WO2021256988A1

WO2021256988A1 - Cabinet for receiving delivery of parcels

Info

Publication number: WO2021256988A1
Application number: PCT/SG2020/050560
Authority: WO
Inventors: Zhen Wei Dennis WAN; Jianting Raymond SI
Original assignee: Wan Zhen Wei Dennis; Si Jianting Raymond
Priority date: 2020-06-17
Filing date: 2020-10-06
Publication date: 2021-12-23

Abstract

Disclosed is a cabinet for receiving delivery of a parcel. The cabinet comprises a housing, a cavity disposed on a top portion of the housing and a movable platform operating as a base surface of the cavity. The moveable platform supports the parcel at a first angular position and drops the parcel within an inner chamber of the housing at a second angular position. Furthermore, the cabinet comprises a strut hingedly coupled to each of a left side and a right side of the cover to a corresponding side of the movable platform, such that closing of the cover facilitates dropping of the parcel within the inner chamber of the housing. Moreover, the cabinet comprises a base fixedly coupled within the inner chamber of the housing and placed beneath the movable platform. The base receives the parcel dropped from the movable platform.

Description

CABINET FOR RECEIVING DELIVERY OF PARCELS

The present disclosure relates generally to storage equipment and more specifically, to cabinets for receiving delivery of parcels.

Generally, improvement in portable device technology and increase in quality of wireless connectivity has made various aspects of daily life easier, including shopping for products. Furthermore, various online shopping websites now allow consumers to shop for everything from grocery to pet supplies from comfort of their home, without having to physically visit a grocery store or a pet supply store selling such products. However, the products are still physically delivered to a delivery location of the consumer and the consumer is required to be present at such a location at a specified time and date for receiving the product.

It will be appreciated that, upon absence of the consumer for receiving the product, an alternate time and date or even delivery location may be required to be arranged for receiving the product. In such instances, the consumer may ask for the product to be delivered at an alternate delivery location, such as, a workplace thereof or a residence of a friend or colleague. However, receiving the product at the workplace may lead to invasion of privacy for the consumer and requesting delivery of the product at the residence of the friend or colleague again leads to similar problems associated with availability thereof at a specified time and date for delivery. Alternatively, if the delivery of the product cannot be received (such as, after multiple failed attempts), the product may be returned to a seller thereof and such a return usually incurs a penalty for the consumer (for example, associated with shipment of the product back to the seller).

Conventionally, various prior art systems have been envisaged for receiving delivery of products upon absence of the consumer, such as, installation of a structure outside a home of the consumer to allow the product to be deposited therein for later retrieval. However, such systems are designed to always receive a particular product having predetermined dimensions and do not allow accommodation of different-sized products therein. Furthermore, such systems do not provide safe storage of the delivered product, leading to potential theft of the product upon delivery thereof. Moreover, such systems may contravene governmental housing regulations associated with installation of additional immovable (or permanent) structures that may inhibit safe passage along common corridors (such as, a common corridor positioned between two homes).

Therefore, in light of the foregoing discussion, there exists a need to overcome various problems associated with conventional systems for receiving delivery of products.

This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features. The present disclosure seeks to provide a cabinet for receiving delivery of a parcel.

According to an aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a cabinet for receiving delivery of a parcel, the cabinet comprising:

- a housing;

- a cavity disposed on a top portion of the housing, wherein a cover for the cavity is hingedly coupled along the top portion of the housing;

- a movable platform operating as a base surface of the cavity and is pivotally attached to an inner portion of the housing, wherein the moveable platform operating as the base surface supports the parcel at a first angular position and drops the parcel within an inner chamber of the housing at a second angular position;

- a strut hingedly coupled to each of a left side and a right side of the cover to a corresponding side of the movable platform, wherein closing of the cover pushes the strut in an inner direction and causes the movable platform to change position from the first angular position to the second angular position, wherein the movable platform facilitates dropping of the parcel within the inner chamber of the housing while transitioning from the first angular position to the second angular position; and

- a base fixedly coupled within the inner chamber of the housing and placed beneath the movable platform, wherein the base receives the parcel dropped from the movable platform while transitioning from the first angular position to the second angular position.

Embodiments of the present disclosure substantially eliminate or at least partially address problems in the prior art and enable safe receipt, storage and subsequent retrieval of parcels from the cabinet without necessitating presence of a recipient for receiving the delivery of the parcel at a location of the delivery.

Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. It will be appreciated that features of the present disclosure are susceptible to being combined in various combinations without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims. The description and specific examples in this summary are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

The summary above, as well as the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments, is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the present disclosure, exemplary constructions of the disclosure are shown in the drawings. However, the present disclosure is not limited to specific methods and instrumentalities disclosed herein. Moreover, those in the art will understand that the drawings are not to scale. Wherever possible, like elements have been indicated by identical numbers.

Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following diagrams wherein:

Fig.1

is a perspective sectional view of a cabinet for receiving delivery of a parcel, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Fig.2

is a perspective sectional view of the cabinet of FIG. 1, in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure;

Fig.3

is a front view of the cabinet of FIG. 2, in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present disclosure;

Fig.4

is a perspective rear view of an inner chamber of the cabinet of FIG. 3, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Fig.5

is a block diagram of an electrical circuit comprising a magnetic switch operatively coupled to each of at least one LED and at least one door, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

Fig.6

is a perspective view of a cabinet (such as the cabinet of FIG. 1) implemented as a shoe rack, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

In the accompanying drawings, an underlined number is employed to represent an item over which the underlined number is positioned or an item to which the underlined number is adjacent. A non-underlined number relates to an item identified by a line linking the non-underlined number to the item. When a number is non-underlined and accompanied by an associated arrow, the non-underlined number is used to identify a general item at which the arrow is pointing.

Exemplary embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The exemplary embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough, and will fully convey the scope to persons skilled in the art. Numerous specific details are set forth such as examples of specific components, devices, and methods, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that specific details need not be employed. Exemplary embodiments may be embodied in many different forms. Thus, neither should be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure. In some example embodiments, well-known processes, well-known device structures, and well-known technologies are not described in detail.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular exemplary embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, singular forms such as “a,” “an,” and “the” may be intended to include corresponding plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Furthermore, terms akin to “comprises,” “comprising,” “including,” and “having,” are inclusive and therefore, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

When an element or layer is referred to as being “on,” “engaged to,” “connected to,” or “coupled to” another element or layer, it may be disposed directly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be present therein. However, when an element is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly engaged to,” “directly connected to,” or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, there may be no intervening elements or layers present. Other words used to describe a relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like manner (e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.). As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

Spatially relative terms such as “inner,” “outer,” “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper,” and the like may be used herein for ease of description, to describe an element’s or a feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Furthermore, spatially relative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or in operation, in addition to one or more orientations depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the example term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. It will be appreciated that the device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein should be interpreted accordingly.

Although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Terms such as “first,” “second,” and other numerical terms when used herein do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the example embodiments.

The term “user” relates to at least one individual that uses or operates the system or arrangement or device (or other variants thereof) as claimed, such as, by interacting with at least one component of the system or arrangement or device (or other variants thereof).

Moreover, if any method steps, processes, and operations are described, they are not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance in the particular order discussed or illustrated, unless specifically identified as an order of performance. It is also to be understood that additional or alternative steps may be employed.

In overview, embodiments of the present disclosure are concerned with cabinets for receiving delivery of parcels and more specifically to such cabinets implemented as shoe racks.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a perspective sectional view of a cabinet 100 for receiving delivery of a parcel 102, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The cabinet 100 allows a person responsible for receiving the delivery of the parcel 102 (referred to as “recipient” herein after) to receive the delivery even when the person is absent from a location associated with the delivery, such that the parcel 102 is deposited by a delivery person (such as a delivery executive responsible for delivering the parcel 102) into the cabinet 100 to be later retrieved by the owner of the cabinet 100.

The cabinet 100 is a fully or partially-enclosed structure that can be employed for storing one or more items therein. The cabinet 100 can be implemented as a cubical or cuboidal structure having one or more enclosed portions and/or one or more open portions. In an example, the cabinet 100 is fabricated to resemble a cupboard, a wardrobe, a dresser and the like. In a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, the cabinet 100 is implemented as a shoe rack. The cabinet 100 can be fabricated using wood, metal, metal alloy, polymer (such as plastic) or a combination thereof.

