Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
TITLE
[0001] Apparatus for deterring theft of packages
FIELD
[0002] There is described an apparatus that was developed for the purpose
of deterring the
theft of a package left at a residence by a delivery company.
BACKGROUND
[0003] There has been an explosion in online commerce in recent years.
This has resulted
in a corresponding increase in deliveries of packages containing consumer
goods ordered
online. When an addressee of a package is not home, it is the practise of many
delivery
companies to leave the package. Unfortunately, theft has become a problem.
Gangs of thieves
follow behind delivery trucks, picking up packages that are left outside of
the residence.
SUMMARY
[0004] There is provided an apparatus for deterring theft of packages which
includes an
enclosure having an interior cavity. A conical inlet port provides access to
the interior cavity.
The conical inlet port has a wide end and a narrow end. The narrow end
projects into the
interior cavity. The narrow end normally has a first diameter. However, the
narrow end
expands to a second diameter in response to pressure from a package being
pushed through the
conical inlet port toward the interior cavity. The narrow end contracts back
to the first diameter
when pressure from the package is released, to prevent the package from being
pulled by a
thief back through the narrow end of the conical inlet port.
[0005] The preferred structure for the conical inlet port is a plurality of
cantilever members, in
one embodiment cantilever fins are illustrated. The fins are anchored to the
wide end of the
conical inlet port and are outwardly movable at the narrow end of the conical
inlet port from
the first diameter to the second diameter. They are, preferably, overlapping.
[0006] The enclosure can take a number of forms. However, when the enclosure
is a container
that could be taken by a thief, at least one anchor that anchors the container
in a selected
position, thereby providing a deterrent to theft of the container.
[0007] In order to keep cost down, it is preferred that the container take the
form of a cut
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resistant and water resistant bag.
[0008] In order to simplify manufacture, it is preferred that the container
have a package
removal outlet, that is separate and distinct from the conical inlet port.
'Where the container is
a cut resistant and water resistant bag, the preferred form of package removal
outlet consists of
two or more overlapping flaps. It is also preferred that one of the two or
more overlapping
flaps support an eyelet and the other of the two or more overlapping flaps
have an opening
through which the eyelet passes. This facilitates locking and anchoring of the
cut resistant and
water resistant bag. Where the container is a cut resistant and water
resistant bag, it is also
preferred that the container have an expanded operative position and a
contracted stored
position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] These and other features will become more apparent from the
following description
in which reference is made to the appended drawings, the drawings are for the
purpose of
illustration only and are not intended to be in any way limiting, wherein:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a first embodiment of an
apparatus for deterring
theft of packages.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the apparatus for deterring
theft of packages
illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a detailed perspective view of a conical inlet port for
the apparatus for
deterring theft of packages illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0013] FIG. 4 is an end elevation view of a package removal outlet for
the apparatus for
deterring theft of packages illustrated in FIG. 2.
[0014] FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of the apparatus for deterring
theft of packages
illustrated in FIG. 2, in a contracted stored position.
[0015] FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of the apparatus for deterring
theft of packages
illustrated in FIG. 2, secured to an anchor.
[0016] FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of the apparatus for deterring
theft of packages
illustrated in FIG. 1, with a package being inserted.
[0017] FIG. 8 is a side perspective view of the apparatus for deterring
theft of packages
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illustrated in FIG. 1, with a package being inserted.
[0018] FIG. 9 is a front perspective view of the apparatus for deterring
theft of packages
illustrated in FIG. 1, with a package within the interior cavity.
[0019] FIG. 10 is a rear perspective view of the apparatus for deterring
theft of packages
illustrated in FIG. 1, with a package being removed from the package removal
outlet.
[0020] FIG. 11 is a front perspective view of a second embodiment of an
apparatus for
deterring theft of packages.
[0021] FIG. 12 is a rear perspective view of the apparatus for deterring
theft of packages
illustrated in FIG. 11.
[0022] FIG. 13 is a perspective view, partially in section, of an
alternative embodiment of
conical inlet port.
[0023] FIG. 14 is a side elevation view, in section, of an alternative
embodiment of entry
housing and enclosure.
[0024] FIG. 15 is a rear perspective view of the conical inlet port of
FIG. 13.
[0025] FIG. 16 is a rear perspective view of the conical inlet port of FIG.
13.
