Drone operated delivery receptacle

• US 10,147,067 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2016
• Issued: 12/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bantec Incorporated
• Original Assignee: James Pleis
• Inventors: Pleis, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, William L
• Application Number:
  US15/289,295
• Publication Number:
  US 20170116568A1
• Time in Patent Office: 785 Days
• Field of Search: 232 17, 232 19, 232 44, 232 45, 232 431, 232 435, 2203451, 2203452, 3405681, 340569, 340 573, 70 63, 70158, 200 6163, 244114 R
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2029/1226 comprising electrical parts
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 29/1201 Letter-box assemblies for apartment buildings
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 29/1225 Signalling devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 29/14 Deposit receptacles for food, e.g. breakfast, milk , or large parcels; Similar receptacles for food or large parcels with appliances for preventing unauthorised removal of the deposited articles , i.e. food or large parcels
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 29/141 comprising electronically controlled locking means
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0832 Special goods or special handling procedures, e.g. handling of hazardous or fragile goods

Abstract

A drone operated delivery receptacle for receiving packages. The delivery receptacle includes a housing having a base, sidewalls, and an open upper end, defining an interior volume. The open upper end includes one or more gates that are movable between an open and closed configuration, and are configured to open when a delivery drone is detected by a control unit of the delivery receptacle. Preferably, the one or more gates are configured to automatically open when a drone is detected so as to allow the drone to deposit the package therein. A front wall of the housing comprises one or more doors thereon that allow the user to access the interior volume of the housing to retrieve the package therein.

Claims

1. A delivery receptacle, comprising:

a housing having a base, upstanding sidewalls, an open upper end having a frame therearound, defining an interior volume;

one or more gates covering the open upper end and movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration via an actuator, wherein the one or more gates pivot from the frame via the actuator;

a control circuit comprising a detection mechanism and the actuator, wherein the actuator is configured to move the one or more gates from the closed configuration to the open configuration when the detection mechanism detects a delivery vehicle;

the control circuit comprising a wireless transceiver adapted to receive a communication from the delivery vehicle;

the control circuit further comprises a microprocessor configured to operate the actuator when the wireless transceiver receives the communication from the delivery vehicle, wherein the communication is an access code;

a gate lock adapted to prevent the one or more gates from moving to the open configuration when the gate lock is engaged, the gate lock configured to engage upon receiving a confirmation message from the delivery vehicle;

the actuator further comprises a first end pivotally affixed to a side of the one or more gates and an opposing second end pivotally affixed to an exterior side of the frame;

wherein the actuator is configured to rotate the one or more gates entirely more than ninety degrees relative to a side of the open upper end of the housing forming an unobstructed area over the open upper end for the delivery vehicle to deposit objects into the housing.

2. The delivery receptacle of claim 1, wherein the detection mechanism comprises a camera.

3. The delivery receptacle of claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises one or more doors on one of the upstanding sidewalls thereof for providing access to the interior volume of the housing.

4. The delivery receptacle of claim 1, wherein the housing is fitted to a wall structure of a building, such that the one or more gates of the housing are accessible from an exterior side of the wall structure.

5. A delivery receptacle, consisting of:

a housing having a base, upstanding sidewalls, and an open upper end, defining an interior volume;

one or more gates covering the open upper end and movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration via an actuator;

a control circuit comprising a detection mechanism and the actuator, wherein the actuator is configured to move the one or more gates from the closed configuration to the open configuration when the detection mechanism detects a delivery vehicle;

the control circuit comprising a wireless transceiver adapted to receive a communication from the delivery vehicle;

the control circuit further comprises a microprocessor configured to operate the actuator when the wireless transceiver receives the communication from the delivery vehicle, wherein the communication is an access code; and

a gate lock adapted to prevent the one or more gates from moving to the open configuration when the gate lock is engaged, the gate lock configured to engage upon receiving a confirmation message from the delivery vehicle.