The cabinet 100 comprises a housing 104. The housing 104 forms a body of the cabinet 100 having at least one hollow volume therein, such that the hollow volume is used for storing one or more items (such as the parcel 102) within the cabinet 100. In an example, when the cabinet 100 is implemented to have the cubical or cuboidal structure, the housing 104 comprises a cubical or cuboidal structure corresponding to the cubical or cuboidal structure of the cabinet 100. The housing 104 of the cabinet 104 comprises a top portion, a bottom portion, a pair of side portions, a back portion and a front portion corresponding respectively to six sides of the cubical or cuboidal structure. Furthermore, one or more portions of the six portions of the cubical or cuboidal structure of the housing 104 can be fabricated using walls that are fixedly attached to a wall disposed along another portion of the housing 104. Moreover, one or more portions of the six portions of the housing 104 can be fabricated using a cover that is removably or hingedly attached to a wall disposed along another portion of the housing 104. For example, the housing 104 is fabricated such that each of the pair of side portions (such as a left side portion and a right side portion) comprise walls that are fixedly attached to a wall disposed along the back portion of the housing 104. Furthermore, a cover is provided along the top portion of the housing 104 that is hingedly coupled to the wall disposed along the back portion of the housing. In such an example, the housing 104 can comprise a wall provided along a bottom portion thereof that can be removably attached to the wall disposed along the back portion, such as, using screws, nuts and bolts, clips and the like.

The cabinet 100 comprises a cavity 108 disposed on a top portion of the housing 104. The cavity 108 comprises a hollow volume that is less than a total volume of the housing 104. Furthermore, when the housing 104 is implemented as the cubical or cuboidal structure, the cavity 108 can be implemented as a cubical or cuboidal structure having the volume less than the total volume of the housing 104. Moreover, the cavity 108 is provided towards the top portion of the housing, such that a top side of the cavity 108 coincides with the top portion of the housing 104. Moreover, a cover 106 for the cavity 108 is hingedly coupled along the top portion of the housing 104. The cover 106 is implemented as a solid rectangular element that is configured to completely cover the top portion of the housing and consequently, the top side of the cavity 108. The cover 106 can be fabricated using wood, metal, metal alloy, polymer (such as plastic) or a combination thereof. The cover 106 is hingedly coupled along the top portion of the housing 104, such that one edge of the cover 106 is attached to at least one hinge 109A-B disposed along a top edge of the wall disposed along the back portion of the housing 104. Consequently, the cover 106 is hingedly coupled to the wall disposed along the back portion of the housing 104 and thus, the cover 106 can be opened or closed with respect to the wall along the back portion to respectively allow or restrict access to the hollow volume of the cavity 108.

The cabinet 100 comprises a movable platform 110 operating as a base surface of the cavity 108 and is pivotally attached to an inner portion of the housing 104. The movable platform 110 is hingedly coupled to the wall disposed along the back portion of the housing 104. Furthermore, the movable platform 110 is rigidly coupled to the cover 106 such that movement of the cover 106 (such as, due to opening or closing of the cover 106 with respect to the housing 104) causes a corresponding movement of the movable platform 110. In an example, when the cover 106 moves pivotally (due to hinged coupling thereof with the housing 104) by an angle of 10°, the movable platform 110 moves pivotally in a range of 5° to 15°, preferably 10°. However, the cover 106 and the movable platform 110 correspond to different orientations when no movement is caused to the cover 106, such that the movable platform 110 rests in a fully horizontal position parallel to the upper portion of the housing 104 when the cover 106 is in a fully opened state (or the cover rests in a fully vertical position with respect to the upper portion of the housing 110). Such a resting of the movable platform 110 in the horizontal position operating as the base surface allows the delivery person to deposit the parcel 102 onto the movable platform 110.

Thereafter, the moveable platform 110 operating as the base surface supports the parcel 102 at a first angular position and drops the parcel 102 within an inner chamber 112 of the housing 104 at a second angular position. The parcel 102 is supported on the movable platform 110 when the movable platform 110 is kept at the first angular position corresponding to the horizontal position thereof or an angle in a range of 90° to 45° of the movable platform 110 with respect to the wall disposed along the back portion of the housing 104. Such a first position of the movable platform 110 corresponds to the cover 106 being held in a substantially open position, such as, in an angle within a range of 90° to 45° of the cover 106 with respect to the top portion of the housing 104. Subsequently, when the delivery person closes the cover 106 upon depositing the parcel 102 onto the movable platform 110, the orientation of the movable platform 110 changes from the first angular position to the second angular position corresponding to a slanted position thereof or an angle in a range of 45° to 0°, the parcel 102 deposited on the movable platform 110 slides along the movable platform 110 and falls to the inner chamber 112 of the housing 104.