[0026] FIG. 17 is a detailed perspective view of an alternative
embodiment in which
cantilever members forming the conical inlet port each have a plurality of
sharp pointed
projections.
[0027] FIG. 18 is a side elevation view of the cantilever members of
FIG. 17.
[0028] FIG. 19 is a bottom plan view of the cantilever members of FIG. 17.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0029] A first embodiment of apparatus for deterring theft of packages,
generally identified
by reference numeral 10, will be described with reference to FIG. 1 through
FIG. 10. A second
embodiment of apparatus for deterring theft of packages, generally identified
by reference
numeral 100, will be described with reference to FIG. 11 and FIG. 12.
Subsequent
modifications to apparatus 10, will be described with reference to FIG. 13
through FIG. 16.
Structure and Relationship of Parts:
[0030] Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, apparatus for deterring theft of
packages 10 includes
an enclosure 12 having an interior cavity 14. Referring to FIG. 1, attached to
enclosure 12 is
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an entry housing 15 which supports a conical inlet port 16. Conical inlet port
16 provides
access to interior cavity 14 of enclosure 12. Conical inlet port 16 has a wide
end 18 and a
narrow end 20. Narrow end 20 projects into interior cavity 14. Referring to
FIG. 1 and FIG.
3, narrow end 20 normally has a first diameter. Referring to FIG. 8, narrow
end 20 expands to
a second diameter in response to pressure from a package 90 being pushed
through conical
inlet port 16 toward interior cavity 14. Referring to FIG. 9, narrow end 20
contracts back to
the first diameter when pressure from package 90 is released, to prevent
package 90 from being
pulled by a thief back through narrow end 20 of conical inlet port 16.
[0031] Referring to FIG. 3, conical inlet port 16 has a plurality of
cantilever members, in the
form of fins 22. Fins 22 are anchored to wide end 18 of conical inlet port 16
and are outwardly
movable at narrow end 20 of conical inlet port 16 from the first diameter to
the second diameter,
as illustrated in FIG. 8.
[0032] As will hereinafter be further explained under the heading "Variations"
enclosure 12
can take a number of forms. Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the preferred
enclosure 12 is a
container 24 made from a cut resistant and water resistant bag. Referring to
FIG. 2, container
24 has a package removal outlet 26, that is separate and distinct from conical
inlet port 16.
Referring to FIG. 4, package removal outlet 26 consists of three overlapping
flaps 28, labelled
for identification as "A", "B" and "C". Flap 28A supports an eyelet 30. Flaps
28B and 28C
have an opening 32 through which eyelet 30 passes. Referring to FIG. 6, an
anchor cable 34
is passed through eyelet 30 for the purpose of locking and anchoring container
24 to an
immovable object (a pole 36 has been selected for illustration). Container 24
has an expanded
operative position and a contracted stored position. The expanded operative
position is
illustrated in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 6, FIG. 8, FIG. 9 and FIG. 10. The
contracted stored position
is illustrated in FIG. 5, with an elastic cord 38 extended through eyelet 30
to maintain container
24 in the contracted stored position.
Operation:
[0033] Referring to FIG. 5, apparatus 10 is stored in the contracted stored
position when
not in use. Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, when a delivery is anticipated,
apparatus 10 is
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placed in the expanded operative position. Referring to FIG. 6, anchor cable
34 is passed
through opening 32 of eyelet 30 for the purpose of locking and anchoring
container 24 to an
immovable object, such as pole 36. Referring to FIG. 7, package 90 is inserted
by the delivery
person into wide end 18 of conical inlet port 16. Referring to FIG. 8, narrow
end 20 expands
to the second diameter in response to pressure from a package 90 being pushed
through conical
inlet port 16 toward interior cavity 14. Referring to FIG. 9, narrow end 20
contracts back to
the first diameter when pressure from package 90 is released, to prevent
package 90 from being
pulled by a thief back through narrow end 20 of conical inlet port 16.
Referring to FIG. 4,
package removal outlet 26 has three overlapping flaps 28, labelled for
identification as "A",
"B" and "C". Referring to FIG. 10, once anchor cable 34 is removed from
opening 32 of eyelet
30, flaps 28A, 28B and 28C can be separated to allow package 90 to be removed
through
package removal outlet 26.
Variations:
[0034] Referring to FIG. 11, apparatus 100 was developed for use in multi-
unit buildings.
