of the invention.

(3) FIG. 3 is perspective view of the securing device of the secured receiving arrangement for a delivered parcel in a preferred embodiment of the invention.

(4) FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the secured receiving arrangement for a delivered parcel secured and mounted to a door in a preferred embodiment of the invention.

(5) FIGS. 5(a) through to 5(f) are schematic representations of the steps and methods involved in the use of the secured receiving arrangement for a delivered parcel in a preferred embodiment of the invention.

DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(6) The secured receiving arrangement for a delivered parcel to be dispatched to a recipient's address when at the time of the delivery the intended recipient or other authorized on behalf of the recipient are not present to accept the delivery the parcel, is shown generally as 10.

(7) The secured receiving arrangement for the delivered parcel 10 includes a parcel receptacle shown as 12.

(8) The parcel receptacle 12 includes a lid 9 with a top surface 13, a front side 15, a right hand side 16, a left hand side 14, and a rear side 17.

(9) The underside of the parcel receptacle 12 is also shown by way of arrow 18.

(10) The rear side 17 also includes a raised shoulder 21 which defines a passage way shown by way of 22 to which a rod 20, represented by broken lines, allows the lid 9 to be hinged opened and closed.

(11) In the embodiment shown there is a raised generally star shaped configuration 23 on the top surface 13 of the lid 9 which while also providing aesthetics to the overall representation of the parcel receptacle 12, the generally star shaped configuration 23 also functions as reinforcing the stiffness and durability of the parcel receptacle 12 and also discourages things being put on the top surface 13 of the lid 9 and/or having people unnecessarily sitting or stepping on the lid 9 of the parcel receptacle 12.

(12) While not shown in the preferred embodiment referenced in the illustrations the underside 18 of the parcel receptacle 12 can also include additional features such as wheels, rollers, raised contour edges and the like that can assist in sliding the parcel receptacle 12 into position over presented surfaces adjacent to the door and gap to where the parcel receptacle 12 will be secured.

(13) As best seen in FIG. 2 pivotally attached to the parcel receptacle 12 is the securing device shown as 30 in FIG. 2 and then represented independently in FIG. 3 also generally as 30.

(14) The securing device 30 includes a first distal end with a determination loop 33, which is pivotally supported on the rod shown by dashed lines 29 towards and/or at the bottom edge of the rear side 17 of the parcel receptacle 12.

(15) At the second distal end is a larger loop 31 which in the preferred embodiment acts as the abutment, which will be discussed, in greater detail when referencing FIGS. 5(a) through to 5(f).

(16) As the securing device 30 is pivotally supported by the loop 33 engagement with the supported rod 29 within the lower bottom edge of the parcel receptacle 12 means that the securing device 30 can be placed in its extended position, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, where it will be engage-able within the underside gap below the bottom edge or bottom rail of a door (not shown) and then be pivotally retractable to within the slot 34 configured into the rear side 17 of the parcel receptacle 12.

(17) The securing device 30 includes the intermediate length 32 as best seen in FIG. 3, which would be commensurate in length to the dimensions of the depth 42 for the door 40 shown in FIG. 4.

(18) This intermediate length 32 of the securing device 30 allows for the abutment member, which in the preferred embodiment is referenced as the loop 31 of the securing device 30 to engage the internal side 41 of the door 40 once the door 40 has been placed in the closed position, best seen in the cross-section view of FIG. 4.

(19) The unique use of the raised shoulder 21 on the rear side 17 of the parcel receptacle 12 to provide the hinge arrangement to open and lock the lid 9 means that the rear side 17 of the parcel receptacle 12 is able to get close up to the front side 39 of the door 40 thereby removing any gaps which would assist with or could result in tampering or attempting to disengage the parcel receptacle 12 from its secured and mounted position with the door 40.

(20) As introduced previously the thickness of the intermediate length 32 of the securing device 30 will be limited to allow for insertion under the bottom edge or railing of the door 40. The thickness and strength of the intermediate length 32 of the securing device 30 and the loop section 31 of the securing device 30 will at least be enough to prevent the securing device 30 from being rotated in the defined gap under the bottom edge or railing of the door 40 preventing the loop section 31 of the securing device 30 from being withdrawn out under the door 40 thereby preventing the disengagement of the parcel receptacle 12 from its secured mounted engagement with the door 40.

(21) Referring to FIGS. 5(a) through to 5(f) wherein the parcel receptacle 12 by way of the extended securing device 30 is slid, shown by way of arrows 43, under the bottom edge or railing 45 of the door 40.

(22) In FIG. 5(b) the door 40 is now closed looking from the inside of the property wherein the loop 31 of the securing device 30 is able to engage with the internal side 41 of the door 40 and shown by way of dashed lines is the parcel receptacle 12 being positioned on the outside 39 of the door 40.

(23) FIG. 5(c) then shows the parcel receptacle 12 secured to the door 40 through the securing device 30 looking from the outside 39 of the door 40 with the lid 9 in an unlocked position.

(24) Though any general locking arrangement will work with this invention in the preferred embodiment, as best seen in FIG. 5c, the underside of the lid 9 includes a latch striker 4 wherein once the lid 9 is closed by the delivery person 52 referenced to in FIG. 5(e) the lid 9 becomes self locking in that the latch striker 4 included on the underside of the lid 9 engages with the latch 3 fixed within the parcel receptacle 12.

(25) FIG. 5(d) illustrates the lid 9 in an open position to allow the delivery person 52 to place the delivered parcel 51 in the internal chamber 50 of the parcel receptacle 12.

(26) In FIG. 5(f) represented by the key hole 53 and the associated key 54 of the authorized recipient 53, subsequent access to the parcel 51 enclosed within the parcel receptacle 12 is achieved through the key 54 inserted into the key hole 53 thereby triggering the latch 3 to disengage the latch striker 4 attached to the underside of the lid 9.

(27) In the preferred embodiment shown the locking arrangement has been included on the front side 15 of the parcel receptacle 12 and wherein the corresponding latch striker 4 is included on the underside of the lid 9 above the front side 15 of the parcel receptacle 12.