The invention which is the subj ect of this application relates to the provision of apparatus which is provided to allow the containment of articles therein in a secure manner and also for the movement and/or transport of the articles whilst held within the apparatus.

The applicant, in their previous Patent GB 2333095 describe a container which is provided for placement at a fixed location, such as at a domestic premises. The container is provided with the ability to be adapted to allow goods to be placed therein by a delivery service, such as a supermarket delivery service, to be stored at differing storage conditions such as in ambient, chilled and frozen conditions. This allows the goods, when placed into the container, to be stored as required until the intended recipient of the goods is able to access the container and remove the goods for storage in their premises. The container is therefore particularly attractive to allow the delivery o f perishable goods to domestic premises at a time which does not need to be when the intended recipient of the goods is present at the premises.

It is also known to provide apparatus integrally within the building itself and which has an access port which can be accessed from externally of the building to allow the delivery of the goods and accessed from internally of the premises to allow collection of the goods by the intended recipient.

In practice it is found that the apparatus described above are of use for specific purpo ses but there are problems associated with the delivery of goods when the intended recipient is not present and which cannot be met by the apparatus described above. In particular, it is often the case that goods are required to be delivered to business premises which cannot be left in a non secure location and therefore can only be delivered when the business premises are open, typically 9am-5pm. This causes significant problems to logistics and delivery organisations who, for example, may be required to deliver a collated batch of goods required by a business. The requirement to deliver these goods within relatively confined time periods can also add to the cost of the delivery service. This process is also co stly in terms of the environmental impact in that, frequently, repeated delivery attempts are required to be made in order to successfully deliver the goods to the recipient at a time when they are present and these repeated attempts require additional fuel and vehicle emissions to be created. Furthermore, the requirement for all deliveries to be made within a relatively confined time period means that additional vehicles are required to be used in comparison to those that would be required should the available time period for delivery be increased.

A further problem which can be experienced is that at present the goods which are required to be delivered to a particular location are firstly gathered together at the source into a group and may be placed, for example, on a roll cage in which the same are held as the cage is moved onto the transport vehicle and driven, along with other cages, to the various delivery locations. It is often the case that as the roll cages are open that goods can be misplaced therefrom during transportation which means that the same are not successfully delivered to the correct recipient. A further problem is that at the recipient location the goods have to be delivered at a time which allows the same to be moved for storage within the business premises as the goods cannot be left outside due to the risk of theft. Often the roll cage is left at the premises containing the goods which can be unloaded when convenient to the consignee, and an empty roll cage returned to the logistics company in its place. However this can only be done if someone is present at the premises.

An aim of the current invention is therefore to provide apparatus which can be used for the secure transport of goods and storage of the goods at a given location and to allow the same to be stored in a manner which allows the same to be protected from the external environment and changes in the condition thereof. A further aim is to provide the apparatus in a manner which allows the goods to be delivered and stored securely without the need for the intended recipient to be present. A yet further aim of the present invention is to provide an improved system, and apparatus therefore, which allows the more efficient storage and handling of goods which are to be delivered while at the same time ensuring that the condition o f goods is maintained during the delivery process.

In a first aspect of the invention, there is provided apparatus for the storage of a plurality of goods, said apparatus including a housing which defines a cavity within which can be located a plurality of storage environments for the placement of said goods therein, at least one of the storage environments can be provided with a storage temperature which differs to that of the ambient temperature and wherein at least one of said storage environments is provided by a container which is at least partially removable from the said housing.

In one embodiment a plurality of the storage environments are formed by respective containers which can be selectively removed from, and placed into, the housing, typically to allow the containers with goods therein to be placed into the apparatus and allow removal of the containers from the housing to allow removal of goods therefrom by an authorised person who has gained access to the apparatus.

In one embodiment, each of the storage environments in the cavity is provided at a different temperature to the others such as, for example, the storage environments may be provided at temperatures suitable for ambient, chilled and frozen goods respectively.

Typically, the apparatus comprises at least one door which allows the said cavity in which the storage containers are placed to be securely contained within the housing. Typically access can be gained to the same by the opening of the door via security means.

In one embodiment, the apparatus is provided with means to allow the same to be moved across a surface.

In one embodiment, the said storage containers can be selectively provided with means to allow the temperature of the environment within a respective container to be controlled to lie within an acceptable range

In one embodiment, the said means are one or more cooling or heating means, such as, for example, eutectic plates which can be provided at the required temperature to provide the heating or cooling effect and then placed in association with a storage container to provide the required temperature controlling effect.

