Package release system for use in delivery packages, and methods of delivering packages

• US 10,301,021 B2
• Filed: 09/21/2016
• Issued: 05/28/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Inventors: Jones, Nathan G., Hicks, Gregory A., High, Donald R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Collins, Timothy D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Abell, Tye William
• Application Number:
  US15/271,801
• Publication Number:
  US 20170081029A1
• Time in Patent Office: 979 Days
• Field of Search: 294 271, 294 6821, 294 8228, 294 8224, 294 75
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 1/08 the articles being load-carrying devices
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/13 Flying platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/60 for transporting passengers; for transporting goods other than weapons
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/64 for parcel delivery or retrieval
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/67 the UAVs comprising tethers for lowering the goods
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/20 Rotors; Rotor supports

Abstract

In some embodiments, systems, apparatuses and methods are provided to enhance delivery of packages and/or cargo through the use of unmanned delivery aircraft. In some embodiments, a mechanical package release system is provided that comprises: a package release hanger configured to couple with and suspend from an unmanned delivery aircraft; and one or more tension supports each configured to secure with a package and to releasably couple with the package release hanger wherein a decrease of at least a threshold amount of a force being applied by the weight of the package on the one or more tension supports induces a mechanical release of the coupling between the one or more tension supports and the package release hanger resulting in a release of the package from the unmanned delivery aircraft.

Claims

1. A mechanical package release system, comprising:

a package release hanger configured to couple with and suspend from an unmanned delivery aircraft; and

one or more tension supports each configured to secure with a package and to releasably couple with the package release hanger wherein a decrease of at least a threshold amount of a force being applied by the weight of the package on the one or more tension supports induces a mechanical release of the coupling between the one or more tension supports and the package release hanger resulting in a release of the package from the unmanned delivery aircraft;

the package release hanger comprising multiple receiving slots distributed about the package release hanger and a suspension link configured to secure the package release hanger with the unmanned delivery aircraft; and

each of the one or more tension supports comprises a package coupling configured to secure the respective tension support with the package, and a slot coupler separated from the package coupling by a distance along the respective tension support and configured to mate with one of the receiving slots such that the force applied by the weight of the package on the one or more tension supports induces a radial outward force by the respective tension support that is asserted by the slot coupler on the corresponding receiving slot and maintains a positioning of the slot coupler within the receiving slot.

2. The package release system of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more tension supports is configured to push the corresponding slot coupler at least partially radially inward and out of the corresponding receiving slot in response to the decrease of at least the threshold amount of the force to mechanically release the coupling between the package and package release hanger.

3. The package release system of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more tension supports comprises an elastic rod extending along at least a majority of a length of each of the one or more tension supports and configured to push the corresponding slot coupler out of the corresponding receiving slot in response to the decrease of at least the threshold amount of the force.

4. The package release system of claim 3, wherein the elastic rod of each of the one or more tension supports, when cooperated with the package and the corresponding receiving slot, elastically bends in response to the force due to the weight of the package secured by the respective package coupling causing the radial outward force to be asserted by the slot coupler on the corresponding receiving slot.

5. The package release system of claim 4, wherein the corresponding receiving slot is formed in a first surface of the package release hanger that is positioned, when in use to support the package, facing away from the package such that the slot couplers when pushed are forced out of the receiving slots and elastically spring away from the package.

6. The package release system of claim 1, wherein each of the receiving slots comprise a coupler seat in which the slot coupler is positioned and upon which the slot coupler applies the radially outward force, wherein the cooperation between the slot coupler and the coupler seat allows the slot coupler to swivel within the coupler seat.

7. The package release system of claim 1, wherein the package release hanger further comprises multiple tension support channels, wherein each tension support channel cooperates with one of the multiple receiving slots and extends from the corresponding receiving slot at an angle relative to a central axis of the package release hanger and toward a peripheral edge of the package release hanger, wherein a portion of a respective one of the one or more tension supports is positioned within the tension support channel while the slot coupler is maintained within the corresponding receiving slot.

8. A method of delivering a package, comprising:

lowering a package from an unmanned delivery aircraft, wherein the package is secured through one or more tension supports that are each releasably cooperated with a package release hanger that is suspended from the unmanned delivery aircraft;

allowing the package to contact a delivery surface causing a decrease of at least a threshold amount of a force being applied by the weight of the package on the one or more tension supports, and inducing a mechanical release of a coupling between the one or more tension supports and the package release hanger resulting in a release of the package from the unmanned delivery aircraft; and

mating a slot coupler of each of the one or more tension supports with one of multiple receiving slots distributed about the package release hanger such that the force applied by the weight of the package on the one or more tension supports induces a radial outward force by the tension support that is asserted by the slot coupler on the corresponding receiving slot and maintains a positioning of the slot coupler within the receiving slot.

9. The method claim 8, wherein the allowing the package to contact the delivery surface causing the decrease of at least the threshold amount of the force further causes each of the one or more tension supports to push the corresponding slot coupler at least partially radially inward and out of the corresponding receiving slot in response to the decrease of at least the threshold amount of the force to mechanically release the coupling between the package and package release hanger.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the allowing the package to contact the delivery surface causing the decrease of at least the threshold amount of the force further causing each of the one or more tension supports, each comprising an elastic rod extending along at least a majority of a length of each of the one or more tension supports, to push the corresponding slot coupler out of the corresponding receiving slot in response to the decrease of at least the threshold amount of the force.

11. The method claim 8, wherein the mating the slot coupler of each of the one or more tension supports with one of multiple receiving slots further comprises causing the elastic rod of each of the one or more tension supports, when cooperated with the package and the corresponding receiving slot, to elastically bend in response to the force due to the weight of the package secured by the respective package coupling and causing the radial outward force to be asserted by the slot coupler on the corresponding receiving slot.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the inducing the mechanical release of the coupling between the one or more tension supports and the package release hanger further comprises the elastic rod of each of the one or more tension supports force the slot couplers out of the receiving slots to elastically spring away from the package.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the mating the slot coupler of each of the one or more tension supports with one of multiple receiving slots further comprises mating each of the slot couplers of the one or more tension supports with a coupler seat of a respective one of the receiving slot such that the slot coupler applies the radially outward force on the coupler seat, and allowing slot coupler to swivel within the coupler seat.

14. The method claim 8, wherein the mating the slot coupler of each of the one or more tension supports with one of multiple receiving slots further comprises positioning a portion of a respective one of the one or more tension supports within a tension support channel extending from a corresponding receiving slot toward a peripheral edge of the package release hanger while the slot coupler is maintained within the receiving slot.