In an embodiment, the movable platform 110 is pivotally attached to the inner portion of the housing 104 using at least one hinge. The first angular position and the second angular position are within in a range of 0° to 90° with respect to a horizontal plane of the housing 104. As explained herein above, the first angular position is within a range of 90° to 45° of the movable platform 110 with respect to the wall disposed along the back portion of the housing 104 whereas the second angular position is within a range of 45° to 0° of the movable platform 110 with respect to the wall disposed along the back portion of the housing 104. It will be appreciated that each of the first angular position and the second angular position may depend upon various factors including but not limited to, dimensions (such as a length, width and height) of the parcel 102, shape of the parcel 102, weight of the parcel 102 and a coefficient of friction associated with an outer surface of the parcel 102 (dependent upon smoothness of a wrapping material used to wrap the parcel 102) and such like.

According to an embodiment, the cabinet 100 further comprises at least one stopper (not shown) attached to the inner portion of the housing 104. Each of the at least one stopper can be implemented as an elongate element that is affixed to the inner portion of the housing above a maximum angle associated with the first angular position of the movable platform 110. For example, the at least one stopper can be implemented as a collar that is affixed above the movable platform 110 in the horizontal position thereof. Furthermore, the collar can be fabricated using wood, metal, metal alloy, polymer (such as plastic) or a combination thereof. The at least one stopper is configured to limit the pivoting of the movable platform 110. It will be appreciated that the movable platform 110 may be forced to move beyond the maximum angle associated with the first angular position thereof, such as, by pushing the cover 106 beyond the vertical position thereof. Consequently, the stopper operates as a safety mechanism to prevent pivotal movement of the movable platform 110 beyond the maximum angle associated with the first angular position, thereby, preventing access to the inner chamber 112 of the housing 104 from the top portion of the housing 104.

In one embodiment, a width of the movable platform 110 is in accordance with a height of the parcel 102 to be received within the housing 104 through the cavity 108. As mentioned hereinabove, the first angular position and the second angular position are dependent upon the dimensions of the parcel 102 to be received, such that the angle at which the parcel 102 is dropped from the movable platform 110 transitioning from the first angular position can be reduced by decreasing the width of the movable platform 110. Such a decrease in the width of the movable platform 110 causes increased gap to be created between the movable platform 110 and the housing 104 at smaller angle of the movable platform 110. Moreover, such a gap created between the movable platform 110 and the housing 104 is dependent upon the height of the parcel 102 to allow the parcel 102 to be accommodated within the gap for causing the parcel 102 the drop from the movable platform 110. Thus, the width of the movable platform 110 is selected based on the height of the parcel 102 to be received within the cabinet 100.

According to an embodiment, the first angular position corresponds to a horizontal position of the movable platform 110 when the cover 106 is in an open state and the second angular position corresponds to a vertical position of the movable platform 110 when the cover 106 is in a closed state. The first angular position of the movable platform 110 corresponds to an orientation thereof that is parallel to the top portion of the housing 104 whereas the second angular position of the movable platform 110 corresponds to an orientation thereof that is parallel to (and disposed against) the wall disposed along the back portion of the housing 104.

The cabinet 100 comprises a strut 114A-B hingedly coupled to each of a left side and a right side of the cover 106 to a corresponding side of the movable platform 110. The struts 114A-B is a substantially rigid structural element that causes a force applied on the cover 106 by a person opening or closing the cover 106 to be transmitted to the movable platform 110 via the strut 114A-B. The struts 114A-B can be implemented as a metallic rod, bar, shaft or a substantially rigid helical spring (such as a helical spring having a low spring coefficient). In an embodiment, the strut 114A-B is coupled respectively to each of the left side and the right side of the cover 106 and the movable platform 110 using a rotary joint (not shown) disposed on each of the left side and the right side of the cover 106 and the movable platform 110. For example, the left side of the cover 106 comprises a rotary joint and the left side of the movable platform 110 comprises a corresponding rotary joint disposed thereon. The strut 114A is disposed between the rotary joints disposed on the left side of the cover 106 and the movable platform 110 respectively. Similarly, the right side of the cover 106 comprises a rotary joint and the right side of the movable platform 110 comprises a corresponding rotary joint disposed thereon. The strut 114B is disposed between the rotary joints disposed on the right side of the cover 106 and the movable platform 110 respectively. Thus, struts 114A-B disposed between the corresponding rotary joints enable transitional movement of the cover 106 and the movable platform 110 (as explained herein below).

