Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
CSCD063-1CA
1
THEFT-RESISTANT DEPOSIT BOX
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates in general to protective boxes and, specifically, to a
theft-resistant
deposit box.
BACKGROUND
Identity theft is currently the fastest growing crime in the U.S. Thieves
frequently steal
mail as an easy and relatively low risk way of acquiring personal information
that may be
assembled into viable and marketable information for identity theft. Many
consumers purchase
locking mailboxes in an attempt to thwart mail theft. Locking wall mount
mailboxes are a
popular product because they allow for space efficient mounting on walls that
would not
accommodate more traditional curbside locking mailbox designs. However,
including a locking
mechanism on wall mount mailboxes provides only a partial solution. Many of
these products
are inferior and are easily violated. Most locking wall mount mailboxes
feature an incoming
mail slot of various sizes to allow for receipt of mail. Bins are not
typically employed in
shallower style wall mount locking mailboxes since the bottom member of the
bin door
impedes mail delivery when the door is closed. The traditionally employed slot
doors suffer
from a design flaw that allows thieves to simply insert their arm or a fishing
tool through the
incoming mail slot and retrieve the contents, thereby bypassing the locked
door. Access to the
interior of the mailbox is formed when the un-lockable incoming mail door is
opened. Wall
mount mailboxes with incoming mail slots small enough to prevent fishing
cannot accept mail
bundles or small parcels. Thus there exists a tradeoff between ease of use and
mail security in
locking wall mount mailboxes. Accordingly, there is a need for a locking wall
mount mailbox
that incorporates theft-resistant design to deter fishing when the incoming
mail door is opened,
but still allows for receipt of mail bundles and small parcels.
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SUMMARY
A theft-resistant wall mount locking mailbox includes a housing that has top
and bottom
plates, a rear wall, and one or more doors, which are affixed to a front
surface of the housing,
which enclose a space in which mail is received and stored. The doors can
include a lockable
mail retrieval door and a non-lockable mail delivery door, which are each
pivotably attached to
the front of the housing. The non-lockable mail delivery door can include a
mail receiver bin
door configured to receive mail bundles and small parcels. Specifically, the
mail delivery door
includes a top member affixed at an angle to a bottom member. The top member
includes a
substantially flat surface that faces the front of the mailbox in a closed
position and the bottom
member includes an angled surface located inside the housing that extends
toward the front
surface on the inside of the mailbox in an open position. The bottom member of
the mail
delivery door includes a downward-angled security arm to prevent would-be
thieves from
reaching their hand into the mailbox without impeding delivery of the mail
into the mailbox.
Together, the top and bottom members move to open and close the mail delivery
door.
When the mail delivery door is closed, the mail bundles and small parcels fall
to the bottom of
the mailbox, where they can be retrieved via the lockable mail retrieval door.
A further embodiment provides a wall mount mailbox. A housing includes a front
side
and a back side. A rotatable mail deposit includes a mail delivery door and an
inner panel
affixed on a proximate end at an angle to a bottom of the mail delivery door,
and is pivotably
attached to the front side of the housing. A mail slot is formed as an opening
within a front
surface of the housing when the rotatable mail deposit is in a fully open
position allowing mail
to be deposited through the opening over each of the inner panel and the
safety arm. A mail
retrieval door is located below the rotatable mail deposit and is pivotably
attached to the front
side of the housing.
A still further embodiment provides a wall mount deposit box. A housing
includes a
front side and a back side. A rotatable content deposit includes a content
delivery door and an
inner panel affixed on a proximate end at an angle to a bottom of the content
delivery door, and
is pivotably attached to the front side of the housing. A content slot is
formed as an opening
within a front surface of the housing when the rotatable content deposit is in
a fully open
position allowing content to be deposited through the opening over each of the
inner panel and
the safety arm. A content retrieval door is located below the rotatable
content deposit and is
pivotably attached to the front side of the housing.
