Delivery door

A delivery door may include a frame having a slot, an interior flange and an exterior flange. A panel may be attached to the frame and comprise a closed configuration and an open configuration. A securing device may be connected to the frame and the panel. The securing device may be a remote accessed internet enabled lock assembly. In certain embodiments, the panel may have a handle and a stopper. The panel may also be motorized. The delivery door may include a receptacle attached to the internal flange and the frame. The delivery door may be attached to a cut out portion of the structure. The securing device may be controlled from a wireless device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to doors and more particularly a delivery door used to provide access into private properties for the delivery or collection of parcels, and more particularly through walls, doors and other structural facades, when no one is present to grant access.

People when not home or in the office have difficulty in having parcels delivered or collected in a safe and secure way without granting the delivery or collection person access into the property.

With the rise in convenience services such as online shopping and home collection and return of laundry and dry-cleaning and the like, a solution is needed for such deliveries and collections to occur safely without anyone being present at the property to grant access.

As can be seen, there is a need for a delivery door that allows access and egress of parcels and items through a closed entrance door or wall of a residential home, commercial building and the like, without granting access to the person collecting or delivering the said parcel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a delivery door comprises: a frame having a slot, an interior flange and an exterior flange; a panel that connects to the frame, wherein the panel comprises an opened configuration and a closed configuration; and a securing device connected to the frame and the panel.

In another aspect of the present invention, a delivery door comprises: a frame having a slot, an interior flange and an exterior flange; a panel comprising a stopper and a handle, wherein the panel connects to the frame, wherein the panel comprises an opened configuration and a closed configuration; and a remote accessed internet enabled lock assembly connected to the frame and the panel, wherein the remote accessed internet enabled lock assembly is controlled by a wireless device.

In another aspect of the present invention, a method of allowing delivery access to a secured area through a closed structure without granting access to the person delivering a parcel comprises: producing a cutout on a structure; fitting a delivery door into the cutout on the structure, wherein the delivery door comprises a frame having a slot, an interior flange and an exterior flange; a panel that moves along the slot of the frame, wherein the panel has a handle and a stopper; and a remote accessed internet enabled lock assembly connected to the frame and the panel, wherein the remote accessed internet enabled lock assembly comprises a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein the locked position comprises a part of the remote accessed internet enabled lock assembly making contact with a lock receiver attached to the panel, wherein the unlocked position comprises breaking contact with the lock receiver on the panel; communicating with and operating the remote accessed internet enabled lock using a wireless device through a program product including a machine-readable program code; registering a delivery; notifying an individual in possession of the wireless device that a delivery is requested; shifting the remote accessed internet enabled lock to the unlocked configuration using the wireless device; opening the panel and placing the parcel inside of the structure; closing the panel; and shifting the remote accessed internet enabled lock to the locked configuration from the wireless device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a delivery door that may include a frame having a slot, an interior flange and an exterior flange. A panel may be attached to the frame and comprise a closed configuration and an open configuration. A securing device may be connected to the frame and the panel. The securing device may be a remote accessed internet enabled lock assembly. In certain embodiments, the panel may have a handle and a stopper. The panel may also be motorized. The delivery door may include a receptacle attached to the internal flange and the frame. The delivery door may be attached to a cut out portion of a structure. The securing device may be controlled from a wireless device.

The present invention may be fitted onto an external door during manufacture of the door. The delivery door fitted onto an external door during manufacture may allow access and exit of parcels into and out off a residential home, commercial building and the like, by use of a wireless device. In certain embodiments, the delivery door may be retrofitted onto an existing door, and the like, by a cutout or opening being made into the existing door.

The present invention may be fitted onto a wall or other structural facade during construction of the structure. The delivery door fitted onto the façade of a structure during construction may allow access and exit of parcels into and out off the structure by use of a wireless device. In certain embodiments, the delivery door may be retrofitted onto an existing structure or the like by a cutout or opening being made into the existing structure.

The present invention may include at least one computer with a user interface. The computer may include any computer including, but not limited to, a desktop, laptop, and smart device, such as, a tablet and smart phone. The computer may include a program product including a machine-readable program code for causing, when executed, the computer to perform steps. The program product may include software which may either be loaded onto the computer or accessed by the computer. The software may include an application on a wireless device such as a smartphone or tablet. The software may be accessed by the computer using a web browser, by a wireless device using an application, a text message or the like. The computer may access the software using an internet connection, internet, extranet, intranet, host server, internet cloud and the like.

As is illustrated inFIGS. 1 through 10, the delivery door may include a frame10. The frame10may include a slot12along at least one side of the frame10. The frame10may also include an interior flange15and an exterior flange14. A panel18may be attached and slide along the slot12of the frame10. A securing device may be connected to the frame10and the panel18. In certain embodiments, the securing device may be a remote accessed internet enabled lock assembly. The interior flange15and the exterior flange14may hold the delivery door in place and improve its aesthetic appearance

The remote accessed internet enabled lock assembly22,34may be connected to the frame10and a lock receiver16attached to the panel18. The lock assembly22,34may include a base portion22and a lock pin34. In certain embodiments, a handle20and a stopper32may be attached to the panel18.

