Smart parcel safe

A smart parcel safe including a container defining an enclosure with an opening, a lid attached to the container by hinges and formed to fit over the opening and securely close the enclosure in a closed orientation, the lid being hinged to move from the closed orientation into an open orientation so as to provide access to the enclosure through the opening, a mobile communication device including an app designed to control locking/unlocking of an associated locking mechanism, and an electronically controlled locking mechanism affixed to the container and the lid, the electronically controlled locking mechanism being associated with the mobile communication device so as to be locked/unlocked in response to operation of the mobile communication device.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to secure safes that include “smart” electronics and apparatus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Hundreds of millions of parcels are delivered to homes and businesses yearly. Many of the parcels are lost, stolen, or damaged. Many deliveries require a signature or require someone to be at the point of delivery. Parcels may be held requiring multiple delivery attempts or requiring the recipient to go to the parcel service, spending gas, and valuable time waiting in long lines. Perishable parcels like groceries, medications, flowers, wine, and more, are either undeliverable, or at risk of being damaged or destroyed by being exposed to elements such as heat, cold, rain, wind, sun and other inclement weather and extreme conditions may also diminish the effect of medication, spoil food, and place people at risk. Mailing a parcel out currently requires a trip to a postal delivery company, or leaving a package exposed on a porch, where it can be damaged or stolen.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved smart parcel safe.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved smart parcel safe that syncs with a mobile device to remotely control functions.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved smart parcel safe that can sync with any delivery service smart device, or smart devices of other people with which the owner chooses to share.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved method of providing secure parcel delivery.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved method of providing secure parcel delivery from a parcel delivery service to an owner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly to achieve the desired objects and advantages of the instant invention in accordance with a preferred embodiment a smart parcel safe is provided including a container defining an enclosure with an opening, a lid attached to the container by hinges and formed to fit over the opening and securely close the enclosure in a closed orientation, the lid being hinged to move from the closed orientation into an open orientation so as to provide access to the enclosure through the opening, a mobile communication device including an app designed to control locking/unlocking of an associated locking mechanism, and an electronically controlled locking mechanism affixed to the container and the lid, the electronically controlled locking mechanism being associated with the mobile communication device so as to be locked/unlocked in response to operation of the mobile communication device or any synced mobile communication device.

To further achieve the desired objects and advantages of the present invention a method of providing secure parcel delivery is contemplated. The method includes a step of providing a container defining an enclosure with an opening, a lid attached to the container by hinges and formed to fit over the opening and securely close the enclosure in a closed orientation, the lid being hinged to move from the closed orientation into an open orientation so as to provide access to the enclosure through the opening, and an electronically controlled locking mechanism affixed to the container and the lid, the electronically controlled locking mechanism being associated with a mobile communication device so as to be locked/unlocked in response to operation of the mobile communication device. The method further includes the steps of providing a mobile communication device including an app designed to control locking/unlocking of the associated locking mechanism and syncing the owner mobile communication device with at least one parcel delivery service mobile communication device or other entity mobile communication device to interact with the delivery service or other entity and allow control of the locking/unlocking of the associated locking mechanism through the mobile communication device of the delivery service or other entity.

