Patent Publication Number: US-10321780-B1

Title: Parcel security apparatus

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to securing a delivered package at the door of a residence or commercial building if that occupant is not present. 
     B. Prior Art 
     While there are many parcel security devices utilized today, none provide the unique and novel features provided by the present invention. Current parcel security devices are incapable of attaching to the exterior of a door, accommodating a variety of differently sized parcels, or both. A representative example of the prior art can be found in the following patents. 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 5,624,071 an apparatus for receiving packages is disclosed. While this invention hangs from the top of a door, it is not capable of accepting larger packages, such as shoe boxes or boxes containing electronics. The &#39;071 patent also does not collapse or contain an interior bag. 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 4,909,052 a door safe for delivery and pickup of articles is disclosed. The door safe is hung from the top of the door and is capable of securing relatively small items. 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 9,364,112 a secure portable apparatus for accepting parcels and deliveries is disclosed. This invention is attached to the doorknob or door handle of a door and rests on the ground. Furthermore, this device does not collapse or provide an interior bag similarly to the two references above. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a parcel security apparatus that is capable of hanging from the top of a door, securing packages, and collapsing. Having packages delivered to one&#39;s home or business is becoming an increasingly more popular way to shop. However, the home or business owner is often not sure when her or his package is to be delivered or cannot be home when the package is delivered. Accordingly, package theft is a significant concern of home or business owners, which can be mitigated with the use of the present invention. 
     This invention will allow individuals to secure a package while she or he is away by providing a secure drop off door and a secure accessible enclosure, which is located directly beneath the drop off door. Once a package is submitted through the drop off door it falls into an interior bag within the bottom enclosure for pick up later. The bottom enclosure provides a lockable pick-up door and is collapsible. 
     Beneath the bottom enclosure is a plurality of hooks that can hold a larger bag for securing big packages such as televisions, speakers, computers, as well as small furniture boxes and other large products. 
     The device may also provide alarm and notification features that inform neighbors or the user&#39;s mobile communication device that a package has been delivered or that the device is being tampered with. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is front view of the device, which is showing the top enclosure and the bottom enclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a bottom view of the device. 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of the device. 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the device, which is depicting the drop off door, interior bag in dotted lines, interior locking brace in dotted lines, and track in dotted lines. 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of the device, which is showing the bottom enclosure in a collapsed position. 
         FIG. 6  is a front view of the device, which is showing the pickup door in an opened position and therefore showing the interior bag. 
         FIG. 7  is an in-use front view of the device which is holding an exterior bag from the bottom of the device. 
         FIG. 8  is a diagram of the device and the components that is comprised of. 
     
    
    
     NUMBERING REFERENCE 
     
         
         
           
               5 —Device 
               6 —Top enclosure 
               8 —Bottom enclosure 
               10 —Drop off door 
               11 —Drop off door handle 
               12 —Drop off door hinge 
               15 —Hanger 
               20 —Pick up door 
               21 —Pick up door handle 
               22 —Pick up door hinge 
               23 —Lock 
               24 —Pins 
               25 —Hook 
               30 —Interior bag 
               35 —Track 
               40 —Panel hinges 
               45 —Brace 
               50 —Exterior bag 
               55 —Sensor 
               60 —Camera 
               65 —Transmitter 
               70 —Controller 
           