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Still other embodiments of the invention will become readily apparent to those
skilled in
the art from the following detailed description, wherein are described
embodiments of the
invention by way of illustrating the best mode contemplated for carrying out
the invention. As
will be realized, the invention is capable of other and different embodiments
and its several
details are capable of modifications in various obvious respects, all without
departing from the
spirit and the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and detailed
description are to
be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGURE 1 is a side view showing a theft-resistant wall mount mailbox for mail
bundles
and small parcels, in accordance with one embodiment.
FIGURE 2 is a side view showing the theft-resistant wall mount mailbox of
FIGURE 1
with a mail delivery door in an open position.
FIGURE 3 is side view showing the theft-resistant wall mount mailbox of FIGURE
1
with a mail delivery door in a semi-closed position.
FIGURE 4 is a side view showing the theft-resistant wall mount mailbox of
FIGURE 1
with a mail delivery door in an open position and a mail retrieval door in an
open position.
FIGURE 5 is a side view showing, by way of example, a locking mechanism for a
theft-
resistant mailbox.
FIGURE 6 is perspective view showing the locking mechanism of FIGURE 5.
FIGURE 7 is perspective view showing the locking mechanism of FIGURE 5 as
installed within a theft-resistant mailbox.
FIGURE 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the locking mechanism of FIGURE 5
as
installed within a theft-resistant mailbox.
FIGURE 9 is a front view showing, by way of example, a key box with a security
lock.
FIGURE 10 is a front view of the key box of FIGURE 9 with the key retrieval
door in
an open position.
FIGURE 11 is a front view of a key with a key fob.
FIGURE 12 is a perspective view of an interior of the key box with key racks
and keys.
FIGURE 13 is a perspective view of the key box of FIGURE 9 with the key
retrieval
door in an open position.
FIGURE 14 is a perspective view of a key receipt drawer.
FIGURE 15 is a cross-sectional view of the key box of FIGURE 9 with the key
deposit
door in an open position.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
A theft-resistant wall mount locking mailbox can prevent would-be thieves from
accessing personal mail. FIGURE 1 is a side view showing, by way of example, a
theft-
resistant wall mount mailbox 11 for mail 12 bundles and small parcels. The
mailbox includes a
5 housing that includes top 13, bottom 14 and back 15 sides, as well as a
front side having a mail
delivery door 16 and a mail retrieval door 17. Together, the sides form an
enclosure for storing
mail and small parcels. In one embodiment, the housing can be shaped as a
rectangle with the
front and back sides longer than the top and bottom sides. The shape and size
of the mailbox
housing and mail delivery door can be varied to allow mail bundles and parcels
of different
sizes, while still having a size small enough to be mounted on a wall.
The mailbox 11 can be securely affixed to a wall surface (not shown) of wood,
stucco,
cement, brick, or other materials using hardware. Specifically, the rear or
back side 15 wall of
the mailbox can include a variable number of pre-drilled holes (not shown)
that allow for the
mailbox 11 to be attached to a wall surface using wood screws, masonry screws,
or other
appropriate hardware. The number of holes and screws can vary depending on the
application.
Once affixed to a wall surface, mail can be delivered through the mail
delivery door 16
and retrieved through the mail retrieval door 17. Generally, the mail delivery
door 16 can be
non-lockable to allow postal carriers to deposit mail within the mail box,
while the mail
retrieval door 17 can be lockable to prevent would-be thieves from accessing
the mail once
inside the mailbox. Further, each of the doors can include a handle 18 to
assist with opening of
the respective door.
The lockable mail retrieval door includes a flat surface that lies along a
front surface of
the mailbox in a closed position and an anti-pry lock 19 to prevent access to
delivered mail or
articles, except by those individuals having a key to operate a locking
mechanism. The mail
retrieval door can be pivotably mounted on the front side of the mailbox 11 at
a bottom edge via
a fulcrum 24a to allow the doors to rotate in open and closed positions.
