Abstract:
A storage device ( 10, 100 ) configured to be mounted to or near a house or other building for storing delivered goods. The storage device is shiftable between an expanded position wherein the device occupies a relatively large amount of space when in use and a collapsed position wherein the storage device occupies a relatively small amount of space when not in use.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of provisional application entitled Collapsible Storage Device for the Delivery and Pickup of Goods, Ser. No. 60/110,681, filed Dec. 2, 1998, incorporated into the present application by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to storage devices for holding goods that are delivered or to be picked up. More particularly, the invention relates to a storage device that has ample room for storing delivered goods when in use and that may be selectively collapsed to occupy a smaller space when not in use. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Home delivery of goods has become an increasingly popular way for consumers to reduce shopping time. Many retail stores allow consumers to order clothes, appliances, furniture and other goods from catalogues for direct delivery to their homes. Similarly, many laundry and dry cleaning businesses pick up and deliver laundry directly to consumers— homes, and many grocery stores deliver groceries directly to consumers homes. 
     The rapid growth of the Internet has further increased the home delivery industry. Many retailers such as Amazon.com permit consumers to see images of and order goods from the Internet. The goods are then shipped directly from the manufacturer to the consumer rather than to a conventional retail store. 
     To secure delivered goods from theft and damage, lockable storage devices for enclosing the goods have been developed. These devices typically include fixed walls forming an enclosure big enough to hold a variety of items including groceries, packages and dry cleaning. Unfortunately, however, when the devices are not in use, they may take up unnecessary space. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, there is a need for a storage device that has ample room for the storage of items when it is in use but that occupies a smaller space when not in use. The present invention solves the above-described problems and provides a distinct advance in the art of storage devices for delivered goods. More particularly, the present invention provides a storage device that has ample room for the storage of a variety of delivered goods when in use and that may be selectively collapsed or folded to occupy a smaller space when not in use. 
     One embodiment of the storage device broadly includes a lower section and an upper section both including walls defining an enclosed space for holding delivered goods. The walls are configured so that they may be selectively shifted between an expanded position when in use and a collapsed position when not in use. Moreover, the storage device may include a mechanism for permitting one of the lower and upper sections to be stored within the other section when the sections are collapsed to further reduce the space occupied by the storage device. 
     Another embodiment of the storage device broadly includes a hood configured for mounting to a wall or other support and an enclosure depending from the hood. The enclosure also may include a plurality of foldable walls that may be unfolded to a fully expanded position beneath the hood for holding goods when in use and then folded to a compact position below the hood when not in use. 
     Both embodiments of the storage device may also include a refrigeration unit for chilling goods or a heating unit for heating goods stored therein. Both embodiments also preferably include a lock for locking the device, a lock operator for operating the lock, an input device such as a keypad operable by a person to control the lock operator, and a communication and control apparatus for controlling entry to the enclosure and for providing a notification that goods have been delivered to or picked up from the storage device. 
     Other objects, features and advantages will be understood by persons skilled in the art in view of the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention is illustrated in the drawing figures wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a storage device constructed in accordance with a first preferred embodiment shown in its fully collapsed state; 
     FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the storage device of FIG. 1 shown in its fully expanded state; 
     FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the storage device of FIG. 1 in its fully collapsed state; 
     FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the storage device of FIG. 1 after it has been partially expanded; 
     FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the storage device of FIG. 1 in its fully expanded state; 
     FIG. 6 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view of the right side of the storage device of FIG. 1 in its fully collapsed state; 
     FIG. 7 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view of the right side of the storage device of FIG. 1 in its fully expanded state; 
     FIG. 8 is an isometric view of a storage device constructed in accordance with a second preferred embodiment shown in its fully expanded state; 
     FIG. 9 is an isometric view of the storage device of FIG. 8 shown with its front wall opened for permitting delivery or removal of goods therefrom; 
     FIG. 10 is an isometric view of the storage device of FIG. 8 shown in its fully collapsed state; and 
     FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of control elements of the first and second preferred embodiments of the storage device. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIGS. 1-7 and  11  illustrate a storage device  10  constructed in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention. The storage device is configured for mounting to a frame  12  which is in turn mounted to the exterior wall of a house or other building and is shiftable between a fully collapsed position illustrated in FIG. 1 and a fully expanded position illustrated in FIG.  2 . This enables the device to be squeezed shut and pressed thin against the building when it is not in use and then expanded out and up when goods such as laundry and/or groceries are to be placed therein. 
