Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    This invention relates to package or parcel delivery boxes and specifically to package or parcel delivery boxes with self-locking mechanisms that allow the package or parcel delivery box to remain open and unlocked when empty but automatically lock after a package or parcel is placed inside and the lid is closed. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    There are other self-locking package or parcel delivery boxes in the prior art however none disclose a self-locking mechanism as described below. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    Self-locking parcel delivery box is a container with a special locking mechanism that allows a hinged lid to remain unlocked and openable while the container is empty but then automatically lock shut after a package or parcel has been placed inside the container and the hinged lid is closed. Special locking mechanism comprises, among other things, a rotating striker plate that remains in a closed position while container is empty but then rotates to an open position when a package or parcel is placed inside container. With rotating striker plate in the closed position, a spring loaded latch cannot extend outward to latch or lock into a latch window when the hinged lid  86  is closed, thereby keeping hinged lid unlocked and openable. With rotating striker plate is in the open position, the spring loaded latch will latch and lock into latch window when the hinged lid is closed, thereby locking hinged lid shut. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of self-locking parcel delivery box. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a top perspective view of self-locking parcel delivery box with hidden view of self-locking mechanism. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a front elevation view of self-locking parcel delivery box with hidden view of self-locking mechanism. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a side elevation view of self-locking parcel delivery box with hidden view of self-locking mechanism. 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a front elevation view of self-locking parcel delivery box with hidden view of self-locking mechanism just before a package or parcel is placed inside self-locking parcel delivery box. 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a side elevation view of self-locking parcel delivery box with hidden view of self-locking mechanism just before a package or parcel is placed inside self-locking parcel delivery box. 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  is a blowup view of the inner surface of striker plate window just before a package or parcel is placed inside self-locking parcel delivery box. 
           [0013]      FIG. 8  is a front elevation view of self-locking parcel delivery box with hidden view of self-locking mechanism just after a package or parcel was placed inside self-locking parcel delivery box. 
           [0014]      FIG. 9  is a side elevation view of self-locking parcel delivery box with hidden view of self-locking mechanism just after a package or parcel was placed inside self-locking parcel delivery box. 
           [0015]      FIG. 10  is a blowup view of the inner surface of striker plate window just after a package or parcel was placed inside self-locking parcel delivery box. 
           [0016]      FIG. 11  is a front elevation view of self-locking parcel delivery box with hidden view of self-locking mechanism after a package or parcel was placed inside self-locking parcel delivery box and hinged lid has been closed to lock hinged lid shut. 
           [0017]      FIG. 12  is a side elevation view of self-locking parcel delivery box with hidden view of self-locking mechanism after a package or parcel was placed inside self-locking parcel delivery box and hinged lid has been closed to lock hinged lid shut. 
       
    
    
     DEFINITION LIST 
       [0018]      
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
             
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 Term 
                 Definition 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 5 
                 Self-Locking Parcel Delivery Box 
               
               
                 10 
                 Vertical Support Plate 
               
               
                 12 
                 Floating Base Plate Window 
               
               
                 14 
                 Spring Attachment Point on Vertical Support Plate 
               
               
                 16 
                 Rotating Striker Plate Pivotal Attachment Means 
               
               
                 18 
                 Striker Plate Window 
               
               
                 20 
                 Floating Base Plate 
               
               
                 22 
                 Spring Attachment Point on Floating Base Plate 
               
               
                 30 
                 Floating Stanchion 
               
               
                 32 
                 Slideable Attachment Means 
               
               
                 40 
                 Spring 
               
               
                 50 
                 Swing Arm 
               
               
                 52 
                 Lower Pivotal Attachment Means 
               
               
                 54 
                 Upper Pivotal Attachment Means 
               
               
                 60 
                 Rotating Strike Plate 
               
               
                 62 
                 Vertical Support Plate Pivotal Attachment Point on Rotating 
               
               
                   
