Technical Field

This invention relates to apparatus for ensuring the secure delivery of mail and parcels to household or business premises. More specifically, the invention relates to parcel box for receiving and keeping parcels in a theft-proof manner. Background Art

With a growing internet trade and purchase of goods online there has been an increase in the delivery of goods to the home. Since ordered goods are usually too big to fit through standard mail box, to ensure safe receipt of the ordered goods the customer is required either to be at home at the moment of delivery, or to collect these goods from a post office or seller's storehouse. Therefore there is a need in parcel box on the one part having sufficient capacity to be able to receive large-size articles, and on the other part having means preventing unauthorized removal of articles delivered in absence of addressee. There are known parcel boxes with different types of locking mechanisms for secure delivery of parcels having a door with means for locking the door when parcel is placed in the parcel room.

Different types of locking mechanisms for parcel box are suggested in CH 597810 ("Mail box", Int. CI. ² A47G 29/16, publ. 14.04.1978). According to invention disclosed in CH

597810, it is suggested using box in the form of parallelepiped having single-swing door.

The door's locking is ensured by lever with latch being put in position of locking by pushing or pulling means actuated by restoring spring and parcel placed in the parcel room.

In one embodiment of the known technical solution, the parcel when being put in the parcel room pushes the plate, which actuates lever with latch locking the door of the parcel box. In the another embodiment, the weight of parcel put in the parcel room forces platform downward, which actuates lever with latch locking the door of the parcel box.

The door is then unlocked by the owner's key. A major drawback of the known device is that the locking arrangement located in the inner part of the parcel box requires much space for its operation, thus limiting the usable inner area of the parcel box and the size of the parcel, which may be placed therein. Moreover, such locking arrangement contains a number of elements, which have quite short durability and thus limiting the life time of the locking arrangement.

There is known a parcel box having a single-swing door openable, when no parcel is in the box, wherein, once closed with a parcel placed in the box, the door is blocked thereby preventing unwanted removal of the parcel placed therein (WO01/15579A1 "Secure article delivery apparatus and method", Int. CI. ⁷ A47G 29/14, publ. 08.03.2003). When a parcel is placed in the box on a raised platform, the weight of the parcel forces the platform downwardly, against the action of biasing means such as helical or leaf springs. Once the parcel has been placed in the box, the door is closed. During the closure process the platform is lifted by cam means attached to door. As a result a dowel attached to the side of platform rises above a latch fitted to the inside face of the door as part of projection. At the moment that the door is fully closed, dowel overlies a recess formed by latch. Simultaneously, wedges line up with recesses provided in platform and the platform drops under the influence of the weight of the parcel placed thereon. Locking means such as a key operated lock attached to the side of the box prevents a lower portion of the latch from being pushed back and releasing the door. If a parcel is on the platform, the only way of opening the door is to unlock the lock which frees dowel. A major drawback of the known parcel box is that proper work of the locking arrangement depends on which part of the raised platform the parcel is placed. Also, the lifetime of the locking arrangement is limited due to using of springs and other parts which have limited work resources.

There is known a parcel box (WO/2001/93729 "Locking arrangement", Int. CI. ⁷ A47G 29/20, publ. 13.12.2001) with a door pivotally hinged in a casing and provided with a locking arrangement for the said door. This locking arrangement comprises a spring-loaded lock on the door with an associated strike plate on the casing, and a vertically movable support for a parcel. The vertically movable support assumes a lower position in unloaded state and an upper position in loaded state. The strike plate is pivotally mounted about a swiveling axis but has a blocking position in which at least a part of the strike plate is extending in over the blocking pawl of the spring-loaded lock when the door is closed, and is locked in the blocking position by the support when this support is in its lower position. The main drawback of the known device is that construction of its locking arrangement while being quite complicated and rather expensive, is not reliable, because different areas of the vertically movable support have different sensitivity and thus, the operation of this locking arrangement depends on which part of the vertically movable support the parcel is placed. If the parcel is placed near the back wall of the box, the bottom is not being weighed down into the locking position.