Furthermore, closing of the cover 106 pushes the strut 114A-B in an inner direction and causes the movable platform 110 to change position from the first angular position to the second angular position. It will be appreciated that when force is applied by a person on the cover 106 to cause pivotal movement thereof for closing the cover 106 with respect to the top portion of the housing 104, the force is transmitted via the struts 114A-B to the movable platform 110 to cause movement thereof from the first angular position (such as the substantially horizontal position with respect to the wall disposed along the back portion of the housing 104) to the second angular position (such as the substantially vertical position with respect to the wall disposed along the back portion of the housing 104). Such a movement of the movable platform 110 from the first angular position to the second angular position platform facilitates dropping of the parcel 102 into the inner chamber 112 of the housing 104 while the movable platform 110 transitions from the first angular position to the second angular position.

In an embodiment, an opening of the cover 106 pulls the strut 114A-B in an outer direction and causes the movable platform 110 to change position from the second angular position to the first angular position. The opening of the cover 106 pulls the strut 114A-B in an outer direction and causes the movable platform 110 to change position from the second angular position back to the first angular position. Thus, when force is applied by a person on the cover 106 to cause pivotal movement thereof for opening the cover 106 from the closed orientation thereof with respect to the top portion of the housing 104, the force is transmitted via the struts 114A-B to the movable platform 110 to cause movement thereof from the second angular position (such as the substantially vertical position with respect to the wall disposed along the back portion of the housing 104) to the first angular position (such as the substantially horizontal position with respect to the wall disposed along the back portion of the housing 104). Such a movement of the movable platform 110 from the second angular position to the first angular position platform causes the movable platform to operate as the base surface for receiving deposition of a parcel 102 thereon.

The cabinet 100 comprises a base 116 fixedly coupled within the inner chamber 112 of the housing 104 and placed beneath the movable platform 110. The base 116 is implemented as a solid rectangular element that is disposed within the inner chamber 112 of the housing 104, such that a length and width of the base 116 corresponds to a length and width of the inner chamber 112. The base 116 receives the parcel 102 dropped from the movable platform 110 while the movable platform 110 transitions from the first angular position to the second angular position. It will be appreciated that when the movable platform 110 transitions from the first angular position to the second angular position, the parcel 102 deposited on the movable platform 110 is dropped from the movable platform 110 towards the bottom portion of the housing 104. The base 116 is configured to intercept such a movement of the dropped parcel 102 towards the bottom portion of the housing 104 and thus, receive the dropped parcel 102 thereon. Subsequently, the recipient can collect the parcel 102 positioned on the base 116 and thereafter, delivery of a new parcel 102 can be received into the cabinet 100.

In an embodiment, the base 116 comprises an impact absorbing material on a top surface to ensure that the parcel 102 dropped from the movable platform 110 lands safely at the base 116. The impact absorbing material can be implemented as a rubber mat, a cushion sheet, a viscoelastic urethane polymer sheet and the like that is configured to at least partially absorb a shock associated with fall of the parcel 102 from the movable platform 110 onto the base 116, thereby, ensuring that the parcel 102 lands safely on the base 116 and also preventing damage to the base 116 due to fall of the parcel 102 thereon. In an embodiment, the impact absorbing material is disposed on a cushion surface 117 that is fixed to the top surface of the base 116. Correspondingly, when the parcel 102 is released from the movable platform 110 the parcel 102 lands on the cushion surface 117 fixed to the base 116.