A bank 102 of rigid containers 24 are provided (a bank of four container has
been chosen for
illustration). Each container 24 has a conical inlet port 16, which functions
as described above.
Referring to FIG. 12, each container has a package removal outlet 26. Each
package removal
outlet 26 has a single pivotally mounted door 104. An eyelet 106 anchored to
container 24
extends through a slotted opening 108 in door 104. Door 104 is secured by
placing a padlock
110 through eyelet 106.
[0035] After testing proto-types of apparatus 10, there was a concern
that small packages
could be pulled back through conical inlet port 16. In order to address this
concern,
modifications were made to apparatus 10. Referring to FIG. 13, a first
modification was
placing reinforcing ribs 19 inside overlapping cantilever fins 22. The
rationale behind this
modification was to add strength to cantilever fins 22. A second modification
was to add a
row of cantilever supports 23 behind cantilever fins 22. The rationale behind
this modification
was to provide rear support for cantilever fins 22. The object of these
modifications are to
ensure that a thief cannot pass his arm between cantilever fins 22 or push
them backwards.
This leaves only narrow end 20 conical inlet port 16 through which an arm
could be inserted.
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Referring to FIG. 15 and FIG. 16, a third modification was to add teeth 33
along the edges of
cantilever fins 22. As a person inserts his or her arm 112 through conical
inlet port 16,
cantilever fins 22 flex allowing arm 112 entry. However, the farther arm 112
is inserted the
more cantilever fins 22 "pinch" the person's arm 112. Teeth 33 on cantilever
fins 22 dig into
the person's ann 112 making it uncomfortable. When the person attempts to pull
back arm
112 through narrow end 20 of conical inlet port 16, whether or not he or she
is grasping a
package, teeth aggressively dig into the person's arm making it difficult to
pull arm 112 out of
a conical inlet port 16, without releasing the package.
[0036] Referring to FIG. 14, the second modification was to add legs 17 to
entry housing
15, for the purpose of elevating entry housing 15 and to add a slide portion
25 to container 24
serving as enclosure 12 (As compared to FIG. 9). The rationale behind this
modification was
that, with entry housing 15 elevated, a small package 90 would slide down
slide portion 25
away from conical inlet port 16 and would be difficult for a thief to reach.
In order to reach,
a thief must stabilize entry housing 15, with one hand while reaching at far
as possible into
conical inlet port 16.
[0037] It is believed that most package thefts are crimes of opportunity.
If it is difficult
and time consuming even try to manoeuver a package back through conical inlet
port 16, it is
believed that this will serve as a suitable deterrent to most thieves.
[0038] In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the cantilever members were
cantilever fins
22. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 15 and FIG. 16, teeth 33 were added
along the edges
of cantilever fins 22. Teeth 33 were intended to aggressively dig into a
person's arm making
theft both more difficult and uncomfortable. As consideration was given as how
to reduce
cost and make the apparatus for deterring theft of packages more secure, the
embodiment
illustrated in FIG. 17 through FIG. 19 was developed. In this embodiment, each
of cantilever
members 200 has a length with a plurality of sharp pointed projections 202
positioned in spaced
relation along the length. Sharp pointed projections 202 are a substantial
deterrent to thieves,
as the sharp pointed projections 202 can cause serious injury. There was
concern that the sharp
pointed projections 202 could cause damages to the packages that the apparatus
for deterring
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packaging was intended to protect. Referring to FIG. 18, this concern was
addressed by
creating a lengthwise zone 204 on a perimeter of cantilever members 200 which
is devoid of
sharp pointed projections 202, in contrast to the balance of cantilever
members 200, as shown
in FIG. 19. In use, cantilever members are oriented so that, when the packages
are pushed
through the opening, as illustrated in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, the packages are
pressing against the
lengthwise zone 204 on the perimeter of cantilever members 200 is devoid of
sharp pointed
projections 202. However, when a thief tries to reach between cantilever
members 200 and
pull a package in any other direction the thief is unavoidably exposed to a
number of sharp
pointed projections 202.
[0039] In this patent document, the word "comprising" is used in its non-
limiting sense to
mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically
mentioned are not
excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article "a" does not
exclude the
possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context
clearly requires that
there be one and only one of the elements.
[0040] The scope of the claims should not be limited by the illustrated
embodiments set
forth as examples, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent
with a purposive
construction of the claims in view of the description as a whole.
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