Delivered goods deposit container

Abstract

A deposit system for storing delivered goods awaiting collection by the recipient comprising a storage container with access means having a wheel mounted for rotation to facilitate transport, securing means and locking means for attaching or detaching the storage container from the securing means.

Description

[0001] This invention relates to a deposit container system for receiving delivered goods or for storing goods prior to collection.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

[0002] With the dawn of Internet shopping it has become simple and convenient to order goods electronically. However, it is frequently difficult to make arrangements for secure delivery of goods, especially for domestic orders owing to the recipient often being away from the delivery address during normal working hours.

[0003] It is known to provide lockable deposit boxes designed to located at a convenient position outside a building and to secure such containers to the building by a chain or the like. These systems suffer several disadvantages. They are generally not portable or if they are portable are small and so unable to accept delivery of substantial goods, such as delivery of weekly groceries. They are not well suited for storage of either perishable goods such as frozen food or for hot meals, such as provided by take-away restaurants and the like, Such devices often have complex and thus relatively expensive securing systems provided in order to deter theft of the container and its contents.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved container system for receiving delivered goods.

[0005] In one aspect the invention provides a goods deposit system comprising a storage container with access means, securing means and locking means for attaching or detaching the storage container from the securing means. Preferably, the container has a wheel mounted for rotation to facilitate transport. Preferably, the access means comprise a hinged door, lid or the like with a lock. The lock may be a combination lock, preferably electronically operated.

[0006] Preferably, the container has means for dividing its storage space into a plurality of individual storage volumes in order to facilitate storage of items at varying temperatures. This may be achieved by means of a removable shelf made of a thermally insulative material

[0007] The system may include a heat-sink device and means of securing this within the container in order to provide cold and thereby refrigerate at least a portion of the storage volume. This is particularly beneficial when the container is being used to store perishable goods such as food. The heat sink may contain a eutectic mixture. Alternatively, the heat sink may be provided in order to provide heat to at least part of the storage volume in order to keep stored contents warm, for example delivered fast-food.

[0008] The container may be secured to a static structure such as a floor, a wall of a building or the like by a bracket with an aperture or recess adapted to receive locking means. The bracket may have an upstanding male portion engageable within a corresponding female recess in the container. In another form the bracket may comprise a plurality of securing holes arranged outwardly from the central aperture. The locking means may comprise a headed peg with a radial arm adapted to lock the container to the bracket by inserting the peg through an aperture in a wall of the container and the aperture or recess of the bracket and then rotating the peg about its longitudinal axis.

[0009] The container preferably has a wheel located proximal one bottom end of the container and a handle located proximal the opposite bottom end. More preferably, the container has a plurality of wheels. The handle may be adapted so that it co-operates with the wheel in such a way that either the bottom of the container or a side wall of the container in use is maintained in a stable state parallel with the floor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0010] Embodiments of the invention will now be described by reference to the following diagramatic drawings in which,

[0011] FIGS. 1a to 1d show two end views, a side view and a plan view respectively of a container according to the invention,

[0012] FIGS. 2a to 2c show, a plan view a bottom view and a side view respectively of the container shown in FIG. 1 without its lid,

[0013] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the main features of the container shown in FIG. 1,

[0014] FIGS. 4a-4d show a plan view, a side view, an end view and an underside view respectively of a fixing bracket for use with the container shown in FIG. 1,

[0015] FIGS. 5a-5d show elevations of a locking peg for use with the system,

[0016] FIG. 6 shows and a perspective view of the locking peg shown in FIG. 5,

[0017] FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a part of locking mechanism for the container shown in FIG. 1,

[0018] FIGS. 8a and 8b show further details of the locking mechanism shown in FIG. 7,

[0019] FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of the container shown in FIG. 1 in an upright position and the relative location of the fixing bracket prior to locking,

[0020] FIG. 10 shows a partial view of the upper inside portion of the container with its lid opened,

[0021] FIG. 11a and 11b show a plan view and a bottom view of a container for an alternative embodiment of the invention, and

