Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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GOODS CONTAINING UNIT OF PROGRAMMABLE
LIMITED ACCESS AND TEMPERATURE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a delivery
box with computer-controlled access for allowing pre-
authorized delivery of items to the box without the
physical presence of the recipient.
2. Description of the Prior Art
U.S. Patent No. 5,979,750 issued to Kindell
on November 9, 1999 discloses a computerized
delivery-acceptance system which comprises a delivery
box having a computer-control input door for
selective access by the delivery personnel. The
delivery box also has an outlet door which is in
selective communication with a room distinct from
that where the input door is accessible, the delivery
box being, for instance, mounted on an outside wall
of a dwelling such that its input door is accessible
by the delivery personnel on the outside of the
dwelling, whereas the outlet door is accessible, for
example by an occupant of the dwelling, from the
inside of the dwelling. The input door has a lock
that can be unlocked by computer-controlled
recognition of access authorization for allowing the
delivery personnel to place items in the delivery
box. Thereafter, the input door is closed and locks
automatically. The outlet door can then be opened
for receiving the delivered items. The delivery box
is thus a safe entity which is separate from the
dwelling which thus remains unaccessible to the
delivery personnel. Various computerized recognition
systems are suggested to authorize the delivery of
the items to the delivery box. The programming of
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the delivery box can be achieved locally or remotely.
The access code to open the input door can be a bar
code, a universal product code or infrared code, a
physical object such as a key, a magnetic strip, etc.
A timed delete can be programmed into the computer-
controllable lock. Also, an automatic delete can be
programmed so that there is a only a single access to
the inside of the delivery door by a given delivery
personnel. If the delivery box is itself a room in
the dwelling, the computer-controllable lock is
positioned on an outside wall of the dwelling for
selective access to the delivery room. Such a
delivery room can also have an outlet door in
selective communication with other parts of the
dwelling. Within the delivery room, there may be
various other compartments, such as a refrigerated
unit.
U.S. Patent No. 5,624,071 issued on
April 29, 1997 to Sosan discloses an apparatus for
receiving packages in absentia using a delivery box
which is temporarily suspended from a door of the
dwelling. A combination lock permits the delivery
personnel to open and deposit packages in the
delivery box. The delivery box can only be removed
from the door, for instance, by first opening the
door, and which is thus only possible by the
dwelling's occupant and not by the delivery personnel
as the door itself is locked. The lock may
incorporate a key hole as well as a code lock. A
padlock may also be used.
Japanese Publications No. JP6-100081-A
dated April 12, 1994 and No. JP5-124695-A dated
May 21, 1993 are similar to U.S. Patent No. 5,624,071
with the former Japanese Publication showing an
electric lock having a numeric keypad.
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Japanese Publication No. JP6-100080-A dated
April 12, 1994 discloses a further delivery box
characterized, for instance, by providing sensors to
detect if the merchandise has been delivered to the
delivery box thereby preventing a second access to
the delivery box with a same ID information.
Japanese Publication No. JP5-201489-A dated
August 10, 1993 discloses a further delivery
management system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an aim of the present
invention to provide a new computerized delivery
acceptance system and, more particularly, to a goods
containing unit having programmable limited access
and temperature characteristics.
Therefore, in accordance with the present
invention, there is provided a computer-controlled
goods containing system, comprising a delivery unit
for holding therein items to be delivered thereto
and/or picked up therefrom, said unit having a door
provided with lock means for limited access to an
inside of said unit by authorized personnel only, an
authorization identifier to unlock said lock means,
at least one computer in control communication with
said authorization identifier, a temperature control
system being provided for selectively varying a
temperature in said unit.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Having thus generally described the nature
of the invention, reference will now be made to the
accompanying drawings, showing by way of illustration
a preferred embodiment thereof, and in which:
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Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a
computer-control goods containing unit in accordance
with the present invention and shown located at a
distance from a dwelling;
Fig. 2 is front elevational view of the
goods containing unit of Fig. l;
Fig. 3 is a schematic vertical side cross-
sectional view of the goods containing unit of Fig.
