GB2390115A - Secure container for delivered items such as milk bottles - Google Patents

Abstract

A container comprises a housing (1) having at least one compartment (2) for receiving the delivered item preferably a milk bottle (3), a lid (4) for the compartment, moveable between an open position and a closed position, a lock (5) for locking the closure means in the closed position and a contact means (6) for making contact with the delivered object and arranged to be brought into contact with the object as the closure means is closed on the compartment with the object inside, the contact means being coupled to the locking means such that the closure means is locked when closed on the compartment with the object inside, but not locked when closed on the empty compartment. Preferably, the container comprises detection means for detecting whether a mouth of a bottle inside the compartment is covered or uncovered, and a locking means is coupled to the detection means and is arranged to lock the closure means when closed on a bottle having a covered mouth, and not to lock the closure means when closed on a bottle having an uncovered mouth, and when closed on an empty compartment (see figure 2).

Description

t 23901 1 5

SECURITY APPARATUS FOR DELIVERED OBJECTS

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to security apparatus for delivered objects. In particular, although not exclusively, the invention relates to security apparatus for articles delivered 5 to the doorstep. More particularly, preferred embodiments provide security apparatus for delivered milk bottles to prevent their theft following delivery to a household.

Background to the Invention

In the UK at least, milk has traditionally been purchased from a dairy and deliv 10 ered in bottles to the premises of the consumer by a milkman. This is the so-called "doorstep delivery" service. However, the dairies who operate this service are in in-

creasing competition with supermarkets and other retail outlets, one reason being that doorstep delivered milk is increasingly prone to theft. Delivery boxes which automati-

cally lock when a full milk bottle is inserted in them are known. However, these boxes 15 typically use the weight of the inserted bottle to determine whether or not to lock automatically. Usually the bottle is placed on some sprung member located towards the bottom of a compartment. A problem with this type of arrangement is that spring con-

stants change with age and with use so that after a time the automatic locking mecha-

nism may not function correctly in response to the insertion of a full bottle. Also, some 20 of the known security box arrangements are able to respond differently to the weight of a full bottle and an empty bottle so that they only lock when the inserted bottle Is full.

The correct functioning of these devices is even more sensitive to the proper springing of whatever member the bottle is lowered on to, and accordingly are more prone to malfunction with time. Another problem with these known security boxes is that at 25 least part of the sprung mechanism on which the bottle is placed is located at the bot-

tom of the compartment which receives the bottle. The bottom of the compartment is prone to collect debris and liquid (for example condensation from the delivered bottles) and this can adversely affect the proper functioning of the locking mechanism with time.

Other items may also be delivered to the door and, if the consignee of the deliv 30 ery is not able to receive it personally, the items cannot be left if too large to be inserted

t -2 through a letter or mail-flap. This then requires the delivery to be re-arranged, or col lection of the item from a central depot, which is inconvenient.

Summary of the Invention

5 It is an object of embodiment of the present invention to provide security appa ratus for delivered objects which overcomes, at least partially, the problems associated with the prior art.

It is an object of certain embodiments to provide improved security apparatus for delivered milk bottles, the improved apparatus overcoming problems associated 10 with the known arrangements which rely on the weight of the inserted bottle to deter mine whether the box is automatically locked.

It is an object of further embodiments to provide a secure delivery box for a container which automatically locks depending on whether the container is full or empty. 15 According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided security apparatus for a delivered object, as defined by Claim 1.

Rather than the locking means being responsive to the weight of the delivered object, the inventive apparatus includes contact means, i.e. some means for making cone tact with the delivered object when the closure means is closed on it. The locking 20 means is responsive to contact between the contact means and delivered object to lock the object inside the compartment. If the closure means is closed on an empty com partment, then no contact is made and the locking means does not lock the compart ment. Preferably the contact means may be deflected as the closure means is closed on 25 the object, and may be mechanically coupled to the locking means.

Preferably, the contact means is associated with the closure means. It may be associated with an inside (i.e. nominal inside surface) of the closure means.

The contact means may be coupled to the closure means and may be carried by it. Thus, as the closure means is brought into the closed position with the object inside 30 the compartment the contact means is also brought into engagement with the object.

-3 Preferably, the contact means is arranged so as to be brought into contact with a top (e.g. an upper surface) of the delivered object when the closure means is moved into the closed position.

Preferably, the closure means comprises a lid.

5 Conveniently, the closure means may be coupled to the housing by means of a hinge such that it is rotated from the open to the closed position.