Fulcrum fixation of the
parcel receipt door 16 can include a hinge style attachment, a ball and joint
device, rods, or a
gear mechanism. Other methods and components for affixing the parcel receipt
door to the
fulcrum can be used.
When opened, the flat surface of the door moves outward away from the front
surface of
the mailbox. Prior to being opened, a user or owner of the mailbox must insert
a proper key
into the anti-pry lock 19 to unlock the door 17. The anti-pry lock 19 is
further described below
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with reference to FIGURES 5-8. The anti-pry lock 19 utilizes a striker pin 26
and an anti-pry
plate 27 to prevent a third party from forcefully pulling open the mail
retrieval door 17 and
accessing any mail within the mailbox. Other components and mechanisms for
securing the
lockable door to the mailbox can be used.
The mail deposit door 16 includes a flat surface that is positioned along a
front surface
of the mailbox when in a closed position and an inner panel 20, which is
located within the
interior 25 of the housing 11 and affixed at an angle to the mail delivery
door 16 to receive and
guide incoming mail and parcels into the mailbox 11. More specifically, a
proximal edge of the
inner panel 20 can be affixed to the bottom edge of the mail deposit door 16.
The angle
between the inner panel 20 and mail delivery door 16 can vary to accommodate
different size
envelopes and packages. In one embodiment, the angle is at least as great as a
right angle.
Together, the mail delivery door 16 and inner panel 20 rotate about a
horizontal axis based on
the opening and closing of the parcel receipt door 16. A sphere of rotation is
defined by
movement of a distal edge of the inner panel within the housing based on the
horizontal axis.
Additionally, one or more side panels 21 can be interfixed between the mail
delivery
door 16 and inner panel 20 to assist in guiding the envelope or parcel into
the mailbox 11. The
side panels 21 can include a rod, bar, or flat surface. Other types of side
panels are possible.
Together, the parcel receipt door 16, inner panel 20, and side panels 21 form
a rotatable mail
deposit 22 that allows mail carriers and other individuals to deliver mail,
envelopes, parcels,
and other articles into the mailbox 11. The rotatable mail deposit 22 can be
rotatably affixed to
the front surface of the housing 11 via the parcel receipt door 16, as
described above, inner
panel 20, or side panels 21.
Specifically, the rotatable mail deposit 22 can be rotatably affixed to the
housing by a
fulcrum 24b, allowing for the mail delivery door 16 to open, receive mail and
small parcels, and
then close, causing the mail and small parcels to slide into a secure area at
the bottom inside 25
of the mailbox 11, which is protected by the locked mail retrieval door 17.
The fulcrum can be
attached to the mail delivery door 16 or inner panel 20, or both. Fulcrum 24b
fixation of the
mail delivery door can include a hinge style attachment to a base of the mail
delivery door 16, a
ball and joint device, rods, or a gear mechanism. Other methods and components
for affixing
the fulcrum 24b can be used. The mail delivery door 16 is affixed by the
fulcrum 24b in such a
way that the mail delivery door can articulate through a range of motion about
a horizontal axis,
thus causing the mail delivery door to sweep through an open position to
receive mail, all the
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way to a closed position where the mail delivery door can allow the mail to
fall into the interior
25 of the mailbox for safe keeping.
In a further embodiment, the rotatable mail deposit 22 includes a safety arm
23 that is
affixed at an angle to the inner panel 20 in a direction away from the mail
delivery door 16. In
one embodiment, the angle is less than 115 degrees. However, other angles are
possible. At a
minimum, the angle should be large enough to allow the safety arm to prevent a
would-be thief
from inserting his arm into the interior of the mailbox, but small enough to
allow mail and
parcels to pass to the bottom of the mailbox interior. The length of the
security arm 23 is
dependent on the angle between the inner panel 20 and the security arm 23. The
security arm
23 should not extend past a midline of the mailbox 11. The midline can be
determined by
bisecting a center of the mailbox parallel to the front surface, as described
further below with
reference to FIGURE 2.