     The device  10  broadly includes a lower section  14 , an upper section  16 , and an optional refrigeration unit  18 . The lower section is positioned within the confines of the upper section when the device is in its fully collapsed position and can be expanded outwardly away from the building, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, when the device is in use. The upper section fits over the lower section when the device is collapsed and may be expanded both outwardly away from the building and upwardly above the lower section. 
     In more detail, the lower section  14  includes a front wall  20  having a hinged door  22  therein, a rear wall  24 , a bottom wall  26 , and a pair of flexible, foldable sidewalls  28 . A door switch  29  (FIG. 11) may be mounted adjacent the door for sensing opening and closing of the door. 
     As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the inside edge of the bottom wall  26  is mounted to a fixed pivot rod  30  and the outside edge is mounted to a movable pivot rod  32 . The ends of the moveable pivot rod  32  are in turn connected to a pair of foldable over-the-center braces  34 . The lower portion of the rear wall  24  includes a foldable segment  36  connected between the fixed pivot  30  and another movable pivot  38 . The bottom wall  26 , sidewalls  28 , braces  34  and foldable segment  36  each may unfold when the lower section is expanded, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. As best illustrated in FIG. 2, one of the sidewalls  28  and the frame  12  may have a port formed therein for introducing chilled air into the device from the refrigeration unit  18 . 
     The upper section  16  includes a front wall  40  having a hinged door  42  therein, a rear wall  44 , a flexible, foldable top wall  46 , and a pair of flexible, foldable sidewalls  48 . As illustrated in FIG. 2, the sidewalls  48  may be supported by a pair of foldable struts  52 . As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the rear wall is mounted to a pair of telescoping guides or rails  50  that guide and support the upper section when it is expanded upwardly above the lower section. 
     As illustrated in FIG. 2, the storage device  10  also may include collapsible, hinged shelves  54 , or garment hooks, or a combination thereof. The hinged shelves are folded down, so that they are positioned vertically against the front or rear wall when the storage device is collapsed, but then are folded out and supported by a latch or other mechanism on the opposite wall when the device is expanded. 
     The refrigeration unit  18  is preferably configured to fit adjacent to or under the lower section  14  but also may be positioned remotely such as inside the building to which the device is attached. Alternatively, refrigeration unit  18  may be part of an existing refrigerator or refrigeration device located inside the building. The modularity of this design allows the storage device to be sold either with or without the refrigeration unit. The device also may be equipped with a similar heating unit  19  (FIG. 11) for keeping delivered foods warm. As with refrigeration unit  18 , heating unit  19  may be positioned adjacent to or under the lower section  14  or remotely to lower section  14 . Further, heating unit  18  may be part of an existing heating device located within the building. 
     As illustrated in FIG. 11, the storage device  10  includes a lock  56  for locking the door  42  and a lock operator  58  for locking and unlocking the lock. In preferred forms, the lock operator includes an input device such as a alphanumeric keypad  60  for permitting the entry of keycodes. As described in more detail below, the lock operator unlocks the lock only when a correct keycode is entered into the keypad. The lock operator also may be coupled with other types of entry controlling devices such as a card reader, voice recognition device, fingerprint identification system, infrared sensor, bar code reader, or radio signal controlled or contactless smart card having a computer microchip embedded thereon, or the like. 
     In preferred forms, the storage device  10  also includes a communication and control apparatus  62  for controlling access to the device and for providing notification that goods have been delivered to or picked up from the device. As illustrated in FIG. 11, the preferred communication and control apparatus broadly includes a controller  64  and a transmitting device  66 . The communication and control apparatus is described in more detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,774,053, which is incorporated herein by reference. The components of controller  64  may be proximately or remotely located with respect to upper and lower sections  14  and  16 . 
     As illustrated in FIG. 11, the controller  64  is operably coupled with the keypad  60 , the door lock operator  58 , the door switch  29 , an indicator  67 , the refrigeration unit  18 , and the heating unit  19 . The controller and the other powered components of the storage device receive electrical power from an AC or DC power source such as a 120v AC outlet or a solar cell. The storage device also may include a battery for providing backup operation of the device in case of a power failure. 
