GB2483951A

GB2483951A - Lockable parcel receiving device on a door

Info

Publication number: GB2483951A
Application number: GB1108109.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anthony Richard Howe
Original assignee: HOWE RENOVATION (YORKS) Ltd
Current assignee: HOWE RENOVATION (YORKS) Ltd
Priority date: 2011-04-07
Filing date: 2011-05-13
Publication date: 2012-03-28
Anticipated expiration: 2031-05-13
Also published as: GB2483951B; GB201108109D0; GB201107011D0

Abstract

The invention relates to a parcel receiving device 10 for a door 1 having a front face 2, rear face 3 and an aperture 4 extending through the door 1. Device 10 has a front panel 11 having a first position to cover the aperture on the front face of the door and being removable to a second position to expose the aperture. A lock 18,19 is operable from the front face side of the door which allows the front panel 11 to be moved from the first position to the second position. A receptacle 20 receives a parcel X adjacent the front face of the door when the front panel is in the second position. Movement means 11,12,14 delivers the parcel through the aperture when the front panel is moved to the first position from the second position.

Description

Title: Parcel Receivingffievice for Door The present invention relates to a parcel receiving device for a door.

Many people shop on the internet which results in parcels being delivered to their homes by couriers. If a person is out of the house when a courier tries to make a delivery, the courier needs to schedule in a re-delivery time which is time consuming and wasteful both for the courier and the person wishing to receive the parcel.

The invention seeks to provide a solution to this problem.

According to the present invention there is provided a parcel receiving device for a door having a front face, rear face and an aperture extending through the door, said device comprising: a) a front panel having a first position to cover the aperture on the front face of the door and being removable to a second position to expose the aperture, b) a lock operable from the front face side of the door which allows said front panel to be moved from the first position to the second position, c) a receptacle to receive a parcel adjacent the front face of the door when the front panel is in the second position, and d) movement means to deliver the parcel through the aperture when the front panel is moved to the first position from the second position. * 1

Preferably the lock is a keypad which upon entry of a predetermined code allows said front panel to be moved from the first position to the second position Preferably a screen is provided to prevent a user looking through aperture into a building when the front panel is in the second position.

Preferably the movement means projects the parcel away from the second face of the door as the front panel is moved to the first position from the second position.

Preferably the device prevents a person accessing a parcel from the front face of the door which has been passed through the aperture.

Preferably the device allows access to a parcel passed through the aperture from the side of the door adjacent the second face.

Preferably the parcel receiving device has a folded out of use position whereby it does not project substantially from either the front face or rear face of the door.

In one embodiment the front panel, plate and movement means are in the form of a pair of rectangular panels joined at an angle to form a V-shaped tray with an apex, with the apex of the tray pivoted to the door adjacent the bottom of the door aperture. Preferably the panels are at an angle greater than 90 degrees.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a device with the front panel in the second position and Figure 2 shows a device with the front panel in the first position, and Figure 3 shows the device in a folded, out of use position.

Referring to Figure 1 there is shown a parcel receiving device 10 on a door 1. Door I has a front face 2, a rear face 3, and a rectangular aperture 4 extending through the door.

A pair of rectangular panels 11,12 are, in use, joined at an angle to form a V-shaped tray with an apex 13, with the apex 13 of the tray pivoted by a hinge 14 to the door adjacent the bottom of the door aperture 4. Preferably the panels are at an angle greater than 90 degrees, e.g. 110 degrees. Panels may be hinged together by hinge 15 so they can be folded together (see Figure 3), but in use may be kept angled apart by one or more removable stays 16.

Panel 11 forms a front panel having a first position (Figure 2) to cover the aperture 4 on the front face of the door and being removable to a second position (Figure 1) to expose the aperture 4 as it pivots about hinge 14. Panel 12 forms a rear panel which co-pivots (in normal use) with front panel 11. Panel 11 has a handle 17 to allow a user to move the panel.

A keypad 18 operates a lock 19 acting on the front panel 11, which, upon entry of a predetermined code, allows the front panel to be moved from the first position to the second position. Keypad may be mounted in any suitable location on the door 1 or adjacent the door 1.

The inside face of panel 11 forms a receptacle in the form of plate member 20 to receive a parcel "X" adjacent the front face of the door when the front panel is in the second position (see Figure 1).

A screen 21 is provided secured to the rear face 3 of door 1. When panel 11 is in the second position, panel 12 abuts against screen 21 (see Figure 1). This prevents a user looking through aperture into a building when the front panel is in the second position. Screen 211s pivoted to door I by hinge 22 so that it can fall parallel with the door, but in use may be kept angled to the door I as shown by one or more removable stays 23.

In use, a courier delivering a parcel "X", is given the predetermined code for the keypad in advance. The courier enters the predetermined code and pivots the front panel away from the front face of the door to its second position shown in Figure 1. The parcel is placed on the plate member 20. In this position rear panel 12 abuts against screen 21.

The courier then pivots the front panel from its second position to its first position as shown in Figure 2. The front and rear panels 11,12 and hinge 14 form a movement means and this action of pivoting the front panel delivers the parcel "X" through the aperture 4. Rear panel 12 is then inclined downwards (see Figure 1) and also forms a chute which projects the parcel away from the second face 3 of the door. This prevents the parcel from blocking the swinging movement of the door so that the door can be opened.

As shown in Figure 3, the parcel receiving device has a folded out of use position whereby it does not project substantially from either the front face of the door when stays 16 and 23 are removed.

It will be appreciated that the device prevents a person accessing a parcel from the front face of the door which has been passed through the aperture (i.e. once a parcel has passed through the aperture, it cannot be retrieved by opening the front panel 11 to its second position).

The device only allows access to a parcel passed through the aperture from the side of the door adjacent the second face. In other words the parcel can only be accessed from within inside the building.

The invention may take a form different to that specifically described above.

Further modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention. 4-.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A parcel receiving device for a door having a front face, rear face and an aperture extending through the door, said device comprising: a) a front panel having a first position to cover the aperture on the front face of the door and being removable to a second position to expose the aperture, b) a lock operable from the front face side of the door which allows said front panel to be moved from the first position to the second position, c) a receptacle to receive a parcel adjacent the front face of the door when the front panel is in the second position, and d) movement means to deliver the parcel through the aperture when the front panel is moved to the first position from the second position.
2. A parcel receiving device according to claim 1, wherein the lock is a keypad which upon entry of a predetermined code allows said front panel to be moved from the first position to the second position.
3. A parcel receiving device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a screen is provided to prevent a user looking through aperture into a building when the front panel is in the second position.
4. A parcel receiving device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the movement means projects the parcel away from the second face of the door as the front panel is moved to the first position from the second position.
5. A parcel receiving device according to any preceding claim, wherein the device prevents a person accessing a parcel from the front face of the door which has been passed through the aperture.
6. A parcel receiving device according to any preceding claim, wherein the device allows access to a parcel passed through the aperture from the side of the door adjacent the second face.
7. A parcel receiving device according to any preceding claim, wherein the parcel receiving device has a folded out of use position whereby it does not project substantially from either the front face or rear face of the door.
8. A parcel receiving device according to any preceding claim, wherein the front panel, plate and movement means are in the form of a pair of rectangular panels joined at an angle to form a V-shaped tray with an apex, with the apex of the tray pivoted to the door adjacent the bottom of the door aperture.
9. A parcel receiving device according to claim 8, wherein the panels are at an angle greater than 90 degrees.
10. A parcel receiving device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and a shown in the accompanying drawings.