US 11,666,167 B2
Receptacle for receiving and securing packages and other items
James B. Dehner, Littleton, CO (US); and Mark Soderberg, Conifer, CO (US)
Assigned to GMI Holdings, Inc.
Filed by GMI Holdings, Inc., Mount Hope, OH (US)
Filed on Sep. 17, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/23,883.
Application 17/023,883 is a continuation of application No. 16/459,026, filed on Jul. 1, 2019, abandoned.
Application 16/459,026 is a continuation of application No. 16/024,478, filed on Jun. 29, 2018, granted, now 10,362,889, issued on Jul. 30, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/527,786, filed on Jun. 30, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2021/0000276 A1, Jan. 7, 2021
Int. Cl. A47G 29/14 (2006.01); B65D 8/00 (2006.01); B65D 43/16 (2006.01); B65D 43/26 (2006.01); B65D 51/24 (2006.01); B65D 55/02 (2006.01); G08B 13/196 (2006.01); B65D 50/02 (2006.01); E05B 65/52 (2006.01); E05G 1/00 (2006.01); E05B 47/00 (2006.01); E05B 47/02 (2006.01); A47G 29/20 (2006.01); A47G 29/30 (2006.01); G08B 13/08 (2006.01); E05G 1/04 (2006.01); E05F 5/02 (2006.01); E05F 15/614 (2015.01); E05F 1/10 (2006.01); E05F 15/619 (2015.01); E05C 3/00 (2006.01)
CPC A47G 29/141 (2013.01) [A47G 29/20 (2013.01); B65D 15/22 (2013.01); B65D 43/164 (2013.01); B65D 43/26 (2013.01); B65D 50/02 (2013.01); B65D 51/248 (2013.01); B65D 55/02 (2013.01); E05B 47/0012 (2013.01); E05B 47/023 (2013.01); E05B 65/5246 (2013.01); E05G 1/005 (2013.01); G08B 13/19695 (2013.01); A47G 29/30 (2013.01); A47G 2029/145 (2013.01); A47G 2029/149 (2013.01); E05B 2047/0069 (2013.01); E05C 3/006 (2013.01); E05F 1/1091 (2013.01); E05F 5/02 (2013.01); E05F 15/614 (2015.01); E05F 15/619 (2015.01); E05G 1/04 (2013.01); E05Y 2201/22 (2013.01); E05Y 2201/478 (2013.01); E05Y 2400/10 (2013.01); E05Y 2400/32 (2013.01); E05Y 2400/33 (2013.01); E05Y 2400/612 (2013.01); E05Y 2400/628 (2013.01); E05Y 2400/822 (2013.01); G08B 13/08 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of allowing access to a receptacle that is configured for securing a package or parcel, the method comprising:
providing the receptacle in an unlocked state in which the receptacle is unlocked so that a lid of the receptacle is openable to enable a package to be positioned within an interior of the receptacle and secured therein, the receptacle being programmed to remain unlocked so that the lid is openable until a package or parcel delivery event occurs;
sensing an opening of the lid of the receptacle based on information from one or more sensors positioned on or within the receptacle, said opening corresponding to the package or parcel delivery event;
sensing a closing of the lid of the receptacle based on information from said one or more sensors, said closing of the lid corresponding to the package or parcel delivery event;
determining, via information from said one or more sensors, that the lid of the receptacle is sufficiently closed so that activation of a lock mechanism of the receptacle will ensure that the receptacle transitions from the unlocked state to a locked state in which the lid of the receptacle is unable to be opened;
activating, in response to determining that the lid is sufficiently closed, the lock mechanism of the receptacle to transition the receptacle from the unlocked state to the locked state and thereby secure a first package or parcel within the interior of the receptacle;
scanning an email message in a user's email account to identify a reference or tracking number of a second package or parcel;
parsing the email message to obtain a delivery code;
storing the delivery code in memory of the receptacle;
receiving entry of the delivery code at the receptacle subsequent to activating the lock mechanism;
activating the lock mechanism of the receptacle based on the entry of the delivery code to transition the receptacle from the locked state to the unlocked state;
sensing a second opening of the lid of the receptacle based on information from said one or more sensors;
sensing a second closing of the lid of the receptacle based on information from said one or more sensors;
activating the lock mechanism of the receptacle to transition the receptacle from the unlocked state to the locked state;
receiving information corresponding to entry of an access code;
activating the lock mechanism of the receptacle to transition the receptacle from the locked state to the unlocked state to enable user access to the interior of the receptacle; and
returning the receptacle to the unlocked state in which the receptacle is programmed to remain unlocked.