To further achieve the desired objects and advantages of the present invention a more specific method of providing secure parcel delivery from a parcel delivery service to an owner includes the following steps. The owner: providing a smart parcel safe including a container defining an enclosure with an opening, a lid attached to the container by hinges and formed to fit over the opening and securely close the enclosure in a closed orientation, the lid being hinged to move from the closed orientation into an open orientation so as to provide access to the enclosure through the opening, an electronically controlled locking mechanism affixed to the container and the lid, and an owner mobile communication device including an app designed to control locking/unlocking of an associated locking mechanism; the electronically controlled locking mechanism being associated with the owner mobile communication device so as to be locked/unlocked in response to operation of the owner mobile communication device. The parcel delivery service providing at least one parcel delivery service mobile communication device and syncing the owner mobile communication device with the at least one parcel delivery service mobile communication device to allow control of locking/unlocking of the associated locking mechanism through the at least one parcel delivery service mobile communication device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Turning now to the drawings in which like reference characters indicate corresponding elements throughout the several views, attention is directed toFIGS. 1 and 2which illustrate a smart parcel safe10in accordance with the present invention. Safe10includes a main container12and a lid14. In the present specific example, safe10is illustrated as a rectangularly shaped box, having an upwardly directed opening closed by lid14. However, it will be understood that container12can have an opening in a front or side, closed by lid14operating similar to a door on a refrigerator. Whether lid14closes a top, side, front, or back of container12, it will be considered a lid for convenience. It should also be understood that container12is shown as rectangular, but can be provided in any convenient shape. For example, safe10might be a stand-alone item or it could be incorporated into some specific piece of lawn or patio furniture, such as a table or bench, and could include a size and shape according to the piece of furniture. One example of a bench configuration is illustrated inFIGS. 3-7.

Generally, it is anticipated that safe10will be provided in a variety of sizes and the particular size selected by a user/owner will be in accordance with their specific needs. For example, it is anticipated that safe10might be provided in three sizes: a three seater bench; a two seater bench (love seat size); and a smaller item (like a commercially available storage container) for apartments and the like.

Multiple ways of securing container12to a porch or patio include metal screws attached to the bottom or base (not shown) or a metal rod or plate18affixed to the bottom of container12, as illustrated inFIG. 6B, and secured to a convenient structure by a cable or chain and lock, as illustrated inFIG. 6A. In a somewhat different arrangement, an additional hollow container, the same size in area as the bottom of container12, can be added to the bottom of container12and filled with heavy material (such as sand) to make safe10too heavy to move. In the preferred embodiment a GPS tracking mechanism is included within container12both for security and for use in locating safe10for delivery purposes, as will be explained in more detail later.

In one embodiment, safe10might also be provided as two separate units. The internal unit will look generally like a lightweight plastic cooler (see for exampleFIG. 5). The exterior will be selected at the time of purchase or separately and may be light weight plastic, faux wood, or other style or design of materials. Exteriors can be changed if desired when a different design or look is desired, e.g. holiday designs, sports teams, etc. Safe10can be wall mounted, door mounted, ground mounted, or freestanding with weighted material and can be constructed of any material, like plastic, steel, aluminum, brick, mortar, and wood.

Lid14will need to open to at least a vertical orientation and preferably an additional ten or twenty degrees, so that drones can drop deliveries and pick up deliveries. Lid14is attached to container12by one or more hinges16which may be any type of telescoping hinge available on the market. Hinges16will need to be controlled by wifi, like the hinges on the back of many SUVs. That is, push a button on the remote, illustrated as the lower button inFIG. 3, and the lid unlocks and is pushed open by the hinges, push a different button, illustrated as the upper button inFIG. 3, and the lid closes and locks.

Safe10is electronically “smart” in that it can sync with any smart device, delivery people or other people the owner chooses. Generally, the smart parcel safe is defined to include, in addition to safe10, an owner mobile communication device (see for exampleFIG. 3) with an app designed to control locking/unlocking of the associated locking mechanism of safe10(see lock22described below) and may be interpreted to include one or more synched delivery service mobile communication devices or mobile devices of other entities. The smart functions include: lock, unlock, auto lock, options of presetting, connecting with delivery persons, and exchange of communication such as secure signature including verification with biometric, finger print via the app for secure signature and payment, delivery times, contents, sender, receiver, weight, costs, special instructions, and cooling/heating unit conditions and functions. Safe10is trackable due to the GPS tracking mechanism included within container12and can include voice controlled, hands free. Safe10can also include smart speakers, microphone, ability to record both audio and video, cameras, voice commands, biometric identification, LED lights20within container12, etc. Safe10can also communicate with drones or any other type of device which is utilized for deliveries and pick-ups. In one specific example contemplated for use in a smart parcel safe which may be moved from a normal position (e.g. carried by the owner to a different location) the GPS tracking mechanism included within container12allows a parcel delivery service or other authorized entity to locate the actual position of the smart parcel safe anywhere within a reasonable area. A drone (for example) can then fly to the location and using a synced communication device, open or unlock the smart parcel safe. In this example, hinges16will need to be controlled by wifi as explained above, like the hinges on the back of many SUVs. That is, push a button on the remote in the drone, and the lid unlocks and is pushed open by the hinges, push a different button and the lid is closed by the hinges and locks. Further, lid14will need to open to at least a vertical orientation and preferably an additional ten or twenty degrees, so that the drone can drop deliveries and pick up deliveries.

