Securable storage compartments

• US 10,414,344 B1
• Filed: 08/25/2017
• Issued: 09/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Northcott, Malcolm J., Last, Matthew E., Zhou, Kan, Perner, David P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Blankenship, Gregory A
• Application Number:
  US15/686,274
• Time in Patent Office: 753 Days
• Field of Search: 296 371- 3716
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/03 for transporting money or other valuables
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/00 Electric or fluid circuits specially adapted for vehicles and not otherwise provided for; Arrangement of elements of electric or fluid circuits specially adapted for vehicles and not otherwise provided for devices for protecting vehicle occupants in case of accidents B60R21/00; safety belts B60R22/00; central door locking E05B49/00, E05B77/50
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0092 with motorization
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0098 using electric or electronic means, e.g. alarms, codes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 7/04 in driver or passenger space , e.g. using racks B60R7/005, B60R7/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 7/087 for stowing money or valuables, e.g. using safes

Abstract

A vehicle includes a vehicle body and storage compartments that are located in the vehicle body. Each of the storage compartments has a cavity and a closure that selectively secures the cavity. A respective authorization input is associated with each of the storage compartments. The closure of each of the storage compartments is operable to unsecure the cavity upon receipt of the respective authorization input.

Claims

1. A vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle body; and

storage compartments that are located in the vehicle body, each of the storage compartments having a cavity and a closure that selectively secures the cavity,

wherein a respective authorization input is associated with each of the storage compartments,

wherein the closure of each of the storage compartments is operable to secure the cavity by a respective user and subsequently unsecure the cavity upon receipt of the respective authorization input from the respective user, and

wherein the vehicle is a passenger vehicle.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the respective authorization input is a code.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the respective authorization input is a digital key.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the respective authorization input is received passively.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the respective authorization input is received from a user electronic device.

6. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the respective authorization input for each of the storage compartments is changed for a subsequent user.

7. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the storage compartments are removable from and securable to the vehicle body.

8. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the storage compartments are fixed to the vehicle body.

9. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is operable to navigate autonomously to a user location in response to a user request for access to the storage compartments.

10. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle body defines a primary compartment that is a passenger compartment for transporting users of the storage compartments.

11. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the storage compartments are located in the primary compartment.

12. The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a controller, wherein the controller is configured to receive one or more first requests from a first user for transport of the first user with the vehicle and use of a first storage compartment of the storage compartments, the first user being able to unsecure the cavity of the first storage compartment with the respective authorization input associated therewith.

13. The vehicle according to claim 12, wherein the controller is configured to receive one or more second requests from a second user for transport of the second user with the vehicle and use of a second storage compartment of the storage compartments, the second user being able to unsecure the cavity of the second storage compartment with the respective authorization input associated therewith;

and

wherein the first user is unable to unsecure the cavity of the second storage compartment, and the second user is unable to unsecure the cavity of the first storage compartment.

14. The vehicle according to claim 12, wherein the controller is one of physically coupled to the vehicle or another electronic device associated with the vehicle.

15. A storage compartment, comprising:

a cavity;

a closure that is operable to secure the cavity and unsecure the cavity in response to an authorization input; and

a propulsion mechanism that is connected to the cavity to autonomously move the cavity;

wherein the storage compartment is configured to communicate with passenger vehicles to which the storage compartment is physically securable.

16. The storage compartment of claim 15, wherein the propulsion mechanism causes movement of the cavity from a first location to a second location in response to a user request.

17. The storage compartment of claim 16, wherein the first location is in a first vehicle of the passenger vehicles, and the cavity is connectable to the first vehicle.

18. The storage compartment of claim 17, wherein the second location is in a second vehicle of the passenger vehicles.

19. The storage compartment of claim 15, wherein the propulsion mechanism causes movement of the cavity based on movement of a user to follow the user.

20. The storage compartment according to claim 15, wherein the storage compartment is configured to communicate with the passenger vehicles to receive the authorization input.

21. A method comprising:

receiving a first user request from a first user for access to a first storage compartment that is located in a vehicle, wherein the vehicle is at a first location;

receiving first contents in the storage compartment from the first user;

causing the vehicle to move autonomously from the first location to a second location after receiving the contents, wherein the second location is away from the first user;

receiving a second user request for access to the first storage compartment, wherein the first user is located at a third location;

causing the vehicle to move autonomously from the second location to the third location after receiving the second user request for access to the storage compartment;

receiving a fourth user request from a second user for access to a second storage compartment that is located in the vehicle;

receiving second contents in the second storage compartment from the second user; and

receiving a fifth user request from the second user for access to the second storage compartment;

wherein the first storage compartment is not accessible by the second user, the second compartment is not accessible by the first user, and the vehicle is a passenger vehicle for transporting the first user and the second user.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

associating a first authorization input with the first storage compartment, and associating a second authorization input with the second storage compartment.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

securing the first storage compartment subsequent to receiving the first contents, and securing the second storage compartment subsequent to receiving the second contents; and

unsecuring the first storage compartment upon receipt of the first authorization input, and unsecuring the second storage compartment upon receipt of the second authorization input.

24. The method according to claim 21, further comprising transporting the first user with the vehicle at a first time, and transporting the second user with the vehicle at a second time.