Secure package receptacle

• US 7,175,071 B1
• Filed: 05/20/2005
• Issued: 02/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Slabax Company
• Original Assignee: Slabax Company
• Inventors: Slagle, David E., Baxtron, Jerry E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller; William L.
• Application Number:
  US11/132,592
• Time in Patent Office: 634 Days
• Field of Search: 232/45, 232/17, 232/43.1, 232/44, 220/908, 220/908.1, 220/908.3, 220/676, 220/833, 164/12, 70/63
• US Class Current: 232/45
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 29/16 Combinations with letter-boxes

Abstract

A secure package receptacle comprising a parallelepiped box having a flushly fitted lockable access door hingedly attached within the front of the box, a recessed handle within the access door, a lid pivotally secured and flushly fitted to the box top, the lid beveled edge fitting a coplanar beveled edge of the top, a recessed handle within the lid and a lid lock accessible from the box interior, the recessed handles having handle surrounds preventing inclement weather invasion, whereby received packages are securely retained within the interior of the box until accessed from the access door.

Claims

1. A receptacle, the receptacle comprising:

a parallelepiped box, the box having a spaced apart top and bottom, a spaced apart front and back, and two spaced apart sides, thereby defining an interior therewithin;

an access door within the front of the box, the access door fitted flush with the box front;

a recessed handle within the access door;

a recessed handle disposed in an upper portion of each box side;

a door hinge pivotally attaching the access door to the front of the box;

a door lock for the access door;

a lid securing the top of the box, the lid having four sides, the lid fitted flush with the box top;

a lid hinge pivotally attaching a first side of the lid to the box top;

a lid beveled edge, the lid beveled edge on a side opposite the first side of the lid, the lid beveled edge about 30 degrees from vertical;

a recessed handle within the lid, the handle disposed proximal to the lid beveled edge;

a beveled edge of the box top for receiving the lid beveled edge, the beveled edge of the box top about 60 degrees from vertical, the beveled edge of the box top directly engaging and parallel to the lid beveled edge;

a lid lock for the lid.

2. The receptacle in claim 1 wherein the door hinge is concealed such that the door hinge is not visible from an exterior of the box.

3. The receptacle in claim 2 wherein the lid hinge is concealed such that the lid hinge is not visible from the exterior of the box.

4. The receptacle in claim 3 wherein the lid handle further comprises a lid handle surround, whereby inclement weather elements are prohibited from entering the box.

5. The receptacle in claim 4 wherein:

the lid handle further comprises;

a handle entry;

a handle grab within the entry;

a handle round on an interior radius of the handle grab;

the lid handle surround further comprises;

two spaced apart handle surround sides;

two spaced apart handle surround ends;

a handle surround back;

whereby the handle surround prohibits inclement weather elements from entering the box.

6. The receptacle in claim 5 wherein the access door handle further comprises an access door handle surround;

each side handle comprises a side handle surround,

whereby inclement weather elements are prohibited from entering the box.

7. The receptacle in claim 6 wherein:

the access door handle further comprises;

a handle entry;

a handle grab within the entry;

a handle round on an interior radius of the handle grab;

each side handle further comprises;

a handle entry;

a handle grab within the entry;

a handle round on an interior radius of the handle grab;

the access door handle surround further comprises;

two spaced apart handle surround sides;

two spaced apart handle surround ends;

a handle surround back;

each side handle surround further comprises;

two spaced apart handle surround sides;

two spaced apart handle surround ends;

a handle surround back,

whereby the handle surround prohibits inclement weather elements from entering the box.

8. The receptacle in claim 7 wherein the access handle surround further comprises a cutout;

each side box handle surround further comprises a cutout,

thereby providing air access to the box.

9. The receptacle in claim 8 wherein each handle surround cutout is disposed within the handle surround back.

10. The receptacle in claim 8 wherein an additional handle surround cutout is disposed within:

the handle surround top end of the access door handle;

one of the handle surround ends of each box side handle.

11. The receptacle in claim 1 wherein the lid hinge is concealed such that the lid hinge is not visible from the exterior of the box.

12. A receptacle, the receptacle comprising:

a parallelepiped box, the box having a spaced apart top and bottom, a spaced apart front and back, and two spaced apart sides, thereby defining an interior therewithin;

an access door within the front of the box, the access door fitted flush with the box front;

a recessed handle within the access door;

a recessed handle disposed in each box side;

a door hinge pivotally attaching the access door to the front of the box;

a door lock for the access door;

a lid securing the top of the box, the lid having four sides, the lid fitted flush with the box top;

a lid hinge pivotally attaching a first side of the lid to the box top;

a lid beveled edge, the lid beveled edge on a side opposite the first side of the lid, the lid beveled edge about 30 degrees from vertical;

a recessed handle within the lid, the handle disposed proximal to the beveled edge;

a beveled edge of the box top for receiving the lid beveled edge, the beveled edge of the box top about 60 degrees from vertical, the beveled edge of the box directly engaging and parallel to the lid beveled edge;

a catch on a bottom of the box beveled edge;

a lid lock;

a lock plunger for engagement with the box beveled edge catch;

a compression spring acting to extend the lock plunger;

a plunger bevel on an end of the plunger, whereby the bevel provides for lid closure and lock engagement with the plunger extended;

a twist knob on an interior of the lid lock, whereby the lock can be opened from the interior of the box;

a release on an interior of the lid lock, whereby the release retains the lock in an open position until released;

instructions on the interior of the lid, the instructions for advising a delivery person;

a mail slot within the box;

spaced apart mounting holes within the box back, the holes spaced about 16 inches horizontally apart.

13. The receptacle in claim 12 wherein the door hinge is concealed such that the door hinge is not visible from an exterior of the box.

14. The receptacle in claim 13 wherein the lid hinge is concealed such that the lid hinge is not visible from the exterior of the box.

15. The receptacle in claim 14 wherein the lid handle further comprises a lid handle surround, whereby inclement weather elements are prohibited from entering the box.

16. The receptacle in claim 15 wherein:

the lid handle further comprises;

a handle entry;

a handle grab within the entry;

a handle round on an interior radius of the handle grab;

the lid handle surround further comprises;

two spaced apart handle surround sides;

two spaced apart handle surround ends;

a handle surround back,

whereby the handle surround prohibits inclement weather elements from entering the box.

17. The receptacle in claim 16 wherein the access door handle further comprises an access door handle surround;

each box side handle further comprises a handle surround,

whereby inclement weather elements are prohibited from entering the box.

18. The receptacle in claim 17 wherein:

the access door handle further comprises;

a handle entry;

a handle grab within the entry;

a handle round on an interior radius of the handle grab;

each side handle further comprises;

a handle entry;

a handle grab within the entry;

a handle round on an interior radius of the handle grab;

the access door handle surround further comprises;

two spaced apart handle surround sides;

two spaced apart handle surround ends;

a handle surround back;

each side handle surround further comprises;

two spaced apart handle surround sides;

two spaced apart handle surround ends;

a handle surround back,

whereby the handle surround prohibits inclement weather elements from entering the box.

19. The receptacle in claim 18 wherein the access handle surround further comprises a cutout;

each side handle surround further comprises a cutout,

thereby providing air access to the box.

20. The receptacle in claim 19 wherein each handle surround cutout is in the handle surround back;

an additional cutout within the handle surround top end of the access door handle;

an additional cutout within one of the ends of each box side handle surround.