There is known a parcel box (WO/2003/026466 "A case for receiving and keeping parcels in a theftproof manner", Int. CI. ⁷ A47G 29/20, publ. 03.04.2003) with a door pivotally mounted on the case of the box by means of hinges and having locking arrangement with a pivotal locking lever, which is fitted between two bottoms of the parcel box, and is connected to the lower end part of the locking bar at one end and at the other end, to a swing axle extending transversally of the locking lever and rotatably journaled in the upper bottom. The swing axle is provided with projecting supporting arm which has a support base located at a distance from the swing axle, and that the support base is supporting against the lower bottom when the upper bottom is forced down towards the lower bottom by the weight of parcel placed on the upper bottom. When the parcel is weighing the movable upper bottom down towards the fixed lower bottom, the support base is made to support against the last mentioned bottom. Thereby, the supporting arm pivots the swing axle and thereby the swing arm which again pushes the locking bar up or down so that the locking arrangement is activated. The main drawback of the known parcel box is also insufficient reliability of the locking arrangement. For proper work of the case the parcel should be placed on upper bottom over transversally extending swinging axle or sufficiently close to it. In case a postman will place the parcel at a distance from the transversally extending swinging axle, the locking arrangement will not work properly.

There is known a parcel box (US 1417773 "Deposit and collection receptacle", Int. CI. A47G 19/20, publ. 30.05.1922) comprising a receptacle provided with an inwardly swinging door, a floor within the receptacle supported for swinging movement, a portion of the floor adjacent the door normally swinging downwardly by gravity, and a latch pivotally supported by said portion of the floor and normally swinging upwardly, said normally depressed portion of the floor swinging upwardly upon imposing weight upon the opposite portion of the floor, said latch holding the door against inward swinging movement when said normally depressed portion of the floor is elevated.

There is known a parcel box (EP 2241225 Al "Parcel box for receiving and keeping parcels in a theftproof manner" Int. CI. A47G 29/124, publ. 20.10.2010) comprising a box and means preventing unauthorized removal of parcel, comprising a platform for placing parcel, means blocking opening the parcel box when parcel is placed on the platform and means for unblocking opening the parcel box. The means blocking opening the parcel box when parcel is placed on the platform comprise a blocking bracket having a first end and a second end situated opposite each other, the blocking bracket being swingable about a cross pivot axle fixed in the drawer; the platform having a first and a second end situated opposite each other, the platform being swingable about a cross pivot axle fixed in the drawer, wherein the first end of the platform is situated lower than the second end and is engaged or hingedly connected with the first end of the blocking bracket; a stop fixed in the box for engagement with the second end of the blocking bracket when parcel is placed on the second end of the platform and thereby the second end of the blocking bracket is in its lower position. Although the known parcel box is quite convenient in use, due to its size it is more appropriate for the outdoor use or use indoors if there are no strict space limitations.

Large sized parcel boxes are usually placed on the floor inside or outside of household properties. In the apartment buildings a number of parcel boxes may be put one to another. To put a parcel in the parcel box standing on the level, which is lower than the user's waist, the user has to bend down or squat. The user taking out the parcel has to perform similar operations and reach to the parcel placed deep in the parcel box. In such cases another disadvantage of the majority of the known parcel boxes is that they are quite inconvenient in use, especially when placed on the floor.

Disclosure of Invention

The objective of the invention is to eliminate the drawbacks of the prior art and to create parcel box for receiving and keeping parcels in a theftproof manner having - sufficient capacity to be able to receive large-sized articles,

- optimal design to be used in places with limited space,

- means preventing unauthorized removal of articles delivered in absence of addressee,

- simple, inexpensive, reliable and easy-to-use construction, as well as

is convenient in use, especially when fixed to a wall one over another or placed on the level, which is lower than its owner' s waist.