In one embodiment, the cover 106 comprises a lock unit 118 configured to receive a sequence of unique characters as an input from a delivery person for unlocking the cover 106 and placing the parcel 102 on the movable platform 110. The cover 106 comprises the lock unit 118 implemented such that a lock disposed on the cover 106 engages with a latch disposed on a wall provided along the front portion of the housing 104. Correspondingly, the cover 106 can be maintained in an inaccessible state with respect to the top portion of the housing 104 by having the cover 106 engaged against the wall provided along the front portion of the housing 104, when the lock unit 118 is maintained in a locked state. Furthermore, when the delivery person arrives near the cabinet 100 for delivering the parcel 102 into the cabinet 100, the sequence of unique characters to be used as the input for unlocking the lock unit 118 can be communicated to the delivery person (such as by using a text message or a phone call or a pre-assigned input field such as remarks column, during ordering at the eCommerce platform). Subsequently, after delivery of the parcel 102, the recipient can change the sequence of unique characters to be used as the input for unlocking the lock unit 118 before receiving another delivery. In an example, the lock unit 118 is implemented as a combination lock configured to receive a sequence of numbers or alphanumeric characters as the input. In another example, the lock unit 118 is implemented as an OTP-based smart lock that is accessible using a different input at each use. In such an example, the OTP-based smart lock can be configured to automatically change the input used for unlocking the lock unit 118 after each time that the cover 106 is opened and closed. Furthermore, the OTP can be generated by a portable device (such as a smartphone) associated with the recipient.

In an embodiment, the housing 104 further comprises a square pad eye (shown in FIG. 4 as square pad eye 402) fixedly attached to an outside of the housing 104. It will be appreciated that the cabinet needs to be fixed to a stationary structure to prevent theft of the cabinet 100 and contents thereof. The square pad eye is configured to receive a chain attached to an external strong point of a stationary structure such as a door grill or a wall for securing the cabinet 100 to the said stationary structure. The chain can be implemented as a metallic chain that is received into the square pad eye as well as into a square pad eye fixedly attached to the wall. Consequently, the cabinet 100 can be secured to the said stationary structure.

Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown a perspective sectional view of the cabinet 100 of FIG. 1, in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown, the cover 106 has been transitioned from the open state to the closed state thereof causing the movable platform 110 to attain the second angular position (corresponding to a fully folded position parallel to the wall disposed along the back portion of the housing 104). Furthermore, the parcel 102 has been dropped from the movable platform 110 and has consequently been deposited on the base 116.

Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown a front view of the cabinet of FIG. 2, in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown, the cabinet 100 further comprises at least one door 302A-B for retrieving the parcel 102 dropped at the base 116. The at least one door 302A-B is implemented as a pair of front doors hinged laterally along the housing 104 and below the cover 106. The at least one door 302A-B can be opened by the recipient for receiving the parcel 102 dropped onto the base 116. The at least one door 302A-B can be implemented to have a lock unit 304 that can be maintained in a locked state when the parcel 102 is delivered by the delivery person, such that the delivery person cannot access contents of the inner chamber 112. Subsequently, the recipient can unlock the lock unit 304 for retrieving the parcel 102 from the inner chamber 112. The lock unit 304 could be a pad lock, a combination lock, a smart lock recognizing biometric information such as finger prints, voice prints or facial expression, a smart OTP lock, or any device that can perform as a lock. The cabinet 100 further comprises a plurality of shelves removably attached to an outside of the housing 104 (explained with reference to FIG. 6).

Referring to FIG. 4, there shown a perspective rear view of the inner chamber 112 of the cabinet 100 of FIG. 3, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The cabinet 100 further comprises a square pad eye 402 disposed along a back of the cabinet 100. The cabinet 100 further comprises at least one light emitting diode (LED) disposed near the base 116. The at least one LED is configured to illuminate the inner chamber 112 when the at least one door 302A-B is opened for accessing the parcel deposited on the base 116. The at least one LED is configured to be activated upon opening of the at least one door 302A-B for retrieval of the parcel 102 from the base 116.