     The controller  64  is preferably a programmable logic controller (PLC), a microcomputer or other microprocessor device, but may also be a home security system controller, such as those manufactured and sold by the ADT Corporation or Brinks Security Corporation, that is programmed to operate as described herein. The controller has a memory device for storing a plurality of vendor codes. A permanent or temporary vendor code is assigned to each vendor that delivers goods to or picks up goods from the storage device. For example, a laundry and dry cleaning business may be assigned a vendor code of 333, whereas a local grocery store may be assigned a vendor code of 444. Numerous other vendors also may be assigned unique vendor codes. All of these vendor codes are stored in the memory device of the controller. Vendor codes may include transaction codes comprising codes identifying a vendor, a vended item or items, and a delivery agent. 
     For further security, each vendor also may assign each of their delivery people with their own unique employee code. This permits the controller  64  to not only identify which vendor makes deliveries, but also to identify which delivery person employed by the vendor is making the delivery. 
     A plurality of vendor messages, each of which may be associated with a particular vendor code, also are preferably stored in the memory device of the controller  64 . For example, the message “Laundry has been delivered” may be stored in association with the vendor code 333 for the laundry and dry cleaning business, and the message “Groceries have been delivered” may be stored in association with the vendor code 444 for the grocery store. The vendor messages may be audio messages stored on an audio tape device, such as a telephone answering machine coupled with or internal to the controller, or may be digitized and stored in the memory device of the controller. 
     The transmitting device  66  is coupled with and responsive to the controller  64  and is operable for sending the vendor messages to remote locations whenever a delivery has been made. The transmitting device  66  may be a communication device such as a telephone, programmable answering machine, modem, DSL converter, or ISDN converter configured for sending analog or digital messages over a conventional telecommunications network such as a telephone line, a local area network, or a wide area network. The transmitting device  66  may also be an electromagnetic signal transmitter/receiver for transmitting the vendor messages over a wireless network, eg., a radio network. 
     The communication and control apparatus  62  also may include an alarm, such as a rotating or flashing light, a horn, or bell for security. The controller  64  may be programmed to activate the alarm if the door  22  of the device is forced open or if a person otherwise tampers with the storage device  10  without first entering a valid vendor code or homeowner code. The controller also may be programmed to send an alarm message to the police or a security company if any of these alarm conditions occur. Alternatively, if controller  64  is part of a home security system, an attempt to force open the device may trigger alarms and indications associated with the home security system. 
     The communication and control apparatus  62  is preferably part of a delivery system that allows messages to be sent to and received from several locations remote from the enclosure. For example, a remote communications apparatus may be placed in the homeowner&#39;s home and another remote communication apparatus may be positioned in a vendor&#39;s business. The remote communication apparatuses are similar to the communication and control apparatus  62  and each includes controller  64  and transmitting device  66 . 
     In operation, a vendor makes a delivery to the storage device  10  by first entering a keycode into the keypad  60 . The controller  64  compares the keycode to the stored vendor codes and instructs the lock operator  58  to unlock the lock  56  only if the keycode matches one of the vendor codes. 
     If the entered keycode matches a vendor code, the controller  64  also retrieves the vendor message associated with the matched vendor code and sends it to the transmitting device  66  for transmitting to one or both of the remote communication apparatuses. Transmitter and receiver devices or transceiving devices of the remote communication apparatuses receive the vendor message, demodulate or otherwise process the message, and send the message to their respective controllers. The remote controllers then display the message or otherwise indicate that a delivery has been made. 
     The communication and control apparatus  62  and the remote communication apparatuses also may be configured to permit the homeowner to send a message or notification to a vendor that goods are available for pickup. For this operation, a plurality of unique homeowner codes and a plurality of homeowner messages are stored in the memory of the controller  64 . For example, the homeowner code 555 and the homeowner message “Please pick up laundry at XXXX Street” may be stored in the controller for notifying a laundry business that laundry needs to be picked up. 
     Whenever the homeowner wishes to have goods picked up from the storage device  10 , he or she merely enters one of these homeowner codes into the keypad  60 . The controller  64  then determines if the entered homeowner code matches one of the stored homeowner codes. If it does, the controller unlocks the lock operator  58 , retrieves the homeowner message associated with the homeowner code, and directs the transmitting device  66  to transmit the homeowner message to the appropriate remote communication apparatus, i.e., the remote communication apparatus positioned at the appropriate vendor. 
