Household mailbox

Abstract

The invention discloses a household mailbox, and relates to the technical field of smart home, the household mailbox comprises a box body, a letter taking door and an envelope opening door which is installed on the upper portion of the box body in a turnover mode, a password key module, a fingerprint unlocking module and an envelope opening delivery groove are arranged on an inner side panel of the envelope opening door, and a shielding door which can be opened and closed is further arranged on the inner side panel of the envelope opening door; the shielding door covers the password key module and the fingerprint unlocking module; a linkage mechanism is arranged between the envelope opening door and the shielding door, and the linkage mechanism is configured to enable the shielding door to be kept in a closed state when the envelope opening door is opened to a first angle alpha, and only the envelope opening delivery groove is exposed; when the envelope opening door is opened to a second angle beta larger than the first angle alpha, the linkage mechanism drives the shielding door to be opened, and the password key module and the fingerprint unlocking module are exposed for operation. According to the invention, intelligent separation of the delivery state and the operation state is realized, and the protection, the identification sensitivity and the safety of the fingerprint identification module are improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of smart home technology, and more particularly to a home mailbox. Background Technology

[0002] Home mailboxes are common facilities for receiving mail, newspapers, and other small items outdoors in residences. With the popularization of smart home technology, traditional mechanical mailboxes are gradually developing towards electronic and intelligent directions. To expand their functions, some smart mailboxes have begun to add password keypad and fingerprint unlocking modules to the inside of the envelope door used for mail delivery, enabling human-computer interaction operations such as electronic unlocking, remote authorization, and password management.

[0003] Existing technologies disclose home mailboxes with built-in password input modules. Their structure typically includes a password keypad module, a fingerprint unlocking module, and a mail delivery slot on the inner side panel of the envelope door. When the envelope door is opened around its hinge axis, all three components are simultaneously exposed on the inner surface of the door.

[0004] However, the above layout has the following technical problems in practical use: First, mail carriers need to open the envelope door multiple times a day to deliver mail, but they have no actual need to operate the password or fingerprint modules. Under the current structure, each delivery operation passively exposes the password keypad and fingerprint unlocking modules. This not only increases the physical burden of dust accumulation, moisture, and sun exposure on electronic components, but also provides opportunities for passersby to peek at the password layout, for residual fingerprints to be illegally collected, for accidental key presses, or even for unauthorized operations, posing a security risk.

[0005] Secondly, existing mailboxes only have two states: open and closed. Regardless of the opening angle—for example, opening it to a small angle sufficient to insert mail, or opening it to a large angle—the keypad, fingerprint unlocking module, and mail slot are all simultaneously exposed. This indiscriminate exposure mechanism makes it impossible to effectively differentiate between two distinct usage scenarios: simply inserting mail and operating the keypad. This reduces ease of use and hinders improvements in anti-theft performance.

[0006] Third, as a biometric device, the fingerprint unlocking module has high requirements for cleanliness and security. Daily exposure can easily lead to dust and oil accumulation on the fingerprint collection window, affecting recognition sensitivity. At the same time, there is a risk that fingerprint residue can be copied.

[0007] In summary, existing home mailboxes fail to properly address the relationship between electronic functional components and basic delivery functions in their structural layout, and lack an effective mechanism for controlling the exposure status of components according to different usage scenarios. Summary of the Invention

[0008] The purpose of this invention is to solve the technical problems mentioned in the background art, where the password key module and fingerprint unlocking module of existing mailboxes are passively exposed when mail is delivered, resulting in easy contamination of the fingerprint collection window, decreased recognition sensitivity, security risks to biometric information, and the inability to control the exposure state of sensitive components according to the different usage scenarios.

[0009] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: A household mailbox includes a mailbox body, a mail retrieval door installed on the front of the mailbox body, and a flip-up envelope door installed on the upper part of the mailbox body. The inner side panel of the envelope door is provided with a password keypad module, a fingerprint unlocking module, and an envelope delivery slot. The mailbox body has an internal storage cavity communicating with the envelope delivery slot. The mailbox is characterized in that... The inner side panel of the envelope door is also provided with an openable and closable cover door, which covers the password keypad module and the fingerprint unlocking module. A linkage mechanism is provided between the envelope opening door and the shielding door. The linkage mechanism is configured such that: when the envelope opening door is opened to a first angle α, the shielding door remains closed, and only the envelope delivery slot is exposed; when the envelope opening door is opened to a second angle β greater than the first angle α, the linkage mechanism drives the shielding door to open, exposing the password keypad module and the fingerprint unlocking module for operation.