Most typically the one or more cooling means are positioned in or as part of a lid of the container and the condition of the eutectic plates thereby governs the condition of the temperature of the environment within the respective container. In addition to the eutectic plate being used to control the condition of the environment, the material used to form or included within the walls and/or lid o f the container can also be selected to allow the control of the temperature of the environment such as, for example, a container in which an environment is to be created which is suitable for the containment of frozen goods will have a greater insulation characteristic on the walls and/or lid than a container for use in the storage of goods required to the held in a chilled condition. In one embodiment, the container for use in storing goods which can be held in an ambient condition may not be provided with a lid and may, in one embodiment be provided as an integral part of the cavity of the apparatus.

In one embodiment, the containers are moved into the apparatus with the required goods already located therein when brought to the delivery location. In one embodiment the containers with goods therein are brought to the delivery location by a delivery vehicle.

In one embodiment, the goods are placed into the respective containers upon receipt of, and to match, an order from a customer with whom the apparatus is linked and the goods can be placed into respective containers which have suitable environmental conditions when at the warehouse or retail outlet and prior to delivery to the appara

In an alternative embodiment, upon receipt of an order for a particular customer, containers are loaded with the appropriate goods for the appropriate containers, and the containers are moved into the apparatus at the warehouse or retail outlet and the apparatus as a whole is transported for delivery to the specified location for delivery of the order. In another embodiment of the invention, rather than the loaded apparatus, or containers to load apparatus at a delivery location, being moved to a particular location by vehicle, the apparatus is provided at the warehouse, retail outlet or other location, typically from where the ordered goods can easily be retrieved and containers with ordered goods therein for a specific customer are moved into an appropriate apparatus which is then linked to the particular customer order. This allows the same to be collected the customer at a time to suit them and, if the apparatus and containers therein are positioned externally of the premises, the goods can be collected even when the retail outlet is closed and without the person having to enter the retail outlet or premises.

Typically, in any of the embodiments, the goods held within the apparatus, are retained in the same in a secure manner by the provision of security means that prevent unauthorised access to the goods to be obtained.

In one embodiment, the security means includes a lock which can only be accessed and operated by the input of a suitable code and the code is sent to the person who placed the order by text or other electronic means such that the code required to access the container is unique to the particular order or alternatively, may be unique to the particular person who placed the order.

In a further aspect of the invention, there is provided apparatus for the delivery of goods, said apparatus comprising a vehicle with a storage area for receipt of containers which are to be placed into apparatus as herein defined at a particular delivery location and/or for the receipt of apparatus which is loaded with containers and goods therein. Typically, as the containers for the goods will already have the suitable cooling means provided therewith, the delivery vehicles do not need to have refrigeration units provided therewith thereby allowing the co st of purchase and running costs to be significantly reduced. Typically the vehicle will have means to allow automatic loading of said apparatus into position and removal therefrom.

Typically, if an entire apparatus is to be delivered at the premises, then the delivery of an apparatus including then ordered goods can be made and any empty apparatus which is located at that premises can be taken away.

Typically, if the apparatus is to be used at a location which, for example, is not populated at any given time, securing means can be provided on the apparatus and on a secure fixture, such as a wall, which allows the apparatus to be secured in position in relation to the secure fixture. Typically release of the apparatus is only achievable via activation means located within the cavity which themselves are secured until an authorised person can gain access to the same.

In a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for the delivery and storage of a plurality of goods, said method including placing goods in an apparatus including a housing which defines a cavity within which can be located a plurality o f storage environments for the placement of said goods therein, providing at least one of the storage environments with a storage temperature which differs to that of the ambient temperature and wherein at least one of said storage environments is provided in a container which is at least partially removable from the said housing.

In a yet further aspect of the invention there is provided apparatus for the receipt of goods therein, said apparatus including a housing having at least one cavity in which the goods can be selectively placed into and removed from, access means which can be selectively moved between a secured closed position to secure the goods in the cavity, and an open position to allow the movement of the goods to and from the cavity, wherein the apparatus is provided with wheels, rollers and/or castors to allow the same to be movable with goods stored therein.

In one embodiment the apparatus is provided with means to allow the same to be secured at a location. In one embodiment the apparatus is provided with docking means to allow the same to be securely docked in position at a location.

