Receptacle for receiving and securing packages and other items
First Claim
1. A receptacle that is positionable on a porch or other area of a home and that is configured for securing a package, the receptacle comprising:
- a bottom panel;
four side panels that are coupled with the bottom panel and that are coupled together to form an exterior wall that extends upward from the bottom panel and that defines an interior space within which the package is positionable, wherein opposing ends of each panel of said four side panels include at least one interfacing member having a through hole, the interfacing members being arranged so that as the ends of the four side panels are assembled, the through holes of adjacent interfacing members are axially offset, and wherein said four side panels are coupled together via insertion of a rigid rod member through the through holes of the adjacent interfacing members, wherein said insertion of said rigid rod member axially aligns the through holes of the adjacent interfacing members and thereby increases a mating engagement of adjacent side panels and increases a rigidity of the receptacle;
a lid that is pivotably coupled with a back panel of said four side panels via a hinge mechanism, the lid being configured to cover an opening at a top end of the receptacle to enclose the package within the interior space, wherein the lid is configured to be pivoted open to enable the package to be removed from the interior space, and wherein the hinge mechanism is positioned relative to said four side panels so that a pivot point of the hinge mechanism is positioned above a top surface of the lid and is positioned forward of a rear surface of the back panel; and
a lock mechanism that is operably coupled with the lid and the exterior wall of the receptacle, the lock mechanism having a locked state in which the lid is locked and secured about the top end of the receptacle to prevent user access to the interior space and the lock mechanism having an unlocked state in which the lid is pivotable open to allow user access to the interior space;
wherein;
a seam between each adjacent panel is covered and concealed by a component of the exterior wall so that the seam is not readily user accessible;
a vertical lip of the lid overlaps at least three sides of the top end of the exterior wall so that a seam between the lid and the top end of the exterior wall is covered by the lip.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A parcel receptacle includes a bottom member, an exterior wall that extends upward from the bottom member and that defines an interior space, and a top member that is coupled with the exterior wall and configured to cover an opening of the receptacle to enclose the parcel within the interior space. The parcel receptacle also includes a lock mechanism that is operably coupled with the top member and the exterior wall. The lock mechanism is lockable to prevent user access to the interior space and is unlockable to enable the top member to be opened to allow user access to the interior space. A vertical lip of the top member overlaps at least a portion of the exterior wall so that a seam between the top member and the exterior wall is covered by the vertical lip.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A receptacle that is positionable on a porch or other area of a home and that is configured for securing a package, the receptacle comprising:
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a bottom panel; four side panels that are coupled with the bottom panel and that are coupled together to form an exterior wall that extends upward from the bottom panel and that defines an interior space within which the package is positionable, wherein opposing ends of each panel of said four side panels include at least one interfacing member having a through hole, the interfacing members being arranged so that as the ends of the four side panels are assembled, the through holes of adjacent interfacing members are axially offset, and wherein said four side panels are coupled together via insertion of a rigid rod member through the through holes of the adjacent interfacing members, wherein said insertion of said rigid rod member axially aligns the through holes of the adjacent interfacing members and thereby increases a mating engagement of adjacent side panels and increases a rigidity of the receptacle; a lid that is pivotably coupled with a back panel of said four side panels via a hinge mechanism, the lid being configured to cover an opening at a top end of the receptacle to enclose the package within the interior space, wherein the lid is configured to be pivoted open to enable the package to be removed from the interior space, and wherein the hinge mechanism is positioned relative to said four side panels so that a pivot point of the hinge mechanism is positioned above a top surface of the lid and is positioned forward of a rear surface of the back panel; and a lock mechanism that is operably coupled with the lid and the exterior wall of the receptacle, the lock mechanism having a locked state in which the lid is locked and secured about the top end of the receptacle to prevent user access to the interior space and the lock mechanism having an unlocked state in which the lid is pivotable open to allow user access to the interior space;
wherein;a seam between each adjacent panel is covered and concealed by a component of the exterior wall so that the seam is not readily user accessible; a vertical lip of the lid overlaps at least three sides of the top end of the exterior wall so that a seam between the lid and the top end of the exterior wall is covered by the lip. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A receptacle for securing a package comprising:
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a bottom member; an exterior wall that extends upward from the bottom member and that defines an interior space within which the package is positionable, the exterior wall including four panels that are arranged so that adjacent panels are coupled together via insertion of a rigid rod through apertures of adjacent interfacing members of the adjacent panels; a top member that is coupled with the exterior wall and that is configured to cover an opening of the receptacle to enclose the package within the interior space, wherein the lid is configured to be opened to enable the package to be removed from the interior space; and a lock mechanism that is operably coupled with the top member and the exterior wall, the lock mechanism having a locked state in which the top member is locked and secured about the exterior wall to prevent user access to the interior space and having an unlocked state in which the top member is openable to allow user access to the interior space; wherein a vertical lip of the top member overlaps at least a portion of the exterior wall so that a seam between the top member and the exterior wall is covered by the vertical lip; and wherein the four panels are configured so that prior to the insertion of the rigid rod through the apertures of the adjacent interfacing members, the apertures of the adjacent interfacing members are axially offset such that insertion of the rigid rod through the apertures of the adjacent interfacing members axially aligns the apertures and increases a mating engagement of adjacent panels and increases a rigidity of the receptacle. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification