Secure containing device

A secure containing device with an adjustable volume for receiving and safeguarding items includes a bag, a rear cover, a mounting element connected to opposite sides of the bag, a lock assembly on the rear cover and protruding toward the mounting element, and an active element overlapping with the mounting element. When the mounting element moves to a closed position, the bag is compressed. When the mounting element moves to an unfolded position away from the rear cover, the bag presents a containing space. When the mounting element is in the unfolded position, the active element is movable and rotatable relative to the mounting element to cover a top of the bag and engage with the lock assembly.

FIELD

The subject matter herein generally relates to a containing device, in particular to a secure containing device having a security mechanism and an adjustable volume.

BACKGROUND

The use of Internet to buy and sell goods and transporting goods through logistics systems have become a common trading mode in recent years.

Logistics personnel may avoid making face-to-face contact with the receiving customer or the delivery customer to complete delivery or pickup operation if a secure facility can be made available.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The terms “coupled” and “connected” are defined as directly or indirectly through intervening components. The connection can be such that the objects are permanently connected or releasably connected. The term “comprising,” when utilized, means “including, but not necessarily limited to”; it specifically indicates open-ended inclusion or membership in the so-described combination, group, series, and the like.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown in FIG.1, a secure containing device1with an adjustable volume for receiving and safeguarding items is provided. A bag40of the secure containing device1may be covered by an active element60, thereby sealing the bag40to prevent items in the bag40from being stolen. Moreover, as shown inFIG. 2, after an authorized user has released a lock assembly20, the active element60can be separated from the lock assembly20to allow the user to open the bag40for picking up or unloading the items in the bag40. In this way, the items placed inside the bag40are secure.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a structure of the secure containing device1is described as follows.

FIG. 3is an exploded view of the secure containing device1in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the secure containing device1includes a rear cover10, the lock assembly20, four connecting-rod assemblies30, the bag40, a mounting element50, and the active element60. The components of the secure containing device1can be increased or decreased according to demand, and they are not limited to this embodiment.

In one embodiment, the bag40is a bag-like structure, including a body41and an inner cover42. The body41has an opening410at a top of the body41. A user can remove items placed in a containing space inside the body41, or can deposit items into the containing space inside the body41via the opening410. One side of the inner cover42is connected to an edge of the opening410, and the opening410can be closed by a suitable mechanism (e.g. zip). In one embodiment, both the body41and the inner cover42have waterproof coating. Since the bag40has a waterproof function, the items inside the bag40can be prevented from getting wet or being flooded due to external environmental factors.

In one embodiment, each of the four connecting-rod assemblies30includes a first connecting rod31, a second connecting rod32, and a hinge33connected to the first connecting rod31and the second connecting rod32. An end of the first connecting rod31far away from the second connecting rod32is affixed to the rear cover10by a hinge. An end of the second connecting rod32far away from the first connecting rod31is affixed to the mounting element50by a hinge. The bag40further includes a number of sleeves43disposed on two opposite sides of the bag40and close to upper and lower edges of the bag40. Each of the sleeves43extends along one of the edges of the bag40, and thus the four connecting-rod assemblies30can pass through the sleeves43. The bag40is connected to the mounting element50by the four connecting-rod assemblies30and the rear cover10. Due to the design of the four connecting-rod assemblies30, the bag40can have a flat look on each side surface thereof in an unfolded state (as shown inFIG. 3), and the bag40can have a very small volume in a compressed state (as shown inFIG. 4).

However, it should be noted that the present disclosure is not limited to this embodiment. In another embodiment, the secure containing device1may not include the four connecting-rod assemblies30and the connecting-rod assemblies30, and thus the bag40is directly connected to the rear cover10and the mounting element50.

As shown inFIG. 3, the lock assembly20is affixed to a top edge11of the rear cover10, and protrudes toward the mounting element50relative to a front surface13of the rear cover10. In one embodiment, the lock assembly20is an electronic lock, and has a housing21, a control panel22, and a physical lock23. The control panel22is disposed on a top surface of the housing21. The control panel22may include a display screen, a microphone, and one or more devices for detecting the identity of a person (for example: a camera for face recognition, an optical sensor for sensing a two-dimensional barcode, etc.). The physical lock23is disposed on a bottom surface of the housing21, and moveable relative to the housing21.

In one embodiment, when user information obtained by the control panel22matches a default setting of the lock assembly20, the control panel22sends a detection signal to a control system (not shown in figures). After the control system receives the detection signal, the control system sends a control signal to a driver (not shown in figures) coupled to the physical lock23and activates the driver. Afterwards, the driver drives the physical lock23back into the housing21, thereby completing an unlocking process. Conversely, when the user information obtained by the control panel22does not match, the physical lock23is not released. Identity data can be obtained or updated from a database via a wireless network in time.

The mounting element50faces the rear cover10, and the bag40is located between the rear cover10and the mounting element50. In one embodiment, the mounting element50includes a front frame51, two side frames52, and a decorative plate54. The decorative plate54is at a side of the front frame51. The two side frames52are disposed on two opposite sides of the front frame51, and the two opposite sides are in a horizontal direction. Each of the two side frames52has a guiding track53extending along a longitudinal direction of the two side frames52.

In particular, as shown inFIG. 5, the guiding track53extends from a first end531to a second end532. The first end531of the guiding track53is in a center area of each of the two side frames52, and the second end532of the guiding track53is adjacent to a top edge521of each of the two side frames52. Moreover, a segment of the guiding track53close to the first end531is inclined away from the front frame51(This feature will be explained later in the embodiment ofFIG. 6). Wheels70are disposed on bottom edges522of the two side frames52to assist the mounting element50to move on a horizontal plane.

