US 12,213,608 B2
Parcel boxes having baffle assemblies and methods
Travis D. Shamp, Akron, OH (US); and Patrick Ritossa, Chesterland, OH (US)
Assigned to The Step2 Company, LLC, Streetsboro, OH (US)
Filed by THE STEP2 COMPANY, LLC, Streetsboro, OH (US)
Filed on Apr. 13, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/134,178.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/339,605, filed on May 9, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0355019 A1, Nov. 9, 2023
Int. Cl. A47G 29/124 (2006.01)
CPC A47G 29/1248 (2017.08) [A47G 29/1251 (2017.08); A47G 2400/126 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A parcel box comprising:
an external shell comprising:
a left side wall;
a right side wall;
a front wall;
a rear wall;
a base;
a cover movable between a closed position and an opened position, wherein then its opened position, the cover facilitates access by parcels through a top opening and into a storage area; and
a door movable between a closed position and an opened position, wherein when in its opened position, the door facilitates removal of parcels from the storage area and through a bottom opening;
an upper baffle assembly comprising a plurality of upper baffles, each upper baffle of the plurality of upper baffles being pivotally coupled to the front wall, independently movable about an upper common pivot axis between a deployed position and a depressed position, and independently spring-biased toward its deployed position; and
a lower baffle assembly comprising a plurality of lower baffles, each lower baffle of the plurality of lower baffles being pivotally coupled to the rear wall, independently movable about a lower common pivot axis between a deployed position and a depressed position, and independently spring-biased toward its deployed position;
wherein the plurality of upper baffles comprises:
a first upper baffle comprising a first upper tab extending laterally outwardly toward the left side wall and received within a left upper recess formed in the left side wall, the left upper recess being defined in part by a left upper ledge of the left side wall, wherein a range of motion of the first upper baffle in an upward direction is limited by contact of the first upper tab with the left upper ledge; and
a second upper baffle comprising a second upper tab extending beneath the first upper baffle and selectively contacting an underside of the first upper baffle, the second upper baffle being capable of being independently depressed from its deployed position to its depressed position without necessarily resulting in movement of the first upper baffle, and the first upper baffle being incapable of depression from its deployed position to its depressed position without also resulting in movement of the upper baffle if not already at least correspondingly depressed.