Patent Publication Number: US-2021177150-A1

Title: Outdoor furniture with lockable compartment

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The present invention is directed to outdoor patio furniture, and more particularly to a furniture set with a lockable compartment where the lock is preferably hidden from view when the compartment is closed. 
     Outdoor furniture, such as that traditionally referred to as patio furniture, tends to be made of lightweight materials such as wicker, bamboo, or other natural lightweight wood. Because they tend to be made of lightweight materials, they do not typically include security elements to retain valuables, deliveries, parcels, and the like. However, it would be beneficial to be able to use such outdoor furniture in a dual role as a security repository for various items. However, visible security measures such as overt locks and the like would invite the curiosity of thieves. The present invention is intended to meet the needs of the present state of the outdoor furniture and overcome the shortcomings of existing systems. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention pertains to outdoor furniture that includes at least one lockable repository hidden in the furniture while maintaining an aesthetic appearance. The lockable repository is preferably secured with a camouflaged or hidden lock so as to preserve the aesthetics and deter passerby interest in the repository. In some cases, the repository may have an angled internal panel to transfer valuables away from an opening and toward a retrieval/collection space accessed by another door. The lockable repository can be located between chairs, as part of a table or cabinet, and as a stand-alone unit. 
     These, and other features of the present invention, will best be understood with reference to the detailed description of the invention in conjunction with the figures described below. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  is an elevated, perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 1B  is a side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1A  showing the door opening and the hidden lock; 
         FIG. 2A  is an elevated, perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention 
         FIG. 2B  is a side cross sectional view illustrating the transfer mechanism; 
         FIG. 3  is an elevated, perspective view of a third embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is an elevated, perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5A  is an elevated, perspective view of a fifth embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5B  is a side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 5A  showing the door opening with a hidden lock; and 
         FIG. 6  is an elevated, perspective view of a sixth embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     A first embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in  FIG. 1 , which depicts a pair of chests  100 ,  200  connected in a perpendicular manner with a corner table  300 . The chests  100 ,  200  and corner table  300  are rectangular prisms each having a floor, wicker walls, and a solid lid. The term wicker refers to a woven wood or plant that is lightweight and sturdy, such as willow, rattan, reed, and bamboo, although wicker can also be produced from synthetic materials. The chests and corner table are hollow and define storage volumes therein. The front of the pair of chests may be formed with an opening  105  that may serve as a handle hold used to lift the solid lid. The chests may be of equal size and height, as shown in  FIG. 1 , or they may be different heights or volumes. The walls are formed of wicker material so as to present a lightweight article, whereas the lid may be constructed of solid planks or boards. The L-shaped configuration allows the system to be placed against a wall or in a corner. 
       FIG. 1A  illustrates how the solid lid  21  pivots upward away from the body of the chest. The solid lid  21  includes a sector-shaped plate  13  that is received in a guide on the inner surface of the adjacent wall. The movement of the lid  21  is arrested by a concealed lock  17  mounted on the sector-shaped plate  13 , the restricted movement of the lid due to the lock allows objects to be dropped into the chest but not retrieved without unlocking the lock to allow the lid to fully pivot to the position indicated by shadowed element  23 . The location of the lock is concealed when the lid is closed, and is visible only when the lid is lifted to expose the lock  17 . The lock preferably has a retractable member or other mechanism that withdraws from the wall of the chest or otherwise ceases interference with the continuing opening of the lid when the lock is actuated to allow the lid to fully open. When the lock is engaged, the retractable member is extended into a slot or other structure in the wall and the interference with the retractable member prevents the lid from opening beyond an approximate thirty degree angle with the horizontal. Thus, the lid may be slightly opened by a delivery person, letter carrier, or other person sufficiently far to drop a parcel, letter, or package into the chest, but not far enough to open the lid sufficiently to retrieve the delivery. The home owner may open the lock to retrieve the delivery at a later time without drawing attention to the camouflaged repository. 
