Motor vehicle with at least one flap

Abstract

Motor vehicle (1) with at least one flap (2) movable between an open and a closed position, with a codable locking device (3) for locking the flap (2) and with an unlocking device (4) for unlocking the codable locking device (3), and with several further access openings (6, 10) adapted to the size of a specific postal item (5, 5a, 5b), which can be closed by means of further flaps (7) and which can be locked by means of a codable locking device (8) and unlocked by means of an unlocking device (9), characterized in that at least one further flap (7) is designed as part of the first flap (2) and can be locked and unlocked independently of the first flap (2) and one of the further access openings (6, 10) is adapted to the size of a standard letter (5b), can be closed with a flap (7) and is assigned to a bumper (14) of the motor vehicle (1).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a motor vehicle with at least one flap which is movable between an open and a closed position, according to the type defined in more detail in the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Such motor vehicles are generally known from the state of the art. For example, the flap can be the trunk lid of the vehicle.

[0003] There has recently been a trend toward having parcels delivered to vehicles, thus opening up additional delivery options. This is particularly useful when the recipient is not at home during the day and does not have a space in their house or apartment where a courier can deliver a parcel. For example, the courier can bring the parcel to a vehicle parked in a parking lot in front of an office building.

[0004] The problem with these proposals is that the parcel carrier is always granted access to the entire vehicle via the trunk lid. This is not only problematic in terms of potential theft, but also reduces the likelihood of this approach being accepted by parcel service providers, as any lost items could be falsely blamed on the parcel carrier.

[0005] A motor vehicle of this type is known from US 2012 / 0 068 492 A1.

[0006] US 2012 / 0 043 773 A1 describes a device for holding objects within a bumper of a motor vehicle.

[0007] DE 10 2014 226 069 A1 describes a method for delivering recently purchased goods, in which specific individuals are granted access to a vehicle to allow them to deposit goods previously purchased in their store. However, the method described therein cannot address the above-described problem regarding the courier's free access to the trunk or other parts of the vehicle.

[0008] DE 10 2012 013 390 A1 discloses a remote opening device for a vehicle. The vehicle has a remote unlocking device comprising a portable remote unlocking code transmitter and a vehicle-mounted remote unlocking control unit.

[0009] US 2016 / 0 342 943 A1 describes a method for unlocking and locking at least one door of a vehicle for delivering a shipment, in particular a parcel and / or a letter, into the vehicle.

[0010] It is an object of the present invention to provide a motor vehicle having a flap movable between an open and a closed position, in which delivery of mail is possible for third parties, but access to the entirety of the motor vehicle is made more difficult.

[0011] According to the invention, this object is achieved by the features mentioned in claim 1.

[0012] The multiple additional access openings, which are adapted to the size of a specific mail item, make it possible for a third party, such as a parcel courier, to deposit mail in the motor vehicle without opening the actual flap that allows access to the entire motor vehicle. This represents a significant increase in security for the owner of the motor vehicle, who allows a third party, such as a parcel courier, to open their vehicle in order to gain access to it. It is particularly advantageous that the access openings can be adapted to the size of specific mail items, so that the dimensions of the access openings are adapted to those of the mail items and, for example, smaller parcels can be deposited in the motor vehicle through the additional access opening.

[0013] A further advantage of the solution according to the invention comes into play when several people want to drop off parcels in the vehicle, as this can be done through different access openings, preventing a second courier from removing the mail previously dropped off by a first courier. Another advantage is that a preferably smaller opening prevents dirt or moisture from entering the vehicle in bad weather.

[0014] According to the invention, the at least one additional flap is formed as part of the first flap and can be locked and unlocked independently of the first flap. This represents a particularly simple embodiment of the invention, which can also be very easily operated by third parties, such as parcel carriers.

[0015] According to the invention, at least one additional access opening is adapted to the size of a standard letter. This significantly complicates access to the entire interior of the motor vehicle, whereas a standard letter can be easily inserted through such an opening.

[0016] In order to store a wide variety of mail items in the vehicle, several additional access openings are provided.

[0017] An advantageous embodiment of the invention can consist in arranging a barcode reading device and a transmitting device for sending messages to a user terminal in the area of ​​a further access opening. This allows a third party, in particular a parcel carrier, to easily gain access to the access opening provided for them and, at the same time, to send messages about the successful delivery of the mail item to the respective recipient.

[0018] In the following, embodiments of the invention are shown in principle with reference to the drawing.

[0019] It shows: Fig. 1 An embodiment of the motor vehicle according to the invention in a first position; Fig. 2 the motor vehicle from Fig. 1 in a second position; and Fig. 3 an embodiment of a motor vehicle not belonging to the invention.

[0020] Fig. 1 shows the rear part of a motor vehicle 1, which in this area has a flap 2 which is movable in a manner known per se between an open and a closed position and which allows access to an interior 1a of the motor vehicle 1. The flap 2 in the present case is a trunk flap 2a which serves to close a trunk 1b and in both Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 is shown in its closed position.

