WO2021006818A1

WO2021006818A1 - Manual moveable modular shelf system

Info

Publication number: WO2021006818A1
Application number: PCT/SG2020/050390
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jianming Huang
Original assignee: Jianming Huang
Priority date: 2019-07-10
Filing date: 2020-07-08
Publication date: 2021-01-14
Also published as: SG10201906376QA

Abstract

A manual moveable shelf system located within a compartment includes a moveable shelf and four foldable arm units. Each foldable arm unit including an upper arm connected to a lower arm via a joint, whereby each upper arm is connected to the top side of the compartment, and each lower arm is connected to the moveable shelf. Two foldable arm units are positioned in close proximity to the back side of the compartment, while two other foldable arm units are positioned in close proximity to the front side of the compartment, and the four foldable arm units change position of the moveable shelf from folded position, in which the shelf is located at the top side of the compartment, to unfolded position, whereby the shelf is located to form a bottom side of the compartment thereby creating an inner shelf between the compartment and another compartment located beneath it.

Description

MANUAL MOVEABLE MODULAR SHELF SYSTEM

TECHNICAL FIELD

[001] The present disclosure generally relates to shelf systems, and more specifically to manually moveable modular shelf systems.

BACKGROUND

[002] Ecommerce and online shopping through the internet is becoming a major if not the main method of shopping these days. It has become easier and generally very quick to receive ordered items via air-mail after paying for them through the internet.

[003] Once a buyer makes an order online, he will wait for the packaged goods to arrive either to his home address or to any other preferred address. The mailman or delivery person is required to deliver such packages to the various purchasers. Some people live in private homes, with no neighbors living close by, however, the majority of the population in developed countries live in condominiums, meaning many neighbors live in the same building and share the same facilities, mailboxes being one of these facilities. In such case, mailboxes in condominiums should be designed to accommodate various sizes of packages.

[004] Packages may arrive in almost endless sizes, however, the space for storing the packages until they are collected by their recipients living in an apartment house is limited to a certain area in the condominium, per that condominium or even per several condominiums. Accordingly, there is a need to overcome this gap with a new shelving system.

SUMMARY

[005] According to embodiments of the invention, there is provided a moveable shelf system located within a compartment that defines a space between two opposing sides, a front side, a back side, and a top side, and a door located at the front side of the compartment. The moveable shelf system may comprise a moveable shelf, and foldable arm units. Each foldable arm unit may comprise an upper arm connected to a lower arm via a joint. Each upper arm may be connected to the top side of the compartment, and each lower arm may be connected to the moveable shelf. In some embodiments, the foldable arm units may change position of the moveable shelf from folded position, in which the shelf is located at the top side of the compartment, to unfolded position, whereby the shelf is located to form a bottom side of the compartment, thereby creating an inner shelf between the compartment and another compartment located beneath it. That is, the moveable shelf is configured to be moved upwards and downwards while changing its configuration from folded position to unfolded position. [006] In some embodiments, the moveable shelf may change position from folded position to unfolded position, and vice versa, via manual operation.

[007] In some embodiments, the foldable shelf system may further comprise a mechanism to prevent the moveable shelf from autonomously changing position from folded position to unfolded position, or vice versa. In some embodiments, the moveable shelf system may further comprise an intermediate shelf.

[008] In some embodiments, the moveable shelf system may further comprise a control unit located along one of the opposing sides of the compartment. The control unit may be configured to control operation of the mechanism to prevent the moveable shelf from autonomously changing position from folded position to unfolded position, or vice versa.

[009] In some embodiments, the mechanism may be a protruding pin located at the back side of the compartment and beneath the moveable shelf when the shelf is in folded configuration. In some embodiments, the pin may be configured to hold the weight of the moveable shelf and foldable arm units.

[0010] In some embodiments, the control unit may pull the protruding pin into the back side when the moveable shelf manually changes position from folded to unfolded.

[0011] In some embodiments, the compartment may comprise a second compartment located beneath the first compartment. In some embodiments, the second compartment may define a space between two opposing sides, a front side, a back side, and a bottom side, and a door located at the front side of the second compartment. The second moveable shelf system may comprise a second moveable shelf, and foldable arm units. In some embodiments, each foldable arm unit may comprise an upper arm connected to a lower arm via a joint, whereby each upper arm may be connected to the top side of the second compartment, and each lower arm may be connected to the second moveable shelf. In some embodiments, the folded position of the second shelf is when the second shelf is located at the bottom side of the compartment, and the unfolded position of the second shelf is when the second shelf is located to form a top side of the second compartment thereby creating an inner shelf between the second compartment and the first compartment located on top of it.

[0012] In some embodiments, the second moveable shelf may change position from folded position to unfolded position, and vice versa, via manual operation.

[0013] In some embodiments, the second moveable shelf system may further comprise a mechanism to prevent the second moveable shelf from autonomously changing position from folded position to unfolded position, or vice versa.

[0014] In some embodiments, the second moveable shelf system may further comprise a control unit located along one of the opposing sides of the compartment. The control unit may be configured to control operation of the mechanism to prevent the second moveable shelf from autonomously changing position from folded position to unfolded position, or vice versa.

[0015] In some embodiments, the mechanism may be a protruding pin located at the back side of the compartment beneath the second moveable shelf when the shelf is in unfolded configuration. The pin may be configured to hold the weight of the shelf.

[0016] In some embodiments, the control unit may pull the protruding pin into the back side when the second moveable shelf manually changes position from unfolded to folded.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a front view of several closed compartments comprising a manual moveable shelf system, according to embodiments of the disclosure;

[0018] FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a front view of the compartments of FIG. 1, in open configuration, without the closing doors of the compartments, according to embodiments of the disclosure;

[0019] FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a front view of the compartments of FIG. 1, when all manual moveable shelf systems are in folded configuration, according to embodiments of the disclosure;

[0020] FIGS. 4A-4B are schematic illustrations of perspective views of a single compartment comprising a moveable shelf in folded position at the upper part of the compartment and unfolded position at the bottom part of the compartment with an additional removable shelf, respectively, according to some embodiments of the disclosure;

[0021] FIGS. 5A-5C are schematic illustrations of perspective views of a single compartment illustrating the stages of manually unfolding the moveable shelf (FIGS. 5A-5B) until it is in unfolded position (FIG. 5C), according to embodiments of the disclosure;

[0022] FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of a perspective view of a single compartment comprising a moveable shelf, when the shelf is in folded position, located at the bottom part of the compartment, according to embodiments of the disclosure;

[0023] FIGS. 7A-7B are schematic illustrations of perspective views of a single compartment comprising a moveable shelf during its unfolding stage and in its unfolded position, respectively, according to embodiments of the disclosure;

[0024] FIG. 8 is a schematic illustration of a front view of several compartments comprising moveable shelves, some shelves in folded position and one in unfolded position, according to embodiments of the disclosure; [0025] FIG. 9 is a schematic illustration of a perspective upper view of the location of the circuitry of the moveable shelf system, according to embodiments of the disclosure;

[0026] FIG. 10 is a schematic illustration of a front view of the circuitry of the moveable shelf system, according to embodiments of the disclosure;

[0027] FIG. 11 is a schematic illustration of a perspective side view of a control unit of the moveable shelf system, according to embodiments of the disclosure;

[0028] FIG. 12 is a schematic illustration of a front view of hinges of the doors of the compartments, according to embodiments of the disclosure;

[0029] FIG. 13 is a schematic illustration of a perspective side view of a mechanism to prevent the moveable shelf from autonomously changing position from folded position to unfolded position, or vice versa, according to embodiments of the disclosure; and

[0030] FIG. 14 is a schematic illustration of a front view of the mechanism of FIG. 13, according to embodiments of the disclosure.