[0010] Preferably, the envelope door is hinged to the box body via a first hinge rod, and the shielding door is hinged to the box body via a second hinge rod.

[0011] Preferably, the linkage mechanism includes a connecting rod, one end of which is hinged to the inner wall of the envelope door, and the other end is slidably accommodated in a groove opened in the side wall of the shielding door. Tension springs are provided on both sides between the envelope door and the shielding door, and the tension springs are configured to assist the shielding door in opening after a critical angle is exceeded.

[0012] Preferably, the first angle α is a preset minimum opening angle that fully exposes the envelope delivery slot, and the second angle β is a preset angle that allows the password keypad module and the fingerprint unlocking module to be operably exposed.

[0013] Preferably, one end of the tension spring is fixed to the shaft on the inner wall of the envelope door via a hook, and the other end is fixed to the shielding door at the position corresponding to the second hinge rod via a hook.

[0014] Preferably, the inner panel of the envelope door has an upper region and a lower region, the password key module and the fingerprint unlocking module are arranged side by side in the upper region, the envelope delivery slot is arranged in the lower region, and the shielding door is pivotally mounted in the upper region and completely covers the password key module and the fingerprint unlocking module.

[0015] Preferably, the first hinge rod and the second hinge rod are detachably connected to the housing, and both the first hinge rod and the second hinge rod penetrate the two side walls of the housing and are locked with bolts to the limit end plate.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects: This invention physically covers the password keypad module and fingerprint unlocking module by setting up a shielding door. During normal delivery (with the envelope door slightly open), these electronic components are not exposed to the external environment. This effectively solves the problems of dust accumulation, moisture, and oil stains on the fingerprint sensor window that cause malfunctions and decreased recognition sensitivity in existing technologies. It also avoids security risks such as passersby peeking at the password layout, unauthorized collection of residual fingerprints, or accidental key presses.

[0017] Through the configuration of the linkage mechanism, the mailbox has two distinct operating modes: in delivery mode, only the envelope slot is exposed, allowing mail carriers to quickly complete the delivery without touching electronic components, making operation simple and efficient. In operation mode, the concealed door automatically opens, exposing the keypad and fingerprint unlocking modules, allowing residents to conveniently enter their password or verify their identity via fingerprint. This design effectively distinguishes between the two distinct usage scenarios of daily delivery and password operation, balancing convenience and security.

[0018] As a biometric device, the fingerprint unlocking module has high requirements for cleanliness and security. This invention covers it together with the keypad module under a shielding door, exposing it only when needed. This effectively prevents the fingerprint collection window from experiencing a decrease in recognition rate due to daily dust, oil, or accidental scratches, while also preventing fingerprint residue from being illegally collected and copied by others, thus fully ensuring the lifespan of the biometric module and information security.

[0019] The tension spring in the linkage mechanism provides auxiliary torque during opening and closing: when the opening angle exceeds the critical angle, the tension spring assists in opening the door, and the operator can feel a clear step, indicating that they are about to enter the password or fingerprint operation area, effectively avoiding accidental operation; when closing, the tension spring assists in automatically closing the door, ensuring that the door is tightly closed, improving the overall operation quality. Attached Figure Description

[0020] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention, the accompanying drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the disassembled structure of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the present invention with the envelope door open to the first angle α and the shielding door remaining closed.

[0024] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the envelope door of the present invention when it is opened to the second angle β and the shielding door is in the open state.

[0025] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the rear view structure of the information retrieval door and the shielding door of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 6 For the present invention Figure 5 Diagram of the split structure.

[0027] Figure 7 This is a side view of the present invention.