The active element60can moveably disposed on the mounting element50. In one embodiment, the active element60includes a top frame61, two side frames62, and a retaining portion64. In one embodiment, the retaining portion64is connected to a top edge611of the top frame61, and includes a first retaining sheet641and a second retaining sheet642(as shown inFIG. 2). The first retaining sheet641is perpendicular to the second retaining sheet642, and the first retaining sheet641and the second retaining sheet642have locking holes643. A shape of the locking holes643corresponds to a shape of the physical lock23of the lock assembly20, and thus the physical lock23can pass through the locking holes643.

The two side frames62extend from two opposite sides of the top frame61, and the two opposite sides are in a horizontal direction. Two cylindrical protrusions63are formed on outer surfaces of the two side frames62, and adjacent to a bottom edge612of the top frame61. The active element60is mounted on the mounting element50by the two cylindrical protrusions63and the guiding tracks53.

In one embodiment, the active element60can slide to different locations of the guiding tracks53by a movement of the two cylindrical protrusions63relative to the guiding tracks53, and thus the active element60can be in an overlapping position or a functional position relative to the mounting element50. In particular, as shown inFIG. 6, when each of the two cylindrical protrusions63of the active element60slides to the first end531of the guiding track53, the active element60is in the overlapping position relative to the mounting element50. The segment of the guiding track53that is close to the first end531is inclined in a direction away from the front frame51. Therefore, when each of the two cylindrical protrusions63moves toward the first end531, a portion of the active element60that is close to the top edge611abuts against the front frame51. The structural stability of the active element60is increased and the active element60cannot be shaken in the front frame51, when it is overlapped in the mounting element50.

On the other hand, as shown inFIG. 7, when each of the two cylindrical protrusions63of the active element60slides to the second end532of the guiding track53, the active element60can be rotated relative to the mounting element50and set to the functional position. In the functional position, an angle between the active element60and the mounting element50may be equal to or approximately equal to 90 degrees. In the present disclosure, the term “approximately equal to” includes “equal to”.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the described embodiments. In another embodiment, the active element60is made of flexible material. The mounting element50includes a stick for the active element60winding. The active element60is wound on the stick in the overlapping position, and the active element60is drawn from the stick in the functional position.

As shown inFIGS. 8 to 13, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, operation of the secure containing device1is as follows.

In one embodiment, when the secure containing device1does not need to carry items, as shown inFIG. 6, the active element60is set to the overlapping position. Moreover, as shown inFIG. 8, the mounting element50can be moved toward the rear cover10and placed under the lock assembly20, so as to be in a closed position. At this time, the bag40between the mounting element50and the rear cover10is compressed by the mounting element50and the rear cover10. As shown inFIG. 4, when the bag40is compressed, an angle between the first connecting rod31and the second connecting rod32of each of the four connecting-rod assemblies30will be set at a first angle. The first angle may be less than 10 degrees, or equal to 0 degree. On the other hand, because the second retaining sheet642of the retaining portion64is in a horizontal configuration (as shown inFIG. 6), the physical lock23of the lock assembly20can pass through the locking hole643of the second retaining sheet642, thereby limiting a movement of the mounting element50relative to the rear cover10.

The processes for depositing items into the bag40are as follows. The lock assembly20is opened by operating the control panel22, so as to release the second retaining sheet642. Afterwards, as shown inFIG. 9, the mounting element50can be moved away from the rear cover10, so that the secure containing device1can be in an unfolded position. In one embodiment, the mounting element50slides on a flat plane via the wheels70, and thus the mounting element50can move smoothly. In one embodiment, when the secure containing device1is in the unfolded position, the bag40is in the unfolded state, and presents a containing space for receiving items. Moreover, a second angle is between the first connecting rod31and the second connecting rod32of each of the four connecting-rod assemblies30. The second angle is greater than the first angle, and is less than or equal to 180 degrees. For example, when the secure containing device1is in the unfolded position, the first connecting rod31is parallel to the second connecting rod32(as shown inFIG. 3), and the angle between the first connecting rod31and the second connecting rod32is 180 degrees.

Next, as shown inFIG. 10, the inner cover42of the bag40is opened, and the items can be put into the bag40. Moreover, the active element60is left up by holding the first retaining sheet641. At this time, as shown inFIGS. 6 and 7, each of the two cylindrical protrusions63of the active element60slides from the second end532of the guiding track53to the first end531of the guiding track53.

Next, as shown inFIG. 11, the inner cover42of the bag40is closed to seal the opening410of the bag40. Afterwards, as shown inFIG. 12, by holding the first retaining sheet641, the active element60can rotates 90 degrees relative to the mounting element50, so that the active element60is set to a functional position relative to the mounting element50, and covers the top of the bag40to limit the inner cover42opening.

Next, as shown inFIG. 13, the mounting element50moves slightly toward the rear cover10so that the first retaining sheet641reaches a location under the lock assembly20. Afterwards, the physical lock23passes through the locking hole643on the first retaining sheet641by operating a button on the control panel22, thereby fixing the first retaining sheet641to the lock assembly20. As a result, a movement between the mounting element50and the active element60can be limited, and the active element60covers the top of the bag40. In one embodiment, when the active element60covers the top of the bag40and engages with the lock assembly20, the two side frames62, the rear cover10, and the mounting element50, surround the opening410. Therefore, the items in the bag40are secured.