[0031] The foregoing will be apparent from the following more particular description of example embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale; emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] According to the present disclosure, a modular manual moveable shelf system and shelf units are disclosed as part of a compartment. These shelves may manually change position from folded to unfolded. In case a shelf is in folded position when located at an upper or top part of a first compartment, it creates a single large compartment along with a second compartment located beneath the first compartment. Such a single compartment becomes suitable to house packages of relatively large size. However, when such a shelf is manually unfolded, it creates the bottom part or bottom side of a first compartment, thereby creating a separating shelf between the first compartment and the second compartment, making each of these two separate compartments suitable to house smaller sized packages compared to those that may fit into a single large compartment with no shelf in between the first and second compartments, which are located one above the other.

[0033] That is, the shelf system disclosed in the present disclosure provides modular compartments that may be changed such to suit various sizes of packages. When a package is small, the delivery person may manually unfold the moveable shelf, e.g., by pulling it down, such to separate between a first compartment to a second compartment. Whereas, when a package is large, the delivery person may manually fold the moveable shelf towards the upper part of the first compartment, thereby creating larger space suitable to encompass a large package. In some embodiments, the moveable shelf may change its configuration from folded to unfolded by being moveable up (towards the upper part of the first compartment) or down (towards the bottom part of the first compartment), respectively. It would be appreciated that in the present disclosure the embodiments described herein refer to the change of position of a moveable shelf from one position to another such that the compartment size changes accordingly.

[0034] According to some embodiments, some first and second compartments may comprise a moveable shelf that is in folded position when the shelf is located at the top side of a first compartment being located on top of a second compartment. However, in other embodiments, some first and second compartments may comprise a moveable shelf that may be located at the bottom side of a second compartment being located beneath a first compartment. Such a moveable shelf that is located at the bottom side of a second compartment when in folded position, may be unfolded such to create an intermediate shelf between the first and second compartments when the moveable shelf becomes the top side of the second compartment.

[0035] Reference is now made to FIG. 1, which is a schematic illustration of a front view of several closed compartments comprising a manual moveable shelf system, according to embodiments of the disclosure. According to some embodiments, compartments 100 may be closed as each compartment may comprise a closing door, configured to keep the compartments closed as long as no one comes to either place packages into or collect packages from any of these compartments, e.g., any of single compartments 102, 104, 106, 108, 112, 114, 116 or 118.

[0036] According to some embodiments, each pair of upper and bottom compartments may create a single large compartment, when their corresponding moveable shelf (not shown) is in folded position. For example, compartment 102 may be referred to as a first or upper compartment, while compartment 104 may be referred to as a second or bottom compartment. Compartment 102 may comprise a manual moveable shelf (not shown) which may be in folded position, e.g., the shelf may be located at the top side of compartment 102, thus creating a large single compartment comprising the space of compartment 102 and the space of compartment 104 together. However, when the moveable shelf is in unfolded position, it may create a separation between compartment 102 and compartment 104, by forming the bottom side of compartment 102 and the upper side of compartment 104, thus providing two smaller sized compartments, compared to the large single compartment created by the joinder of compartments 102 and 104.

[0037] Similarly, additional pairs of compartments may be of compartments 112 and 114, compartments 106 and 108, and compartments 116 and 118. Each of these pairs of compartments may comprise a manual moveable shelf, which may change its position from folded to unfolded and vice versa, to enable modular sized compartments suited for a variety of sizes of packages. [0038] According to some embodiments, the dimensions of each of compartments 102, 104, 106, 108, 112, 114, 1 16 and 118 may be, for example, 460mm (Length) x 930mm (Width) x 460mm (Depth). Other embodiments may comprise compartments of different dimensions. Yet, other embodiments may comprise compartments of dimensions suitable to hold different sizes of packages.

[0039] Reference is now made to FIG. 2, which is a schematic illustration of a front view of the compartments of FIG. 1, in open configuration, without the closing doors of the compartments, according to embodiments of the disclosure. According to some embodiments, once the closing doors are shown as removed from compartments 100, the inner part of each compartment is exposed. In some embodiments, each pair of compartments may comprise a moveable shelf, which may be in either folded or unfolded position, thereby defining the changeable size of the compartments. For example, compartment 102 and compartment 104, may be a pair of compartments, since compartment 102 is located above compartment 104, with no other compartment being located between these two compartments 102 and 104. In some embodiments, compartments 102 and 104 may comprise a moveable shelf 120. As illustrated in FIG. 2, when moveable shelf 120 is in folded position, it may be located at the upper part of compartment 102 and compartments 102 and 104 may define a large single compartment 202. However, when moveable shelf 120 is in unfolded configuration, it may be manually positioned to be located between compartment 102 and compartment 104, i.e., moveable shelf 120 may form the bottom part of compartment 102 as well as the upper part of compartment 104, thereby dividing compartments 102 and 104 into single smaller compartments configured to encompass smaller sized packages than those to be inserted when moveable shelf 120 is in folded positon, i.e., when compartments 102 and 104 are joined together to form one large single compartment.

[0040] Similarly, compartment 106 and compartment 108 may define one large single compartment 206 when their respective moveable shelf 130 is in folded position, located at the top part of compartment 106. And when moveable shelf 130 is in unfolded position, it may form the bottom part of compartment 106 while forming the upper part of compartment 108, thereby dividing these two compartments into two smaller and separated stand-alone compartments 106 and 108.

[0041] According to some embodiments, compartments 112 and 114 may be located beneath the pair of compartments 102 and 104. Accordingly, the pair of compartments 112 and 114 may comprise a moveable shelf 140 which may be folded differently than moveable shelf 120. For example, moveable shelf 140 may be located at the bottom side of the lower compartment of the pair, i.e., at the bottom part of compartment 114, when in folded position, thereby creating a large single compartment 212. Moveable shelf 140 may be located between compartment 112 and compartment 114 when in unfolded configuration. That is, moveable shelf 140 may form the upper side of compartment 114, while forming the bottom side of compartment 112, thereby creating two stand-alone smaller compartments 112 and 114. Similarly, compartments 116 and 118 may define one large compartment 216 when their respective moveable shelf 150 is in folded position, located at the bottom side of compartment 118. And when moveable shelf 150 is in unfolded position, it may form the top side of compartment 118 and the bottom side of compartment 116, thereby dividing compartment 216 into two smaller separated stand-alone compartments 116 and 118.

[0042] Since the pair of compartments 102 and 104 may comprise a moveable shelf 120, which may be in folded position when located at the top side of upper compartment 102, and since the pair of compartments 112 and 114 may comprise a moveable shelf 140, which may be in folded position when located at the bottom side of lower compartment 114, these two pairs may form one larger compartment, when moveable shelf 120 and moveable shelf 140 are both in their corresponding folded position. Thus, a compartment the size of four small compartments 102, 104, 112 and 114 may be created when foldable shelves 120 and 140 are both in their folded configuration. Similarly, when foldable shelves 130 and 150 are both in their corresponding folded configuration, four small compartments 106, 108, 116 and 118 may create one large single compartment.