[0028] Drawing number descriptions: 1. Box body; 11. Bolt; 12. Limiting end plate; 2. Mail retrieval door; 3. Mail envelope opening door; 31. First hinge rod; 4. Password keypad module; 5. Fingerprint unlocking module; 6. Mail envelope delivery slot; 7. Internal storage cavity; 8. Covering door; 81. Second hinge rod; 82. Slide groove; 9. Linkage mechanism; 91. Connecting rod; 92. Tension spring. Detailed Implementation

[0029] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0030] The following description is intended to disclose the invention so that those skilled in the art can implement it. The preferred embodiments described below are merely examples, and other obvious modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The basic principles of the invention defined in the following description can be used in other embodiments, modifications, improvements, equivalents, and other technical solutions that do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention.

[0031] Those skilled in the art should understand that, in the disclosure of this invention, the terms "longitudinal," "lateral," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "front," "rear," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicate the orientation or position based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are merely simplified descriptions for the convenience of describing this invention and do not indicate or imply that the device or component referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, the above terms should not be construed as limitations on this invention.

[0032] It is understood that the term "a" should be understood as "at least one" or "one or more", that is, in one embodiment, the number of an element can be one, while in another embodiment, the number of the element can be multiple, and the term "a" should not be understood as a limitation on the number.

[0033] Please see Figure 1 - Figure 7 A household mailbox includes a mailbox body 1, a mail retrieval door 2 installed on the front of the mailbox body 1, and a flip-open envelope door 3 installed on the upper part of the mailbox body 1. The mail retrieval door 2 is usually opened by the resident with a key to retrieve the mail inside the mailbox; the envelope door 3 is used for mail delivery and can be opened directly by the mail carrier under normal circumstances.

[0034] The inner side panel of the envelope door 3 is equipped with a password keypad module 4, a fingerprint unlocking module 5, and an envelope delivery slot 6. The cabinet 1 has an internal storage cavity 7 that communicates with the envelope delivery slot 6. After the letter is inserted from the envelope delivery slot 6, it falls into the internal storage cavity 7.

[0035] To address the issues of daily exposure of electronic components and indistinguishability of usage scenarios, an openable and closable concealed door 8 is provided on the inner side panel of the envelope door 3. The concealed door 8 covers the password keypad module 4 and the fingerprint unlocking module 5. Simultaneously, a linkage mechanism 9 is provided between the envelope door 3 and the concealed door 8.

[0036] The linkage mechanism 9 is configured such that when the envelope door 3 is opened to the first angle α, the shielding door 8 remains closed, at which time only the envelope delivery slot 6 is visible from the outside; when the envelope door 3 is opened to the second angle β, which is greater than the first angle α, the linkage mechanism 9 drives the shielding door 8 to open, exposing the password button module 4 and the fingerprint unlocking module 5 for operation.

[0037] In one specific implementation, the envelope door 3 is hinged to the box body 1 via a first hinge rod 31, and the shielding door 8 is hinged to the box body 1 via a second hinge rod 81. The first hinge rod 31 and the second hinge rod 81 are preferably coaxial to simplify the movement relationship, but a linkage function can also be achieved even with different axes.

[0038] The linkage mechanism 9 includes a connecting rod 91, one end of which is hinged to the inner wall of the envelope door 3, and the other end is slidably accommodated in a groove 82 opened in the side wall of the shielding door 8. When the envelope door 3 rotates around the first hinge rod 31, the connecting rod 91 moves accordingly, and its end slides in the groove 82; when it slides to the end of the groove 82, the connecting rod 91 begins to push the shielding door 8 to rotate around the second hinge rod 81, thereby realizing the opening of the shielding door 8.

[0039] To optimize the operating feel and provide closure assistance, tension springs 92 are installed on both sides between the envelope door 3 and the shielding door 8. As a preferred installation method, one end of the tension spring 92 is fixed to a shaft on the inner wall of the envelope door 3 via a hook, and the other end is fixed to the shielding door 8 at the position corresponding to the second hinge rod 81 via a hook. The preload of the tension spring 92 is designed such that: when the envelope door 3 is closed, the torque of the tension spring 92 tends to keep the shielding door 8 closed; when the envelope door 3 is fully open, the torque of the tension spring 92 tends to keep the shielding door 8 open; and after the opening angle exceeds a critical angle, the torque of the tension spring 92 transforms into an auxiliary force to keep the shielding door 8 open.

