Delivery vault

• US 6,138,910 A
• Filed: 12/23/1998
• Issued: 10/31/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Superior Precision Sheet Metal Corp.
• Original Assignee: Dvault, Inc.
• Inventors: Madruga, Tony O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Frech, Karl D.
• Application Number:
  US09/221,204
• Time in Patent Office: 678 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462.13, 235/383, 232/47, 232/19, 232/20, 232/27, 232/28, 232/34, 232/35, 232/36, 232/37
• US Class Current: 235/383
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 29/22 having rotatable or reciprocable parts

Abstract

A specialized receptacle accommodates secure delivery of mail and small packages. The receptacle has a loading door hinged on the receptacle structure. The loading door has a main section and a secondary section that telescopes out of the main section as the loading door is opened. The telescoping section supports packages as they are delivered and prevents unauthorized access to the storage compartment of the receptacle.

Claims

1. A method for notifying a delivery recipient that a delivery to a location has been accomplished comprising the steps of:

providing a delivery receptacle at the location having machine-readable indicia thereon;

scanning the machine-readable indicia at the time of delivery to the receptacle;

transmitting data corresponding to the machine-readable indicia to a central station;

transmitting a notification to the delivery recipient from the central station.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the machine-readable indicia comprise a bar code.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of transmitting a notification to the delivery recipient comprises activation of a paging receiver.