A portion of a lock22is affixed near an upper edge of container12and a mating portion is affixed near a lower edge of lid14(also illustrated inFIG. 7). Lock22is any commercially available electronic device that is operable remotely through any smart device, such as a telephone or the like, through well-known and commercially available apps. Safe10automatically locks when it is closed and notification of the status of safe10, e.g. locked, unlocked, alarm activated because someone jimmied the lock, safe10is being moved, etc. is provided through the same app. When a delivery person is standing in front of safe10(as illustrated, for example, inFIG. 3), their app, which coordinates with the owner's app, can have preset settings to auto unlock when the delivery person pushes his unlock button, or, the owner can preset safe10to send an alert that the delivery person is there and requesting that safe10be unlocked at which time the owner can remotely unlock safe10. The smart functions will also be able to communicate with drones or any mechanical computerized device, so that when a drone is in front of safe10with a delivery, or pick-up, the drone can automatically open safe10, drop or pick up the package and close the safe, at which time it will automatically lock. Here it should be noted that in the preferred embodiment the safe further includes an alarm incorporated to activate in response to unauthorized activity in conjunction with the safe. For example, any movement of the safe, attempts to open the lid, etc. will activate a loud audio device, such as a siren, horn, or the like and generally will also be indicate in some visual display.

As an optional feature, safe10can include a smart temperature control refrigeration unit. This is especially useful for owners that receive regular shipments of medicine, wine, food, etc. In the preferred embodiment illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2, a smart temperature control refrigeration unit24is included at the right of container12for cooling/heating safe10. A fan circulation outlet25is provided in the front wall of container12along with a control and display panel26. Cooling/heating unit24of safe10communicates via Bluetooth or a similar concept, so cooling/heating unit24can be turned off and on remotely. Generally, Bluetooth and the like only work for short distances which would be sufficient for operation by drones or delivery people. In some special circumstances, cooling/heating unit24may be controlled by the same app that operates the other functions, so that it can be turned on and off from the app and also notifies the owner/operator that it is in use and can include the temperature settings and conditions.

Smart temperature control refrigeration units sizes, to cool or warm, vary for different size containers. For a large container the refrigerator unit may be 12 volts preferably provided by two lithium ion batteries, (one of which is removed and recharged when necessary, and the other stays in and runs the unit during the recharging}. As will be understood by the artisan, all of the electronics of safe10are energized by the same source of power, in the preferred embodiment the lithium batteries, but which may be provided and/or backed-up by an AC adapter, solar panel adapter, and the like. These temperature control refrigeration units will take up about ⅓ of the space of the larger safe10, it will take up less than ½ of the space of the middle size container, and it will be the entire space of the smaller container. Even if the refrigeration unit is controlled by an app, the following is preferred. The off/on switch is located at the top of the unit, so that when a delivery is made that needs to have the refrigeration unit on, the delivery person places the items inside, closes the lid and turns the unit on. When the owner/operator takes the items out of safe10, the unit is easily turned back off. Here it should be noted that safe10may be powered by electricity from a source in the nearby building (commercial electricity), batteries (described above), solar panels or various combinations thereof.