In one embodiment the said location is that of the intended recipient of the goods.

In one embodiment the apparatus is provided with locking means for the access means.

In one embodiment, the apparatus can be provided to be transported to the intended recipient location for delivery with goods stored therein. In this embodiment the access means are typically provided to be locked by the locking means following the loading of the goods into the cavity, during transportation and also at the delivery location, with the same then being openable by the intended recipient at a time to suit the recipient to allow the goods to be removed therefrom.

In one embodiment the locking means can be operated using conventional means such as a key, combination lock or the like and the intended recipient of the goods will have the means to operate the same. The provision of the apparatus with the securable cavity for reception of goods and the ability for the same to be moved, therefore allow, in one embodiment, the apparatus to be loaded with the appropriate goods for the intended recipient at a hub or warehouse location, for the access means to the cavity to then be locked and the apparatus moved into position onto a vehicle transport means which then allows the goods to be kept secure and prevent access to the same until delivered to the intended recipient.

In an alternative embodiment the apparatus is provided to be located at the location of the intended recipient and the goods are delivered thereto and the access means opened by the delivery personnel to allow the appropriate goods to be placed therein, the access means are then locked and the goods are stored in the apparatus until the intended recipient is present to gain access to the goods.

Typically, in whichever embodiment, the apparatus is waterproo f and rodent proof to allow the same to be located externally and ensure that the condition of the goods therein is maintained.

In one embodiment the apparatus is provided with means to allow the location of the same to be tracked and/or the operation of the lock for the access means to be detected to thereby allow the time at which the goods in the cavity were accessed to be logged.

In one embodiment the apparatus is capable of being electrically connected.

Typically the cavity within the apparatus is configurable to suit specific goods delivery purposes. For example, apparatus for use in the delivery of medical consumables to a medical centre may be configured differently to a container for use in the delivery of data storage medium to an office premises.

In a further aspect of the invention there is provided a method for the delivery of goods from a first location to an intended recipient location, said method comprising the steps of placing the required goods into at least one cavity in the apparatus, moving the apparatus into a transport means, transporting the apparatus to the intended recipient delivery location, unloading the apparatus from the transport means and, if the intended recipient is unavailable, securing the apparatus in a fixed position at the delivery location and wherein the access means to the cavity is clo sed and locked following the loading of the goods and remains in this form until the intended recipient is present at the intended delivery location.

In one embodiment the apparatus is provided in the form of a housing with the cavity formed therein and the housing includes a plurality of wheels, rollers and/or castors to allow the same to be moved between positions and locations more easily.

In an alternative method the apparatus is provided in a fixed position at the intended recipient delivery location and is unlocked at that location by the delivery company to open the access into the cavity to allow the required goods to be placed therein. The access means can then again be locked until the intended recipient is present. Typically, in this embodiment the apparatus is securely positioned at the delivery location.

Specific embodiments of the invention are now described with reference to the accompanying drawings; wherein Figures l a and b illustrate apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the invention in clo sed and open configurations respectively;

Figure 2 illustrates another form of the apparatus of Figures l a and b shown in an open position;

Figures 3a-c illustrate the containers in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

Figure 4 illustrate possible embodiments of systems in accordance with the invention;

Figures 5a- c illustrate embodiments of delivery vehicles which may be used with the invention;

Figures 6a-b illustrate means of securing the apparatus in position to a secure fixture at a delivery location;

Figure 7 illustrates one embodiment of a warehouse facility in which the processing of orders can be performed;

Figure 8 illustrates an interface to allow user placement of an order;

Figures 9a- c illustrate views of apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

Figure 10 illustrates schematically one method of delivery utilising the apparatus of the invention; and

Figure 1 1 illustrates schematically another method of delivery utilising the apparatus of the invention. Referring firstly to Figures l a-b and Figure 2 there is illustrated apparatus 2 for receiving ordered goods in accordance with the invention. The apparatus includes a housing 4 which forms the external walls of the apparatus and also includes doors 6,8 and, in Figure 2, wheels 10 if the apparatus is provided in a portable mode.

The doors are provided with a security lock 12 which can only be opened by an authorised person and, in a preferred embodiment, by the input of a code which is either unique to that person and specified apparatus or may be unique to a particular order for goods which has been placed by the person.