                 Striker Plate 
               
               
                 63 
                 Swing Arm Pivotal Attachment Point on Rotating Striker Plate 
               
               
                 64 
                 Striker Plate Protrusion 
               
               
                 70 
                 Latch Assembly 
               
               
                 72 
                 Spring Loaded Latch 
               
               
                 74 
                 Key 
               
               
                 76 
                 Keyhole 
               
               
                 80 
                 Container 
               
               
                 82 
                 Container Bottom 
               
               
                 84 
                 Container Side 
               
               
                 86 
                 Hinged Lid 
               
               
                 88 
                 Hinge 
               
               
                 100 
                 Package or Parcel 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0019]    Self-locking parcel delivery box  5  comprises: a vertical support plate  10 , a floating base plate  20 , a floating stanchion  30 , at least one spring  40 , a swing arm  50 , a striker plate  60 , a latch assembly  70 , and a container  80 . 
         [0020]    Container  80  comprises: a container bottom  82 , at least one container side  84 , a hinged lid  86 , and a hinge  88 . Container  80  is a secure hollow container in the shape of a rectangular cuboid, a cube, or a cylinder with an interior and an exterior. Container  80  is impervious to water. In the cases of a rectangular cuboid shaped container  80  and a cube shaped container  80 , container  80  comprises four container sides  84  that are each rigid planar members that are impervious to water with a width, a height, an inner surface, an outer surface, an upper end, and a lower end. In the case of a cylindrical shaped container  80 , container  80  comprises one container side  84  that is a rigid cylindrical shaped member that is impervious to water with a circumference, a height, an inner surface, an outer surface, an upper end, and a lower end. Container bottom  82  is a rigid planar member that is impervious to water with an upper surface and a lower surface. Inner surfaces of container sides  84  face the interior of container  80 . Exterior surfaces of container sides  84  face the exterior of container  80 . In the case of a rectangular cuboid shaped container  80 , container bottom  82  is rectangular shaped or square shaped. In the case of a cube shaped container  80 , container bottom  82  is square shaped. In the case of a cylindrical shaped container  80 , container bottom  82  is circular shaped. All outer edges of container bottom  82  are rigidly attached to container side(s)  84  to form a watertight connection or seam there between. Watertight connection or seam must be sturdy, waterproof, weatherproof, and able to withstand attempts to pry the seam open in order to prevent someone from breaking into the container  80 . Container bottom  82  and container side(s)  84  form an open-topped watertight receptacle. Hinged lid  86  is a rigid planar member that is impervious to water with an outer edge, an upper surface, and a lower surface. In the case of a rectangular cuboid shaped container  80 , hinged lid  86  is rectangular shaped or square shaped. In the case of a cube shaped container  80 , hinged lid  86  is square shaped. In the case of a cylindrical shaped container  80 , hinged lid  86  is circular shaped. Hinge  88  is a hinge or bearing member that pivotally attaches or connects hinged lid  88  to a container side  84 . Hinge  88  is positioned vertically so that its axis of rotation is positioned horizontally. Hinge  88  has an upper end and a lower end. The lower end of hinge  88  is rigidly attached to the upper end of a container side  84 . The upper end of hinge  88  is rigidly attached to the outer edge of hinged lid  86 . Hinge  88  functions to allow the pivotal attachment of hinge  88  to a side  84  of container  80  to allow for the rotation of hinged lid  82  about hinge  88 . Hinged lid  86  rotates upwards to open hinged lid  86  and rotates downwards to close hinged lid  86 . When hinged lid  86  is closed, it is positioned horizontally and forms a waterproof and weatherproof connection with the upper end(s) of all container side(s)  84 . When hinged lid  86  is closed and locked shut, it forms sturdy connection with the upper end(s) of all container side(s)  84  that is able to withstand attempts to pry hinged lid  86  open in order to prevent someone from breaking into container  80  when it is locked shut. In best mode, there are two hinges  88 . 