[0022] FIGS. 12a-12c show a plan view, a side view and an end view respectively of a fixing bracket for use with the container shown in FIG. 11.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0023] The external features of the container as used in the invention are illustrated in FIGS. 1a to 1e. Container 10 comprises a base portion 12 and a lid portion 14 hingedly attached 16 to the base. At the bottom rear end of the base portion 12 are a pair of wheels 18 mounted for rotation on an axle 20. The base portion 12 comprises four comer elbow members 22 each extending upwardly to a rim 24 that extends around the upper open end of the base portion 12. Recessed end panels 26a and 26b and side recessed panels 28 are located between the four comer elbows 22 and integrally formed with them. Handles 32 and 34 are provided at the front and rear top end of base portion 12, preferably formed integrally with rim 24. The floor 30 (see FIG. 2b) of the base portion 12 includes integrally formed bearings 52 that accept axle 20 and a handle/rest portion 36 that serves two functions. When the container is resting in its normal (flat) position on a floor (see FIG. 2c) handle 36 provides support for the front bottom end of the base portion thereby keeping the floor 30 of the base portion 12 approximately parallel to the floor (F). Alternatively, when the container 10 is to be moved the user can grip handle 36 and pull the container along the floor on its wheel or wheels like a trolley. Handle 32 can serve a similar function if the container is resting in its upright position with rear side panel 26a adjacent and approximately parallel to the floor. Thus, the container can be conveniently used in either a flat or upright position.

[0024] FIG. 2a shows internal features of the base portion 12 which provides two discrete storage volumes A and B separated by a removable shelf 40 that slidably engages the internal side of panels 28 by means of engaging means, these engaging means typically comprise of grooves 42 or the like. Thus, with the lid 14 open shelf 40 can easily be slid into place as shown in FIG. 2a or removed in order to create a single storage volume rather than the two individual volumes A and B. Alternatively, shelf 40 may be provided in a fixed form as an integral part of base portion 12.

[0025] Storage volume A has provision for housing a removable thermal heat-sink 44 near rear side wall 26a, for example by means of sliding into slots or grooves or by means of a grid 46 retained between the inner surfaces of side panels 28. Grid 46 may take the form of a mesh The beat sink 44 may be hollow and in plate form and may contain a eutectic mixture. In this case the heat sink 44 may be removed before use and cooled in a freezer so that upon insertion into container 10 it provides a supply of cold, especially for storage volume A of the container. Alternatively, the heat-sink 44 may be a plate having a high heat storage capacity. In this latter case a hot plate may be inserted into container 10 in order to supply heat, especially for storage volume A when it is desired to keep stored items such as food warm.

[0026] FIG. 3 shows the main features in a perspective view of container 10 with its lid open.

[0027] Referring to FIGS. 4a-4d, bracket 60 provides means for securing the container to a static structure such as a wall or floor. Bracket 60 has a docking portion 62 and a securing portion 64. Docking portion 62 comprises a base section 66 and an upstanding male section 68 having semi-circular shaped ends. An aperture 92 extending from the front face to the rear face of the bracket 60 is provided to accommodate locking means, preferably in the form of a pin (see latter).

[0028] A female docking recess 90 (see FIG. 7) corresponding in shape to male section 68 of bracket 60 is provided on the outside floor portion 30 of base portion 12.

[0029] A locking pin (see FIGS. 5 and 6 ) 70 has a head 72 comprising a central portion 74 and dividing a pair of recessed portions 76 so as to facilitate the user gripping the head with one hand. A peg or shaft 78 extends longitudinally from head 74 and has locking means. These locking means preferably comprise at least one radial arm 84 and preferably at least two radial arms.

