Delivery box and method of using the same

Abstract

To provide a home delivery box and a method of using the home delivery box contributing to improvement of convenience of both a resident and a home deliverer by providing a unattended delivery storage part, and protecting a unattended delivery home delivery article from external environments.SOLUTION: The home delivery box B facing the common corridor of the multiple dwelling house is provided with first storage parts 11 and 12 whose openings 11a and 12a for taking in and out home delivery articles are opened and closed by opening and closing members 11b and 12b, and a second storage part 22 whose opening 21a for taking in and out home delivery articles is opened, and the direction of the opening 21a of the second storage part 22 is different by 90 ° from the directions of the openings 11a and 12a of the first storage parts 11 and 12.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a delivery box for use in, for example, an apartment building, and a method for using the delivery box. [Background technology]

[0002] Traditionally, delivery boxes have been used to receive parcels without having to meet the recipient face-to-face. Delivery boxes for apartment buildings can be shared by multiple households and installed on the first floor, or they can be installed near each room and are reserved for a single household. If the delivery box has a lock, the delivery person must unlock it using a specified method, open the door, place the parcel inside, close the door, and lock it again, completing a series of steps.

[0003] Additionally, with the rise of the internet from the late 1990s to the early 2000s, demand for home delivery increased due to the use of online shopping malls. As consumers tend to pursue convenience, drop-off delivery has also attracted attention as a way to receive packages at any time. The increase in households where no one is always at home, such as single-person households, DINKS (Double Income No Kids) households, and dual-income households, is also thought to be a reason why drop-off delivery has attracted attention.

[0004] Furthermore, apartment buildings tend to adopt the latest security technology, such as auto-locks and security cameras, and the safety of deliveries has improved, which has tended to alleviate residents' concerns about deliveries. As part of the COVID-19 countermeasures that began in early 2020, not only no-face-to-face but also no-contact delivery methods were recommended, which led to the widespread adoption of deliveries.

[0005] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a delivery locker that can reduce the impact on lighting entering a residence. Specifically, the delivery locker is installed in a trunk room that is installed along the surface of a pillar at the intersection of the parting wall that separates each dwelling unit and the common corridor, and is equipped with a small door that can be opened and closed from the common corridor side when the main door is closed (see Abstract). This configuration has the effect of allowing delivery items to be received without the delivery person being able to see inside the trunk room (see paragraph "0045"). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-054943 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] However, Patent Document 1 does not support delivery to a resident who has left the parcel at his / her door. In other words, if a parcel is designated for delivery to be left at his / her door, the parcel company will leave the parcel directly near the front door of the residence as before, rather than in a storage room, and if a parcel is not designated for delivery to be left at his / her door, the parcel company will take the parcel back and will have to redeliver it at a time convenient for the resident. Therefore, Patent Document 1 may result in a loss of opportunities for the resident to receive the parcel and an increase in the workload of the parcel company.

[0008] If packages are left directly on the ground, depending on the weather, the package (or at least the package packaging) may get wet with rainwater and soil the entrance or room when it is brought in. Depending on the size of the package and where it is placed, the package may get caught between the open front door and the outer wall when the resident tries to go outside, preventing the door from opening completely and preventing the resident from getting out. There is also the risk that the package may be damaged by the pressure of the front door, which could negatively affect residents' impression of drop-off delivery.

[0009] As long as there are no concerns about the safety of the packages, it is desirable for residents to receive packages easily and for delivery companies to deliver packages easily. In order to solve these issues regarding the receiving and delivery of packages for both residents and delivery companies, it is necessary to provide a delivery box with a storage area where packages can be left unattended, and after extensive research, the inventor has concluded that depending on the structure of the storage area, it can contribute to improving convenience for both residents and delivery companies.

[0010] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a delivery box and a method of using the delivery box that contributes to improving convenience for both residents and delivery companies by providing a storage area where deliveries can be made, and that protects left-delivered items from the external environment. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] In other words, the present invention is a delivery box facing a common corridor in an apartment building, and is equipped with at least one first storage section whose opening for putting in and taking out delivery items is opened and closed by an opening / closing member, and at least one second storage section whose opening for putting in and taking out delivery items is open, and the orientation of the opening of the second storage section is different from the orientation of the opening of the first storage section.

[0012] "A delivery box facing a shared corridor" includes a state in which the delivery box is located either inside or outside the shared corridor, as well as a state in which it is located on the boundary between the above-mentioned area and outside the area, and "outside the shared corridor" means another area, such as an alcove or entrance porch that is adjacent to the shared corridor.