When the doors are open as shown in Figures l b and 2 access is gained to a cavity 14 in which, in this embodiment, are positioned three containers 1 6,18,20 each of which can be slidingly moved in and out of the cavity as indicated by arrow 22.

Turning now to Figures 3a and b there is illustrated the containers 1 6,18,20 in more detail. In this case the container 1 6 is provided in order to have a storage environment 24 which is at ambient temperature for goods 25 and so need not be provided with a lid. The container 18 is provided to have a storage environment 26 which is at a lower temperature in order to allow goods 28 which are required to be stored and maintained at lower temperature to be located therein and maintained in the required condition for a period of time.

Storage container 20 is provided to have a storage environment 30 which is at an even lower temperature in order to allow frozen goods 32 to be stored therein and maintained in condition for a period of time. In both containers 18 and 20 they are provided with a lid 34 which allows the storage environment 26, 30 respectively to be sealed. In addition each of the lids includes a means for the reception of cooling means in the form of a eutectic plate 36 which can be provided at the required cooling temperature when placed into the lid and thereby provide a cooling effect on the storage environment. In addition to the cooling means it will be noted that the walls 38, base 40 and lid 34 of the container 20 are significantly thicker and hence more insulated than those of the other two containers and thereby ensure that the storage environment 30 of the container can be kept at a lower temperature.

Figures 4 and 7 illustrate schematically, different delivery systems which can be utilised in accordance with the invention. A central warehouse facility 42 is provided in which there is provided means to allow goods 44 to be delivered in large volume and stored in allocated areas 46 and which in one embodiment can be separated into storage areas 48, 50 and 52 for frozen chilled and ambient goods respectively.

When an order is received from a customer the operator will obtain as many containers or "totes" as required from the container storage area 54 which may previously have been washed in a washing area 56. Typically the appropriate containers 16 will be passed to the ambient area 52, containers 18 to the chilled area 50 and containers 20 to the frozen area 48 and the eutectic plates are moved into position into the containers as appropriate.

When the operator has the appropriate container they can place the appropriate goods for the order into the container and the containers for the order are moved to a location 58. At this location a number of options are available. The first option is to place the containers 16, 18, 20 for the appropriate order into an apparatus 2 at the warehouse location as illustrated in Figure 4a. The apparatus 2 is then placed into a vehicle 60 which transports the apparatus 2, and typically many other apparatus for other orders, to specified delivery locations 62. The apparatus is then moved to a secure fixture at the delivery location 62, following which the same can be subsequently accessed for removal of the goods by an authorised person, typically by inputting an access code 64. In Figure 4b a different scenario is depicted at a delivery location 62. In this case the apparatus 2 is already provided at the delivery location 62 and the storage containers 16,1 8,20 are carried from the vehicle 60 to be loaded, and secured in, the apparatus, until the goods can be subsequently retrieved by the authorised customer. In Figure 4c the storage containers 16, 18,20 are delivered to the storage location 62.

In Figure 4d a further delivery option is described in which a number of apparatus 2 are provided at a delivery location 62, which, in this case, is a village hall. Each of the apparatus 2 is provided to receive a number of storage containers with each apparatus containing sufficient containers 1 6,1 8,20 with goods therein for a specific order. A customer who has made that order can then access the appropriate apparatus 2 which contains their order and remove the goods therefrom.

In Figures 5a-c there are illustrated delivery vehicles 60 in different embodiments. In Figures 5a and b there is illustrated a first embodiment in which the storage area 70 is provided with an area 72 for the receipt of containers 16, 18,20 and a storage area 74 for the receipt of full or empty apparatus 2. Lifting means 76 are provided to allow the apparatus 2 to be moved to and from the vehicle. In the embodiment shown in Figure 5c there is provided a storage area 70 for apparatus 2.

In each embodiment, as the storage containers each have a controlled temperature storage environment in place therein, there is no need for the vehicles to have refrigeration units to control the temperature in the storage areas 70.

Figures 6a and b illustrate how the apparatus 2 can be provided with securing means 78 to allow the same to be secured to a secure fixture 80 which for example is provided on a wall 82. Typically the means 84 to release and lock the securing means are located within the cavity 14 of the apparatus 2 and thereby only allow access to release the same by a person who is authorised to access the cavity 14.