[0030] The inside bottom surface of the base portion 12 has an aperture 38 (see FIG. 2a) adapted to allow the peg 78 of locking pin 70 , but not the head 72, to pass therethrough. Hence in order to lock the container 10 to the bracket 60 aperture 38 in the container and aperture 92 in the bracket are axially aligned. In practice this may be achieved by mounting the bracket 60 (see FIG. 9) on a wall and pushing the container 10 in an upright position, on its wheels 18, towards the bracket 60 or by fixing the bracket 60 to a floor and pushing the container in its normal position (as illustrated in FIG. 3) along the floor. In the latter case it is preferable to locate aperture 38 within the floor 30 of volume A near the end wall. This has the advantage of allowing the bracket 60 to be fixed on the floor but near a wall or the like and so away from walking areas. Peg 78 of locking pin 70 is then inserted through the apertures and rotated so that the radial arm or arms 84 lockingly engage recesses (not shown) within the male section 68 of the bracket 60. A second pair of radial arms 82 may also lockingly engage the outside edge of aperture 38 (see FIG. 7). The container 10 can be detached by reversing this process, but of course this is not possible when the lid 14 of the container 10 is locked. Thus, the container can be first secured using locking pin 70 and the lid then locked so preventing a potential thief from stealing the container without first breaking the lid lock.

[0031] A further embodiment of the invention employing a different type of bracket is shown in FIGS. 12a-12c. A bracket 160 is again provided for securing the container 10 to the floor, the wall of a building or the like. Bracket 160 has a central aperture 192 adapted to accommodate the headed locking pin 70 and four outwardly spaced securing holes 72 provided to allow the bracket 160 to be secured by screws, bolts to, for example, a floor or a wall. The locking pin 70 of peg 78 is then inserted through the apertures and rotated so that the radial arm or arms 84 lockingly engage recesses (not shown) within aperture 192.

[0032] The container is preferably made of a thermally insulative material, for example moulded plastics and reinforced in appropriate regions (for example the handles) by embedded wire mesh. The base portion 12 and the lid 14 are preferably produced as single individual mouldings.

Claims

1. A goods deposit system comprising a storage container with

access means,

securing means, and

locking means for attaching or detaching the storage container from said securing means.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein said storage container has a wheel rotatably mounted thereon to facilitate transport

3. A system according to claim 1 wherein said access means comprise a lid or door hinged to said storage container wherein said lid or door has a lock.

4. A system according to claim 1 wherein said storage container provides a plurality of individual storage volumes.

5. A system according to claim 1 wherein said storage container provides a storage volume and has means for dividing said storage volume into a plurality of spaces in order to facilitate storage of items at varying temperatures.

6. A system according to claim 5 wherein said dividing means comprises a removable member made of a thermally insulative material

7. A system according to claim 1 comprising a thermal heat-sink and means of securing this within the storage container.

8. A system according to claim 7 wherein said thermal heat-sink provides cold in order to refrigerate at least a portion of a storage volume provided by the storage container.

9. A system according to claim 8 wherein said thermal heat-sink contains a eutectic mixture.

10. A system according to claim 7 wherein said thermal heat-sink provides heat in order to facilitate storage of goods within at least part of the storage volume at a temperature above ambient temperature.

11. A system according to claim 1 wherein said securing means is adapted for attachment to a static structure.

12. A system according to claim 1 wherein said securing means is adapted for attachment to a floor or a wall.

13. A system according to claim 12 wherein said storage container is adapted to be locked to said securing means located proximal a wall.

14. A system according to claim 1 wherein said securing means comprise a bracket with an aperture or recess adapted to receive the locking means.

15. A system according to claim 1 wherein said securing means comprises an upstanding male portion engageable with a corresponding female recess in said container.

16. A system according claim 1 wherein said locking means comprises a headed peg, said headed peg having a radial arm adapted to lock the storage container to said securing means by inserting said peg through an aperture in a wall of the storage container and an aperture or recess located within said securing means.

17. A system according to claim 16 wherein said peg and said apertures are adapted such that upon rotation of said peg relative to said securing means a locking position is obtained.

18. A system according to claim 1 wherein a wheel is located proximal one bottom end of the storage container and a handle is located proximal the opposite bottom end.

19. A system according claim 18 comprising a plurality of wheels.

20. A system according to claim 1 wherein the storage container is fabricated from a thermally insulating material.

21. A goods deposit system comprising a storage container wherein a handle attached to the storage container is adapted so that it co-operates with a wheel attached to the storage container such that in use either the bottom of the container or a side wall of the container may be maintained in a stable state parallel with a floor.

22. A system according to claim 21 wherein the storage container is fabricated from a thermally insulating material.