The defined objective is accomplished by creating parcel box comprising a box, a drawer which is swingable about a pivot axle fixed in the box and thus can be pulled out and pushed in and means preventing unauthorized removal of parcel, comprising a platform for placing parcel, means blocking pulling out of the drawer from the box when parcel is placed on the platform and means for unblocking opening the parcel box drawer. The means blocking pulling out of the drawer from the box when parcel is placed on the platform comprise:

- the platform having a first and a second end situated opposite each other, the platform being swingable about a cross pivot axle fixed in the drawer and being provided with a counterbalance or connected to the counterbalance, so that the first end of the platform is situated lower than the second end when there is no parcel on the platform,

- a lock being operably connected with the counterbalance, such that when there is no parcel on the platform, the counterbalance is holding the lock open, but when the parcel is being put on the platform, outweighing the counterbalance and moving the second end of the platform into its lower position, the lock is being released to be able to hold the drawer in closed position,

- a stop fixed in the box for engagement with the lock when parcel is placed on the platform and the lock is being released.

Use of the drawer ensures the convenience in use of the parcel box, especially when placed on the level, which is lower than its owner's waist or fixed to a wall one over another. The construction of a drawer which is swingable about a pivot axle fixed in the box allows using the offered parcel box in places having strict space limitations.

The means for preventing unauthorized removal of parcel according to this invention have simple, inexpensive, reliable and easy-to-use construction; they are sufficiently sensitive to react on lightweight parcel, regardless on which part of the platform the parcel is placed. However weight sensitivity of the parcel box can also be adjusted, according to needs. The offered means for preventing unauthorized removal of parcel allow using simple mechanism of the means for signaling the presence of the parcel in the parcel box. Also, the suggested means for preventing unauthorized removal of parcel have longer lifetime if compared with the most of prior art technical solutions.

Further, substance of the invention and its various embodiments are described by way of examples with references to the drawings.

Brief Description of Drawings

Fig. lA represents a schematic cross section side view of a parcel box; Fig. IB represents a frontal view of the parcel box;

Fig. 2 represents a schematic view of a drawer and means blocking opening the parcel box in position when there is no parcel in the drawer;

Fig. 3 represents a schematic view of the drawer and the means blocking opening the parcel box in position when there is parcel in the drawer;

Fig. 4 represents side view of a lock and a stop in engaged position (when parcel is inside); Fig. 5 represents a frontal view of the lock in engaged position with the stop (when the parcel is inside);

Fig. 6 represents side view of a lock and a stop in disengaged position; the lock being disengaged by turning the user's key;

Fig. 7 represents a frontal view of the lock in disengaged position with the stop.

Parcel box 1 for receiving and keeping parcels in a theftproof manner comprises a box 2 and a drawer 3 (Fig. 1A and IB). The drawer 3 comprises a platform 4 having a first 5 and a second 6 end situated opposite each other (Fig. 2 and 3). According to one embodiment the second end 6 is connected to a weight (counterbalance) 7 being mounted in the drawer 3 (Fig. 2-3); according to another embodiment, the first end 5 is provided with the weight 7. The drawer 3 comprises left and right side walls, outer wall and inner wall. The drawer 3 being swingable about a pivot axle 8 fixed (preferably releasably fixed) in the box 2; alternatively, the drawer 3 is being swingable about two coaxial pivot axles 8 being symmetrically (optionally releasably) mounted in the left and right side walls of the box 2, or the drawer 3, or in the left and right butts of the drawer's (3) outer wall. The platform 4 is swingable about a cross pivot axle 9 or two coaxial pivot axles 9 fixed in the drawer 3. The axle or coaxial axles 9 are placed in parallel to imaginary line dividing the first end 5 of the platform 4 from its second end 6. The first end 5 of the platform 4 is situated lower than the second end 6. The first end 5 is preferably shorter than the second end 6. In one embodiment the second end 6 is kept in its upper position by the weight 7 using means for connecting the weight 7 with the platform 4, while in another embodiment the first end 5 is forced down by the weight 7 thereby the second end 6 is situated higher than the first end 5. The box 1 also comprising a lock 10 (e.g. spring latch lock) or equivalent means, preferably mounted in the drawer 3 and a stop 11 preferably fixed in the box 2 and adapted for engagement with the lock 10. The lock 10 being operably connected with the counterbalance 7, such that when there is no parcel on the platform 4, the counterbalance 7 is holding the lock 10 in its open position, but when the parcel is being put on the platform 4, outweighing the counterbalance 7 and moving the second end 6 into its lower position, the lock 10 is being released to be able to engage with the stop 11 and hold the drawer 3 in closed position. According to the preferred embodiment the means for unblocking opening of the parcel box 1 comprise means for disengagement of the lock 10 from the stop 11 (Fig. 4-7). The means for disengagement of the lock 10 from the stop 11 may comprise a claw being fixed to a wafer tumbler lock such that rotation of a key in the wafer tumbler lock would cause rotation of the claw and pressing the latch of the spring latch lock by the claw (Fig. 5 and 7). For the skilled person it is obvious that other embodiments are also possible. According to the preferred embodiment, the counterbalance 7 is being put in a guiding means 12, being fixed in the drawer 3.

