DELIVERY DEVICE CONFIGURED TO BE HUNG FROM A DOOR

Abstract

A delivery device comprises a base member configured to hang from a door knob, the base member having a front surface and a back surface. The base member includes an upper hanging portion and a lower carrying portion. The upper hanging portion is configured to hang from the stem of a doorknob. The device further includes a holder engaged with and extending out from the front surface. The holder is positioned at the lower carrying portion. Additionally, the holder is substantially rigid and is configured to hold an article intended for a recipient, the holder defining a top opening for insertion and removal of the article.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/032,232, filed Feb. 28, 2008, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure generally relates to a device for delivering an article to an intended recipient, and more specifically to a device capable of being hung from a door and configured to hold one or more items to be delivered to the intended recipient.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

It is often desirable to deliver items to someone at their door without disturbing the person when the items are delivered. As an example, many lodging facilities, such as hotels and motels, wish to provide complimentary items to their guests by leaving items at the guests' doors. The items may be left on the floor near the door for the person to retrieve when the person exits through the door. However, leaving items on the floor can be problematic for many reasons. Accordingly, there remains a need for a device able to effectively deliver items to an intended recipient.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In certain embodiments, a delivery device comprises a base member configured to hang from a door knob, the base member having a front surface and a back surface. The base member includes an upper hanging portion and a lower carrying portion. The upper hanging portion is configured to hang from the stem of a doorknob. The device further includes a holder engaged with and extending out from the front surface. The holder is positioned at the lower carrying portion. Additionally, the holder is substantially rigid and is configured to hold an article intended for a recipient, the holder defining a top opening for insertion and removal of the article.

In certain other embodiments, a delivery device comprises a base member configured to hang from a door knob, the base member having a front surface and a back surface. The base member includes an upper hanging portion and a lower carrying portion. The upper hanging portion is configured to hang from the stem of a doorknob. The device further includes a greeting card engaged with and openable with respect to the front surface at the lower carrying portion. Additionally, the device includes a holder engaged with and extending out from the back surface. The holder is configured to hold an article intended for a recipient, the holder defining a top opening for insertion and removal of the article.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the device according to the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a device according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the device according to the embodiment of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the device according to the embodiment of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the disclosure, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the disclosure is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the disclosure as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the disclosure relates.

The present disclosure is directed to a delivery device capable of being hung from a doorknob, or otherwise hung from a door, and configured to hold one or more items which a user desires to leave for an intended recipient who may access the door. In certain embodiments, the device includes a substantially rigid holder configured to hold the item(s). In certain embodiments, the holder may be open at the top to allow for easy insertion and removal of the item(s) positioned within the holder. Additionally, in certain embodiments, the device may include an upper hook to wrap around the doorknob to hang the device and the delivery item(s) from the doorknob.

Turning to the illustrations of the present disclosure, FIGS. 1-2 generally show a delivery device 10 capable of holding one or more items and hanging from a doorknob 14. As illustrated in FIG. 2, device 10 may be used to carry or hold a soft drink can 12, the illustrated example being Coca-Cola® brand soft drink. As another example, device 10 may hold a bottle of water for delivery to an intended recipient. In addition to beverages, delivery device 10 could be used to carry a variety of possible items, such as printed materials including fliers or tickets, food items including candy or sandwiches, and/or clothing items such as accessories or rolled-up t-shirts, to name just a few non-limiting examples. Delivery device 10 can carry other items as desired by a user to be left for someone at their door—the multitude of possible examples being too many to list. Additionally, device 10 may carry multiples of the same item, or may hold different items within the device to be delivered to an intended recipient.

Device 10 includes a base member 16 having an upper hanging portion 20 to hang the device on someone's door and a lower carrying portion 22 to hold the item(s) to be left for the person at their door. In the illustrated embodiment, hanging portion 20 is an upwardly extending hook configured to loop around the stem of a doorknob so that the device hangs from the doorknob for convenient retrieval by the intended recipient. However, device 10 can be configured to hang from a door in a variety of other possible manners. As an example, the hanging portion can be an elastic circular or ring-shaped portion rather than hook-shaped, configured to stretch over the larger handle portion of a doorknob and hang from the stem. As another example, the hanging portion of the device can be a thin card-shaped piece configured to be received in a card reader slot of a door having a card reader access mechanism. As yet another example, the hanging portion can be comprised of two separate arm pieces configured to mate together around the stem of the doorknob, such as through the use of hook and loop fasteners, a tab-in-slot type of arrangement, or be tied together. In even another example, the hanging portion can be configured as a doorknob cover which wraps around to cover the larger handle portion of the doorknob and includes an elastic perimeter to at least slightly close around the stem of the doorknob.

