GB2492797A

GB2492797A - Delivery drop box

Info

Publication number: GB2492797A
Application number: GB201111944A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Neil Christopher Ham
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-07-12
Filing date: 2011-07-12
Publication date: 2013-01-16
Also published as: GB201111944D0

Abstract

A device for the receipt and secure storage of postal or courier deliveries too large to fit through an existing letterbox comprises a box or container 2 adapted to be temporarily or permanently affixed to an existing letterbox by a clamping device 6,7 passing through the slot 4 or aperture of the existing letterbox. The device may have a secure storage chamber provided with a one-way mail deposit arrangement in the form of a hinged tray which serves to close off the storage chamber when closed.

Description

DELIVERY DROP BOX

This invention relates to a mail delivery box particularly of a type used for receiving domestic postal and courier deliveries.

Residential properties typically have a letterbox aperture in the main entrance door or adjacent outer wall but suffer from the disadvantage that they are necessarily of limited size and therefore limit what can be delivered. Deliveries that cannot pass through the letterbox are not able to be delivered thereby requiring later collection or re-alTanged delivery.

An object of this invention is to remedy the shortcomings of the limited size capacity of existing letterboxes. In particular, it is an object of this invention to provide a means of receiving larger size parcels and therefore prevent missed deliveries.

Accordingly, this invention provides a defivery receptacle that can be affixed to an existing letterbox and is able to receive and safely store larger size items, which exceed the size capacity of the existing etterbox.

Preferably, the delivery box is made of metallic materials and used for the receipt of posta' or courier deliveries, but differing materials or applications maybe found.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 shows a front view of a device affixed to an existing letterbox in a typical entrance door to a dwelling FIGURE 2 shows a side view of a device affixed to an existing letterbox in a typical entrance door to a dwelling FIGURE 3 shows a side cross section through a device affixed to an existing letterbox in the open position for depositing deliveries FIGURE 4 shows a side cross section through a device affixed to an existing letterbox in a position open to 45 degrees FIGURE 5 shows a side cross section through a device affixed to an existing letterbox in a closed position

I

As shown in figures Ito 2, the device forms a cuboid box comprising a hinged tray ito accept deliveries, a secondary chamber 2 to store deposited items, a mounting mechanism 3 to affix the device to an existing letterbox 4 and a lockable access door 5 to retrieve deposited items.

The device can be affixed to an existing letterbox 4 by means of a mounting mechanism 3 mounted to the rear of the device. Two fixtures 6 extend from the rear of the device, which are configured to pass through an existing letterbox aperture 4.

Brackets 7 fixing to the free end of the fixtures on the internal side of the door 8 or wall act to damp the device to the door 8 or wall.

The deposit tray I for receiving deliveries is hinged on its lower edge and can be opened by means of the exterior handle 9 and rotated through 90 degrees. In the fully open position, delivered items 10 can be deposited directly into the tray 1, as illustrated in figure 3. The tray 1 is sprung to return to its closed position once the opening handle 9 is released. As the tray 1 rotates to an angle of 45 degrees to open, the configuration of the tray geometry prevents access to the internal space of the device 2, as illustrated in figure 4. As the tray 1 rotates further toward the closed position, the open rear face of the tray passes over an opening to the storage chamber 2. With the tray in its closed position, the deposited item 10 falls into the storage chamber 2 below, as illustrated in figureS.

Items are retrieved from the secondary chamber 2 by means of a lockable access door 5 on the front of the device.

Claims

<claim-text>CLAIMS1. A device affixed to an existing letterbox for the receipt of posta' or courier deliveries exceeding the size capacity of the existing letterbox.</claim-text> <claim-text>2. A device as claimed in Claim 1 where the device can be temporarily or permanently affixed to an existing letterbox by means of a mounting mechanism passing through the letterbox aperture and acting to clamp the device to the door or wall.</claim-text> <claim-text>3. A device as claimed in Claim 1 and Claim 2 with a one-way deposit mechanism to transfer deposited items into a secondaiy secure storage chamber.</claim-text> <claim-text>4. A device as claimed in Claim 3 where the one-way deposit mechanism consists of a hinged tray, which in an opened position, is able to receive an item and acts to seal a secondaiy chamber and when in a closed position, transfers the tray contents to the secondary chamber.</claim-text> <claim-text>5. A device substantially as described herein with reference to figures 1-5 of the accompanying drawl ngs.</claim-text>