Primarily, safe10is designed to interact with delivery services such as Fedex, UPS, USPS, food delivery services, flower deliveries, and the like, so that a deliverer may notify the owner via smart device, and can communicate special delivery instructions, package too large for the system, rescheduling a delivery time, and signature confirmation. The system may also provide estimates for outgoing parcels, process secure card payments for outgoing parcels, and the like. Typically, the owner of safe10has a mobile communication device that is programmed to interact with the locking mechanism of safe10generally referred to herein as an “app”. In practice, the app contains some security feature (e.g. password, number, etc.) which allows only the owner to unlock safe10. In at least one method used in the present system the app, or a portion thereof, for controlling safe10is communicated to at least one parcel delivery service, hereinafter referred to as “syncing a mobile communication device of the delivery service”. In this fashion the at least one parcel delivery service is authorized to interact with safe10and allow control of the locking/unlocking of the associated locking mechanism through a mobile communication device of the delivery service.

Upon delivery of a parcel or package, safe10can submit an automatic notification to a synced mobile device, alerting owners of the delivery. Safe10can remain locked until accessed by owners via their mobile device or in person. After owners unlock the container and retrieve their package, safe10can remain unlocked until the next delivery. Owners may also lock safe10and program it to unlock before the next delivery. As explained above, safe10may be powered by electricity, batteries, and/or solar panels and can be offered in various shapes and sizes to accommodate user needs. The exact specifications may vary upon manufacturing.

Referring toFIG. 8, the smart parcel safe system or operation is summarized in a block diagram illustrating the various components of the smart parcel safe system. Smart parcel safe10is provided by an owner who is anticipating receiving parcels from a delivery service and/or from some other party. The owner of smart parcel safe10has or otherwise provides a communication device30, generally a mobile smart phone or other mobile communication device. Communication device30includes an app for communicating with smart parcel safe10to lock and unlock safe10, indicated by line32. For purposes of safely delivering a parcel to the owner, a parcel delivery service or other entity is contacted by the owner in a normal business or personal fashion. To provide and promote the safe delivery, the parcel delivery service or other entity provides a mobile communication device40which, in communication with owner communication device30, receives the app for communicating with smart parcel safe10. When the parcel delivery service or other entity delivers a parcel, they use mobile communication device40to unlock safe10. They then place the parcel in safe10, close the lid and, in instances where safe10does not automatically lock when closed, the parcel delivery service or other entity uses mobile communication device40to lock safe10. The parcel delivery service or other entity may or may not communicate to the owner through mobile communication device40and owner communication device30that the parcel has been delivered. The owner can then use owner communication device30to open safe10, remove the parcel and again lock safe10.

Referring additionally toFIG. 9, a flow chart is provided illustrating generally sequential steps in the safe parcel delivery process. In STEP1, the owner provides (generally already owns) a communication device30, generally a mobile smart phone or other mobile communication device. In STEP2, the owner provides a smart parcel safe10and installs or otherwise places an app in communication device30that is capable of locking and unlocking safe10. In STEP3, the owner communicates with a parcel delivery service or other entity in a normal business or personal fashion and determines that they have a smart communication device40. In this step the owner syncs communication device30with communication device40by introducing the app into communication device40. In STEP4, the parcel delivery service or other entity delivers a parcel to safe10, using communication device40to unlock safe10, open safe10and place the parcel inside, close the lid and again using communication device40lock safe10. In an optional STEP5, the parcel delivery service or other entity notifies the owner that the parcel has been delivered, this may be through communication device40to communication device30or by some other means of communication. In STEP6, as a final step, the owner retrieves the parcel from safe10by using communication device40to unlock safe10, remove the parcel and then using communication device40to lock safe10(assuming safe10does not lock automatically when closed.

Thus, a new and improved smart parcel safe is disclosed which syncs with mobile devices to remotely control functions. The smart parcel safe can sync with any smart device, delivery people, or other people with which the owner chooses to share and is constructed to inconvenience thieves and the like. Also, the smart parcel safe can be provided in various configurations of different complexities from a simple container that can be remotely locked and unlocked from a mobile device to a container including a heating/cooling unit and/or various communication devices (e.g. alarms, video/audio, etc.) Also a new and improved smart parcel safe delivery system or operation is disclosed.