Base member 16 of device 10 includes a front surface 25 and a back surface 27. In the illustrated embodiment, lower carrying portion 22 includes a holder 23 extending out from front surface 25, with the holder being configured to hold the items to be delivered. It should be appreciated that use of the terms “front surface” and “back surface” is not meant to be limiting in any way, and the device can be positioned so that either of the surfaces faces toward the door or outward from the door.

The illustrated holder 23 is substantially square-shaped defining an open top. In other embodiments, holder 23 may include a top flap or lid to access the interior of the holder and retrieve the item(s) positioned within the holder. It should be appreciated that holder 23 can be configured differently than as illustrated, including being rectangular, otherwise polygonal, circular, or elliptical in shape. Additionally, holder 23 may be sized smaller or larger than as illustrated to enable the device to hold larger or smaller sized items as desired. In certain embodiments, delivery device 10 is configured so that the top of holder 23 is positioned a sufficient distance from upper hanging portion 20 to facilitate relatively easy hanging of device 10 over a doorknob and also to enable a person to relatively easily retrieve the item(s) carried by device 10 while device 10 remains hanging from the doorknob. Further, the overall dimensions of delivery device 10 may be altered as desired and/or as would generally occur to one of ordinary skill in the art.

In certain embodiments, holder 23 is substantially and sufficiently rigid to hold an item such as the illustrated soft drink can 12. In such cases, holder 23 is configured to remain substantially rigid and not conform to the shape of the item given its weight. Accordingly, holder 23 may be composed of a substantially rigid material, such as cardboard or cardstock as examples. In other embodiments, holder 23 may be composed of other paper or synthetic materials. Additionally, in some embodiments holder 23 may be integral with front surface 25, creating a single, unitary piece. In other embodiments, holder 23 may be a separate discrete component attached to front surface 25 to create delivery device 10. In such cases, holder 23 may be attached to front surface 25 in a variety of possible manners as would generally occur to one of ordinary skill in the art, such as through the use of adhesive materials and/or fasteners.

In certain embodiments, base member 16 of device 10 includes a substantially rigid front layer 24. In certain embodiments, layer 24 is composed of a type of paper material. In other embodiments, layer 24 may be composed of a synthetic material. However, it should be appreciated that layer 24 can be composed of other appropriate materials, or combination of materials, as would occur to one skilled in the art. In a particular embodiment, layer 24 may be composed of a substantially rigid material, such as cardboard or cardstock as examples.

Optionally, device 10 may also include a backing layer 26 attached to layer 24 in a laminated arrangement. In certain embodiments, layer 26 may be composed of a foam material to provide rigidity to the device 10. In such cases, a front surface of layer 24 defines front surface 25 of device 10 and a back surface of layer 26 defines back surface 27 of device 10. In other embodiments, layer 24 is omitted and layer 26 defines both front surface 25 and back surface 27.

In certain embodiments, front surface 25, back surface 27 and/or holder 23 may be plain colored, with no illustrations, words or other indicia. In other embodiments, front surface 25, back surface 27 and/or holder 23 may include imprinted indicia. As an example, one or more of the surfaces could include imprinted indicia in the form of advertising and/or indicia which serves to indicate the source of the item(s) left for the intended recipient. As another example, one or more of the surfaces could include imprinted indicia generally associated with the item(s) being delivered and/or an event of which the intended recipient is involved. As yet another example, one or more of the surfaces could include imprinted indicia associated with one or more holidays or special events. As an example, FIGS. 1-2 show front surface 25 having indicia representing Coca-Cola® brand soft drinks, corresponding to the can 12 of Coca-Cola® brand soft drink being illustrated as the item to be delivered. Additionally, in the illustrated embodiment holder 23 has indicia associated with the Olympics. Optionally, front surface 25, back surface 27 and/or holder 23 may include an open writing space or area in which a user can write a message to the intended recipient or write other information as desired.

