Garage door parcel receptacle

The present invention relates to a parcel receptacle device that allows for securely receiving packages and transferring the packages to the interior side of a wall or door which the parcel receptacle device is attached. This device is comprised of a plurality of elements including an interior mounting plate, an exterior mounting plate, a housing and a drawer. The housing and drawer may be detached from an interior mounting plate that is affixed to the wall or door. This device also provides an auto-locking door that automatically closes when the housing and drawing are detached. Accordingly, the auto-locking door securely closes the opening in the garage door, which previously allowed the drawer to slide through. The receptacle can later be reattached by unlocking the auto-locking door and then raising it upward. Once it is raised up to a pre-determined position, the housing and drawer may then be reattached to the interior mounting plate.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a parcel receptacle device that is installed in a wall or door, including a garage door, of a home or building.

B. Prior Art

Consumers are increasingly ordering more packages to be delivered to their residence and/or business. However, thieves have taken advantage of the increasingly popular deliveries by following delivery trucks, or simply waiting in or near neighborhoods for packages to be delivered. When the package is placed at the front of the residence, a thief may then walk up to the residence and steal the unsecured package. While there has been much innovation to deter theft of delivered packages, the problem persists.

The present device aims to solve this issue, by providing a device that may be attached to, and detached from, a garage door. When the device is attached, it can securely accept multiple packages throughout the day and place those packages inside the garage or home. The present device also provides an auto-locking door that automatically, and securely, closes the opening in the garage door, when the drawer and housing of the device are detached.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present application is for a parcel receptacle device that provides a drawer and housing that may be attached, and detached, from a wall or a door, including a garage door. When the parcel receptacle is attached to a garage door, it allows for one or more packages to be securely delivered by opening the drawer, inserting the package(s) into the drawer, and closing the drawer. As the drawer slides into a closed position, a drop-door in the floor of the drawer opens and allows the one or more packages to fall onto the interior floor of the garage or building whereby it is secure and hidden from public view. A housing opening is provided by the housing which allows for the drawer's drop-door to open and close.

To allow for the drawer and housing to be attached and detached, an interior mounting plate and exterior mounting plate are affixed to the garage door. The interior and exterior mounting plates each provide an opening for the drawer to slide through. The exterior mounting plate additionally provides a camera, and a doorbell to assist in deterring individuals from tampering with the device as well as notifying the recipient when a package has been delivered. The interior mounting plate provides a plurality of attachment points that allow for the drawer and housing to be attached and detached from the garage door. When the drawer and housing are detached, the interior mounting plate provides an auto-locking door, which automatically closes and locks to secure the opening in the garage door. The auto-locking door is pivotally attached to the interior mounting plate and can pivot to an open position when the housing and drawer are to be reattached to the garage door.

NUMBERING REFERENCE

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The presently described invention is a parcel receptacle device5, hereinafter referred to as the device5, that can be installed on a wall or door of a structure such that it may accept one or more delivered packages on one side of the wall or door and securely transfer the package(s) to other side of the wall or door. This device5is comprised of a drawer10that is placed in a housing20. The housing20is attached to the wall or door with at least one mounting plate.

Although the present device5will henceforth be described as being attached to a garage door1, it is anticipated that it may also be used within a window or attached to any door or wall of a building.

First Exemplary Embodiment

A first exemplary embodiment of the device5provides an exterior mounting plate25and an interior mounting plate30, as shown inFIG. 1. Referring toFIG. 3, the drawer10provides a plurality of rollers16, a handle17, a drawer opening19, and a drop-door15. The drop-door15is pivotally attached to the drawer10such that it is capable of opening and closing. The plurality of rollers16fit into, and roll within, the plurality of roller tracks22provided in the housing20to as assist the drawer10in translating, relative to the housing20, between an open position and a closed position. In addition to the plurality of roller tracks22, the housing20also provides a plurality of bottom mounting pin receivers23, a plurality of top mounting pins24, and a housing opening21. The housing opening21allows the drop-door15to open and close without being obstructed by the housing20.

It is anticipated for the housing20and drawer10to provide a plurality of cutouts35to reduce the overall mass and weight of the device5, as shown inFIG. 6.

The garage door1has an exterior side and an interior side. The exterior mounting plate25is affixed to the exterior side of the garage door1, and the interior mounting plate30is affixed to the interior side of the garage door1, which is shown inFIG. 1andFIG. 2. The exterior mounting plate25provides an exterior mounting plate opening, a camera26, and a doorbell27. It is anticipated that the camera26and the doorbell27may be linked wirelessly to an online network accessible by computer or mobile communication device. The exterior mounting plate opening has a width and height that are less than the width and height of the width and height of the housing20.