Preferably, the compartment has an open top, and the closure means is ar ranged to close that top. In such arrangements the contact means may be carried un derneath the closure means so that it is brought downwards, into contact with a top of 10 the object, as the closure means is closed.

Preferably the locking means comprises a latch, the contact means being con nected to the latch, and the latch being arranged to move from an inoperative position to an operative position, in which it locks the closure means in the closed position, when the closure means is closed on the compartment with the delivered object inside.

15 Advantageously, the contact means and latch may be integral.

Conveniently, the latch may be pivotally coupled to the closure means, and more preferably the pivotal coupling may be arranged to permit both rotational move ment and translational movement of the latch relative to the closure means.

The latch may preferably be suspended from an underside of the closure means.

20 This suspension may be achieved by means of at least one suspension pin. This pin may pass through a hole in the latch.

Preferably, the coupling between the latch and the closure means is arranged so that the weight of the latch biases it to its inoperative position when the closure means is in the closed position.

25 The locking means may, advantageously, comprise a lock, attached to the hous ing, and arranged to co-operate with the latch In its operative position to prevent opening of the closure means.

Preferably the contact means is arranged to be deflected from a first to a second position when the closure means is closed on the delivered object.

- 4- Advantageously, the locking means may comprise a lock, a catch for engaging the lock, and a lever, the lever being coupled between the catch and the contact means so that deflection of the contact means from its first to its second position moves the catch to an operative position in which it engages the lock and prevents opening of the 5 closure means.

Preferably, at least two of the catch, lever and contact means are integral.

Preferably, the lever is pivotally coupled to the closure means, and, where the closure means closes a top of the compartment, to the underside of the closure means.

Advantageously, the contact means may comprise button means (i.e. some de 10 vice or member which may be depressed or deflected like a button). This button means may be arranged to make contact with the delivered object and to be de-

pressed/deflected from a first position to a second position when the closure means is closed on the compartment with the object inside, the locking means being responsive to depression/deflection of the button means to lock the closure means in the closed 1 5 position.

In certain preferred embodiments the coupling between the button means and the locking means is mechanical. In alternative embodiments the coupling may be non-

mechanical, e.g. electrical.

Advantageously, the apparatus may be adapted to receive a delivered bottle 20 having a mouth, the compartment being arranged to accommodate the bottle, and the contact means being arranged to be urged into the bottle mouth as the closure means is closed, the locking means being responsive to the contact means encountering a cover over the mouth to lock the closure means in the closed position, and being responsive to the contact means encountering no cover over the mouth not to lock the closure 25 means.

In such embodiments, it may of course be the button means which is inserted into the bottle mouth. By being responsive to whether or not the bottle mouth is cov-

ered, preferred embodiments may automatically lock when a full bottle is inserted in them (i.e. a bottle having a seal over its mouth, such as a foil top) but will remain un 30 locked when containing an empty bottle for returning to the delivery service. Advanta

1 ' - 5 geously, if a person wishes to leave a note or payment for the delivery service then this can be placed over the mouth of an empty bottle and the compartment will still remain locked. preventing theft of the payment or loss of the note.

Preferably, the compartment is arranged to hold the bottle in the generally up 5 right position. and the contact means may be arranged so as to be urged downwards into the mouth of the bottle as the closure means is moved into the closed position.

-I According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided security apparatus for a delivered bottle as defined by Claim 25.

Preferably. the detection of whether or not the bottle mouth is covered may be 10 achieved by contact means which is arranged to be urged into the mouth of the bottle as the closure means is closed on it.

Advantageously the contact means may be mechanically coupled to the locking means, and the detection means may be mounted on an inside surface of the closure means. 15 Preferably, the closure means comprises a lid closing a top of the compartment, and the detection means may be mounted on an underside of the lid.

Preferably, the apparatus according to the first or second aspect of the invention will comprise access means for enabling an authorised person to gain access to the ok Ject in the compartment that the closure means has been automatically locked on it.

20 This access means may comprise key means (e.g. a key, token, or other means) for unlocking the locking means. Alternatively, the access means may comprise a sepa rate access opening to the compartment.

Brief description of the drawings

25 Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the ac companying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a highly schematic crosssection of a first embodiment with the clo sure means locked; Figure 2 is a schematic cross-section of the embodiment of Figure 1, but un 30 locked;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the top and front of a second embodiment; Figure 4 is a rear view of the second embodiment; Figure 5 is an exploded view of the second embodiment; and Figure 6 is a side view, with hidden detail, of the second embodiment.