         [0021]    Vertical support plate  10  is a rigid oblong planar member with an overall width, an overall height, a lower end, an upper end, an inner surface, and an outer surface. Vertical support plate  10  is positioned vertically inside the interior of container  80  with its lower end rigidly affixed to the upper surface container bottom  82  with the longitudinal axis of vertical support plate  20  perpendicular to container bottom  80 . The inner surface of vertical support plate  10  faces the interior of container  80 . The outer surface of vertical support plate  10  faces the exterior of container  80 . Vertical support plate  10  is positioned adjacent to a container side  84  so that there is about 0.125 to 2.0 inches of space between the outer surface of vertical support plate  10  and the inner surface of the adjacent container side  84 . Floating stanchion  30 , at least one spring  40 , swing arm  50 , and rotating striker plate  6  are located and housed between the outer surface of vertical support plate  10  and the inner surface of the adjacent container side  84  as depicted. Vertical support plate  10  is a sturdy vertical support member that solely supports floating base plate  20 , floating stanchion  30 , at least one spring  40 , swing arm  50 , rotating striker plate  60 , and the weight of a package or parcel  100  placed inside self-locking parcel delivery box  5 . Floating base plate  20 , floating stanchion  30 , at least one spring  40 , swing arm  50 , rotating striker plate  60 , and package or parcel  100  move or float upwards and downwards relative to vertical support plate  10 , which is stationary and rigidly affixed to container bottom  82 . Vertical support plate  10  also functions as a housing, firewall, or divider plate to separate floating stanchion  30 , at least one spring  40 , swing arm  50 , and rotating striker plate  6 , which are moving parts, from the interior of container  80  where a package or parcel  100  is placed, in order to all keep moving parts from physically contacting or touching package or parcel  100 . Overall width of vertical support plate  10  must be less than the width or circumference of container side  84  and height of vertical support plate  10  must be less than that of container side  84  to allow vertical support plate  10  to fit inside container  80 . Any know attachment means may be used to attach lower end of vertical support plate  10  to upper surface of container bottom  82  such as weld, glue, epoxy, bolts, screws, rivets, clips, or snaps. In best mode, vertical support plate  10  is rectangular. Vertical support plate  10  further comprises a floating base plate window  12 . Floating base plate window  12  is a rectangular shaped void or notch in the lower end of vertical support plate  10  as depicted. Floating base plate window  12  has a width, a height, a left end, a right end and an upper end. Floating base plate window  12  functions to provide clearance for floating base plate  20  to freely float or move vertically upwards and downwards. The width of floating base plate window  12  is slightly large than the width of floating base plate  20 . The height of floating base plate window  12  must be large enough to allow for sufficient vertical movement of floating base plate  20  to yield sufficient rotation of rotating striker plate  60  to allow successful locking and unlocking of latch assembly  70 . This mechanism is described in more detail below. Vertical support plate  10  further comprises at least one spring attachment point  14  on its outer surface at its upper end. Typically, there is one spring attachment point  14  for each spring  40 . Spring attachment point  14  is a means to reversibly attach the upper end of a spring  40  thereto. Spring attachment means could be any known means such as a hook, a ring, an eye, a hole, a connector, a fitting, fastener, screw, bolt, staple, nail, or any other known means. Vertical support plate  10  further comprises a rotating striker plate pivotal attachment means  16  on its outer surface at its upper end. Rotating striker plate pivotal attachment means  16  functions to pivotally attach rotating striker plate  60  to the outer surface of vertical support member  10  at a location just below rotating striker plate window  18  as depicted. Rotating striker plate pivotal attachment means  16  is a means to pivotally attached rotating striker plate  60  to vertical support plate  10 , which could be accomplished by a hinge, a bearing, an axle, a hub, a spindle, a pin, a rivet, a screw, a bolt, or any other know means of pivotal attachment. Vertical support plate  10  further comprises a striker plate window  18 . Striker plate window  18  is a rectangular shaped or semi-rectangular shaped void or hole in the upper end of vertical support plate  10  that functions to receive a spring loaded latch  72  when hinged lid  86  is locked shut. Striker plate window  18  must be sized slight larger than spring loaded latch  72  so that spring loaded latch  72  may penetrate through striker plate window in order to lock latch assembly  70  to striker plate window  18 . One end of rotating striker plate  60 , called the striker plate protrusion  66 , is inserted through striker plate window  18  as depicted. Rotating striker plate  60  rotates back and forth within striker plate window  18  in order to either disallow hinged lid  86  from locking shut or to allow hinged lid to lock shut. As discussed below, rotating striker plate  60  rotates back and forth to block striker plate window  18  so that spring loaded latch  72  cannot penetrate into striker plate window  18  or to unblock striker plate window  18  to allow spring loaded latch  72  to penetrate striker plate window  18  and lock hinged lid  86  shut. 