[0043] According to the present disclosure, each compartment may comprise a corresponding front door. Each of these front doors may be operated independently of any of the other doors. That is, the opening of one door does not affect the opening or closing of any other door. Accordingly, if a person delivers a small package, he may open one door of one small compartment. However, if the package is larger, the delivery person may open two doors of two small compartments. And yet, if the package is even larger, the mailman may open four doors of four small compartment at once, and use up the space of four joined compartments as one single large compartment. Once the relevant doors are opened, the delivery person will fold the moveable shelfs such that the required compartment size is created and set the doors to open together according to the number of doors he himself opened to be suitable for the package size, in order for the recipient of the package to be able to easily pick up the package and remove it from compartment set 100.

[0044] In some embodiments, the doors are interconnected such that when the delivery person requires a larger size compartment, an electronic system (not shown) will interconnect the respective doors via electronic locks or connectors. When the delivery person selects a certain compartment size, the system will interconnect the respective doors and open said doors automatically by releasing a latch (not shown) that holds said doors together. In some embodiments, the delivery person will then manually adjust the moveable shelf(s) from an unfolded position to a folded position to generate a larger compartment size which may accommodate the package to be delivered.

[0045] According to some embodiments, the moveable shelf system is required to comprise some kind of mechanism to ensure that the foldable shelves do not change their configuration spontaneously, without the manual and intended operation of a user (be it a delivery person or the package recipient) or without the intended instructions provided by an associated computerized system. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the mechanism that would prevent the foldable shelves from spontaneously changing position, without the intervention of a user, may be pins that may protrude from the back side of a compartment. Each of the protruding pins may be configured to hold the weight of the moveable shelf system and make sure the shelf system stays in place and does not autonomously change its configuration from folded to unfolded or vice versa.

[0046] In case the moveable shelf is located at the top side of a compartment when in folded position, e.g., moveable shelf 120, which is located at the top side of compartment 102, a protruding pin 122 may be located such to protrude from the back side of compartment 102, and may be located beneath moveable shelf 120 when moveable shelf 120 is in folded configuration, in order to carry the weight of moveable shelf 120 in folded state. In addition, another protruding pin 124 may be present in between compartments 102 and 104 such to hold the weight of moveable shelf 120 when in unfolded position, in order to provide support to moveable shelf 120 that forms the bottom side of compartment 102 and the top side of compartment 104 when in folded position. Similarly, compartment 106 may comprise protruding pin 132 to hold moveable shelf 130 in folded position. And protruding pin 134 may be located between compartments 106 and 108 in order to support moveable shelf 130 in unfolded position, while moveable shelf 130 forms a separator between compartment 106 and compartment 108, thereby creating two smaller compartments for storing relatively small sized packages.

[0047] In some embodiments, in case the moveable shelf is located at the bottom side of a compartment when in folded position, e.g., moveable shelf 140 that is located at the bottom side of compartment 114 when in folded configuration, a protruding pin is not required to maintain foldable position in folded position, but rather gravity maintains moveable shelf 140 in folded configuration at the bottom of compartment 114. However, aprotruding pin is required in orderto support moveable shelf 140 when in unfolded configuration. Protruding pin 144 may be configured to hold the weight of moveable shelf 140 (and any element connected to it that assists in enabling folding and unfolding of moveable shelf 140, e.g., foldable arm units, as will be discussed later in FIGS. 5A-5C). Similarly, compartment 118 may comprise protruding pin 154 that may be configured to support the weight of moveable shelf 150 when in unfolded position, whereby maintaining the folded position of moveable shelf 150 requires no support due to gravity.

[0048] According to some embodiments, the weight of each moveable shelf systems, e.g., shelf systems 120, 130, 140 and 150, may be approximately lOKg. In other embodiments, the moveable shelf systems may be of other weight. In any case, each of the protruding pins, e.g., each of pins 122, 124, 132, 134, 144 and 154 may be configured to support the weight of their corresponding moveable shelf systems. [0049] In some embodiments, the pins 122, 124, 132, 134, 144 and 154 may be configured with a spring such that when the moveable shelfs are moved to a position such as the top of compartments 104, 108, 114, 118 the pin is retracted through mechanical pressure by the movable shelf movement in the upward direction. Such mechanical pressure of the movable shelf loads the spring associated with said moveable shelf and once the moveable shelf has passed the relevant pin location, the loaded spring is released pushing the relevant pin forward to an open position such that it may support the weight of the corresponding moveable shelf. The delivery person can then rest the moveable shelf on the protruding pin.

[0050] In some embodiments, a delivery person may raise moveable shelf 120 upwards towards the top side of compartment 102, such that moveable shelf 120 is in folded state, thereby joining single compartments 102 and 104 together to become one large compartment 202. After a user had opened the door of large compartment 202 to collect the contents placed by the delivery person (following the user receiving an indication that a package arrived, along with a code to open the specific compartment, e.g., via an application installed on a computerized device, e.g., the user’s mobile phone), the user closes the door of compartment 202. In such case, the operation of the door closing compartment 202 may cause a control unit (not shown) controlling moveable shelf 120 to instruct protruding pin 122 to retract into the back side of compartment 102, thereby causing moveable shelf 120 to automatically change state from folded to unfolded configuration (since no pin is present to support the weight of moveable shelf system 120 and keep it in folded position). The change in position may be achieved via the gravitational force applied to the moveable shelf 120 through its own weight. Accordingly, when moveable shelf system 120 is in unfolded state two single smaller compartments 102 and 104 are re-created. This controlling operation for changing the state of the moveable shelf system 120 from folded to unfolded would save the delivery person the time and effort of doing so on his own. In case the delivery person is delivering a large package once again, which would require the entire space of both compartments 102 and 104, the delivery person would need to raise moveable shelf system 120 towards the top side of compartment 102. The control unit, which may detect such raising movement of moveable shelf 120 may instruct protruding pin 122 to protrude out of the back side of compartment 102 in order to support the weight of moveable shelf system 120 and maintain the moveable shelf system 120 in folded state. However, in case the delivery person is delivering smaller packages that may each be inserted into either of single compartments 102 and 104, these compartments are already divided by moveable shelf system 120 automatically switching to its unfolded state.

[0051] According to some embodiments, with respect to each of bottom shelves 140 or 150, after bottom shelves 140 or 150 are in folded state and a delivery person places a large package within compartments 212 or 216, respectively, the door is shut by the delivery person. A user, e.g., package recipient may then collect the package, after being indicated of a code to open the appropriate compartment. In case a delivery person is to deliver smaller packages, he may push foldable shelves 140 or 150 down towards the bottom end of compartments 114 and 118, respectively, thereby changing the configuration of foldable bottom shelves 140 or 150 to be in unfolded state. When shelves 140 or 150 are in unfolded state, two smaller compartments 112 and 114, or 116 and 118, respectively may be created. After the delivery person shuts the doors of the compartments, a user may be informed, e.g., via a web-based application installed on the user’s computerized device, that a package has arrived. The user may further receive a code for opening the appropriate compartment. Once the two users who have packages in one of compartments 112 and 114, or in compartments 116 and 118 have collected their packages, meaning the doors of both of compartments 112 or 114, or of 116 and 118 are shut for a second time (the first time the doors are shut is after the delivery person had placed the packages into these compartments), the operation of the doors closing compartments 112 and 114, or 116 and 118 may cause a control unit (not shown) to control position of the moveable shelf systems 140 or 150.