       FIG. 2A  illustrates a slightly different embodiment with only one chest  27  and a taller column  23 . The column  23  and the chest  27  have wicker walls and the top of the chest is covered with a cushion  29 . The column  23  is equipped with a solid top  165  that pivots open along a rod, hinge, or axle (not shown) to reveal a drop box  180 . The drop box  180 , as shown in  FIG. 2B , is open to the volume of the chest and includes an angled panel  21  that diverts objects dropped into the drop box  180  to the chest  27 . The top of the chest can be equipped with a lockable flip up door such as that shown in  FIG. 1B  to retrieve objects deposited into the drop box  180  and diverted into the chest volume. The drop box of  FIG. 2A  is located on the top of the column  23  and includes a hidden lock such as that shown in  FIG. 1B , or the lock may be located at some more convenient location on the unit. For example, the lock may be positioned on the front of the drop box to allow the lid of the column to pivot upwards to an approximately thirty degree angle to allow an object to be dropped into the drop box, but not open enough for a thief to reach into the drop box and retrieve any valuables left in the unit. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates an alternate embodiment where a pair of Adirondack chairs  31  are separated by a column  11  as shown. The column  11  includes a handle for use in opening the lid of the column, which leads to a storage area below the lid. Two hinges  35  are shown for pivoting the lid upwards to reveal a storage area. A hidden lock such as that shown in  FIG. 1B  prevents the lid from opening all the way up but does allow the lid to open enough to drop an envelope, small package, or other similar object into a retrievable storage area. An inclined panel may be positioned below the lid to divert items dropped into the storage area to a collection area that is not accessible through the lid. Rather, a second pivoting door built into the column with a hidden lock guards the storage area, such that when the door is slightly ajar the lock is exposed. When the lock is unlocked, the door can be fully opened to retrieve the contents. The column  11  serves as a table/stand between the two chairs  33  where drinks or food can be set. 
       FIG. 4  shows a modular bench that includes a seat  39  supported by two stands  37 , where the stands also serve as a drop box. A plank serves as the seat  39  and is mounted to the two stands  37  so as to be received in a respective side wall or, alternatively, a bracket extending therefrom. The plank is sturdy enough to be used as a bench, and at least one of said stands forms a lockable storage container. The lockable storage container includes at least one guide on an inner wall and a hinged lid hinged with a sector-shaped plate seated in the guide on the inner wall of the lockable storage container such as previously described. A lock is located one the lid to prevent the lid from fully opening unless unlocked, preferably by engaging the inner wall to prevent the hinged lid from opening beyond a thirty degree angle with a horizontal plane when the lock is locked. Either or both stands can serve as a lockable storage container, and in an alternate embodiment the lockable storage container includes a key hole  41  that accesses a lock inside the stand to unlock and lock the storage container. In this embodiment, preferably the key hole is located in a hidden or unobtrusive manner to disguise the stand as a lockable storage container. 
       FIGS. 5A and 5B  illustrate another embodiment of the present invention in the form of a wicker planter  51  with a lockable compartment. The lockable wicker planter is formed with four wicker walls, one of them also serving as a door  53 . The wicker door is hinged at a bottom edge to the base of the wicker planter, and the door includes a sector-shaped plate  54  seated in a guide of an adjacent wall at an inner surface of the wicker planter. A lock  55  disposed on the plate and engages the inner surface or some adjacent structure to prevent the wicker door from opening beyond a thirty degree angle with a vertical plane when the lock is locked. In a preferred embodiment, the lock  55  is hidden when the wicker door  53  is closed, and access to the lock  55  is available when the lid is partially open. The thirty degree opening when the door is locked allows packages, parcels, and objects to be dropped into the storage compartment, but does not allow enough of an opening to retrieve the objects without unlocking the door. In this manner, a user can be confident that possessions are not stolen but a delivery person or mail carrier can deposit items into the storage compartment without it being attended. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates another embodiment of the present invention in the form of a file cabinet having four wooden legs and first and second parallel wooden shelves mounted between the four wooden legs. The cabinet may include a wooden top counter mounted on the four wooden legs, and a first wooden file cabinet  73  disposed between the first and second parallel shelves and a second wooden file cabinet  73  disposed between the first shelf and the wooden top. Each wooden file cabinet  73  includes a key hole  75  disposed on a side wall and a locking element inside the respective wooden file cabinet that permits access through the key hole to lock and unlock the file cabinets.