[0040] Regarding the definition of angles, the first angle α is the preset minimum opening angle that fully exposes the envelope delivery slot 6. This angle can be set according to the mailbox size and delivery habits, for example, 30°–45°. The second angle β is the preset angle that allows the password button module 4 and the fingerprint unlocking module 5 to be operably exposed. This angle should ensure that a person's hand can reach and operate the buttons and knobs, for example, 80°–90°.

[0041] The inner panel of the envelope door 3 has an upper and a lower area. The keypad module 4 and the fingerprint unlocking module 5 are arranged side by side in the upper area, while the envelope delivery slot 6 is located in the lower area. The shielding door 8 is pivotally mounted in the upper area and completely covers the keypad module 4 and the fingerprint unlocking module 5. This upper and lower partitioned layout naturally separates the delivery slot from the electronic components. The shielding door 8 only covers the upper area, resulting in a compact structure that conforms to operating habits.

[0042] For ease of assembly and maintenance, the first hinge rod 31 and the second hinge rod 81 are detachably connected to the housing 1. Specifically, both the first hinge rod 31 and the second hinge rod 81 pass through the two side walls of the housing 1 and are locked to the limit end plate 12 by bolts 11. During installation, simply pass the hinge rod through the side wall of the housing 1, put on the limit end plate 12, and tighten the bolts 11; disassembly is done in reverse, which is convenient and quick.

[0043] Working principle In normal delivery mode, when the delivery person needs to deposit mail, they only need to lift the envelope door 3 upwards to a first angle α, for example, 40°. At this time, because the end of the connecting rod 91 of the linkage mechanism 9 slides within the slide groove 82 and has not yet touched the end of the slide groove 82, the shielding door 8 remains closed. The password keypad module 4 and the fingerprint unlocking module 5 are completely covered by the shielding door 8 and are not visible from the outside. The envelope delivery slot 6 is exposed as the envelope door 3 is opened, and the delivery person can directly deposit the mail into the internal storage cavity 7. In this state, the electronic components are effectively protected, avoiding dust accumulation, moisture, oil stains covering the fingerprint collection window, and unauthorized viewing. The delivery operation is simple and fast, requiring no contact with the password or fingerprint module, meeting the needs of the delivery person's work.

[0044] When a resident needs to enter a password or use fingerprint recognition to unlock the door, the envelope door 3 must be opened further upwards until it exceeds the first angle α and reaches the second angle β, for example, 80°. As the opening angle increases, the end of the connecting rod 91 slides to the end of the slide groove 82 and begins to push the cover door 8. At this time, the linkage mechanism 9 drives the cover door 8 to rotate outwards around the second hinge rod 81, gradually opening it. When the envelope door 3 is opened to the second angle β, the cover door 8 is fully open, and the password keypad module 4 and the fingerprint unlocking module 5 are fully exposed. The resident can conveniently operate the keypad to enter the password or use fingerprint recognition to authenticate and unlock the door.

[0045] The tension spring 92 plays a crucial role throughout the opening and closing process. When the envelope door 3 opens from the closed state, in the initial stage when the angle is less than the first angle α, the torque direction of the tension spring 92 tends to keep the cover door 8 closed, preventing it from opening accidentally when not needed. When the opening angle approaches and exceeds the first angle α, the connecting rod 91 begins to push the cover door 8. At this time, the torque of the tension spring 92 gradually decreases and passes through the dead point, i.e., the position where the tension spring 92, connecting rod 91, and hinge axis are collinear. After passing the dead point, the torque direction of the tension spring 92 reverses, becoming an auxiliary force for opening the cover door 8. The operator will feel a clear stop when passing the first angle α, indicating that they are about to enter the password or fingerprint operation area and need to consciously continue applying force. This tactile design effectively avoids unintentionally opening the cover door 8.

[0046] When the resident closes the envelope door 3, the operation is symmetrical to opening it. Before the concealed door 8 returns to its dead position, the torque of the tension spring 92 tends to keep the concealed door 8 open, requiring the operator to actively apply force to overcome it. When it closes to near the first angle α, passing through the dead position again, the torque direction of the tension spring 92 reverses, becoming an auxiliary force for closing the concealed door 8. At this time, the operator will feel an automatic suction force helping the concealed door 8 to close tightly, and further assisting the envelope door 3 to close completely. This design ensures that the door closes tightly and prevents it from being partially ajar.