[0052] In some embodiments, the control unit controlling foldable shelves 140 or 150, respectively, may instruct protruding pins 144 or 145, respectively, to retract into the back side of compartments 114 or 118, respectively, thereby causing moveable shelf systems 140 or 150 to automatically change state from unfolded to folded configuration, since no pin is present to support the weight of moveable shelf systems 140 or 150 and keep them in unfolded position. In some other embodiments, the pins 144, 145, may be adjusted from retracted to open positions via the use of a loaded spring, which may be loaded when the respective movable shelf is moved by the delivery person and forces the pins to the retracted position thereby loading the spring, which is released once the moveable shelf has passed the pin’s location. In such embodiments, the moveable shelf is designed such that in the area corresponding to the pins the moveable shelf has appropriate depressions or is slanted to allow for the smooth movement of the movable shelf while the pin is being depressed.

[0053] According to some embodiments, the control unit may control change in configuration of the moveable shelf systems through software logics. For example, after a first time a door is shut, no change in configuration of the moveable shelf systems is implemented, whereas a second time a door is shut does cause a change in moveable shelf systems configuration. Alternatively, the software logics may provide for retraction of the pins once the door is shut to allow for the moveable shelf to change its position, according to the systems’ needs. In some embodiments, both a spring charged pin and a control unit may be combined in the same mechanism to allow for manual change of the moveable shelf in the upward direction and retraction of the pin via the control unit to affect the change of position of the moveable shelf in the downward direction, which relies on the moveable shelf s weight. [0054] According to some embodiments, typically, a package size may be defined prior to placement of the package within a moveable shelf system. Upon defining the parcel or package size, the control unit may allocate the ideal location within the compartment set, e.g., compartment set 100, in which to house the parcel through logic coding and algorithms built within the control unit.

[0055] According to some embodiments, the manual moveable shelf systems may comprise a sensor(s) that may sense presence of a package within a compartment, in order to indicate whether a change in configuration of the compartment is required. For example, a volume detection sensor or a weight detection sensor may be used to determine whether or not the space of the compartment is occupied by a package.

[0056] It should be evident that any combination of pairs and single compartments may be implemented when designing a storage area for packages in condominiums. That is, substantially any number of compartments may be stacked one on top of the other, as long as some of them include pairs of compartments that would enable the flexibility of size changing among the compartments in order to suit various packages sizes.

[0057] According to some embodiments, several compartments may be stacked one on top of the other, while another set of compartments is stacked one on top of the other, and each compartment has an adjacent compartment, such that adjacent compartments share one common side. In such case, one may use the combined space of not only compartments located one on top of the other (or one beneath another) but rather the space combined between at least two adjacent compartments that have a common side. For example, compartment 102 and compartment 106 are adjacent to one another, as they have one common side, e.g., wall 222. In case wall 222 may be removable, compartments 102 and 106 may create one large vertical compartment. If the lower compartments 104 and 108, which are also adjacently located to one another, as they have one common side as well, e.g., wall 224, would be combined with compartments 102 and 106, then an even larger space may be provided if moveable shelf systems 120 and 130 are in folded state and if walls 222 and 224 are removed. The new large space may comprise the sizes of compartments 102, 104, 106 and 108 altogether. According to some embodiments, in order to provide such a combination of compartments all being vacant at once, the doors of the compartments located at the left side of such a compartments arrangement, e.g., compartment arrangement 100, should be opened towards the left side, while the doors of the compartments located at the right side of such a compartments arrangement, should be opened towards the right side of the arrangement. For example, compartments 102 and 104 should comprise doors opening towards the left side of compartments set 100, and compartments 106 and 108 should comprise doors opening towards the right side of compartments set 100.

[0058] In some embodiments, intermediate shelves may be used to further define smaller storage areas, within a single compartment. For example, a user may be able to manually insert an intermediate shelf at approximately the middle of a single compartment, in order to divide that compartment to even smaller storage areas than the size of a single compartment. For example, each compartment may comprise supports located at each of the compartment sides to support an intermediate shelf. In such case, a single compartment may comprise two closing doors, in order to enable a package recipient to only open a section of a single compartment and thus to collect his package only, and not to open the entire compartment, when it is divided.

[0059] Reference is now made to FIG. 3, which is a schematic illustration of a front view of the compartments of FIG. 1, when all manual moveable shelf systems are in folded configuration, according to embodiments of the disclosure. FIG. 3 clearly illustrates the large compartments 202, 212, 206 and 216, which are each created by positioning their respective foldable shelves in folded position. When the foldable shelves are in folded configuration, a larger size of storage may be created, since two single compartments are joined together to form one large single compartment. FIG. 3 further illustrates the mechanism preventing spontaneous movement and change of configuration of foldable shelves, e.g., protruding pins 122 and 132. The protruding pins are designed to support the weight of the foldable shelves and any other element used to enable such foldable ability, for example, foldable arm units (discussed later in FIGS. 5A-5C). Protruding pins 122 and 132 are configured to support and hold the weight of the foldable shelves 120 and 130, respectively, when in folded position. In some embodiments, protruding pins 124 and 134 may be configured to hold the weight of foldable shelves 120 and 130, respectively, when in unfolded position, while forming the division and separation between the single small compartments.

[0060] Similarly, protruding pins 144 and 154 may be configured to support the weight of foldable shelves 140 and 150, respectively, when in unfolded configuration, thereby forming a separating means between a pair of adjacent single small compartments, e.g., adjacent pair of compartments 112 and 114, and adjacent pair of compartments 116 and 118 (FIG. 2).

[0061] Reference is now made to FIGS. 4A-4B, which are schematic illustrations of perspective views of a single compartment comprising a moveable shelf in folded position at the upper part of the compartment and unfolded position at the bottom part of the compartment with an additional removable shelf, respectively, according to some embodiments of the disclosure. According to some embodiments, a single compartment, e.g., compartment 102 may comprise a moveable shelf, e.g., shelf 120. When in folded configuration, moveable shelf 120 may be located at the top side of compartment 102. In some embodiments, compartment 102 may comprise a closing door 402. In some embodiments, door 402 may be divided into two single doors 412 and 414, which may be operated independently, e.g., opening or closing of one door, e.g., door 412, may be done without affecting operation, e.g., opening or closing of the other door, e.g., door 414. Each of doors 412 and 414 may be opened independently in case compartment 102 is separated into two single compartments, by adding a removable intermediate shelf 420 (FIG. 4B). When intermediate shelf 420 is inserted into compartment 102, intermediate shelf 420 may divide compartment 102 into two smaller compartments 422 and 424. Each of the two smaller compartments 422 and 424 may have a corresponding door e.g., doors 412 and 414, respectively. In case removable intermediate shelf 420 is not inserted into compartment 102, door 402 may be opened and closed as one single unit such to open or close compartment 102.