     The vendor codes, employee codes, and homeowner codes stored in the controller  64  may be changed by either the vendors or the homeowner, or both, by entering corrected codes. Additionally, new codes can be added to the controller and unused codes may be deleted. Such corrections, additions, and deletions may be entered using the input/output devices described above, including an Internet access appliance or a personal computer. 
     The communication and control apparatus  62  and the remote communication apparatuses also may be configured for permitting the delivery of goods ordered from the Internet. For example, a customer may access a vendor&#39;s Internet website and place an order for the purchase of goods. Along with the order, the customer may send a one-time vendor code to the vendor that authorizes the vendor or the vendor&#39;s delivery person to deliver the goods to the storage device. The controller  64  of the communication apparatus may be programmed to not only unlock the front door  42  upon entry of the vendor code, but to also send a notification message to the customer and a payment message to the vendor to charge or debit the customer&#39;s account for the price of the goods. 
     The communication and control apparatus  62  also may include memory for storing delivery and pickup information such as a history of the deliveries made to the storage device and input/output devices, such as those described above, for permitting the homeowner to access this information. 
     The controller  64  may preferably be programed so that, whenever a particular vendor code is entered into the keypad  60 , it automatically turns on the refrigeration unit  18 . For example, if the vendor code 444 for the grocery store is entered into the keypad, the controller may be programmed to not only unlock the door lock  56  and transmit a vendor message to indicate that a delivery has been made, but to also turn on the refrigeration unit. The refrigeration unit may be on a timer so that it runs only a predetermined amount of time or may include a switch that permits the homeowner to turn it off once the goods have been retrieved from the storage device  10 . 
     The controller  64  also may be programmed for receiving a code from the homeowner to turn on the refrigeration unit  18  or the heating unit  19  a predetermined amount of time before a delivery is made. This permits the refrigeration unit or heating unit to cool or heat the interior of the enclosure before the goods are delivered. Alternatively, the vendor may be instructed to telephone in or otherwise transmit his vendor code to the controller before delivery is made for turning on the refrigeration unit or heating unit. 
     The controller  64  also may be coupled with the indicator  67  to activate the indicator whenever a delivery has been made. This provides the homeowner with a visual indication of the status of the storage device. 
     FIGS. 8-11 illustrate a storage device  100  constructed in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. The storage device broadly includes a hood  102  configured for mounting to a wall  103  of a house or other building and an enclosure  104  depending from the hood for storing goods therein. 
     In more detail, the hood  102  includes a front wall  106 , a rear wall  108 , a pair of side walls  110 ,  112 , a top wall  114 , and a bottom wall  116 , all formed of wood, fiberglass, synthetic resin materials, or any other strong and weather resistant material. The walls together may define a substantially rectangular-shaped housing for enclosing certain control elements described below. Alternatively, the shape of the housing may be altered, and the control elements may be located remotely. 
     The hood rear wall  108  is configured to be bolted or otherwise attached to the wall  103  so that the hood is mounted about 4 to 6 feet (about 1.2 to 1.8 meters) above the floor. Alternately, the hood may be mounted to a rack or other support assembly that elevates the hood above the floor. 
     Each of the side walls  110 ,  112  may include a plurality of air slots or vents  118  for convecting heat away from the control elements mounted within the hood. Similar vents may be positioned in the top and bottom walls. As illustrated in FIG. 9, the bottom wall includes a plurality of garment hooks  119  or a hangar rod depending therefrom for holding delivered laundry and dry cleaning. 
     The front wall  106  of the hood includes a hinged panel  120  that may be selectively raised to permit access to the enclosure and certain switches or lowered to prevent access to the enclosure and switches, as described below. A latch  122  is attached to the panel for receipt within a corresponding lock mechanism  56  positioned within the hood for preventing raising of the panel. As illustrated in FIG. 11, the lock is coupled with a lock operator  58  which may include an input device such as a conventional alpha numeric keypad  60 . The lock operator is in turn coupled with a communication and control apparatus  62 . The lock, lock operator, and communication and control apparatus operate in the same manner as the same-numbered components described in connection with the first embodiment of the storage device. 