[0021] The flap 2 can be locked by means of a coded locking device 3, in the present case a lock 3a, which is only indicated very schematically, and can be unlocked with an unlocking device 4, which is also only shown schematically, in the present case a radio key 4a.

[0022] Of course, other unlocking devices 4 could also be used instead of the radio key 4a, such as cards, appropriately programmed mobile phones, or the like. Since both the locking device 3 and the unlocking device 4 and their respective modes of operation are known, they will not be described in detail here.

[0023] In the present case, the flap 2 has a further access opening 6 adapted to the size of a specific mail item 5, which can be closed by means of a further flap 7. The further flap 7 is in Fig. 1 in its open and in Fig. 2 in its closed state. The further flap 7, in a similar manner to the trunk lid 2, can be locked by means of a codable locking device 8 and unlocked by means of an unlocking device 9. Again, both the locking device 8 and the unlocking device 9 are only shown very schematically. The unlocking device 9 is preferably present in multiple copies and should be available to a third party who does not own the vehicle, for example a parcel courier. This allows the parcel courier to open the locking device 8 and thus the flap 7 by means of the unlocking device 9. In this way, they gain access to the access opening 6 and can thus deposit the mail item 5, in this case a parcel 5a, through the access opening 6 in the flap 2 and then close the flap 7, which then preferably locks automatically.This allows the mail item 5 to be delivered to the motor vehicle 1 without gaining access to the interior 1a of the motor vehicle 1. For example, mobile devices of the respective user, such as mobile phones, could also be designed as unlocking devices 4 or 9. According to the invention, the further flap 7 is designed as part of the first flap 2 and can be locked independently of the first flap 2 by means of the locking device 8 and unlocked by means of the unlocking device 9.

[0024] For example, the unlocking device 4 could be designed such that both locking devices 3 and 8 can be opened with it, whereas a parcel courier could only be provided with one unlocking device 9 suitable for opening the locking device 8.

[0025] In principle, it could be determined before delivery, for example, during the order process, which of the access openings 6, 10 or the access opening to the interior 1a or the trunk 1b of the motor vehicle 1 opened by the trunk lid 2a is best suited for the respective mail item, and in this case, the parcel carrier could only be granted access to the respective access opening. Furthermore, it is preferable if the GPS data of the motor vehicle 1, and preferably its license plate number, are transmitted to the parcel service provider when ordering or when scheduling a delivery appointment.

[0026] In the embodiment of Fig. 1, a further access opening 10 is provided below the access opening 6, which can be closed by the flap 7. This access opening can be closed by means of a flap not shown in this case. In the present case, the second access opening 10 is adapted to the size of a standard letter 5b, which in this case forms the mail item 5. If necessary, the further access opening 10 could also be implemented without the previously described access opening 6. In the present case, a barcode reading device 11 and a transmitting device 12 for transmitting messages to a user terminal, in particular to the mobile phone of the user or owner of the motor vehicle 1, are arranged in the region of the at least one further flap 7.

[0027] Fig. Figure 3 shows an embodiment of the motor vehicle 1 not belonging to the invention. Here, the trunk 1b can again be closed by means of the trunk lid 2a, which is not shown in this case and is movable between an open and a closed position. The trunk lid 2a has the codable locking device 3, also not shown, for locking the trunk lid 2 and the unlocking device 4 for unlocking the locking device 3. Since the trunk lid 2 is not shown, the locking device 3 is also not shown. The unlocking device 4, which is again designed as a radio key 4a, is shown in Fig. 3 can be recognized, however.

[0028] Two independently lockable compartments 15 and 16 are arranged in the trunk 1b. This allows two different people using the motor vehicle 1 to store their respective items in one of the compartments 15 and 16, respectively. In the present case, the two compartments 15 and 16 can be locked using respective codable locking devices 17 and 18. For example, one of the two compartments 15 or 16 could also be made available to a third party, such as a parcel carrier, for depositing mail.

[0029] The two locking devices 17 and 18 can be opened by means of unlocking devices (not shown). If necessary, one of the unlocking devices for unlocking the locking device 17 and / or 18 can also be integrated into one of the unlocking devices 4 and / or 9, if the Fig. 3 illustrated embodiment with the one shown in the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 shown embodiment.

Claims

[1] Motor vehicle (1) with at least one flap (2) which is movable between an open and a closed position, with a codable locking device (3) for locking the flap (2) and with an unlocking device (4) for unlocking the codable locking device (3), and with several further access openings (6, 10) adapted to the size of a specific mail item (5, 5a, 5b) and closable by means of further flaps (7), which can be locked by means of a codable locking device (8) and unlocked by means of an unlocking device (9), characterized by that at least one further flap (7) is designed as part of the first flap (2) and can be locked and unlocked independently of the first flap (2), and one of the further access openings (6, 10) is adapted to the size of a standard letter (5b), can be closed with a flap (7) and is assigned to a bumper (14) of the motor vehicle (1). [2] Motor vehicle (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that a barcode reading device (11) and a transmitting device (12) for sending messages to a user terminal are arranged in the region of at least one further access opening (6, 10).

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