[0062] FIG. 4A illustrates door 402 or both doors 412 and 414 in open state, and FIG. 4B illustrates the doors 416 and 418 in closed state, i.e., they are shut and their corresponding compartments, whether or not divided by an intermediate shelf, are not shown behind doors 416 and 418.

[0063] Reference is now made to FIGS. 5A-5C, which are schematic illustrations of perspective views of a single compartment illustrating the stages of manually unfolding the moveable shelf system (FIGS. 5A-5B) until it is in unfolded position (FIG. 5C), according to embodiments of the disclosure. FIGS. 5A-5C schematically illustrate the moveable shelf system in detail. According to some embodiments, a moveable shelf system 120 (FIG. 2) comprises a moveable shelf, e.g., moveable shelf 502 that is connected to four foldable arm units, e.g., foldable arms units 530 (not shown), 540, 550 and 560 (FIG. 5C), which enable the movement of moveable shelf 502. That is, according to some embodiments, the movement of foldable arm units affects the configuration of the moveable shelf, i.e., whether it is in folded or unfolded configuration. According to some embodiments, the moveable shelf 502 when placed in the unfolded position also serves as the bottom shelf of the compartment 560 (FIG. 5A-5C). In accordance with such embodiments, when the moveable shelf 502 moves to an unfolded position and additional intermediate shelf, which may be locked at the top of the compartment by a protruding pin may be moved to the middle position of the compartment and rest on a second protruding pin (e.g. 513 of FIG. 5B) or on joints (e.g. 538, 532, 536, 534 of FIG. 5B).

[0064] According to some embodiments, each foldable arm unit comprises an upper arm and a corresponding lower arm connected to each other via a joint, e.g., a spring hinge, pin hinge, mechanical hinge, though other types of joints may be used. Typically, there may be four foldable arm units connected to one moveable shelf, though other numbers of foldable arm units may be implemented. For example, upper arm 522 may be connected to lower arm 512 via joint 532, upper arm 524 may be connected to lower arm 514 via joint 534, upper arm 526 may be connected to lower arm 516 via joint 536, and upper arm 528 may be connected to lower arm 518 via joint 538.

[0065] According to some embodiments, two foldable arm units may be positioned in close proximity to the back side of the compartment, e.g., compartment 102, while two other foldable arm units may be positioned in close proximity to the front side of the compartment, e.g., compartment 102. For example, foldable arm units 550 and 530 (not shown, though comprised from upper arm 522 connected to lower arm 512 via joint 532) may be located in close proximity to the back side of compartment 102, while foldable arm units 540 and 560 may be located in close proximity to the front side of compartment 102. Four foldable arms provide good stability for a moveable shelf (e.g., moveable shelf 502), during rest state and further during changing its position from folded to unfolded.

[0066] According to some embodiments, compartment 106, that is adjacent to compartment 102 by both compartments sharing one common side, may comprise an intermediate shelf 520. As explained above, an intermediate shelf may be manually inserted such to provide two compartments, e.g., compartments 580 and 590, which are smaller than a single compartment, e.g., single compartment 106. According to some other embodiments, the intermediate shelf is a shelf which may be moveable up and down manually and may be secured to the top or middle of a compartment by means of a pin or joints or by the moveable shelf itself. According to some embodiments, single compartment 106 may further comprise a closing door that may be separated into two independently operated doors, as explained with respect to FIGS. 4A-4B. These two independently operated doors are used when indeed an intermediate shelf is inserted into a single compartment. For example, when intermediate shelf 520 is inserted into compartment 106 and two smaller compartments 580 and 590 are created. In such case, each of smaller compartments 580 and 590 would comprise a corresponding self- operated closing door, in order to enable the independency of operation of each of smaller compartments 580 and 590.

[0067] In some embodiments, an intermediate shelf may by supported by the joints of the foldable arm units and rest thereon when the corresponding movable shelf, such as moveable shelf 502 is in the unfolded position. For example, intermediate shelf 520 may rest upon the joints located in compartment 106, and which are part of the moveable shelf system of compartment 106. In case compartment 102 would comprise an intermediate shelf, the intermediate shelf could rest upon and be supported by either one or all of joints 532, 534, 536 and 538 or protruding pins. In such embodiment, the intermediate shelf 520 may be moved in the upward direction (e.g., by a delivery person) and locked into the top part of the compartment 102 through protruding pin 124 (Fig. 3). Yet, in accordance with some embodiments, when the moveable shelf 502 is placed in the folded position and held in place by pin 513 and the intermediate shelf (not shown, e.g. 120 of FIG 2) is held at the top of the compartment by a pin at the top of the compartment (not shown, e.g., 122 of FIG. 2) a control unit and associated software logic may, preferably when the doors are shut and/or locked into a certain predetermined position, release pin 513 and thereafter release the pin at the top of the compartment, allowing the weight of the moveable shelf and the intermediate shelf to move to their unfolded positions, the arms (e.g. 518, 514, 524, 526 of FIG. 5B) move into their unfolded position (e.g. as shown in FIG. 5C) and the intermediate shelf resting on pin 513 and/or joints (e.g. 538, 532, 536, 534 of FIG. 5B) and the moveable shelf is at its unfolded position at the bottom of the compartment (e.g. 502 of FIG. 5C). That is, according to embodiments of the present disclosure, an intermediate shelf, e.g., intermediate shelf 520, may be a shelf that is manually inserted into a compartment, e.g., configured to rest upon the joints of the moveable shelf system, e.g., joints 532, 534, 536 and 538. In other embodiments, the intermediate shelf, e.g., intermediate shelf 520 may be integrated with the moveable shelf system of the compartment, e.g., compartment 102 which may comprise moveable shelf system 120. For example, intermediate shelf 520 may be connected above the joints (e.g., joints 532, 534, 536 and 538) of moveable shelf system 120, such that when moveable shelf system 120 is in folded state, intermediate shelf 520 is located between shelf 502 and the upper side of compartment 102. When moveable shelf 120 is in folded state, moveable shelf 120 may rest upon a first protruding pin, while intermediate shelf 520 may rest upon a second protruding pin located above the first protruding pin. However, moveable shelf 120 may change its configuration to unfolded state once the protruding pins are retracted into the back side of compartment 102, thus causing moveable shelf 120, and specifically shelf 502 to create the bottom side of compartment 102, while intermediate shelf 520 may be located above shelf 502 to form a partition within compartment 102 such to create two smaller compartments within compartment 102. The size of these smaller compartments need not be identical, as it depends on the location of intermediate shelf 520 along moveable shelf 120.

[0068] According to some embodiments, moveable shelf system 120 may further comprise a surface (not shown), which may be constantly located at the top side of compartment 102, and may be connected to the foldable arm units as support for the foldable arm units. That is, moveable shelf 502 may be connected to typically four foldable arm units on one end of each foldable arm unit, while the surface may be connected to each of the foldable arm units on the opposite end of that connected to shelf 502. Similarly, moveable shelf systems may comprise a surface located opposite a corresponding moveable shelf, while the foldable arm units are connecting between the foldable shelves and their corresponding surfaces. These surfaces provide support and anchoring for the foldable shelves and the foldable arm units, as the foldable shelves unfold away from their supports, or as they fold towards these supports.