Mail or parcels are delivered via the rotatable mail deposit and retrieved
through the
mail delivery door. FIGURE 2 is a side view showing the theft-resistant wall
mount mailbox
11 of FIGURE 1 with a mail delivery door 16 in an open position. Incoming mail
is inserted
through a slot 31 to receive mail, or by way of a mail opening formed by
opening the non-
lockable mail delivery door 16. The security arm 23, or angled bottom member,
guides
incoming mail 33 into the interior 25 bottom of the mailbox 11. When the
rotatable mail
deposit 16 is in a closed position, the security arm 23 extends in a downward
fashion from the
inner panel 20 towards the interior 25 bottom side of the mailbox 11. In one
embodiment, the
security arm 23 should not extend beyond a midline 32 of the mailbox. As
described above, the
midline 32 is determined by bisecting a center of the mailbox 11 parallel to
the front surface.
Extension of the security arm 23 past the midline 32 can impede receipt of the
mail 33 into the
mailbox 11. The security arm 23 can be made from metal, steel, plastic, wood,
or other
material.
As the mail delivery door 16 is opened, the security arm 23, or bottom member
of the
mail delivery door effectively limits the space created when the mail
retrieval door is opened. In
this way, the opening to the interior 25 of the mailbox 11 is restricted by
the space occupied by
the security arm23 as the mail retrieval door moves from the open to the
closed position, and at
various positions in the range of motion of the mail delivery door. A mail
thief would be
restricted from putting a hand into the box when the mail retrieval door is
open or semi-open.
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Once the inbound mail 11 falls to the floor of the mailbox, the mail can be
easily
retrieved through the locked lower mail retrieval door 17 by individuals with
an appropriate
key. Unauthorized access to mail or articles that have been delivered is
prevented by the
lockable mail retrieval door 17. The lockable mail retrieval door 17 has a
lock and latch which
engages a lock cam with a striker, reinforced by the anti-pry plate, securing
the lockable door
until it is opened with a key. A locking mechanism suitable for use with the
mailbox is
described in commonly-owned U.S. Patent No. 7,441,696, issued on October 28,
2008, the
disclosure of which is further described below with reference to FIGURES 5-8.
FIGURE 3 is side view showing the theft-resistant wall mount mailbox of FIGURE
1
with a mail delivery door 16 in a semi-closed position. Closing the mail
delivery door 16
causes the security arm 23, or bottom member of the mail delivery door to move
out of the way
and allow the mail bundle or parcel to freely slide into the secure area of
the mailbox. As well,
the closing of the mail delivery door closes, or reduces the size of the open
slot formed when
the mail delivery door 16 is open to prevent would be thieves from reaching
into the interior of
the mailbox 11. Further embodiments can include various slots or spaces so
that standard thin
envelope mailers and envelope style mail may be inserted without having to
close the door.
The slots and spaces should be small enough to prevent unauthorized access.
FIGURE 4 is a side view showing the theft-resistant wall mount mailbox of
FIGURE 1
with a mail delivery door 16 in an open position and a mail retrieval door 17
in an open
position. The mail retrieval door 17 can be opened upon unlocking of the anti-
pry lock 29.
FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view showing a locking mechanism 30 for a theft-
resistant
mailbox, in accordance with one embodiment. The locking mechanism 30 can
include an anti-
pry lock having a locking tumbler 31 and matching key 35, which are
installable in a mailbox
door or similar enclosure, such as the mail retrieval door 17. Additionally,
the locking
.. mechanism 30 could be installed on a fixed surface against which a door
opening abuts.