Detailed description of embodiments

Referring now to Fig 1, a first embodiment of the invention is a Security Box 100 for delivered milk bottles. The box comprises a housing 1 which defines a com-

partment 2 for receiving the delivered bottle 3. Closure means in the form of a lid 4 is 10 hinged to the housing 1 by means of a hinge 41. In the figure the lid 4 is shown in the closed position. The box includes lacking means 5 which comprises a catch 51 which co-operates with a lock S2. The locking means in the figure is shown in a locked state, in which it prevents opening of the lid 4. The catch 51 is part of a latch member 59 which also includes a lever portion 53 which is pivotally coupled to the underside of the 15 lid 4 by means of a pivot/suspension pin 7. The pin 7 passes through an aperture 54 in the lever 53. The aperture 54 is dimensioned to provide a loose fit over the pin 7 so that the lever 53 can both pivot and move translationally (l.e. up and down in this ex ample) relative to the lid 4.

Towards an end of the lever 53 the latch 59 includes a protruding button 6 20 which can also be described as contact means. The button 6 is shown in contact with a foil cover 31 on top of the bottle 3. The foil cover 31 covers the mouth 32 at the top of the bottle-neck 33.

It will be appreciated that the bottle has been inserted in the compartment 2 by lifting up the lid 4 (i.e. rotating it about its hinge 41) to permit access to the compart 25 meet. With the bottle inside, the lid 4 is then lowered, with the latch 59 suspended be-

neath it on the pin 7. The latch 59 and pivot pin 7 are arranged such that the portion of the latch to the right of the pin in the figure (i.e. the portion carrying the contact means/button 6) normally hangs down. As the lid 4 is closed on the bottle the but-

ton 6 is brought into contact with the foil cover 31. The weight of the latch urges the 30 button 6 into the mouth 32 of the bottle, but actual movement of the button 6 into the

mouth is prevented by the cover 31. Thus as the lid 4 is closed further, the foil cover 31, in effect, drives the button 6 upwards relative to the lid 4 and causes the lever 53 to pivot about its pin 7 in the anticlockwise direction in this figure. This in turn means that when the lid 4 is fully closed, as in Figure 1, the catch 51 engaged the lock 52 and so the 5 box has automatically locked on the covered bottle. The end of the catch 51 is tapered, and this assists the catch in sliding down over the lock 52 and to come to rest in the locked position shown. It will be appreciated that correct operation of the locking mechanism shown in Figure 1 depends on the "loose" coupling between the suspen-

sion/pivot pin 7 and the latch S9. If the movement of the latch relative to the lid 4 was 10 fully reversible, i.e. the same when the lid 4 was being closed and when being opened, then the lock would not operate correctly. As the lid 4 is closed on the bottle, contact between the tapered portion of the catch 51 and a lip of the lock 52 pushes the lever 53 upwards on its suspension pin until a position is reached where the catch can drop past the lip of the lock 52 to come to rest in the locked position.

15 Although Fig1 shows the box automatically locked on a bottle sealed by its foil top 31, it will be appreciated that the mechanism would also lock the box automatically if the housing contained an empty bottle having some other cover over its mouth, for example a note or an envelope containing payment for the delivery service.

Moving on to Fig 2, this shows the milk bottle box of Fig 1 in the unlocked state.

20 The lid 4 has been closed on an empty and uncovered bottle 3. The latch 59 is sus-

pended from the lid 4 and under gravity adopts the position shown. As the lid 4 has been closed, the contact means 5 has been lowered into the mouth 32 of the bottle 3.

There has been no cover on the bottle to contact the contact means 6 which, accord-

ingly, has not been deflected relative to the lid 4 to which it is pivotally coupled. Thus, 25 by virtue of the top of the bottle being open, the locking means has not been operated.

In the latch position shown in Fig 2 the catch 51 is not caught by the lock 52 and so it is possible to gain access to the compartment 2 by opening the lid 4.

It will be appreciated that in the embodiment shown in Figs 1 and 2 the locking mechanism is tripped by deflection of a lever 53 pivotally coupled to the closure

- 8 means 4 when the closure means is closed on a compartment 2 which contains a cov ered bottle.

Moving on to Fig 3, a second embodiment of the invention is a milk bottle deliv ery security box having a lid 4 which pivots on two pivot pins 41 provided on side walls 5 of a housing 1. The housing includes a front wall 12 on which is located a key 159 for unlocking the box, and a rear wall 11.

