SYSTEMS AND METHOD FOR PACKAGE RETENTION
A package retention system and method to secure one or more packages to a fixture such as a door handle are provided. When packages are delivered while home owner is away, the delivered packages can be securely and safely retained using the package retention system. The package retention system includes a bag to accommodate packages, a pull string configured to wrap around an opening of the bag, and an enclosure that includes first and second locking mechanisms. The first locking mechanism locks or unlocks the pull string, and the second locking mechanism locks or unlocks a coupling member that is configured to be coupled to a fixture such as a door handle to secure the bag to the fixture.
This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/583,373, entitled “SYSTEMS AND METHOD FOR PACKAGE RETENTION” filed on Nov. 8, 2017, and herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELDThe present disclosure relates to a package retention system to securely retain packages after delivery.
BACKGROUNDOnline shopping has prompted a problem that many packages are delivered when home owners are away. The unattended packages are leaning against doors, lying flat on doormats, or hidden behind pots and bushes. These packages are prone to theft and damage, which creates property loses and liability issues.
Some apartment buildings provide key-accessible boxes on mailbox stations but the size and quality of the boxes are not able to accommodate the growing amount of packages that are delivered. No other solutions have been proposed.
Consequently, there is a need to solve this problem and create a secure retention system to ensure package safety and security from theft with easy access.
SUMMARYEmbodiments of a system and method for package retention overcome the disadvantages of the prior art and provide other benefits, including securely retaining packages after delivery. These advantages and others may be provided by, for example, a package retention system to secure one or more packages to a fixture. The package retention system may include a bag to accommodate the one or more packages, a pull string configured to wrap around an opening of the bag, a first locking mechanism coupled to the pull string, in which the first locking mechanism locks or unlocks the pull string, a coupling member configured to be coupled to the fixture to secure the bag to the fixture, a second locking mechanism coupled to the coupling member, in which the second locking mechanism locks or unlocks the coupling member, and an enclosure to enclose the first locking mechanism and the second locking mechanism.
These and other advantages may also be provided by, for example, a package retention system to secure one or more packages. The package retention system may include a bag to accommodate the one or more packages, a pull string configured to wrap around an opening of the bag, a first lock to secure the opening of the bag in which the pull string is coupled to the first lock and the first lock locks the pull string to prevent movement of the pull string, and a second lock configured to secure the bag to a fixture in which the second lock is connected to the first lock.
These advantages and others may be provided by, for example, a method for securely retaining one or more packages using a package retention system. The method may include placing the one or more packages in a bag through an opening of the bag, pulling a pull string, which is configured to wrap around an opening of the bag, to close the opening of the bag, locking a first lock coupled to the pull string to secure the opening of the bag, coupling a coupling member to a fixture, and locking a second lock coupled to the coupling member to secure the bag to the fixture.
The following figures are included to illustrate certain aspects of the present invention, and should not be viewed as exclusive embodiments. The subject matter disclosed is capable of considerable modification, alteration, and equivalents in form and function, as will occur to one having ordinary skill in the art and the benefit of this disclosure.
It is to be understood that the figures and descriptions of the present invention may have been simplified to illustrate elements that are relevant for a clear understanding of the present invention, while eliminating, for purposes of clarity, other elements found in a typical mobile applications architecture or typical method for sharing data. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that other elements may be desirable and/or required in order to implement the present invention. However, because such elements are well known in the art, and because they do not facilitate a better understanding of the present invention, a discussion of such elements is not provided herein. It is also to be understood that the drawings included herewith only provide diagrammatic representations of the presently preferred structures of the present invention and that structures falling within the scope of the present invention may include structures different than those shown in the drawings.
Described herein are embodiments of a system and method for package retention. Embodiments overcome the problem that unattended packages are prone to theft and damage. For example, embodiments provide a mesh beg to hold the package and two locks to secure the package to the residence's door.
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A locking mechanism (first locking mechanism) 95a is installed inside the enclosure 95 to lock or unlock the pull string 93. When locked through operations of a lock (first lock) 94, the locking mechanism 95a may hold the pull string 93 preventing movements of the pull string 93. The locking mechanism 95a may be gripping or teethed locking mechanism to tightly hold the pull string 93. A key (not shown) may be inserted into the lock 94 to unlock the locking mechanism 95a. When unlocked, the locking mechanism 95a releases the pull string 93, and the pull string 93 freely moves and can be pulled in either direction.
Another locking mechanism (second locking mechanism) 95b is installed inside the enclosure 95. A coupling member 97 extends through the second locking mechanism 95b disposed inside the enclosure 95. The coupling member 97 wraps around the a fixture or an object 96 to secure the bag 92 to the fixture or object 96. The fixture or object 96 may be a door handle. One end of the coupling member 97 has a pull handle 97a to pull the coupling member 97 to tightly wrap the coupling member 97 around the fixture 96. The other end of the coupling member 97 has an anchor pin 97b that is movably coupled to the enclosure 95. The anchor pin 97b may be rotatably affixed to the enclosure 95, and the end of the coupling member 97 is fixed to the anchor pin 97b. While the coupling member 97 is pulled to tightly secure couple the coupling member 97 to the fixture 96, the anchor pin 97b may be rotated to provide smooth movements of the coupling member 97. The structure of the anchor pin 97b of the coupling member 97 may be the same as the structure of the anchor pin 93b of the pull string 93 as shown in
The second locking mechanism 95b is locked or unlocked through operations of another lock (second lock) 98. When the locking mechanism 95b is locked, the locking mechanism 95b may hold the coupling member 97 preventing movements of the coupling member 97. The locking mechanism 95b may be gripping or teethed locking mechanism to tightly hold the coupling member 97. A key (not shown) may be inserted into the lock 98 to unlock the locking mechanism 95b. When unlocked, the locking mechanism 95b releases the coupling member 97, and the coupling member 97 freely moves and can be pulled in either direction.