1;
Fig. 4 is a schematic perspective view of a
refrigeration/heating system awd heat transfer
control system used in the goods containing unit of
Fig. l; and
Fig. 5 is a schematic perspective view,of a
second embodiment of a goods containing unit in
accordance with the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
With reference now mainly to Fig. 1, there
is shown a dwelling D and a computer-controlled goods
containing unit U in accordance with the present
invention. The goods containing unit U constitutes a
new merchandise exchange/delivery system intended for
this busy day and age. More particularly, the goods
containing unit U is in the form of a housing 10
which is lockable by way of a lock which can be
opened with a programmable code (see access control
panel 12 ) such that a door 14 can be opened and thus
that merchandise can be delivered to and/or picked up
from the housing 10 by a third party to~which a
temporary code has been given by the owner (or
possibly leasee) of the unit U; thus, the owner does
not, for instance, need to be at home for goods to be
delivered to him, or to be picked up from him.
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The housing 10 also typically includes a
temperature control which can be adjusted/programmed
in view of the merchandise held thereby for pick up,
or to be held thereby after delivery thereto. The
unit U could, for example, be programmed by its owner
to have a room temperature for the first half of the
day as its housing 10 will hold a computer for pick
up, and then to assume a lower temperature for the
rest of the day as groceries are to be delivered
thereto in the afternoon. As seen in Figs. 3 and 4,
the housing 10 includes a refrigeration/heating
system 16 to provide a desired draft 18 of cool/cold
or warm/hot air to the inside of the housing 10. The
unit U can include a system to prevent/reduce
temperature losses when the housing's door 14 is
open, such as a ventilation air curtain 20 extending
across the door opening to deviate at least part of
the outside air (as per, for instance, arrows 22 in
Fig. 4) and which is triggered by the opening of the
door 14; such a system is economical and also
prevents substantially important temperature and/or
humidity fluctuations on the goods located in the
housing 10.
The system can be designed to be a single
unit located outside the home (Fig. 1) or a multiple
unit U' for use inside (or outside) an apartment or
condo dwelling (Fig. 5). The system can be
programmed on the panel 12 provided on the unit U or
remotely using a telephone modem, an Internet modem,
or any other communication means, existing or other.
The unit's programmable electronic system is used to
control the access to the inside of the housing 10,
to control the inside temperature of the housing 10,
to possibly recognize the nature of the goods in the
housing 10. The~electronic system would be connected
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via modem, or the like, to other concerned parties,
such as clients, suppliers, and even possibly to an
eventual service center acting as an intermediate,
e.g. broker-like, between clients and suppliers.
The unit U can even be provided with means
to exchange currency, such as a credit card payment
module for allowing payment at the unit U by a party
buying the goods located therein, whereby the housing
10 would only unlock if the appropriate code is
entered by the buyer of the goods and if the buyer
electronically pays for these goods at the unit's
payment module.
The present system could be used for
perishable products, frozen products, prescription
drugs, parcels, purchased goods (e. g. clothes),
videos, airline tickets, registered mail, etc. The
system allows for such exchanges of goods at hours
where the unit's owner is not present, or even during
the night while he/she is asleep.
The unit U is electrically connected to the
dwelling D using, for instance, underground cables 24
but a wireless communication means could also be
used.
Obviously, the temperature could be
controlled without a programmable feature, wherein
the temperature would be set for instance, by way of
a thermostat such as to provide in the housing 10 a
desired temperature. Such a thermostat could be a
programmable unit such that various temperatures
could be programmed on site for various events
occurring during the day or week. Preferably, again,
the refrigeration/heating system could be controlled
by computer remotely, for instance from the dwelling
D or from a completely different location with the
access to the programmability of the
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refrigeration/heating system 16 being limited to the
owner/leasee of the goods containing unit U.
Obviously, for outdoor use, the unit U
would be firmly anchored to the ground using, for
instance, a concrete base 26.
Other systems to limit the heat transfers
between the inside and the outside of the housing 10
then the herein proposed air curtain 20 may be used.
Such a system may also limit the humidity transfers.
It is noted that the unit U is designed to
be transportable for use at a different location of
the dwelling D or for use at a new dwelling.
The present system is thus well adapted to
E-commerce .
For multiple units such as the unit U'
shown in Fig. 5, the refrigeration/heating systems 16
would be separate for each housing 10 such that each
owner/leasee can program his unit to his/her needs.
If the goods containing unit U or U' is located in
the dwelling D/D', then there may be only a cooling
system, that is without heating capabilities.
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