[0069] Reference is now made to FIG. 6, which is a schematic illustration of a perspective view of a single compartment comprising a moveable shelf, when the shelf is in folded position, located at the bottom part of the compartment, according to embodiments of the disclosure. According to some embodiments, FIG. 6 schematically illustrates a moveable shelf system that is part of a pair of compartments configured to be typically located at a bottom end of a set of compartments, e.g., compartments 100 (FIGS. 1-2), since moveable shelf system 150 is in folded position when it is located at the bottom side of the compartment it is located within. For example, moveable shelf system 150 may be located at the bottom side of compartment 118, when moveable shelf system 150 is in folded state, thereby creating a large single compartment between compartment 118 and a compartment that is located adjacent to and on top of compartment 118. E.g., lower compartment 118 and upper compartment 116 may create one single large compartment 216, when moveable shelf system 150 is in folded configuration. However, when moveable shelf system 150 is in unfolded state, it creates the top side of compartment 118, as well as the bottom side of a compartment located adjacent to and on top of compartment 118, (e.g., compartment 116) thereby creating two separated stand-alone single compartments 118 and 116. That is, moveable shelf system 150 is raised upwards when changing from folded state to unfolded state, whereas moveable shelf system 120 (FIG. 4A) is pulled downwards when changing its state from folded to unfolded.

[0070] According to some embodiments, compartment 118 may comprise a closing door, e.g., closing door 602, for keeping the contents of a compartment, e.g., compartment 118, secure behind its closing door, e.g., door 602, when it is closed. In some embodiments, door 602 may comprise two adjacent smaller doors 612 and 614, which in some case may operate independently from one another, while in some cases may be operated as one unit. For example, in case a package is inserted into compartment 118 in its entirety, doors 612 and 614 would operate as one unit, and would open or close simultaneously. However, in case an intermediate shelf is inserted into compartment 118, in order to divide compartment 118 into two smaller compartments, each of doors 612 and 614 may open or close independently of operation or state of the other door, in order to provide completely two independent stand-alone small compartments.

[0071] Reference is now made to FIGS. 7A-7B, which are schematic illustrations of perspective views of a single compartment comprising a moveable shelf during its unfolding stage and in its unfolded position, respectively, according to embodiments of the disclosure. As detailed hereinabove, according to some embodiments, a moveable shelf system, e.g., moveable shelf system 150, may comprise foldable arm units connected to a moveable shelf, e.g., shelf 702. Typically, four arms units may be connected to one shelf, each located at a different side or end of the shelf, though other numbers of foldable arm units may be implemented.

[0072] According to some embodiments, each foldable arm unit may comprise an upper arm and a corresponding lower arm connected to each other via a joint, e.g., a spring hinge, though other types of joints may be used. For example, upper arm 722 may be connected to lower arm 712 via joint 732, upper arm 724 may be connected to lower arm 714 via joint 734, upper arm 726 may be connected to lower arm 716 via joint 736, and upper arm 728 may be connected to lower arm 718 via joint 738.

[0073] According to some embodiments, two foldable arm units may be positioned in close proximity to the back side of the compartment, e.g., compartment 118, while two other foldable arm units may be positioned in close proximity to the front side of the compartment, e.g., compartment 118. For example, foldable arm units 740 and 760 may be located in close proximity to the front side of compartment 118, while foldable arm units 750 (and another not shown in FIG. 7B, though it is comprised of upper arm 728 may be connected to lower arm 718 via joint 738) may be located in close proximity to the back side of compartment 118. Four foldable arms provide good stability for a moveable shelf (e.g., shelf 702), during rest state (when it is not moved) and further during changing its position from folded to unfolded.

[0074] According to some embodiments, moveable shelf system 150 may further comprise a surface 710, which may be constantly located at the bottom side of compartment 118, and may be connected to the foldable arm units as support to the foldable arm units. That is, moveable shelf 702 may be connected to typically four foldable arm units on one end of each foldable arm unit, while surface 710 may be connected to each of the foldable arm units on the opposite end of that connected to shelf 702.

[0075] In some embodiments, an intermediate shelf may by supported by the joints of the foldable arm units. For example, intermediate shelf 720 may rest upon the joints located in compartment 114, and which are part of the moveable shelf system of compartment 114. In case compartment 118 would comprise an intermediate shelf, the intermediate shelf could rest upon and be supported by either one or all of joints 732, 734, 736 and 738.

[0076] As explained in detail with respect to FIGS. 5A-5C, intermediate shelves of compartments that their unfolded state creates a top side of the compartment they are moveable within, may also either be manually inserted within the compartment to rest upon joints of the moveable shelf system, or such intermediate shelves may be an integral part of the moveable shelf system, such that when moveable shelf system 150 folds, intermediate shelf 720 folds along with it, and when moveable shelf systeml50 unfolds to create the top part of compartment 118, intermediate shelf 720 unfolds along with it to form as a partition within compartment 118, thereby creating two smaller compartments within compartment 118.

[0077] Reference is now made to FIG. 8, which is a schematic illustration of a front view of several compartments comprising foldable shelves, some shelves in folded position and one in unfolded position, according to embodiments of the disclosure. According to some embodiments, FIG. 8 illustrates an example of folded and unfolded configurations of the various compartments within compartment arrangement 100, which may be one example of many possible arrangements of the compartments within compartments set 100. In this example, compartments 102 and 104 may be separated by moveable shelf system 120 positioned in unfolded state, thus providing two separate stand-alone compartments 102 and 104, each capable of receiving a package. On the contrary, compartments 106 and 108 are not separated by moveable shelf system 130, as moveable shelf system 130 is in folded state, located at the top side of compartment 106. Accordingly, compartments 106 and 108 provide a large compartment 206 of a space equivalent to that of both compartment 106 and 108 except for the space taken up by moveable shelf system 130.

[0078] In this example, compartments 112 and 114 may provide one large compartment, since moveable shelf system 140 is provided in folded state, located at the bottom side of compartment 114. That is, the space created when moveable shelf system 140 is in folded configuration, is equivalent to that of both compartment 112 and 114 except for the space taken up by moveable shelf system 140. Similarly, compartments 116 and 118 may provide one large compartment, since moveable shelf system 150 is provided in folded state, located at the bottom side of compartment 118. That is, the space created when moveable shelf system 150 is in folded configuration, is equivalent to that of both compartment 116 and 118 except for the space taken up by moveable shelf system 150.

[0079] Any other arrangement of moveable shelf systems 120, 130, 140 and 150 may be implemented. In addition, any arrangement of intermediate shelves that may be inserted into either of the single compartments, e.g., compartments 102, 104, 106, 108, 112, 114, 116 and 118, in order to further divide them into smaller compartments, is possible. In some additional embodiments, where left walls, e.g. walls 802, 804, are not provided for compartments 106, 108, and right walls, e.g. walls 806, 808, are not provided for compartments 102, 104, and moveable shelfs 130, 120 are in folded state a bigger compartment comprising compartments 102, 104, 106, 108, (large compartments 202 and 206) may be provided. According to such embodiment, the doors associated with compartments 102, 104 are attached to the left walls thereof, e.g. and are opened through a mechanism located in the left walls of said compartments. According to such embodiment, the doors associated with compartments 106, 108 are attached to the right walls thereof, e.g. 814, 816, and are opened through a mechanism located in the right wall of said compartments. The same configuration may be applied to compartments 112, 114, 116, 118 therefore generating a single large compartment made out of compartments 212, 216.