         
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     This invention is a collapsible parcel security apparatus which is comprised of a top enclosure  6 , a bottom enclosure  8 , a hanger  15 , and an interior bag  30 . The top enclosure  6  is comprised of a drop off door  10 , drop off door handle  11 , a drop off door hinge  12 , and a track  35 . The bottom enclosure  8  is further comprised of a pick-up door  20 , at least one pick-up door handle  21 , at least one pick-up door hinge  22 , a lock  23 , a plurality of pins  24 , at least one hook  25 , a plurality of hinges  40 , and at least one brace  45 . The interior bag  30  is flexible in nature and provides a zipper as depicted in  FIG. 6 . The hanger  15  is located at the top of the device. 
     The drop off door  10  is a security door that prevents an individual from reaching inside the device. The drop off door  10  has a handle  11  and rotates along a hinge  12 . A track  35  is provided at the bottom of the top enclosure  6 , which is shown in  FIG. 4 . The interior bag  30  has an open end and a closed end. The open end of the interior bag is attached to the interior of the top enclosure  6  above the track  35  and the closed end hangs into the bottom enclosure  8 , which is also shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     With attaching the interior bag  30  above the track  35 , the apparatus may remain secured even when the bottom enclosure  8  is in a collapsed position. Accordingly, when the bottom enclosure  8  is collapsed the interior bag is exposed. Thus, it is anticipated that the bag can be knife resistant or cut resistant. It is further anticipated that a knife resistant shield may be provided over a portion of the bag that is left exposed when the bottom enclosure  8  is collapsed. 
     The bottom enclosure  8  has a first side, a second side, a top end, a bottom side, a front side, and a back side. The first side, second side, and bottom side, each provide two panels respectively, which is shown in  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3 , and  FIG. 4 . The two panels on each respective side are connected to each other with a hinge  40 . One of the two panels of the first side, second side, and bottom side is attached to the back side of the bottom enclosure  8  with a hinge  40 . The other panel of each the first side, second side, and bottom side is attached to the front side of the bottom enclosure  8  with a hinge  40 . 
     A locking brace  45  is provided between the two panels of the first and second sides of the bottom enclosure  8 .  FIG. 4  shows the locking brace  45  in dotted lines on a side of the bottom enclosure  8 . 
     The pick-up door  20  has a pick-up door handle  21 , a lock  23 , and a pick-up door hinge  22 , which is shown in  FIG. 1 . The pick-up door hinge  22  is provided on the front side of the bottom enclosure  8  and allows the pick-up door  20  to rotate between an open and closed position. The pick-up door handle  21  allows a user to open and close the pick-up door  20  as well as collapse and expand the bottom enclosure  8 . 
     The bottom enclosure  8  additionally provides a plurality of pins  24 . The pins  24  fit within a set of parallel tracks  35  and slide along the track  35  when the bottom enclosure  8  is pulled or pushed between collapsed and expanded positions. When the bottom enclosure  8  is fully expanded, the interior locking braces  45  will lock the bottom enclosure  8  in the expanded position. The user must open the pick-up door  20  and unlock each locking brace  45  from inside the bottom enclosure  8  to then bring the bottom enclosure to a collapsed position. While it is not shown in the drawings, it is anticipated that a ratcheting mechanism, push pin, or the like could be utilized to lock the locking braces  45 . 
     When an individual delivers the package she or he pulls on the drop off door handle  11 , thereby forcing the door  10  to rotate about the drop off door hinge  12 . The individual can then place a package into the door  10  and close the door  10 , thereby allowing the package to then drop into the interior bag  30 . 
     If the bottom enclosure  8  was initially in a closed position, the delivered package could force the bottom enclosure  8  to expand to an expanded position as the package falls into the interior bag  30 . Alternatively, the delivery person could pull the pick-up handle  21  to then expand the bottom enclosure  8  prior to placing a package into the drop- off door  10 . 
     Once a package is delivered it is secured until the recipient removes the apparatus from the secured delivery apparatus. The recipient must first unlock the lock  23 , open the pick-up door  20 , open the interior bag  30 , and remove the package accordingly. It is anticipated that the lock  23  could be a lock and key, a combination lock, Bluetooth activated lock, or a biometric fingerprint reader, or the like. It is further anticipated that the interior bag  30  could have an additional locking mechanism. 
     Some additional features of the device are the use of a vibration detection sensor  55 , an alarm, a controller  70  and an emergency mobile notification transmitter  65 . In turn, the owner of the device would be notified if an individual attempted to steal, break, or otherwise tamper with the device. It is also anticipated that a mobile camera  60  could be provided on the device. The camera  60  would allow for capturing photos or a video of a package being delivered or a mischievous individual tampering with the device. If the vibration detector is triggered, the controller  70  could implement the camera  60  and alarm as well as send an emergency notification with the transmitter  65  to the user&#39;s mobile communication device via Wi-Fi. The camera  60  may be placed in the hangar to provide an elevated view of the surroundings of the parcel security apparatus. However, it is anticipated that the camera  60  could be placed on other parts of the invention. 
     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.