Referring to Figure 8 there is illustrated a process for the user placement of an order for goods to be delivered in accordance with the invention. In this process at step 1 there is provided an internet based access screen which allows the user to log in to the order site and, if they have apparatus 2 in accordance with the invention they select that option (indicated here as Shopbox) . At step 3 a virtual picture of the apparatus 2 appears and the user can select which of the containers 16,1 8,20 they wish to "fill" with goods. In the example shown the container for goods to be held in a chilled environment has been moved out of the apparatus 2 and therefore is available for filling with goods selected from a list of available goods as indicated in step 5.

The user can repeat this process for each of the containers and the graphical interface at step 6 indicates the available capacity of each of the containers as the system is aware of the space which will be taken up by each of the goods which is ordered along with the total capacity of the containers. When the order is complete or the containers are filled, the user proceeds to checkout to pay for the order, they may receive a unique access code and the order is processed and subsequently delivered.

Referring firstly to Figure 9 there is illustrated apparatus 102 in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. The apparatus incorporates a housing 104 which is provided at the base thereof with wheels 106 which allow the same to be moved about more easily. The apparatus also includes access means 108 in the form of a lid 1 10 and locking means therefore 1 12. The access means can be provided to enclose an opening into one or more cavities 1 14, shown in broken lines, within the housing, which is/are provided for the reception of the goods which are to be stored and/or carried within the housing.

The locking means 1 12 used can be provided in one of a range of forms, such as key operated, combination lock or another form. In one embodiment it is preferred that the operation of the same can be logged so as to provide a means of identifying when the goods have been put into the cavity and removed therefrom. This will be of assistance if there is a claim of unauthorised removal of goods from the cavity.

The apparatus may also be provided with docking means (not shown) which allow the apparatus to be docked in a specific location in a secure manner, alternatively a lock and chain may be provided to be threaded through one or more parts of the apparatus and a fixed article at the delivery location.

The cavity of the apparatus may be provided with shelving, the position of which may be altered to allow the configuration of the same to be altered. Furthermore the cavity may be provided with means to allow the temperature in the whole, or parts thereof, to be controlled, such as chilled or heated to allow specific goods to be properly stored therein.

Figures 10 and 1 1 illustrate two methods for the delivery o f goods which can be achieved in accordance with the embodiment of the invention of Figure 9 at least. In both cases the goods to be delivered are required to be delivered to a business premises such as, for example, a medical centre. Conventionally the goods would be delivered in roll cages stored in vehicle storage areas and in order for the goods to be successfully delivered the vehicle has to be present at the delivery location when the medical centre is open. Goods cannot be delivered and left when the premises is not open. This is found, in practice, to restrict the operating parameters of the delivery company, increase the risk of the non-delivery of goods and generally increase the co st of delivery. The use of roll cages also provides a risk of goods being stolen or lo st from the same in transit.

In accordance with Figure 10 the delivery method involves the loading of the apparatus 102 cavity 1 14 at the delivery company hub 1 16. Once the appropriate goods have been loaded into that apparatus, the access means 108 are locked and the apparatus 102 rolled into the vehicle storage area 1 18. Once in position and the vehicle is loaded the vehicle is driven to the number of delivery locations 120 to allow respective apparatus 102 to be unloaded at the required delivery location, one of which 120' is the medical centre. Importantly, as the goods to be delivered are secured in the respective apparatus 102, the apparatus and goods therein can be delivered at any time and the delivery is not required to be made during the opening hours of the business premises. At the delivery location 120' the appropriate, still locked, apparatus 102' can be rolled off the vehicle and positioned externally at the delivery location and at the required position for securing the same. Once the apparatus is secured the driver of the vehicle 1 18 can leave the apparatus 102', and may in certain instances take back a previously emptied apparatus 102". When the intended recipient is next at the delivery location 120' they can operate the locking means of the apparatus 102' to allow the access means to be opened and the goods removed but the intended recipient need not be present at the time of delivery.

In Figure 1 1 the delivery of the goods is by a different method in that the goods are placed in the conventional roll cages 122 at the loading hub 1 16 for transport in the transport vehicle 1 1 8 and then removed and placed into apparatus 102 according to the invention which is secured and located at the delivery locations 120 including apparatus 102' at medical centre 120'.

There is therefore provided in accordance with the invention apparatus and a method for the delivery and storage of goods which provides a solution to the problem of how to deliver and store goods to a delivery location where the recipient may not be present for a period of time thereafter while, at the same time ensuring that the condition of the goods is maintained for that period of time.