[0080] In some other embodiments, the compartments 104, 108, are provided without bottom walls, e.g. 818, 820 and the compartments 112, 116 are provided without top walls, e.g. 822, 824 and the respective movable shelfs are in the folded positions a single large compartment made out of compartments 202, 206, 212, 216 may be formed and used. It will be appreciated that in the context of the present disclosure the term wall is interchangeable with the term side and that such terms would also refer to separators, dividers, partitions, panels and the like.

[0081] Reference is now made to FIG. 9, which is a schematic illustration of a perspective upper view of the location of the circuitry of the moveable shelf system, according to embodiments of the disclosure. According to some embodiments, circuitry may be required for controlling operation of the doors (some operating independently of other doors while some doors operating as a single unit, depending on compartment sizes) and for controlling the configuration of the various moveable shelf systems, i.e., whether to keep them in folded or unfolded state or whether to affect a change in their state by retracting or pushing the protruding pin into and out of the back side of the compartments.

[0082] According to some embodiments, Fig 9 schematically illustrates how a module of shelves may link to another, as they are located side by side, and while the circuitry connection may be daisy- chained to work under a combined logic of the control unit.

[0083] According to some embodiments, Fig. 9 schematically illustrates a housing for the control board that may be wired up to all compartment doors of compartment set 100, or any other compartment set. In some embodiments, the oval holes on each side of a compartment unit, may be used to facilitate the connection of wires of each compartment door to the main CPU that may be located in an adjacent group or set of compartments, e.g., compartments 100. In addition, oval openings 902 may be used as handles for lifting the compartment set 100. Such a handle may be located on either side of compartment set 100. In some embodiments, compartment set 100 may further comprise a control unit or computer software logic 904, which may comprise a moveable cover 906 configured to cover the circuitry of compartment 100.

[0084] In some embodiments, the control board of compartment set 100 may further comprise a lock 908, which may be configured to control the locking of the various compartments of compartment set 100, such that they would open only upon operation by the specific user, for example, when the user inserts a certain code via the compartment interface, the certain code correlating with a specific compartment.

[0085] In some embodiments, the control board of compartment set 100 may comprise connection 910, which may be a connection to a camera or an audio device. A camera or any other imaging device may be used to acquire images of the surroundings of compartment set 100, thereby securing the area of the compartment set 100. An audio device may be used to assist operation of compartment set 100 in case a user encounters any difficulty. An operator of compartment set 100 may then speak to the user via the audio device and instruct the user on proper operation of opening one or more compartments of compartment set 100.

[0086] In some embodiments, the control unit may operate under a proprietary operating system developed by ParcelSanta Company™ The smart allocation system or movement and change of configuration of moveable shelf systems may be configured to synchronize with dimensions of a package intuitively and seamlessly to prompt the deliveryman to place packages in the right location along the compartments set, and to guide customers or recipients of the packages to reach the right location in the compartment set for collection of their packages. The control unit may further create a dedicated notification prompt that will be sent to recipients’ computerized devices, e.g., their mobile devices with an unlocking code to be applied in order to open the correct compartment in which each recipient’s package is placed. The control unit may be upgradable, portable and may be modular, e.g., it may comprise additional technology components such as IR sensors, cameras, etc.

[0087] Reference is made to FIG. 10, which is a schematic illustration of a front view of the circuitry of the moveable shelf system, according to embodiments of the disclosure. According to some embodiments, the sides towards which the doors of the compartments are to open, is where circuitry may pass through. That is, circuitry may pass along the sides of the compartments that comprise the hinges of the compartment doors. In case a compartment is located on the right side of a compartment arrangement, e.g., compartment set 100, for example, either of compartment 106 or 108, the circuitry, e.g., circuitry 1120 may pass along the right side of that compartment, e.g., right side wall 1102, and the compartment door would also open to the right, meaning the hinge of the door is located along the same side wall as that of the circuitry operating the door (e.g., on the right side wall 1102). Similarly, in case a compartment is located on the left side of a compartment arrangement, e.g., compartment set 100, for example either of compartments 112 or 114, the circuitry, e.g., circuitry 1110, may pass along the left side of that compartment, e.g., left side wall 1101, and the compartment door would also open to the left, meaning the hinge of the door is located along the same side as that of the circuitry operating the door (e.g., on the left side wall 1101).

[0088] Reference is now made to FIG. 11, which is a schematic illustration of a perspective side view of a control unit of the moveable shelf system, according to embodiments of the disclosure. As mentioned with respect to FIG. 10, a control unit and circuitry may be located at the top side of compartment arrangement 100. In some embodiments, circuitry that enables the control of operation of the doors and of the protruding pins that are intended to hold the weight of the moveable shelf systems, may pass along the sides of the compartment set 100, where the doors of the compartments are connected at. For example, door 1120 may comprise hinges that enable door 1120 to open and close thereabout. In some embodiments, each compartment door, e.g., door 1120 may comprise two hinges, e.g., hinges 1121 and 1122. The circuitry 1110 operating operation of door 1120 as one single unit or as independent sub-units (as detailed, for example, with respect to FIG. 4A) may pass along side wall 1101, which is the same side wall that the hinges 1121 and 1122 holding door 1120 are attached to.

[0089] Reference is now made to FIG. 12, which is a schematic illustration of a front view of hinges of the doors of the compartments, according to embodiments of the disclosure. According to some embodiments, each compartment of a compartment set, e.g. compartment set 100, may comprise a corresponding door to close onto the front side of each compartment and thus maintain the contents of each compartment safe. Each door may be connected to its corresponding compartment via hinges, e.g., spring hinges, butt hinges, flush hinges, ball bearing hinges, case hinges, hospital hinges, strap hinges, olive knuckle hinges, pivot hinges, heavy duty hinge, double action spring hinges, butterfly hinges, Bi-Fold hinges, or any other type of hinges.

[0090] In some embodiments, the compartments located at the left side of a compartment arrangement, e.g., compartment set 100, may comprise doors that are configured to open towards the left side of the compartment set, while compartments located at the right side of a compartment set may comprise doors that are configured to open towards the right side of the compartment set. This way, a user, e.g., a delivery person could have the ability to combine not only vertical compartments located adjacently to one another while having on common top or bottom side, when in the need for a larger space, but also combine adjacent horizontal compartments, which have a common side wall, by removing that common wall.

[0091] According to some embodiments, compartment 102 may comprise door 1120. In some embodiments, door 1120 may be connected to side wall 1101 of compartment set 100 via hinges, e.g., hinges 1121 and 1122. That is, compartment 102 that is located at the left side of compartment set 100 may comprise a door 1120 that is configured to open towards the left side of compartment set 100. The circuitry 11 10 controlling operation of the moveable shelf system within compartment 102 as well as the operation of door 1120 as a single door unit or as two independent units, may pass along side wall 1101. Similarly, compartment 104 may comprise door 1140, which may be connected to side wall 1101 of compartment set 100 via hinges 1141 and 1142, thus enabling door 1140 to open towards the left side of compartment set 100. The circuitry 1110 controlling operation of the door 1140 as a single door unit or as two independent units may pass along side wall 1101.