The locking mechanism 30 is installed by fitting the tumbler 31 through a
fitted opening
sized to receive the outside barrel of the tumbler 31 and sliding the tumbler
31 into the opening
until the inside edge of a keyway facing 32 engages the outer edge of the
mailbox door. The
locking mechanism 30 is fastened into place by tightening a retaining bolt 33,
or similar
fastener, such as a retaining clip or fastener assembly. The tumbler 31 is
rotatably coupled to
an internal cam 34, which locks the mailbox door when the door is closed and
the key 35 is
turned. The internal cam 34 rotates freely in the same direction as the key
35, while the outside
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barrel of the tumbler 31 remains fixed in place on the mailbox door. FIGURE 6
is perspective
view showing the locking mechanism 30 of FIGURE 5. The far edge of the
internal cam 34 is
formed into a cutout 41 that is open in the angle of rotation. The cutout 41
can be square or
rectangular, as well as U- or C-shaped. Other shapes of cutouts are possible.
The locking mechanism 30 also includes components installed within the
mailbox.
FIGURE 7 is perspective view showing the locking mechanism 30 of FIGURE 5 as
installed
within a theft-resistant mailbox. A striker pin 52 is fixedly attached to a
frame 53 within the
interior of the mailbox. Alternatively, the striker pin 52 can be installed
within the mailbox
door within which the locking mechanism is installed. The cutout 41 of the
internal cam 34 is
sized to be received over the striker pin 52. When the key 35 is turned, the
cutout 41 engages
the internal cam 34 over the striker pin 52. In addition, an anti-pry plate 51
is fixedly attached
to the inside surface of the mailbox door above the tumbler 31. The anti-pry
plate 51 surrounds
the internal cam when the locking mechanism is in the locked position.
The internal cam 34, striker pin 52, and anti-pry plate 51 synergistically
protect a
mailbox door against compromise. FIGURE 8 is a cross-sectional view 60 showing
the locking
mechanism 30 of FIGURE 5 as installed within a theft-resistant mailbox 11. The
frame 53 is
fixably attached to a chassis 61 of the mailbox 11. Additionally, the striker
pin 52 extends
beyond the point of engagement to the internal cam 34. A prying force applied
to the mailbox
door 14 would be transferred onto the mailbox chassis 61 through the
combination of the cutout
41, striker pin 52, and frame 53, as well as onto the mailbox door 14 through
the anti-pry plate
51. As a result, a would-be theft would have to provide force significantly
greater than required
to overcome a conventional key-and-tumbler cam. In a further embodiment, a
bin, or rotating
mail deposit suitable for use with the mailbox is described in commonly-owned
U.S. Patent No.
7,946, 472.
In a further embodiment, an interior of the mailbox can be modified to
generate a theft-
resistant deposit box for keys, checks, money, or other types of goods. For
example, an
apai __ anent rental office may install the theft-resistant drop box outside
of the office for tenants
to safely deposit rent checks or a rental car agency can utilize the deposit
box for car renters to
drop off keys for rental cars after hours. An interior of the mail box with
the delivery and
retrieval doors can be modified to collect deposited items and store such
items. For example,
key racks can line an interior of the box to hang keys, such as car keys or
house keys. FIGURE
9 is a front view showing, by way of example, a key box 70 with a security
lock 74. The key
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box 70 includes a housing 71 with top, bottom, front and back sides (not
shown), as described
above in detail with respect to FIGURE 1. In one embodiment, the key box 70
can be shaped
as a rectangle and can be made from material, such as a metal, steel, plastic,
wood, or other
material. Other shapes and material are possible. A size of the key box 70 can
be dependent on
5 .. a number of keys to fit within an interior of the key box 70.
The key box 70 can be affixed to a wall or other substantially flat surface on
the back
side of the housing using hardware, such as nails, screws, or other adhesive
mechanisms.
Specifically, the rear or back side 15 wall of the mailbox can include a
variable number of pre-
drilled holes (not shown) that allow for the mailbox 11 to be attached to a
wall surface using
10 wood screws, masonry screws, or other appropriate hardware. The number
of holes and screws
can vary depending on the weight and size of the deposit box 70.
The front side of the key box 70 can include a key deposit door 72 with a
handle 75 and
a key receipt door 73, as described above in detail with respect to FIGURE 1.