     The hood  102  also may preferably be equipped with an interior light and associated control switch  124  and indicator  126  positioned on the front wall  106  for illuminating the interior of the enclosure. The hood also may include a delivery indicator light  128  and associated switch  130  positioned on the front wall that may be operated by a vendor to indicate that a delivery has been made or that may be operated by the owner of the storage device to indicate that goods are positioned in the enclosure for pickup. 
     To maintain the temperature of food items placed within the enclosure  104 , the storage device  100  preferably includes a refrigeration unit  18  and/or heating unit  19  mounted in the hood  102  for introducing chilled or heated air into the enclosure  104 . The refrigeration and/or heating unit is coupled with an on/off switch  132  or a thermostat and an associated indicator light  134  positioned on the front wall of the hood. 
     The enclosure  104  depends from the hood  102  and includes a plurality of foldable walls that may be unfolded to a fully expanded position beneath the hood (FIGS. 8 and 9) for holding goods when in use and then folded to a compact position below the hood (FIG. 10) when not in use. The walls are preferably formed of flexible insulative material to maintain the temperature of items placed therein. 
     In more detail, the enclosure  104  includes a front wall  136 , a rear wall  138 , and a pair of opposed side walls  140 ,  142 . Each wall includes a plurality of fan-foldable panels that may be unfolded to their fully expanded positions illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9 or folded to their fully collapsed and folded positions illustrated in FIG.  10 . The periphery of each wall includes zipper teeth that can be attached to the zipper teeth on adjacent walls by a plurality of zipper slider tabs for releasably attaching the walls together as described in more detail below. The front wall of the enclosure forms a door that may be opened by unfastening the zippers between the front and side walls to permit entry into the enclosure, as depicted in FIG.  9 . 
     A pair of straps  144 ,  146 , each having one of its ends attached to the hood  102  or to the enclosure rear wall, hold the fully folded walls in their collapsed position beneath the hood. Each of the straps includes a snap on its free end that may be connected to a corresponding snap-socket  148  (see FIG. 9) attached to the front wall of the hood. 
     In operation, the storage device  100  is typically positioned in its collapsed or folded position illustrated in FIG. 10 when not in use. When a vendor desires to make a delivery to the storage device, the vendor first enters a keycode into the keypad  60 . The controller  64  compares the keycode to the stored vendor codes and unlocks the lock  56  holding the panel  120  on the front wall of the hood in its lowered, locked position only if the keycode matches one of the vendor codes. Components of the controller  64  may be located proximately or remotely to the enclosure  104 . When unlocked, the panel  120  may be raised to expose the snaps on the straps  144 ,  146 , the switches  124 ,  130 ,  132 , and the slide tabs of the zippers. 
     The vendor then unfastens the straps  144 ,  146 , unfolds the walls  136 ,  138 ,  140 ,  142 , and connects the walls with the zippers, so that the enclosure assumes the orientation illustrated in FIG.  10 . The vendor then places the delivered goods within the enclosure and closes the front wall of the enclosure by fully raising the slide tabs on the zippers. The vendor may turn on the refrigeration unit  18  or heating unit  19  by operating the switch  132  (or by activating the thermostat) to keep groceries or food items cool or warm and may activate the delivery indicator light  128  by operating the switch  130 . Finally, the vendor closes and locks the panel  120  on the front wall of the hood to prevent access to the straps and zippers and, therefore, prevent unauthorized opening of the enclosure. 
     While the vendor is placing goods in the enclosure  104 , the controller  64  notifies the owner or user of the storage device of the delivery of the goods as described in connection with the first embodiment of the storage device. The owner may then remove the goods stored in the storage device by repeating the above-described steps and may then once again fold the walls of the enclosure so that the enclosure is in its fully folded or collapsed position illustrated in FIG.  10 . 
     Although the invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments illustrated in the attached drawings, it is noted that equivalents may be employed and substitutions made herein without departing from the scope of the invention as recited in the claims. For example, both storage devices  10 ,  100  may be constructed in many shapes and styles and of many materials. Moreover, the particular mechanisms for permitting folding and collapsing of the storage devices  10 ,  100  may be replaced with other mechanisms that provide the same functions.