Referring to Fig 4, the rear wall 11 of the housing 1 includes three key shaped apertures 111 which enable the box to be mounted on a wall into which suitable screws have been inserted. The back plate 11, in addition to the keyholes 111, also incorpo 10 rates a drain hole 113 for draining liquid from the compartments.

Moving on to Fig 5, in this second embodiment there are two compartments 22, 23 inside the housing 1, each of which is arranged to accommodate a delivered milk bottle. These compartments 22, 23 are formed inside a body of insulating material 21 which is itself inserted in the housing 1. The body insulation 21 includes a recess 24 15 which accommodates the lock 52 which is secured to the inside of the front wall of the housing 1.

The closure means of the compartment is a common closure means and com prises the lid 4 together with lid insulation 42 in the form of a suitably shaped piece of insulating material. The lid insulation 42 includes two apertures 71 through which re 20 spective suspension pins from the lid 4 project downwards. These pins pass through respective apertures 54 in the latch mechanism 59. The latch 59 is thus suspended from the lid 4. The latch member is an integral member comprising two cylindrical cap engaging formations 6, lever portions 53 and a catch 51. As the lid 4 is closed, if either of the compartments 22, 23 contains a covered bottle then the latch mechanism is 25 tilted, i.e. tripped, by contact with the cover deflecting the top-engaging buttons 6 to ward the lid 4. This in turn moves the catch 51 to a position where it engages the cor responding formation on the lock 52. Thus, the operation of this second embodiment is generally the same as that of the first embodiment described with reference to Fig ures 1 and 2.

- 9 - In the second embodiment, only if both compartments are either empty, or con tain an uncovered boKle, will the box remain unlocked when the lid 4 is closed. In this embodiment, the key 159 is arranged to enable the locking mechanism to be overrid den after automatic locking has taken place.

5 Moving on to Fig 6, this shows how the inner boKom surface 121 of the hous ing 1 is angled to assist drain-off through the drain hole 113. The body insulation 21 also includes suitable drain holes 211 communicating with the case drain 113. The lid 4 is shown in the closed position, with a delivered bottle having a cap located inside. The presence of the cap has deflected the button means 6 upwards, and tilted the latch 59 10 to its operative position in which the catch 51 engages the lock 52. The tilting of the latch 59 from its gravity-biased horizontal position is accommodated by a suitable recess in the lid insulation 42.

It will be apparent that, whilst the embodiments shown in the figures comprise contact means which make contact with the top of a delivered object, in alternative em 15 bodiments the contact means may be arranged to make contact with other portions of the delivered object as the closure means is closed on it. For example, the closure means may be a front door, with a button mounted on Its inside surface so that the but ton is pressed against a corresponding front surface of the object as the door is closed on it.

20 The purpose of the insulation employed in embodiments of the invention is, of course, to keep the delivered milk cool.

Embodiments of the invention may be used with bottles containing liquids other than milk, and of course with any other articles which may be delivered to the door step.

Claims (34)

- 1 0 CLAIMS

1. Security apparatus for a delivered object, comprising: 5 a housing defining at least one compartment for receiving the delivered object; closure means for the compartment, moveable between an open position, in which it permits the object to be inserted into the compartment, and a closed position in which it closes the compartment; and locking means for locking the closure means in the closed position, the apparatus further comprising contact means for making contact with the de livered object and arranged so as to be brought into contact with the object as 15 the closure means is closed on the compartment with the object inside, the contact means being coupled to the locking means such that the closure means is locked when closed on the compartment with the object inside, but not locked when closed on the empty compartment.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the contact means is associated with the closure means.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2, wherein the contact means is associated 25 with an inside of the closure means.

4. Apparatus in accordance with any proceeding claim wherein the contact means is coupled to the closure means.

- 1 1

5. Apparatus in accordance with any preceding claim wherein the closure means comprises a lid.

6. Apparatus in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein the closure means is 5 hingedly coupled to the housing.

7. Apparatus in accordance with any preceding claim wherein the locking means comprises a latch, the contact means is connected to the latch, and the latch is arranged to move from an inoperative position to an operative position, in 10 which it locks the closure means in the closed position, when the closure means is closed on the compartment with the delivered object inside.

8. Apparatus in accordance with claim 7 wherein the contact means and latch are integral.

9. Apparatus in accordance with claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the latch is pivotally coupled to the closure means.