FIGS. 3-5 illustrate another example embodiment of a delivery device of to the present disclosure. As illustrated, delivery device 110 is capable of delivering a greeting card 112 to a recipient, as well as capable of holding one or more items (see FIG. 5), and hanging from a doorknob 114. The illustrated greeting card 112 is a birthday card, just to show one non-limiting example of the numerous possible greeting cards which could be embodied within device 110.

Device 110 includes a base member 111 with an upper hanging portion 120 to hang the device on someone's door and a lower carrying portion 122 to carry or embody the greeting card and hold items to be left for the person at their door. In the illustrated embodiment, hanging portion 120 is an upwardly extending hook configured to loop around the stem of a doorknob, similar to hanging portion 20 described above. As such, the various possible embodiments and configuration of hanging portion 20 apply to hanging portion 120 as well and will be not be repeated for the sake of brevity.

Base member 111 includes a front surface 125 and a back surface 127. It should be appreciated that use of the terms “front surface” and “back surface” is not meant to be limiting in any way, and the device can be positioned so that either of the surfaces faces toward the door or outward from the door.

In the illustrated embodiment, lower portion 122 includes the greeting card 112 which covers a portion of front surface 125. The illustrated greeting card 112 includes a pivot edge which is attached to base member 111 along a first edge occurring between surfaces 125 and 127. In such embodiments, the greeting card 112 is able to pivot about its pivot edge to open and close the card. However, it should be appreciated that the greeting card can be carried by the base member and/or incorporated into the device 110 in a variety of other possible manners as would occur to one of ordinary skill in the art. Additionally, base member 111 may include a tab 115 to secure the greeting card 112 in the closed position, as illustrated in FIG. 3. A user can release the tab 115 to open the greeting card 112 to the position shown in FIG. 4. The illustrated greeting card 112 includes imprinted indicia on both a front surface 112a (see FIG. 3) and a back surface 112b (see FIG. 4). However, it should be appreciated that the messages conveyed by the greeting card may displayed on only one of the front or back surface 112a or 112b and/or also on the front surface 125 of base member 111 if desired.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, delivery device 110 may optionally include a holder 123 extending out from back surface 127, with the holder being configured to hold items to be delivered. Holder 123 can hold a variety of different items as desired by a user to be left for someone at their door—the multitude of possible examples being too many to list. Additionally, device 10 may carry multiples of the same item, or may hold different items within the device to be delivered to an intended recipient. In the illustrated embodiment, holder 123 carries a variety of nuts, just to show one non-limiting example.

In the illustrated embodiment, holder 123 is a sleeve or pocket configured to hold the items to be delivered. The illustrated pocket is defined by a back piece 128, a front piece 130, a top flap or lid 124 and a bottom flap 126. It should be appreciated that use of the terms “front piece” and “back piece” is not meant to be limiting in anyway, and the device can be positioned so that either of the pieces faces toward the door or outward from the door. The holder 123 defines a top opening for lid 124 to selectively cover. Lid 124 may be relatively easily opened by the intended recipient to retrieve the delivered items positioned within the pocket. In other embodiments, top lid 124 is absent and the pocket continuously remains open at the top. Bottom flap 126, as shown in the opened position in FIG. 5, may be folded up to at least partially enclose the interior of the pocket to hold the delivery items.

Although the illustrated embodiment shows a two-sided pocket with top and bottom flaps, it should be appreciated that various other configurations of the holder 123 are contemplated as would generally to one of ordinary skill in this art. As an example, the holder could embody a sack with an upper elastic rim, an upper drawstring, an upper tie mechanism, or another such appropriate closure mechanism. The holder may also be sized smaller or larger than as illustrated to enable the device to hold larger or smaller sized items as desired. Holder 23 may be substantially rigid in configuration so that the holder may remain substantially rigid and not conform to the shape of the item being held. In certain embodiments, delivery device 110 is configured so that the top of holder 123 is positioned a sufficient distance from upper hanging portion 120 to facilitate relatively easy hanging of device 110 over a doorknob and also to enable a person to relatively easily retrieve the items carried by device 110 while device 110 remains hanging from the doorknob.