[0047] The fingerprint unlocking module 5 and the password button module 4 are both covered by the shielding door 8 and are not visible during normal delivery. The fingerprint unlocking module 5 is only exposed when the envelope door 3 is opened to the second angle β and the shielding door 8 is actively opened. This provides the fingerprint collection window with the same level of physical protection as the password module, preventing a decrease in recognition sensitivity due to daily dust, oil stains, or accidental scratches, while also preventing fingerprint residue from being illegally collected, which conforms to the security design concept of layered protection and hierarchical authorization in smart locks.

[0048] The first hinge rod 31 and the second hinge rod 81 are detachably connected by passing through the side wall of the housing 1 and locking the limiting end plate 12 with bolts 11. This structure facilitates quick assembly during production and also makes it easy for users to clean, lubricate, or replace parts of the linkage mechanism 9 during use.

[0049] Those skilled in the art should understand that the embodiments of the present invention described above and shown in the accompanying drawings are merely examples and do not limit the present invention. The objectives of the present invention have been fully and effectively achieved. The functions and structural principles of the present invention have been shown and explained in the embodiments, and any modifications or variations of the embodiments of the present invention may be made without departing from the stated principles.

Claims

1. A home mailbox, characterized in that, The device includes a housing (1), a letter retrieval door (2) installed on the front of the housing (1), and a flip-up envelope door (3) installed on the upper part of the housing (1). The inner side panel of the envelope door (3) is provided with a password key module (4), a fingerprint unlocking module (5), and an envelope delivery slot (6). The housing (1) has an internal storage cavity (7) communicating with the envelope delivery slot (6). The inner side panel of the envelope door (3) is also provided with an openable and closable cover door (8), which covers the password key module (4) and the fingerprint unlocking module (5). A linkage mechanism (9) is provided between the envelope door (3) and the shielding door (8). The linkage mechanism (9) is configured such that: when the envelope door (3) is opened to a first angle α, the shielding door (8) remains closed, and only the envelope delivery slot (6) is exposed; when the envelope door (3) is opened to a second angle β greater than the first angle α, the linkage mechanism (9) drives the shielding door (8) to open, exposing the password key module (4) and the fingerprint unlocking module (5) for operation.

2. The home mailbox according to claim 1, characterized in that, The envelope door (3) is hinged to the box body (1) via the first hinge rod (31), and the shielding door (8) is hinged to the box body (1) via the second hinge rod (81).

3. The home mailbox according to claim 2, characterized in that, The linkage mechanism (9) includes a connecting rod (91), one end of which is hinged to the inner wall of the envelope door (3), and the other end is slidably accommodated in a groove (82) opened in the side wall of the shielding door (8). Tension springs (92) are provided on both sides between the envelope door (3) and the shielding door (8). The tension springs (92) are configured to assist the shielding door (8) in opening after passing a critical angle.

4. The home mailbox according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first angle α is a preset minimum opening angle that fully exposes the envelope delivery slot (6), and the second angle β is a preset angle that allows the password key module (4) and the fingerprint unlocking module (5) to be operably exposed.

5. The home mailbox according to claim 3, characterized in that, One end of the tension spring (92) is fixed to the shaft on the inner wall of the envelope door (3) by a hook, and the other end is fixed to the position on the shielding door (8) corresponding to the second hinge rod (81) by a hook.

6. The home mailbox according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inner panel of the envelope door (3) has an upper area and a lower area. The password key module (4) and the fingerprint unlocking module (5) are arranged side by side in the upper area. The envelope delivery slot (6) is arranged in the lower area. The shielding door (8) is pivotally mounted in the upper area and completely covers the password key module (4) and the fingerprint unlocking module (5).

7. The home mailbox according to claim 2, characterized in that, The first hinge rod (31) and the second hinge rod (81) are detachably connected to the housing (1). The first hinge rod (31) and the second hinge rod (81) both penetrate the two side walls of the housing (1) and are locked with the limit end plate (12) by bolts (11).

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