LOCKABLE DOCUMENT STORAGE SYSTEM AND METHODS OF USING THE SAME

• US 20080278284A1
• Filed: 05/08/2007
• Published: 11/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Affiliated Mutual Holding Company
• Original Assignee: Affiliated Mutual Holding Company
• Inventors: Milnor, George Sparks II
• Application Number:
  US11/745,912
• Publication Number:
  US 20080278284A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.54
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/38 with central registration

Abstract

Methods and systems of a lockable document storage system for communicating physical documents between an entity and a customer are provided. The system includes a plurality of document storage bins coupled together to form a modular document storage unit, a first access portal associated with more than one of the plurality of document storage bins, and a second access portal associated with each of the plurality of document storage bins wherein the second access portal includes at least one of a door and a drawer configured to control access to one of the plurality of document storage bins and wherein the at least one of a door and a drawer includes a reprogrammable locking device.

Claims

1. A lockable document storage system for communicating physical documents between an entity and a customer, said system comprising:

a plurality of document storage bins coupled together to form a modular document storage unit;

a first access portal associated with more than one of said plurality of document storage bins; and

a second access portal associated with each of said plurality of document storage bins, said second access portal comprising at least one of a door and a drawer configured to control access to one of the plurality of document storage bins, said at least one of a door and a drawer comprising a reprogrammable locking device.

2. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the reprogrammable locking device is configured to prevent access to an associated storage bin until an unlocking condition is satisfied.

3. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the reprogrammable locking device comprises an input device associated with the reprogrammable locking device, said input device configured to receive a mechanical entry to generate an unlocking condition.

4. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the reprogrammable locking device comprises an input device associated with more than one reprogrammable locking device, said input device configured to receive an entry from a user associated with a particular one of said plurality of document storage bins to generate an unlocking condition for a respective one of said plurality of document storage bins.

5. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the reprogrammable locking device comprises an input device configured to receive an electronic entry to generate an unlocking condition.

6. A system in accordance with claim 5 wherein said input device comprises a keypad, said keypad configured to receive an unlocking code manually entered by a user into said keypad.

7. A system in accordance with claim 5 further comprising a controller communicatively coupled to said input device and wherein said input device is configured to receive an unlocking code from at least one of a user and said controller.

8. A system in accordance with claim 7 wherein said controller comprises a user interface, said user interface configured to receive an input from a user and determine whether the input comprises an unlocking code.

9. A system in accordance with claim 8 wherein said controller is configured to communicate with a plurality of reprogrammable locking devices such that one of the plurality of reprogrammable locking devices is unlocked permitting access to one of said plurality of document storage bins when an associated unlocking code is entered into said user interface.

10. A method of communicating physical documents between an entity and a customer, said method comprising:

depositing, by the entity, of at least one document into at least one of a plurality of document storage bins, wherein each said plurality of document storage bins includes a reprogrammable locking device associated with a first access portal to a respective one of the plurality of document storage bins;

programming a locking code into the reprogrammable locking device;

communicating the unlocking code to the customer; and

retrieving, by the customer, of the at least one document deposited into the at least one of the plurality of document storage bins using the unlocking code.

11. A method in accordance with claim 10 wherein the at least one document includes insurance related information including at least one of health information, current insurance information, business information, financial information and any other information that may be used to at least one of recommend, determine and quote insurance rates or coverage.

12. A method in accordance with claim 10 wherein the at least one document includes insurance related information including information relating to at least one of health insurance, life insurance, automobile insurance, homeowners insurance, fire and casualty insurance, earthquake insurance, business insurance, and renter'"'"'s insurance.

13. A method in accordance with claim 10 further comprising depositing at least one document, by the customer, into the at least one of a plurality of document storage bins using the unlocking code.

14. A method in accordance with claim 10 further comprising generating an unlocking code by at least one of the customer, the entity, and the controller wherein the unlocking code is generated at least one of randomly and based on an input from the customer.

15. A method in accordance with claim 13 wherein the plurality of document storage bins includes a second access portal, different than the first access portal, said method further comprising retrieving, by the entity, of the at least one document deposited into the at least one of the plurality of document storage bins using the second access portal.

16. A storage system for communicating physical articles between parties to a transaction, said system comprising:

a plurality of storage bins coupled together to form a modular storage unit;

a first access portal associated with more than one of said plurality of storage bins; and

a second access portal associated with each of said plurality of storage bins, said second access portal comprising at least one of a door and a drawer, said at least one of a door and a drawer comprising a locking device that is programmable by one of the parties.

17. A system in accordance with claim 16 wherein the locking device comprises an electronically actuated lock.

18. A system in accordance with claim 16 wherein the locking device comprises a mechanically actuated lock.

19. A system in accordance with claim 16 wherein the system is positioned in an insurance office.

20. A system in accordance with claim 16 wherein said physical articles comprise insurance related documents, wherein insurance documents include information that may be used to determine at least one of insurance coverage, rates, term, acceptance, conditions, payment plan.

21. A system in accordance with claim 16 wherein the locking device comprises an actuator configured to unlock said at least one of a door and a drawer when an unlocking code is received by the actuator.

22. A system in accordance with claim 16 wherein an unlocking code is configured to reset to a predetermined other unlocking code when the unlocking code is entered a predetermined number of times.

23. A system in accordance with claim 16 wherein the locking device comprises an input device associated with the locking device, said input device configured to receive an entry from at least one of one of the parties to generate an unlocking condition.

24. A system in accordance with claim 16 comprising an input device associated with a plurality of locking devices, said input device configured to receive an entry from a user, the entry associated with a particular locking device to generate an unlocking condition for the particular locking device.

25. A system in accordance with claim 24 wherein said input device comprises a keypad, said keypad configured to receive an unlocking code manually entered by a user into said keypad.

26. A system in accordance with claim 24 further comprising a controller communicatively coupled to said input device wherein said input device is configured to receive an unlocking code from at least one of a user and the controller.

27. A system in accordance with claim 26 wherein said controller comprises a user interface, said user interface configured to receive an input from a user and determine whether the input comprises an unlocking code.

28. A system in accordance with claim 27 wherein said controller is configured to communicate with a plurality of locking devices such that one of the plurality of locking devices is unlocked permitting access to one of said plurality of storage bins when an associated unlocking code is entered into said user interface.