         [0022]    Floating base plate  20  is a rigid horizontal planar member with an upper surface and a lower surface. In the case of a rectangular cuboid shaped container  80 , floating base plate  20  is rectangular shaped or square shaped. In the case of a cube shaped container  80 , floating base plate  20  is square shaped. In the case of a cylindrical shaped container  80 , floating base plate  20  is circular shaped. The outer dimensions of floating base plate  20  are slightly smaller than the inner dimensions of container  80  so that floating base plate may freely slide upwards and downwards without its edges touching the inner surface of container side(s)  84  but also without leaving too much clearance to allow for a package or parcel  100  to fall there between. The upper surface of floating base plate  20  is rigidly attached to the lower end of floating stanchion  30 . Floating base plate  20  further comprises at least one spring attachment point  22  on its upper surface. Typically, there is one spring attachment point  22  for each spring  40 . Spring attachment point  22  is a means to reversibly attached the lower end of spring  40  thereto. Spring attachment means could be accomplished any known means such as a hook, a ring, an eye, a hole, a connector, a fitting, fastener, screw, bolt, staple, nail, or any other known means. 
         [0023]    Floating stanchion  30  is a rigid oblong planar member with an overall width, an overall height, a lower end, an upper end, an inner surface, and an outer surface. Floating stanchion  30  is a sturdy vertical support member. Floating stanchion  30  is positioned vertically between the outer surface of vertical support plate  10  and the inner surface of the adjacent container side  84  as depicted. The lower end of floating stanchion  30  is rigidly affixed to the upper surface of floating base plate  20  with the longitudinal axis of floating stanchion  30  perpendicular to floating base plate  20 . Floating stanchion  30  further comprises a slideable attachment means  32 . Slideable attachment means  32  is a means to slideably attach floating stanchion  30  to the outer surface of vertical support plate  10  so that floating stanchion  30  may slide vertically upwards and downwards, but is prevented from movement in all other directions. Slideable attachment means  32  may be accomplished by any know means such as: wheel and track, tongue and groove, guide, bearing, loop, collar, or any other known means. In best mode, slideable attachment means  32  is two horizontal collars or loops rigidly attached to the inner surface of vertical support member  10 , one at the upper end of floating stanchion  30 , one at the lower end of floating stanchion  30 , with floating stanchion  30  running vertically and inserted through each as depicted. With this mode the two collars or loops each have an inner dimension that is sized to make a slip fit with the outer dimension of the horizontal cross section of floating stanchion  30  so that floating stanchion  30  may freely slide upwards and downwards but is retained from moving in all other directions. 
         [0024]    At least one spring  40  is a vertical spring member with an upper end and a lower end. At least one spring  40  is a coil spring, flat spring, machined spring, compression spring, cantilever spring, leaf spring, v-spring, gas spring, torsion spring, hairspring, rubber band, elastic band, or any other type of spring. Best mode at least one spring  40  is a coil spring. The upper end of at least one spring  40  is connected to spring attachment point  14  on vertical base plate  10 . The lower end of at least one spring  40  is connected to spring attachment point  22  on floating base plate  20 . At least one spring  40  must be of the proper length and tension to apply continuous upward tension on floating base plate  20  to pull the floating base plate  20  all the way upwards to contact and rest against upper end of floating base plate window  12  when there is no package or parcel  100  sitting on the upper surface of floating base plate  20 , but still allow the floating base plate  20  fall all the way downwards to rest on the upper surface of container bottom  82  when a package or parcel  100  sitting on the upper surface of floating base plate  20 . In best mode, there are two springs  40 , where one is positioned on each side of floating stanchion  30  to provide equal or balanced upward tension on each side of floating stanchion  30 . 
         [0025]    Swing arm  50  is a rigid oblong member with an upper end and a lower end. Swing arm  50  has a lower pivotal attachment means  52  at its lower end and an upper pivotal attachment means  54  at its upper end. Lower pivotal attachment means  52  is a means to pivotally attach the lower end of swing arm  50  to the upper end of floating stanchion  30 . Pivotal attachment is such that swing arm  50  may freely rotate around the point of pivotal attachment and remains connected to the upper end of floating stanchion  30 . Pivotal attachment could be accomplished by a hinge, a bearing, an axle, a hub, a spindle, a pin, a rivet, a screw, a bolt, or any other know means of pivotal attachment. Upper pivotal attachment means  54  is a means to pivotally attach the upper end of swing arm  50  to swing arm pivotal attachment point  63  on rotating striker plate  60 . Pivotal attachment is such that swing arm  50  may freely rotate around the point of pivotal attachment and remains connected to the pivotal attachment point  63  on rotating striker plate  60 . Pivotal attachment could be accomplished by a hinge, a bearing, an axle, a hub, a spindle, a pin, a rivet, a screw, a bolt, or any other know means of pivotal attachment. 
