Receiver of Objects from Aerial Machines

• US 20170106979A1
• Filed: 10/20/2015
• Published: 04/20/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2015
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sky Porch, LLC
• Original Assignee: Sky Porch, LLC
• Inventors: Seger, Daniel Ernest
• Application Number:
  US14/918,021
• Publication Number:
  US 20170106979A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 1/12 Releasing
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 1/14 Absorbing landing shocks
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/00 Ground or aircraft-carrier-deck installations specially adapted for captive aircraft B64F3/00
• 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 2201/10 autonomous, i.e. by navigating independently from ground or air stations, e.g. by using inertial navigation systems [INS]
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/02 for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle

Abstract

The present invention is a machine that connects to, or near, an opening of a dwelling that is capable of receiving objects from aerial delivery machines.

Claims

1. A method for receiving objects from an aerial delivery machine that includes the following:

a. A means of securing said machine to and/or near a building such that said machine, and/or any part of said machine, is accessible to a user from inside said building, from/via an opening in said building, from the ground, and/or from/via a surface connected to, and/or near, said building such as, but not limited to, a window, door, porch, deck, lawn, balcony, and/or roof.

b. An apparatus capable of receiving objects from an aerial delivery machine.

c. A mechanism that enables said machine to secure said delivered objects within it, thus keeping said objects securely in place until an operator releases them.

2. The method of the above claim in which said machine also consists of any combination, including all or none, of the following:

a. A means of detecting said machine'"'"'s remaining capacity to safely accept additional objects.

b. A means of covering delivered objects to protect them from the elements that may or may not include air conditioning or refrigeration.

c. A means of sending, processing, and/or receiving information to and/or from aerial delivery machines or other instruments capable of sending and/or receiving information.

d. A means for an operator to interact with and/or control said machine and/or its parts.

3. The method from the above claims in which said machine is secured, attached, or otherwise fastened (1a), by any means, to an external opening of a building, any inside or outside wall of a building, the floor of a building, the ceiling of a building, the roof of a building, the ground near a building, and/or any other object and/or structural element on or near a building or property.

4. The method of the above claims in which said means of securing said machine (1a) is achieved via any means, including, but not limited to:

screws, bolts, nails, glue, weight distribution of said machine, counterweights added to said machine, size and/or shape of said machine and/or its parts, any protrusions from said machine, and/or any combination thereof.

5. The method from the above claims in which said means of securing (1a) said machine may be to incorporate said machine directly into the structure of said building such that said machine may be, may encompass, and/or may partially encompass, an opening to said building.

6. The method from the above claims in which said receiving apparatus (1b) is comprised, or partially comprised, of a retractable, stationary, folding, and/or otherwise moveable net, platform, pinching apparatus, as in apparatus, us or any other mechanism/method ca able of f receiving and/or securing object(s).

7. The method from the above claims in which said receiving apparatus (1b) and/or said securing mechanism (1c), and/or any of said machine'"'"'s parts, operates to receive and/or secure objects automatically, manually, in response to signals from an aerial delivery machine, and/or signals from other service or devices capable of communicating with said machine via any means, and/or via any combination thereof.

8. The method from the above claims in which the means of detecting its remaining capacity (2a) is achieved through collection and/or analysis of any type of data including, but not limited to:

size of an object, weight of an object, number of objects, communications from a delivery machine, other information not listed here, or any combination of methods.

9. The method from the above claims in which said means of covering objects (2b) of said machine employs a retractable, folding, sliding, closing, and/or stationary cover to protect delivered objects from inclement weather.

10. The method from the above claims in which said means of covering objects (2b) is made of any material and is, at any point during its operation, configured in any shape and/or any size.

11. The method from the above claims in which said means of covering objects (2b) may create a seal around a delivered object, via any means and of any quality, that would allow for better protection for objects and/or for heating and/or cooling of the air around said object.

12. The method from the above claims in which said machine, and/or any of its parts, receives and/or processes, and/or transmits, communication of any kind (2c), such as, but not limited to:

radio waves, symbols, bar codes, quick response (QR) codes, lasers, tones or sounds, etc., that communicate any kind of information, such as, but not limited to;

identifying information such as a name or address, said machine'"'"'s platform size or remaining weight capacity, a GPS location, battery level, malfunctions, delivery notifications, information on what a package contains, etc.

13. The method from the above claims in which said machine and/or any of its parts may process said communication (2c) via any means.

14. The method from the above claims in which said machine and/or any of its parts may send and/or receive said communication (2c) via any means such as, but not limited to:

via radio waves, wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi), Bluetooth, magnetic resonance, etc., to any recipient for any purpose.

15. The method from the above claims in which said means of interacting and controlling said machine (2d) could include, but is not limited to, a touch screen, a computer program, a digital interface, a program running on another device, gesture recognition, voice recognition, timers, automation, proximity recognition, an app, reels, buttons, knobs, levers, switches, other mechanical controls, other means of controlling a machine not listed here, or any combination thereof.

16. The method from the above claims in which said means of interacting and controlling said machine (2d) allows a user to control one or more of said machine'"'"'s functions.

17. The method from the above claims in which any and/or all of said machine'"'"'s retracting, folding, sliding, opening, closing, and/or stationary mechanisms are operated manually, and/or automated, and/or mechanically operated by any means.

18. The method from the above claims in which said machine is able to extend any, or all, of its retracting parts to any distance, to create any size shape, and/or at any speed.

19. The method from the above claims in which said machine is located entirely outside, partially outside, and/or entirely inside the building at any time during its operation, and when desired can create a locked seal, of any quality, with said building opening by any means.

20. The method from the above claims in which said machine is powered by any means, such as, but not limited to:

solar powered, battery-powered, wired directly into the building'"'"'s electrical system, wireless induction, magnetic resonance, plugged into an outlet, other means not listed here, and/or any combination thereof.

21. The method from the above claims in which said machine, and/or any of its parts, at any time during its operation, consists of any number and/or any combination of materials of any strength, size, thickness, color, or shape.