Specifically, the
front side of the housing 71 can have a substantially flat rectangular shape
with two voids (not
shown), one for the key deposit door 72 and the key receipt door 73. A middle
portion 76 of
the front side of the housing 71 can act as a support for particular
components of the key box
70, as well as to separate the key deposit door from the key receipt door. For
example, one or
more attachment mechanisms can be affixed to an inner surface of the middle
portion 76 of the
front side of the housing to attach the key deposit door 72 to the housing.
The attachment
mechanism can include a hinge, a ball and joint device, rods, or a gear
mechanism, as well as
other type of attachments. The key deposit door 72 can be pivotably mounted on
a bottom side
along a front surface of the housing such that when the key deposit door is in
a closed position,
an outer surface of the key deposit door is positioned along substantially the
same plane as
outer surface of the front side of the housing.
One or more keys or sets of keys can be delivered to an interior of the key
box 70 via
the key deposit door 72 and the keys can be retrieved via the key receipt door
73. The key
deposit door 72 can be non-lockable to allow users to deposit keys, such as
upon returning a
rental vehicle, while the key receipt door 73 can optionally include a locking
mechanism 74 to
prevent unauthorized access to the contents of the key box 70. The locking
mechanism 74 can
be electronic or mechanical. A mechanical locking mechanism can utilize a key
to gain access
to an interior of the housing, such as described above with respect to FIGURES
5-8. An
electronic locking mechanism can provide access to the housing 71 interior
using an access
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code, which can include numbers, letters, and symbols, as well as a
combination of numbers,
letters, and symbols.
Within an interior of the housing 71, a user can access the contents of the
key box, such
as keys. FIGURE 10 is a front view of the key box 70 of FIGURE 9 with the key
retrieval door
73 in an open position. The key retrieval door 73 can be pivotably mounted to
the housing
along atop, bottom, right, or left side of the key retrieval door 73.
Specifically, the key
retrieval door 73 can be affixed along one side of the housing via a fulcrum
to allow the door to
rotate in open and closed positions. Fulcrum fixation of the key receipt door
73 can include a
hinge style attachment, a ball and joint device, rods, or a gear mechanism. In
one embodiment,
the fulcrum can be located in an interior of the housing along the front side
of the housing. In a
further embodiment, the key receipt door 73 is directly attached to the front
side of the housing
via a hinge. The hinge can include a barrel hinge, piano hinge, butterfly
hinge, flush hinge, or
pivot hinge, as well as other types of hinges. Other methods and components
for affixing the
key receipt door to the fulcrum or the housing can be used.
An interior 80 of the housing 71 can include predrilled holes 84 for affixing
the deposit
box 70 to a surface and storage for deposited content, such as keys. When the
deposit box is
used for keys, one or more key racks 81 can be installed in an interior of the
key box 70. Each
key rack 81 can be affixed horizontally across an interior surface of the
housing or to brackets
82 that are affixed to the interior surface of the housing. In one embodiment,
the brackets 83
are positioned vertically on an interior surface of the back side of the key
box 70. The key
racks 81 or brackets 82 can be affixed to the housing of the key box 70 via
attachment
mechanisms, including staples, pins, rivets, glue, or soldering the racks or
brackets directly to
the housing,. Other attachment mechanisms are possible. When brackets 82 are
used, the key
racks 81 can be removably affixed to the brackets via screws, plugs, pins, or
pegs to change
positions of the key racks or to add or remove key racks.
Each key rack 81 can include multiple slots 83 for holding keys. The keys can
each be
placed on a key chain or fob shaped such that at least a portion of the key
chain or fob fits
within the key slot 83. For example, FIGURE 11 is a front view of a key 90
with a key fob 91.
The key fob 91 can be shaped as a square or rectangle with a cutout 93 to form
a hook 94 that is
inserted into the key slot to secure the key 90. The key 90 can be attached to
the key fob 91 via
a connector 92, such as a ring clip or oval loop, which is inserted through a
hole 95 in the key
fob 91. Other types and shapes of key fobs and connectors are possible. At a
minimum, the
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key fob 91 should be constructed to connect the key to the fob and to fit at
least a portion of the
fob within the key slot.
