Delivery receptacle for goods comprising a code lock

• US 7,268,666 B2
• Filed: 01/11/2001
• Issued: 09/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gerald Weber
• Original Assignee: Gerald Weber
• Inventors: Weber, Gerald, Fassbender, Jo
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman; Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): BROWN, VERNAL U
• Application Number:
  US10/181,131
• Publication Number:
  US 20030154891A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,434 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.73, 340/5.7, 340/5.71, 340/5.9, 340/5.21, 340/5.28, 340/569, 340/542, 340/5.2, 340/5.27, 340/10.1, 70276-277, 702/782, 702/783, 702/787, 702/83, 109/54, 109/55
• US Class Current: 340/5.73
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2029/144 the receptacle being transportable and attachable to a building
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2029/145 the receptacle comprising means for identifying a deposit; Deposits carrying identification means, e.g. a bar code
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2029/147 the receptacle comprising heating or cooling means
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2029/148 the receptacle comprising a letter box
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 29/141 comprising electronically controlled locking means
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 29/20 with appliances for preventing unauthorised removal of the deposited articles
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/13 the containers being a postal pick-up locker

Abstract

The invention relates to an article delivery receptacle (10) comprising an electronic code lock (11). When delivering articles (8), the delivery person opens the receptacle (10) by entering a delivery code (6) into the electronic code lock (11). During the ordering process, the addressee (1) conveys the required delivery code (6) to the delivery person (9) via the supplier (9) of the ordered articles (8). After the articles (8) are deposited in the receptacle, the receptacle (10) is locked once again so that the articles (8) placed therein are protected from theft. After a successful delivery, the code lock (11) is blocked so that it is no longer possible to open the delivery receptacle (10) using the delivery code (6). The addressee can remove the delivered articles (8) from the receptacle (10) by using an addressee key (12) which only the addressee possesses. After removing the articles (8), the delivery receptacle is enabled once again for receiving subsequent deliveries of articles.

Claims

1. A process for operating an article delivery receptacle comprising an electronic code lock, wherein opening of the article delivery receptacle for delivery of articles to a recipient occurs by means of a permanent delivery code authorizing access to a deliverer, the deliverer entering the permanent delivery code into the code lock in order to open the article delivery receptacle, and by means of a recipient key controlled by the recipient, the recipient key comprising a key code for the code lock or a mechanical key for opening the article delivery receptacle, said process comprising the steps of:

(a) blocking access to the article delivery receptacle after opening of the article delivery receptacle by means of the permanent delivery code has occurred so that after access is blocked, the article delivery receptacle can be opened only by means of the recipient key; and

(b) allowing access to the article delivery receptacle by means of the permanent delivery code again as soon as opening of the article delivery receptacle by means of the recipient key has occurred so that the article delivery receptacle can be opened afterwards by means of the permanent delivery code for the delivery of articles.

2. An article delivery receptacle comprising an electronic code lock that permits opening of the article delivery receptacle for delivery of articles to a recipient by means of a permanent delivery code authorizing access to a deliverer and by means of a recipient key controlled by the recipient, the deliverer entering the permanent delivery code into the code lock in order to open the article delivery receptacle, the recipient key comprising a key code for the code lock or a mechanical key for opening the article delivery receptacle, said code lock comprising a program control that locks the code lock from renewed opening by means of the permanent delivery code after opening of the article delivery receptacle by means of the permanent delivery code has taken place so that after the code lock is locked, the article delivery receptacle can be opened only by means of the recipient key, said code lock being unlocked to allow access to the article delivery receptacle by means of the permanent delivery code as soon as opening of the article delivery receptacle by means of the recipient key has taken place so that the article delivery receptacle can be opened afterwards by means of the permanent delivery code again for the delivery of articles.

3. The article delivery receptacle according to claim 2, further comprising an issuing unit through which the issuance of a voucher of receipt occurs after delivery has taken place.

4. The article delivery receptacle according to claim 2, wherein an electronic storage unit is assigned to the code lock, in which a plurality of permanent delivery codes can be stored.

5. The article delivery receptacle according to claim 2, further comprising a status display for displaying whether the code lock is locked after delivery has taken place or whether the article delivery receptacle is ready for delivery of articles.

6. The article delivery receptacle according to claim 2, further comprising a viewing window for visual inspection of receptacle contents.

7. The article delivery receptacle according to claim 2, further comprising an attachment element for releasably attaching the article delivery receptacle to a door panel or a door frame of a door.

8. The article delivery receptacle according to claim 7, wherein the attachment element forms a positive-lock connection with the door panel.

9. The article delivery receptacle according to claim 8, wherein the attachment element comprises a U-shaped profile, the door panel engaging into said U-shaped profile.

10. The article delivery receptacle according to claim 7, wherein the attachment element forms a force-locking connection with the door panel and the door frame when the door is closed.

11. The article delivery receptacle according to claim 7, further comprising two holder elements that engage opposite lateral edges of the door panel and are braceable relative to each other, wherein the attachment element comprises a clamping fastener fixable to the door panel in a force-locking way by said holder elements.

12. The article delivery receptacle according to claim 2, further comprising thermal insulation and a cooling unit.

13. The article delivery receptacle according to claim 2, further comprising a plurality of chambers that can be locked independent of one another.