In certain embodiments, a wireless device30may be used to operate the remote accessed internet enabled lock22,34to cause the locking of the panel18against the frame10. The locking action may be caused by a part of the remote accessed internet enabled lock22,34making contact with the lock receiver16. The unlocking action may be caused by a part of the remote accessed internet enabled lock22,34breaking contact with the lock receiver16. The delivery door may be attached to a structure such as an entrance door26, wall, structural façade or the like.

In certain embodiments, an individual28, such as a homeowner or the like, may allow for the present invention to be included in their location. When a delivery person uses a doorbell or knocks or stands within a certain distance of the delivery door, the remote accessed internet enabled lock assembly may detect such an action and communicate with the individual's wireless device30such as a smartphone, or tablet through an application or SMS text message, alerting the individual28that someone is at the door26requesting access. The individual28may then unlock the panel18using an application or SMS text message or the like from a wireless device30. The delivery person may then pull up the panel18using the handle20and may insert or extract the parcel through the opening. The delivery person may then push down on the handle20to the panel18. The closing action may cause the remote accessed internet enabled lock22,34to lock itself automatically. In certain embodiments, the homeowner may choose to lock it from their wireless device30.

The remote accessed internet enabled lock assembly may be obtained from a supplier. The frame10, the interior flange15and the exterior flange14may be made from a rigid, weatherproof material such as, rigid PVC, plastic, metal, wood composite material or the like. The manufacturing method of the frame10, the interior flange15, the exterior flange14and the handle20may be by cutting and joining linear profiles, by injection molding or the like. The panel18may be made of the same materials in a flat sheet form or a roller shutter form. The receptacle24may be made of plastic, metal with rubber coating or the like.

In certain embodiments, the panel18may have a stopper32so that the panel18may stop extending along the slot12once fully open. The slot12and panel18may be placed along the frame10so that the panel18may move in a vertical movement. In certain embodiments, the panel18may be positioned horizontally with the handle20on one side rather than at the top. The handle20may be pulled sideways to cause the panel18to open.

In certain embodiments, the panel18may be hingely connected to the frame10and the handle20may be relocated to an exterior face of the panel18. The panel18may open in a swinging hinged action rather than in a vertically sliding action. In certain embodiments, the slot12may be omitted. In certain embodiments, the panel18may be segmented and may move by rolling up vertically while maintaining its path by using the slot12as a guide.

In certain embodiments a receptacle24may be attached to an interior flange15and the frame10so as to hold any parcel that might be delivered or require collection through the panel18of the present invention.

In certain embodiments, seals may be attached along an external edge of the frame10and external flange14in order to improve weather proofing. In certain embodiments, rather than manually opening the panel18using the handle20, a motor may be incorporated and attached to the frame10or to the door26and used to automatically open and close the panel18.

In certain embodiments, a hook may be added to an internal side of the structure26for hanging of items such as pressed laundry and dry cleaning when delivered or prior to collection. In certain embodiments, a sensor may be added to the motorized delivery door in conjunction with a transmitter placed on pets which may enable the delivery door to open when a pet approaches it, allowing it to double as a pet door.

In certain embodiments, an individual28may have a hole cut out in their front door, wall or other structural facade. The individual28may then install the delivery door. The individual may follow the remote accessed internet enabled lock manufacturer's instructions to install the application or use the SMS functionality to the wireless device30. When a delivery or collection person next calls, the individual28may be alerted on their wireless device30, such as a smart phone, to open the panel18. Through a program product including a machine-readable program code, an application or SMS message may be sent to notify the individual28when access may be required. The sending of the notification may be initiated by the use of a doorbell, a knock, a sensing of motion or the like. The functionality to register a delivery through detecting the use of a doorbell, a knock or sensing motion may be a property of the remote accessed internet enabled lock22,34. The individual28may then unlock the remote accessed internet enabled lock22,34using the wireless device30. The remote accessed internet enabled lock22,34may shift to an unlocked configuration by a part of it breaking contact with the lock receiver16. The delivery or collection person may open the delivery door by lifting the handle20, causing the panel18to move upwards. The parcel may be placed inside or removed from the inside of the property. The delivery person may close the panel18themselves by pushing down on the handle20, the remote accessed internet enabled lock22,34may detect closure of the panel18and cause itself to shift to a locked configuration by coming into contact with the lock receiver16. In certain embodiments, the individual28may lock the delivery door using the wireless device30, causing the remote accessed internet enabled lock22,34to shift to the locked configuration by a part of it coming into contact with the lock receiver16.

In certain embodiments, the delivery door may be used in any field where access may be required to be granted remotely such as to allow air into a room to avoid stuffiness and the like. In certain embodiments, the delivery door may be fitted onto any structure26, structural façade such as a wall of a building, onto a door of an office or shop, onto the body of a vehicle and the like.