Once a key is attached to a key fob, the key can be hung on one of the key
racks within
the key box. FIGURE 12 is a perspective view of an interior 100 of the key box
of FIGURE 9
with key racks 81 and keys 90. The key racks 81 can each include a plurality
of slots 83 into
which a hook 94 of the key fob 91 can be inserted and hung. Other types of
racks and key fobs
are possible, such as individual hooks for hanging key rings with keys or
shelves. The key
racks 81 can be hung along a back interior surface of the key box 70, as well
as on an interior
surface of the key retrieval door. IN a further embodiment, no key racks need
be installed and
the keys or other content to be deposited can fall to the bottom interior
surface of the deposit
box.
An authorized user can access the deposited content, such as one or more keys,
from an
interior of the key box and provide the keys to a third party. Upon receipt,
the keys can be
returned via the key deposit door. Upon dropping a key into the key box, the
returned key can
be captured in a key receipt drawer for later placement on the key racks.
FIGURE 13 is a
perspective view 110 of the key box 70 of FIGURE 9 with the key retrieval door
73 in an open
position. A key receipt drawer 111 can include a receptacle in which keys can
be collected
upon return via the key deposit door 71. A size of the key receipt drawer 11
can be dependent
on the contents to be held while a size of the key receipt drawer can be
dependent on a size of
the key box.
In one embodiment, the key receipt drawer can have the shape of a rectangle.
FIGURE
14 is a perspective view of a key receipt drawer 111. The key receipt drawer
can include four
sides, including front (not shown) and back (112b) sides, which are connected
by left (112d)
and right side (112c) ends, as well as a bottom surface 112a. In one
embodiment, the front and
back sides are the same length, while the side ends are the same length. In a
further
embodiment, all sides can be the same length. However, the key receipt drawer
can have
different shapes, including rectangle, square, trapezoid, triangle, funnel, or
oblong, as well as
other shapes. Further, the front side of the key receipt drawer can be
attached at an angle to the
bottom surface. The left and right sides can include a longer top edge than a
bottom edge to
connect with the front side that is positioned at an angle. Specifically, the
angle formed
between the top of the right or left side end and the front side is smaller
than the angle between
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the bottom of the right or left side end and the front side. The four sides
and the bottom surface
form an empty cavity 115 in which keys can be collected.
The back side can include one or more holes 113 to connect the key receipt
drawer to an
interior surface of the mail retrieval door or an interior surface of the back
wall of the key box
via a screw, nail, or other type of connector. In a further embodiment, the
key receipt drawer
can be affixed to the brackets described above with respect to FIGURE 10.
Further, a catch
panel 114 can be attached on one end to a top surface edge of the front side.
The catch panel
can extend from the front size of the drawer towards the interior back surface
of the deposit box
to prevent keys from falling to a bottom of the key box interior upon delivery
via the key
.. deposit door. In one embodiment, the catch panel 114 can be the same length
as the front
surface of the key receipt drawer 111, while the width of the panel can be
dependent on a width
of the key box and the length of the left and right sides of the key receipt
drawer 111. The
catch panel 114 can be optionally attached to the front side at an angle to
ensure that any keys
that fall onto the catch panel 114 fall in the empty cavity.