[0092] On the other hand, compartment 106, which is located at the right side of compartment set 100, may comprise door 1160, which may be connected to side wall 1102 of compartment set 100 via hinges 1161 and 1162. Accordingly, door 1160 may open towards the right side of compartment set 100. The circuitry 1120 controlling operation of the moveable shelf system within compartment 106 as well as operation of door 1160 as a single door unit or as two independent units may pass along side wall 1102. Similarly, compartment 108 may comprise door 1180, which may be connected to side wall 1102 of compartment set 100 via hinges 1181 and 1182, thus enabling door 1180 to open towards the right side of compartment set 100. The circuitry 1120 controlling operation of the door 1180 as a single door unit or as two independent units may pass along side wall 1102.

[0093] According to some embodiments, any other compartment that may be located at the left side of compartment set 100 may comprise a door that is configured to open towards the left side of the compartment set, while any other compartment that may be located at the right side of the compartment set, may comprise a door that may be configured to open towards the right side of the compartment set. [0094] Reference is now made to FIG. 13, which is a schematic illustration of a perspective side view of a mechanism to prevent the moveable shelf from autonomously changing position from folded position to unfolded position, or vice versa, according to embodiments of the disclosure. In some embodiments, a mechanism for maintaining the current position at which a moveable shelf system is at, may be a protruding pin, e.g., pin 122. Such a protruding pin may on one hand protrude out of the back side of a compartment such to support the weight of a moveable shelf system, and on the other hand be able to retract into the back side of the compartment, such to enable change in position of the moveable shelf system. For example, protruding pin 122, when in its protruding state, may be configured to support and hold the weight of moveable shelf 120, when in folded position, e.g., located at the top side of compartment 102. And when protruding pin 122 is retracted inwards towards the back side of compartment 102, it may enable moveable shelf system 120 to change its position from folded to unfolded as gravity and the weight of moveable shelf system 120 pulls moveable shelf system 120 downwards, since there are no longer means to keep moveable shelf system in its folded position.

[0095] According to some embodiments, the control unit may control operation of the mechanism that prevents moveable shelf system from autonomously changing its configuration. For example, when a user, e.g., a delivery person with packages needs a large space for one of the packages, he may push the moveable shelf system 120 upwards towards the top side of compartment 102. This movement may be detected by the control system, which in turn may instruct protruding pin 122 to protrude out of the back side of compartment 102 once moveable shelf system 120 reaches the top side of compartment 102. Later on, a recipient of the package may open the doors of compartment 102 and 104 at once (operation of the doors of compartment 102 and 104 as one may also be controlled by the control unit) since when moveable shelf system 120 is in folded configuration, this means that compartments 102 and 104 form one large compartment. After the recipient collects his package, he shuts the doors of the large compartment 202, and the control unit then instructs protruding pin 122 to retract into the back side of compartment 102, thereby changing position of moveable shelf system 120 from folded to unfolded, such to create two separate stand-alone compartments 102 and 104.

[0096] Reference is now made to FIG. 14, which is a schematic illustration of a front view of the mechanism of FIG. 13, according to embodiments of the disclosure. FIG. 14 schematically illustrates protruding pin 122 supporting moveable shelf system 120 in folded configuration, such that the weight of foldable system 120 is carried by protruding pin 122. In some embodiments, more than one protruding pin may be used to support the weight of a moveable shelf system. The circuitry 1110 connecting between the protruding pin and the control unit may pass along a side wall, e.g., side wall 1101. At the opposite side of compartment arrangement 100, the circuitry connecting between the control unit to a protruding pin or any other mechanism preventing spontaneous change in position of the moveable shelf system, may pass along an opposite side of the compartment arrangement 100, e.g., side 1102 (FIG. 12).

[0097] The teachings of all patents, published applications and references cited herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety.

[0098] While this invention has been particularly shown and described with references to example embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention encompassed by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A moveable shelf system located within a compartment that defines a space between two opposing sides, a front side, a back side, and a top side, and a door located at the front side of the compartment, said moveable shelf system comprising:

a moveable shelf; and

foldable arm units, each foldable arm unit comprising:

an upper arm connected to a lower arm via a joint;

wherein each said upper arm is connected to the top side of the compartment, and each said lower arm is connected to the moveable shelf; and

wherein the foldable arm units change position of the moveable shelf from folded position, in which the shelf is located at the top side of the compartment, to unfolded position, whereby the shelf is located to form a bottom side of the compartment thereby creating an inner shelf between the compartment and another compartment located beneath it.

2. The moveable shelf system of claim 1, wherein said moveable shelf changes position from folded position to unfolded position, and vice versa, via manual operation.

3. The moveable shelf system of claim 1, further comprising a mechanism to prevent the moveable shelf from autonomously changing position from folded position to unfolded position, or vice versa.

4. The moveable shelf system of claim 1, further comprise an intermediate shelf.

5. The moveable shelf system of claim 4, further comprising a control unit located along one of the opposing sides of the compartment, said control unit configured to control operation of the mechanism to prevent the moveable shelf from autonomously changing position from folded position to unfolded position, or vice versa.

6. The moveable shelf system of claim 5, wherein said mechanism is a protruding pin located at the back side of the compartment and beneath the moveable shelf when the shelf is in folded configuration, said pin configured to hold the weight of the moveable shelf and foldable arm units.

7. The moveable shelf system of claim 6, wherein said control unit pulls the protruding pin into the back side when the moveable shelf manually changes position from folded to unfolded.

8. The moveable shelf system of claim 1, further comprising a second compartment located beneath the compartment, said second compartment defining a space between two opposing sides, a front side, a back side, and a bottom side, and a door located at the front side of the compartment, said moveable shelf system comprising:

a second moveable shelf; and

foldable arm units, each foldable arm unit comprising:

an upper arm connected to a lower arm via a joint;

wherein each said upper arm is connected to the top side of the compartment, and each said lower arm is connected to the second moveable shelf;

wherein the folded position of the second shelf is when the second shelf is located at the bottom side of the compartment, and wherein the unfolded position of the second shelf is when the second shelf is located to form a top side of the second compartment thereby creating an inner shelf between the second compartment and the compartment located on top of it.

9. The moveable shelf system of claim 8, wherein said second moveable shelf changes position from folded position to unfolded position, and vice versa, via manual operation.

10. The moveable shelf system of claim 8, further comprising a mechanism to prevent the second moveable shelf from autonomously changing position from folded position to unfolded position, or vice versa.

11. The moveable shelf system of claim 10, further comprising a control unit located along one of the opposing sides of the second compartment, said control unit configured to control operation of the mechanism to prevent the second moveable shelf from autonomously changing position from folded position to unfolded position, or vice versa.

12. The moveable shelf system of claim 11, wherein said mechanism is a protruding pin located at the back side of the second compartment beneath the second moveable shelf when the second shelf is in unfolded configuration, said pin configured to hold the weight of the second shelf.

13. The moveable shelf system of claim 12, wherein said control unit pulls the protruding pin into the back side when the second moveable shelf manually changes position from unfolded to folded.