Also, the drawer 3 may contain a signalling device comprising signalling means in the form of one or more apertures 13 in the outer wall of the drawer 3, the counterbalance 7 mounted so as to allow its vertical sliding translational movement along the said outer wall of the drawer 3, the said counterbalance 7 being provided by color label, or equivalent indicating means allowing to distinguish between the upper and lower position of the counterbalance, wherein the said color label, or equivalent indicating means are placed, so that one respective indicating means is visible through the said aperture or apertures 13 in the outer wall of the drawer 3. The parcel boxes may either be mounted on the wall of a building, placed on the floor and put one on top another, or be in the form of a cabinet. The parcel box 1 may be combined with a mail box, e.g. being mounted on an upper part (wall) of the parcel box; in this particular embodiment the parcel box 1 may have a cut (another letter opening) in the upper wall being closed by a releasably mounted plate, so that the plate can be opened or removed; opening or removing of the plate allows increasing the space of the mail box. The parcel box 1 may be provided with means for blocking or keeping the second end 6 of the platform 4 in its lower position, thus blocking opening of the parcel box 1. For instance, opening of the parcel box 1 can be blocked by putting the plate on the platform 4, or locking the lock 10. That is especially convenient during long-time absence of user, which is connected with accumulation of large number of mail. Thus, using the suggested construction allows increasing the space of the mail box and simultaneously blocking pulling out of the drawer from the box preventing unauthorized access to the mail. In a "waiting position", i.e. when there is no parcel on the platform 4, the weight 7 outweighs the first end 5 of the platform 4 (keeps the second end 6 in its upper position). In this position, the weight 7 holds the lock 10 in its open (disengaged) position. In this position the drawer 3 can be pulled out and pushed in again and again. When the parcel is delivered, the courier pulls out the drawer 3, puts the parcel on the platform 4. Being forced down by the weight of parcel, the second end 6 of the platform 4 goes down, thus pulling down the means for connecting the weight 7 with the platform 4 and moving the weight 7 up. Pushing the drawer 3 into the box 2 changes the direction of application of the force of gravity to the parcel and platform 4 helping the upper end of the platform 4 to go down. As a result, the weight 7 frees the lock 10. As soon, as the drawer 3 is pushed into the box 2, the lock 10 engages with the stop 11 and holds the drawer 3 in closed position - blocks pulling it out from the box.

To unlock the parcel box 1, the user inserts the key into the wafer tumbler lock and turns the key thereby disengaging the lock 10 from the stop 11. When the lock 10 is disengaged from the stop 11, the drawer 3 can be pulled out from the box 2 giving the user access to the parcel. If the parcel box is equipped with the signaling device the user can see whether there is a parcel in the parcel box from a distance. When there is no parcel in the parcel box 1, the signaling device is set to position "empty", which may be marked by green color. When the parcel is placed on the second end 6 of the platform 4, the weight 7 being forced by the weight of the parcel goes up along the outer wall of the drawer 3, showing another marking (e.g. green) through the aperture or apertures 13 in the outer wall of the drawer 3, signaling that there is parcel inside