         [0026]    Rotating striker plate  60  is a rigid tri-planar member wherein two parallel planar members are rigidly connected together by a third planar member perpendicular thereto. Rotating striker plate  60  comprises a plane one, a plane two, and a plane three, each with a first and second end. Planes one and two are parallel to each other and plane three is perpendicular to planes one and two. The first end of plane three rigidly attached to second end of plane one and the second end of plane three rigidly attached to first end of plane two to yield a rigid step-shaped structure with two steps. Rotating striker plate  60  is positioned within rotating striker plate window  18  so that: plane one is adjacent to and parallel with the outer surface of vertical support plate  10 , plane two is adjacent to and parallel with the inner surface of vertical support plate  10 , and plane three is perpendicular to vertical support plate  10  and straddles rotating striker plate window  18  with its first end adjacent to the outer surface of vertical support plate  10  and its second end adjacent to the inner surface of vertical support plate  10 , as depicted. Rotating striker plate  60  further comprises a swing arm pivotal attachment point  62  located on the first end of plane one. Rotating striker plate  60  is pivotally attached to swing arm  50  by rotating striker plate pivotal attachment means  16 . As stated, pivotal attachment could be accomplished by a hinge, a bearing, an axle, a hub, a spindle, a pin, a rivet, a screw, a bolt, or any other known means of pivotal attachment. Rotating striker plate  60  further comprises a swing arm pivotal attachment point  63  also located on plane one, at a location that is above vertical support plate pivotal attachment point  62 . As stated, rotating striker plate  60  is pivotally attached to the upper end of swing arm  50  by upper pivotal attachment means  52 . Rotating striker plate  60  further comprises a striker plate protrusion  64 . Striker plate protrusion  64  is plane two of striker plate  60 . Striker plate protrusion  64  functions to either: block striker plate window  18  to prevent spring loaded latch  72  from penetrating through striker plate window  18  in order to keep hinged lid  86  from locking shut or unblock striker plate window  18  to allow spring loaded latch  72  to penetrate through striker plate window  18  in order to lock hinged lid  86  shut. As a result of its mechanical connection or linkage to floating base plate  20 , rotating striker plate  60  blocks striker plate window  10  when floating base plate  20  is in its upper most position and unblocks striker plate window  10  when floating base plate  20  is in its lower most position. 
         [0027]    Latch assembly  70  comprises a housing, an internal lock mechanism (not depicted), a spring loaded latch  72 , a key  74 , and a keyhole  76 . Internal lock mechanism is a lock mechanism that functions to retract spring loaded latch  72  in response to the turning of key  74  when positioned in keyhole  76 . Internal lock mechanism is a standard lock mechanism that allows the user to retract spring loaded latch  72  with the rotation of key  74  when properly inserted into keyhole  76 . Spring loaded latch  72  is a standard latch with bias pressure forcing the latch to extend outward, which can be overcome by pressing the spring loaded latch  72  inward with about 0.25-10 pounds of force. 
         [0028]    To use self-locking parcel delivery box  5 , self-locking parcel delivery box  5  is placed in empty unlocked condition at a location where packages or parcels are normally delivered. At the time of package or parcel  100  delivery, hinged lid  86  is lifted or opened, the package or parcel  100  is placed inside, where the weight of the package or parcel  100  pushes or forces floating base plate  20  downwards so that rotating striker plate  60  rotates downwards to unblock striker plate window  18 . Hinged lid  86  is then closed and pushed shut so that spring loaded latch  72  penetrates through striker plate window  18  to effectuate the locking shut of hinged lid  86  on container  80 . At the time of package or parcel  100  retrieval from self-locking parcel delivery box  5 , key  74  is placed in keyhole  76  and rotated therein to cause spring loaded latch  72  to retract from penetrating through striker plate window  18  to allow for hinged lid  86  to unlock. Hinged lid  86  is then lifted or opened and package or parcel  100  is lifted off of floating base plate  20  and retrieved from container  80 . The lifting of package or parcel  100  off of floating base plate  20  causes the floating base plate  20  to rise upwards to cause rotating striker plate  60  to rotate back upwards to block striker plate window  18  to allow for hinged lid to remain openable and unlocked until another package or parcel  100  is placed inside container  80 .

Technology Category: a