The pull string 93 and the coupling member 97 may be vinyl wrapped steel cables. However, portions of coupling member 97 may include different materials that are optimized to tightly secure the coupling member 97 to the fixture 96. Materials for the pull string 93 and the coupling member 97 may be different, and as a results, the locking mechanisms 95a and 95b may employ different mechanisms to be optimized for the materials of the pull string 93 and the coupling member 97.
The locks 94 and 98 lock or unlock the first and second locking mechanisms 95a and 95b, respectively. The locks 94 and 98 may be combination locks or key release locks. Alternatively, the locks 94 and 98 may be bio-ID locks, such as fingerprint or voice locks, to activate or deactivate the lock. As in the example shown in
Another embodiment of the present invention provides a method to securely and safely retain packages using a package retention system. Referring to
The terms and descriptions used herein are set forth by way of illustration only and are not meant as limitations. Those skilled in the art will recognize that many variations are possible within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims, and their equivalents, in which all terms are to be understood in their broadest possible sense unless otherwise indicated.
Claims
1. A package retention system to secure one or more packages to a fixture, comprising:
- a bag to accommodate the one or more packages;
- a pull string configured to wrap around an opening of the bag;
- a first locking mechanism coupled to the pull string, wherein the first locking mechanism locks or unlocks the pull string;
- a coupling member configured to be coupled to the fixture to secure the bag to the fixture;
- a second locking mechanism coupled to the coupling member, wherein the second locking mechanism locks or unlocks the coupling member; and
- an enclosure to enclose the first locking mechanism and the second locking mechanism.
2. The package retention system of claim 1 wherein the bag includes a wire mesh bag.
3. The package retention system of claim 1 wherein the first locking mechanism includes gripping or teethed locking mechanism, and the pull string passes through the gripping or teethed locking mechanism.
4. The package retention system of claim 1 wherein the second locking mechanism includes gripping or teethed locking mechanism, and the coupling member passes through the gripping or teethed locking mechanism.
5. The package retention system of claim 1 further comprising a first lock and second lock mounted on the enclosure, wherein the first lock operates the first locking mechanism to lock or unlock the pull string, and the second lock operates the second locking mechanism to lock or unlock the coupling member.
6. The package retention system of claim 1 wherein the pull string includes an anchor pin movably coupled to the enclosure.
7. The package retention system of claim 1 wherein the coupling member includes an anchor pin movably coupled to the enclosure.
8. A package retention system to secure one or more packages, comprising:
- a bag to accommodate the one or more packages;
- a pull string configured to wrap around an opening of the bag;
- a first lock to secure the opening of the bag, wherein the pull string is coupled to the first lock, and the first lock locks the pull string to prevent movement of the pull string; and
- a second lock configured to secure the bag to a fixture, wherein the second lock is connected to the first lock.
9. The package retention system of claim 8 wherein the bag includes a wire mesh bag.
10. The package retention system of claim 8 wherein one end of the pull string is attached to the first lock, and the other end of the pull string passes through the first lock.
11. The package retention system of claim 8 further comprising a harness that connects the second lock to the first lock.
12. The package retention system of claim 11 further comprising a band that wraps around the fixture and slides through the second lock.
13. The package retention system of claim 8 wherein the pull string extends though the first lock and the second lock, the pull string forms a loop with the second lock, and the loop wraps around the fixture.
14. The package retention system of claim 8 wherein the pull string extends though the first lock and the second lock, and the second lock includes a shackle that loops over the fixture to secure the bag to the fixture.
15. The package retention system of claim 8 wherein each of the first lock and the second lock includes one selected from the group consisting of key release lock, combination lock, bio-ID lock, fingerprint lock, and voice lock.
16. A method for securely retaining one or more packages using a package retention system, comprising:
- placing the one or more packages in a bag through an opening of the bag;
- pulling a pull string, which is configured to wrap around an opening of the bag, to close the opening of the bag;
- locking a first lock coupled to the pull string to secure the opening of the bag;
- coupling a coupling member to a fixture; and
- locking a second lock coupled to the coupling member to secure the bag to the fixture.
17. The method of claim 16 wherein the first and second locks are mounted on an enclosure that encloses a first locking mechanism and a second locking mechanism, the first locking mechanism locks or unlocks the pull string, and the second locking mechanism locks or unlocks the coupling member.
18. The method of claim 16 wherein the first lock is connected to the second lock.
19. The method of claim 16 wherein the coupling member includes a band that wraps around the fixture and slides through the second lock.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 8, 2018
Publication Date: May 9, 2019
Inventor: JAMES GILLIGAN (Tool, TX)
Application Number: 16/184,273