The keys are deposited into the key box via the key deposit door 71. FIGURE 15
is a
cross-sectional view of the key box 70 of FIGURE 9 with the key deposit door
71 in an open
position. Upon opening the key deposit door 71, a key 90 can be dropped into
the key box 70
and fall into the key receipt drawer 111. The key deposit door 72 includes a
flat surface as a
key delivery door 120 that is positioned along a front surface of the deposit
box 70 when in a
closed position and an inner panel 121, which is located within the interior
of the housing and
affixed at an angle to the flat surface 120 of the key deposit door 72 to
receive and guide
incoming content, such as keys, into the deposit box. More specifically, a
proximal edge of the
inner panel 121 can be affixed to the bottom edge of the flat surface 120 of
the key deposit door
72. The angle between the inner panel 121 and flat surface 120 can vary to
accommodate
different size keys. In one embodiment, the angle is at least as great as a
right angle. Together,
the flat surface 120 of the key deposit door and inner panel 121 rotate about
a horizontal axis
based on the opening and closing of the key deposit door 72. A sphere of
rotation is defined by
movement of a distal edge of the inner panel within the housing based on the
horizontal axis.
Additionally, one or more side panels (not shown) can be interfixed between
the flat
surface 120 of the key deposit door 72 and inner panel 121 to assist in
guiding the key into the
deposit box 70. The side panels can include a rod, bar, or flat surface. Other
types of side
panels are possible. Together, the flat surface 120, inner panel 121, and side
panels form the
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-06-05
CSCD063-1CA
14
rotatable key deposit door 72 that allows users to deliver keys and other
articles into the deposit
box 70. The rotatable key deposit door 72 can be rotatably affixed to the
front surface of the
housing via the flat panel 120, as described above, inner panel 20, or side
panels.
In a further embodiment, the rotatable key deposit door 72 includes a safety
arm 122
that is affixed at an angle to the inner panel 121 in a direction away from
the flat surface 120 of
the door 72. In one embodiment, the angle is less than 115 degrees. However,
other angles are
possible. At a minimum, the angle should be large enough to allow the safety
arm to prevent a
would-be thief from inserting his arm into the interior of the deposit box,
but small enough to
allow keys and other content to pass to the bottom of the deposit box interior
or into the key
receipt drawer 111. The length of the security arm 122 is dependent on the
angle between the
inner panel 121 and the security arm 122. The security arm 122 should not
extend past a
midline of the deposit box. The midline can be determined by bisecting a
center of the deposit
box parallel to the front surface, as described above with reference to FIGURE
2.
Incoming keys are inserted through a slot (not shown) in the key deposit door
72, or by
way of an opening formed by opening the non-lockable key deposit door 72. The
security arm
122, or angled bottom member, guides keys into the interior 25 of the deposit
box 70. When
the key deposit door 72 is in a closed position, the security arm 122 extends
in a downward
fashion from the inner panel 121 towards the interior bottom side of the
deposit box 70. The
security arm 122 can be made from metal, steel, plastic, wood, or other
material.
As the key deposit door 71 is opened, the security arm 122, or bottom member
of the
key delivery door effectively limits the space created when the key retrieval
door is opened. In
this way, the opening to the interior of the deposit box 72 is restricted by
the space occupied by
the security arm 122 as the key deposit door 72 moves from the open to the
closed position, and
at various positions in the range of motion of the key deposit door. A thief
would be restricted
from putting a hand into the box when the key deposit door is open or semi-
open.
Once the keys are inserted into the deposit box, the keys can fall into the
key deposit
drawer 111. To access the keys in the key receipt drawer 111, an authorized
user can open the
key retrieval door 73 using a key or a combination lock. Once the key
retrieval door 73 is
opened, the keys in the key receipt drawer 111 can be removed and placed on
one or more key
racks 83.
Although the deposit box has been described above for use with mail and keys,
other
types of content to be deposited are possible, such as checks, money, and
clothing. For
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-06-05
CSCD063-1CA
example, such key box can be beneficial for rental car companies, valet
services apai intent
managers, and suit rental companies, as well as other individuals and
industries to ensure that
the deposited contents remain safe and not accessible by unauthorized parties.
An interior of
the deposit box can be customized based on the contents to be deposited.
5 While the invention has been particularly shown and described as
referenced to the
embodiments thereof, those skilled in the art will understand that the
foregoing and other
changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the
spirit and scope of
the invention.
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-06-05