Referring to FIG. 5, there is shown a block diagram of an electrical circuit 500 comprising a magnetic switch 502 operatively coupled to each of at least one LED 504A-B and the at least one door 302A-B, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown, the magnetic switch 502 is operatively coupled to the at least one door 302A-B as well as to the at least one LED 504A-B via an LED mode controller 506. As shown, the LED mode controller 506 is coupled to each of the at least one LED 504A-B via a connection 508A for causing emission of red light through the LEDs 504A-B, a connection 508B for causing emission of green light through the LEDs 504A-B and a connection 508C for causing emission of blue light through the LEDs 504A-B. Optionally, the LED mode controller 506 allows changing of an intensity associated with the emitted light, a speed associated with changing of the emitted light from one colour to another, a brightness of the emitted light and so forth. The magnetic switch is maintained in a switched off position when the at least one door 302A-B is closed, such that the at least one LED is not activated when the at least one door 302A-B is not opened. Furthermore, the electrical circuit comprises a battery 510 operatively coupled to each of the LEDs 504A-B and the magnetic switch 502. The battery 510 is configured to provide operating power for operation of the electrical circuit 500 such that the magnetic switch 502 is actuated by opening of the at least one door 302A-B for activating the at least one LED 504A-B. In an example, the battery 510 is implemented as a battery holder configured to hold at least two batteries (for example, three 1.5 Volt batteries) therein. Such a battery holder can comprise a switch (not shown) associated therewith. Optionally, such an electrical circuit for allowing illumination of the at least one LED 504A-B can be incorporated beneath the base 116 of the cabinet 100.

Referring again to FIG. 4, the at least one LED is implemented as an LED strip 400A-B arranged above of each of a left side and a right side of the base 116. Each LED strip 400A-B can be implemented as an elongate element comprising a plurality of LEDs therein. In an example, each LED strip 400A-B is implemented as a strip of LEDs having a length of 25 centimetres and configured to hold seven individual LEDs therein. Furthermore, each LED strip 400A-B is configured to emit light having at least two different colours. In an example, each LED strip 400A-B is configured to emit light in at least two different colours and preferably, a plurality of different colours, such as, a green colour, a red colour and a blue colour. In an example, the each LED strip 400A-B can be actuated to emit light having one colour when the at least one door is opened but no parcel 102 is deposited on the base 116 to be retrieved, to emit light having another colour when the at least one door is opened and a parcel 102 is deposited on the base 116 to be retrieved and to emit light in yet another colour when the parcel 102 has been retrieved. Optionally, the LED strip 400A disposed above the left side of the base 116 and the LED strip 400B disposed above the right side of the base 116 is connected by another LED strip (not shown) disposed along the back portion.

In an embodiment, each LED strip 400A-B is arranged at an angle in a range of 0° to 90° or 270° to 0° with respect to the base 116 and is placed in an upper area of each of the left side and the right side of the base 116. For example, each LED strip 400A-B is arranged to emit light at an angle of 315° with respect to the base 116 such that light emitted by the LED strips 400A-B converge towards a centre of the base 116 where the parcel 102 may be deposited. Such illumination of the centre of the base 116 (and consequently the parcel 102) enables convenient retrieval of the parcel 102, such as when an environment where the cabinet 100 is positioned is dimly lit. Moreover, the illumination of the base 116 positively reinforces via a reward stimulus (associated with emission of light) for the recipient on successful completion of delivery of the parcel 102 associated with an online purchase.

Referring to FIG. 6, there is shown a perspective view of a cabinet 600 (such as the cabinet 100 of FIG. 1) implemented as a shoe rack, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown, the cabinet 600 comprises at least one compartment 602 for receiving shoes therein. Furthermore, the cabinet 600 comprises at least one shelf 604 configured to be removably attached to the outside of a housing (such as the housing 104 of the cabinet 100) of the cabinet 600 in an angle within a range of 0° to 90°. The at least one shelf 604 can be removably attached using a slide rail mechanism (such that the shelf comprises an inner rail that can be slid into an outer rail disposed on the housing) or by attaching the shelf 604 using screws, nuts and bolts, clips, hooks and the like. Optionally, each of the at least one shelf 604 is removably attached to the outside of the housing at an angle of 60°.

The cabinet (such as the cabinet 100 of FIGs. 1 to 3 and the cabinet 600 of FIG. 6) allows the delivery person to conveniently deliver the parcel by opening the cover of the housing, depositing the parcel on the movable platform and subsequently, closing the cover. Furthermore, upon closing of the cover, the parcel drops from the movable platform onto the base and as any attempt to access the base through the top portion of the housing is restricted by the movable platform attaining the first angular position, the parcel is safely stored on the base until it is retrieved by the recipient. The delivery person can deliver the parcel even during absence of the recipient at the location of the delivery, enabling safe receipt, storage and subsequent retrieval of the parcel by the recipient. Moreover, the cabinet allows reduction in costs associated with returning of an undelivered parcel from the delivery location as well as saving of time for the recipient to travel from a current location thereof to the delivery location for receiving the delivery of the parcel. Moreover, the cabinet can be implemented to have different dimensions, allowing receipt and storage of more than one small- and medium-sized parcels. The cabinet can be implemented as a shoe rack and thus, allows saving space associated with installation of a separate structure for receiving delivery of parcels. Furthermore, the cabinet can be employed without contravention of housing regulations and guidelines of common corridor safe passage (for example, the Singapore’s public housing policies). The cabinet can be secured to a stationary structure such as a door grill or a wall, thus, preventing theft of the cabinet and one or more contents stored therein.