10. Apparatus in accordance with claim 9 wherein the pivotal coupling between the 20 latch and closure means is arranged to permit rotational movement and transla tional movement of the lakh relative to the closure means.

11. Apparatus in accordance with any one of Claims 7 to 10 wherein the compart ment has an open top, permitting the delivered object to be lowered into the 25 compartment, the closure means is arranged to close the open top, and the latch is coupled to an underside of the closure means.

12. Apparatus in accordance with claim 11 wherein the latch is suspended from the closure means.

13. Apparatus in accordance with claim 12 wherein the latch is suspended from the closure means by at least one suspension pin.

14. Apparatus in accordance with any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the coupling 5 between the latch and closure means is arranged such that the weight of the latch biases the latch to the inoperative position when the closure means is in the closed position.

15. Apparatus in accordance with any one of claims 7 to 14 wherein the locking 10 means comprises a lock attached to the housing and arranged to co-operate with the latch in its operative position to prevent opening of the closure means;

16. Apparatus in accordance with any preceding claim wherein the contact means is arrange so as to be deflected from a first position to a second position when the 15 closure means is closed on the compartment with a delivered object inside.

17. Apparatus in accordance with claim 16 wherein the locking means comprises a lock, a catch for engaging the lock, and a lever, the lever being coupled between the catch and the contact means such that deflection of the contact means from 20 the first to the second position moves the catch from an inoperative position to an operative position in which it engages the lock to prevent opening of the clo sure means.

1 B. Apparatus in accordance with claim 17 wherein at least two of the catch, lever 25 and contact means are integral.

19. Apparatus in accordance with claim 17 or claim 18 wherein the lever is pivotally coupled to the closure means.

- 1 3

20. Apparatus in accordance with any one of claims 16 to 19 wherein the compart ment has an open top, the closure means is arranged to close the open top, and the contact means is pivotally coupled to an underside of the closure means.

5

21. Apparatus in accordance with any preceding claim wherein the contact means comprises button means arranged to make contact with the delivered object and to be depressed from a first position to a second position when the closure means is closed on the compartment with the object inside, the locking means being responsive to depression of the button means to lock the closure means in 10 the closed position.

22. Apparatus in accordance with claim 21 wherein the coupling between the but ton means and locking means is mechanical.

15

23. Apparatus in accordance with any preceding claim adapted to receive a deliv ered bottle having a mouth, the compartment being arranged to accommodate the bottle and the contact means being arranged to be urged into the bottle mouth as the closure means is closed, the locking means being responsive to the contact means encountering a cover over the mouth to lock the closure means 20 in the closed position and being responsive to the contact means encountering no cover over the mouth not to lock the closure means.

24. Apparatus in accordance with claim 23 wherein the compartment is arranged to hold the bottle generally upright and the contact means is arranged so as to be

25 urged downwards into the month as the closure means is moved to the closed position. 25. Security apparatus for a delivered bottle having a mouth, the apparatus com prising:

1, - 1 4 a housing defining at least one compartment for receiving the bottle; closure means for the compartment, moveable between an open position, in which it permits the bottle to be inserted into the compartment, and a closed 5 position in which it closes the compartment; locking means for locking the closure means in the closed position; and detection means for detecting whether the mouth of a bottle inside the com 10 partment is covered or uncovered, the locking means being coupled to the detection means and being arranged to lock the closure means when closed on a bottle having a covered mouth, and not to lock the closure means when closed on a bottle having an uncovered 15 mouth, and when closed on an empty compartment.

26. Security apparatus in accordance with claim 24, wherein the detection means comprises contact means arranged to be urged into the mouth of the bottle as the closure means is moved to the closed position.

27. Security apparatus in accordance with claim 26, and comprising the features of any one of claims 1 to 24.

28. Apparatus in accordance with claim 26 or claim 27 wherein the contact means is 25 mechanically coupled to the locking means.

29. Apparatus in accordance with any one of the claims 25 to 28 wherein the detec-

tion means is mounted on an inside surface of the closure means.

l -15

30. Apparatus in accordance with any one of claims 25 to 29 wherein the closure means comprises a lid, moveable to close a top of the compartment.

31. Apparatus in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 30, further comprising ac S cess means for an authorised person to gain access to the object in the com partment after the closure means has been locked.

32. Apparatus in accordance with claim 31 wherein the access means comprises key means for unlocking the locking means.

33. Apparatus in accordance with claim 31 wherein the access means comprises a separate access opening to the compartment.

34. Security apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to 15 and/or as shown in the accompanying drawings.