The interior mounting plate30provides an interior mounting plate opening, an auto-locking door31, a plurality of latch pins32, a hinge34, and a plurality of mounting pin holders33that cradle the plurality of top mounting pins24. The interior mounting plate opening has a width and height that are substantially equal to or greater than the width and height of the housing20. The hinge34further provides a hinge spring34awhich provides a rotational restoring force that assists the auto-locking door31to pivot about the hinge34to a closed position. Upon substantially reaching the closed position, the plurality of latch pins32automatically lock and secure the auto-locking door31to prevent opening from the exterior side of the auto-locking door31.

AsFIG. 1shows, when the auto-locking door31is rotated to an open position, it allows for housing20to attach to the interior mounting plate30. The housing20is inserted into the interior mounting plate opening such that the plurality of top mounting pins24are supported by the plurality of mounting pin holders33. Additionally, the plurality of latch pins32provided on the interior mounting plate, substantially align with, and are accepted by, the plurality of bottom mounting pin receivers23. Accordingly, the plurality of latch pins32being inserted into the plurality of mounting pin receivers23allow for a secondary support for the housing20when it is attached to the interior mounting plate30. The auto-locking door31further assists in stabilizing the housing20by providing as a counterweight for the housing20when the drawer10is open and assists in providing addition securement of the housing20to the interior mounting plate30.

Once the housing20is attached to the interior mounting plate30, the auto-locking door31is prevented from closing. Accordingly, the drawer10, which can either be inserted into the housing20before or after the housing20is attached to the interior mounting plate30, can translate to an open position when pulled by its handle17. Once the drawer10is opened, as shown inFIG. 9, the package is placed on top of the drop-door15.

After the package is placed on the drop-door15, the drawer10can then translate towards a closed position within the housing20. As the drawer10translates towards a closed position, the drop-door15begins to pivot about a drop-door hinge12due to the weight of the package. As the drop-door15pivots about the drop-door hinge12, the drop-door15passes through the housing opening21. The package, which was placed on top of the drop-door15, eventually falls to the floor on the interior side of the garage door1once the inclination of the drop-door15is large enough to allow the package to fall to the floor. Once the package is released, the drawer10may be reopened to receive another package. Consequently, the device5cleverly and securely transfers one or more delivered packages from the exterior side of the garage door1to the interior side of the garage door1such that the package is out of view from potential thieves. It is anticipated, and shown inFIG. 3, that the drop-door15may provide a plurality of counterweights18to assist the drop-door15in opening as the drawer10translates towards a closed position within the housing20. Additionally, it is anticipated that the drop-door15may be of comprised of a singular panel which is attached at the drop-door hinge12, which is shown inFIG. 3andFIG. 7; or, alternatively, is comprised of a plurality of panels wherein each panel of the plurality of panels is attached to one another with at least one single directional hinge (not shown).

In anticipation that the garage door1will likely be opened and closed, the housing20is designed to be removed from the interior mounting plate30. When the housing20is detached from the interior mounting plate30, the auto-locking door31pivots downward about the hinge34and the plurality of latch pins32engage the auto-locking door31such that it is locked in place. This allows for the garage door1to remain secure should the drawer10and housing20be detached from the interior mounting plate30.

In order to reattach the housing20to the interior mounting plate30, the plurality of latch pins32are required to be disengaged to allow the auto-locking door31to pivot upward, as shown inFIG. 1. Once the auto-locking door31is opened to a pre-determined position, the drawer10and housing20can then be reattached to the interior mounting plate30.

Second Exemplary Embodiment

A second exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides an alternative exterior mounting plate50and omits the required use of the interior mounting plate30. The alternative exterior mounting plate50has an exterior side50aand interior side50b. The exterior side50aprovides the camera26and doorbell27, and the interior side50bprovides the auto-locking door31, the plurality of latch pins32, and the plurality of mounting pin holders33, as shown inFIG. 11. The housing20attaches to the interior side50bof the alternative exterior mounting plate50, as shown inFIG. 13.

The auto-locking door31is attached to the interior side50bwith a hinge34and hinge spring34a. Accordingly, the auto-locking door31is raised prior to attachment of the housing20and is automatically and securely locked upon removal of the housing20.

It is anticipated that the housing20and drawer10in the second exemplary embodiment may provide a plurality of cutouts35(not shown).

While the embodiments of the invention have been disclosed, certain modifications may be made by those skilled in the art to modify the invention without departing from the spirit of the invention.