The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. Modifications to embodiments of the invention described in the foregoing are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the accompanying claims. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.

Claims

A cabinet for receiving delivery of a parcel, the cabinet comprising:
- a housing;
- a cavity disposed on a top portion of the housing, wherein a cover for the cavity is hingedly coupled along the top portion of the housing;
- a movable platform operating as a base surface of the cavity and is pivotally attached to an inner portion of the housing, wherein the moveable platform operating as the base surface supports the parcel at a first angular position and drops the parcel within an inner chamber of the housing at a second angular position;
- a strut hingedly coupled to each of a left side and a right side of the cover to a corresponding side of the movable platform, wherein closing of the cover pushes the strut in an inner direction and causes the movable platform to change position from the first angular position to the second angular position, wherein the movable platform facilitates dropping of the parcel within the inner chamber of the housing while transitioning from the first angular position to the second angular position; and
- a base fixedly coupled within the inner chamber of the housing and placed beneath the movable platform, wherein the base receives the parcel dropped from the movable platform while transitioning from the first angular position to the second angular position.
The cabinet as claimed in claim 1, wherein an opening of the cover pulls the strut in an outer direction and causes the movable platform to change position from the second angular position to the first angular position.
The cabinet as claimed in claim 1, wherein the strut is coupled respectively to each of the left side and the right side of the cover and the movable platform using a rotary joint disposed on each of the left side and the right side of the cover and the movable platform.
The cabinet as claimed in claim 1, wherein the movable platform is pivotally attached to the inner portion of the housing using at least one hinge and wherein the first angular position and the second angular position are within in a range of 0° to 90° with respect to a horizontal plane of the housing.
The cabinet as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first angular position corresponds to a horizontal position of the movable platform when the cover is in an open state and the second angular position corresponds to a vertical position of the movable platform when the cover is in a closed state.
The cabinet as claimed in claim 4, further comprising at least one stopper attached to the inner portion of the housing, wherein the at least one stopper is configured to limit the pivoting of the movable platform.
The cabinet as claimed in claim 1, wherein a width of the movable platform is in accordance with a height of the parcel to be received within the housing through the cavity.
The cabinet as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cover comprises a lock unit configured to receive a sequence of unique characters as an input from a delivery person for unlocking the cover and placing the parcel on the movable platform.
The cabinet as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base comprises an impact absorbing material on a top surface to ensure that the parcel dropped from the movable platform lands safely at the base.
The cabinet as claimed in claim 1, comprises at least one door for retrieving the parcel dropped at the base wherein the at least one door is a pair of front doors hinged laterally along the housing and below the cover.
The cabinet as claimed in claim 10, further comprising at least one light emitting diode (LED) disposed near the base, wherein the at least one LED is configured to be activated upon opening of the at least one door for retrieval of the parcel from the base.
The cabinet as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a magnetic switch operatively coupled to each of the at least one LED and the at least one door, wherein the magnetic switch is actuated by opening of the at least one door for activating the at least one LED.
The cabinet as claimed in claim 11, wherein the at least one LED is implemented as an LED strip arranged above of each of a left side and a right side of the base, wherein each LED strip is configured to emit light having at least two different colours.
The cabinet as claimed in claim 13, wherein each LED strip is arranged at an angle in a range of 0° to 90° or 270° to 0° with respect to the base and is placed in an upper area of each of the left side and the right side of the base.
The cabinet as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises a square pad eye fixedly attached to an outside of the housing, wherein the square pad eye is configured to receive a chain attached to an external stationary structure for securing the cabinet to the said stationary structure.
The cabinet as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cabinet is implemented as a shoe rack comprising at least one compartment for receiving shoes therein and further comprises at least one shelf configured to be removably attached to the outside of the housing in an angle within a range of 0° to 90°.