In certain embodiments, back piece 128 and/or front piece 130 may be plain colored, with no illustrations, words or other indicia. In other embodiments, back piece 128 and/or front piece 130 may include imprinted indicia of some sort. Optionally, front piece 130 may include an open writing space or area in which a user can write a message to the intended recipient or write other information as desired.

In certain embodiments, delivery device 110 is composed of a paper material. In other embodiments, delivery device 110 may be composed of a synthetic material. However, it should be appreciated that the delivery device can be composed of other appropriate materials, or combination of materials, as would occur to one skilled in the art. Additionally, the portions and components of delivery device 110 may be integral portions of a single, unitary piece or may be separate pieces coupled together to form the delivery device. In other embodiments, the portions and components of delivery device 110 may be discrete, separate components attached to the base member. Further, the overall dimensions of delivery device 110 may be altered as desired and/or as would generally occur to one of ordinary skill in the art.

While the disclosure has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the disclosure are desired to be protected.

Claims

1. A delivery device, comprising:

a base member configured to hang from a door knob, the base member having a front surface and a back surface, the base member including an upper hanging portion and a lower carrying portion, wherein the upper hanging portion is configured to hang from the stem of a doorknob; and

a holder engaged with and extending out from the front surface, wherein the holder is positioned at the lower carrying portion, wherein the holder is substantially rigid and is configured to hold an article intended for a recipient, the holder defining a top opening for insertion and removal of the article.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the holder is integral with the base member.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the holder is discrete member attached to the front surface of the base member.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the upper hanging portion is selected from the group consisting of: a hook-shaped portion configured to loop around the stem of a doorknob, an elastic ring-shaped portion configured to stretch over the handle portion of a doorknob to hang from the stem of a doorknob, a doorknob cover configured to cover the handle portion of a doorknob with an elastic perimeter to at least slightly close around the stem of a doorknob, and first and second arms configured to mate together around the stem of a doorknob.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the base member and the holder are composed of cardboard.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the base member and the holder are composed of a synthetic material.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the front surface of the base member includes imprinted indicia.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the holder includes imprinted indicia.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the base member includes a foam backing layer to provide rigidity to the device.

10. A delivery device, comprising:

a base member configured to hang from a door knob, the base member having a front surface and a back surface, the base member including an upper hanging portion and a lower carrying portion, wherein the upper hanging portion is configured to hang from the stem of a doorknob;

a greeting card engaged with and openable with respect to the front surface at the lower carrying portion; and

a holder engaged with and extending out from the back surface, wherein the holder is configured to hold an article intended for a recipient, the holder defining a top opening for insertion and removal of the article.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the holder is positioned at the lower carrying portion.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein the holder is engaged with the back surface so as to form a pocket.

13. The device of claim 10, wherein the upper hanging portion is selected from the group consisting of: a hook-shaped portion configured to loop around the stem of a doorknob, an elastic ring-shaped portion configured to stretch over the handle portion of a doorknob to hang from the stem of a doorknob, a doorknob cover configured to cover the handle portion of a doorknob with an elastic perimeter to at least slightly close around the stem of a doorknob, and first and second arms configured to mate together around the stem of a doorknob.

14. The device of claim 10, wherein the base member includes a first edge occurring between the front surface and the back surface, wherein the greeting card includes a pivot edge engaged with the first edge, the greeting card being pivotable about the pivot edge with respect to the front surface to open and close the greeting card.

15. The device of claim 10, wherein the base member includes a tab configured to selectively engage the greeting card to secure the greeting card in a closed position against the front surface of the base member.

16. The device of claim 10, wherein the base member, the greeting card and the holder are composed of a paper-based material.

17. The device of claim 10, wherein the base member, the greeting card and the holder are composed of a synthetic material.

18. The device of claim 10, wherein the greeting card and the holder are discrete members attached to the base member.

19. The device of claim 10, wherein the greeting card and the holder are integral with the base member.

20. The device of claim 10, wherein the greeting card includes a front surface and a back surface, the back surface facing the front surface of the base member, the front and back surfaces of the greeting card having imprinted indicia.