[0013] "Home delivery items" include any items with typical contents and sizes after packaging, and the above sizes range from size 60 (the sum of the three dimensions (length, width, and height) is within 60 cm and the weight is up to 2 kg) to size 170 (the sum of the above three dimensions is within 170 cm and the weight is up to 30 kg).

[0014] "Openings for putting in and taking out parcels" include openings of a size that can put in and take out all general parcels (hereinafter also referred to as "first openings"), openings of a size that cannot put in larger parcels (for example, size 160 or larger) (hereinafter also referred to as "second openings"), openings that are connected to the second opening and are larger than the second opening (hereinafter also referred to as "third openings"), openings of a size that can only be used to check whether or not there is any luggage, including the parcels mentioned above (hereinafter also referred to as "fourth openings"), and openings that are connected to the fourth opening and are larger than the fourth opening (hereinafter also referred to as "fifth openings").

[0015] The "opening and closing member" may be any member that can conceal the inside of the first storage section or the second storage section, for example, for the first opening, third opening, or fifth opening, and may be a hinged, pivoting type, or a rail-sliding type, with or without a lock, for example, a locked door, an unlocked door, a shutter, or a curtain.

[0016] "The opening for putting in and taking out parcels is open" means a state in which the inside of the second storage compartment can be seen at all times without opening or closing with an opening / closing member, or a state in which the inside of the second storage compartment can be concealed at all times by opening and closing with an unlocked opening / closing member. In other words, "a second storage compartment with an open opening" also includes a structure in which an unlocked door or curtain is installed as an opening / closing member, and "open" includes a state in which the opening is not locked, in other words, the inside can be accessed without going through an unlocking operation.

[0017] "Different from the orientation of the opening of the first storage section" means that the angle can be any angle within a range that does not include 0° and 360°, with the orientation of the opening of the first storage section as the reference (0°).

[0018] With this configuration, since the opening of the second storage unit is open, the second storage unit can also be used for drop-off delivery, which is expected to have the effect of allowing residents and delivery companies to flexibly choose either the first storage unit or the second storage unit as a means of receiving and delivering parcels, and also makes it easier to eliminate (or at least reduce or avoid) the adverse effects on parcels from the external environment (for example, weather such as rain and wind, dust, and tampering by others) compared to conventional drop-off delivery. Furthermore, since the opening of the second storage unit faces in a different direction from the opening of the first storage unit, it is easier to clearly distinguish the role of the second storage unit from that of the first storage unit.

[0019] In the present invention, it is desirable that the opening of the second storage section be oriented in the longitudinal direction of the common corridor.

[0020] With this configuration, the opening of the second storage section faces the same direction as the normal walking direction in the common hallway, so residents can walk toward the opening of the second storage section and arrive in front of the opening without having to turn their body, making it easy for residents to retrieve parcels and for parcel companies to leave them.In addition, because the opening of the second storage section does not face directly toward the open side of the common hallway (the opposite side from the living room), it is easy to avoid adverse effects from the external environment on the inside of the second storage section and on parcels left there.

[0021] The opening of the second storage section in the present invention may include an open portion and a portion that is opened and closed by an opening and closing member.

[0022] The combination of the "opened portion and the portion opened and closed by the opening and closing member" is, for example, when the "opened portion" is the second opening, the "portion opened and closed by the opening and closing member" is the third opening, or when the "opened portion" is the fourth opening, the "portion opened and closed by the opening and closing member" is the fifth opening.

[0023] According to this configuration, for example, when the opening of the second storage section is the second or fourth opening, which has an open lower part like a slit or window, and the third or fifth opening, which has an upper part that is opened and closed by an opening and closing member, it is possible to make it difficult to see the inside of the second storage section or the parcels placed therein from the outside, and to make it less susceptible to adverse effects from the external environment.

[0024] The delivery box of the present invention is preferably installed in each room having an entrance on the shared corridor side, and the opening of the second storage section is preferably oriented toward the entrance side.

[0025] With this configuration, residents can easily retrieve their parcels from the opening in the second storage section by simply going out into the common hallway through the entrance / exit of their room and walking straight towards the delivery box, and can also easily see whether there are parcels in the second storage section from the entrance / exit of their room or the window in the outer wall.

[0026] The present invention is a method of using the above-mentioned delivery box, which includes a resident of an apartment building specifying delivery of a parcel, a delivery company placing the parcel in the second storage section, and the resident taking the parcel out of the second storage section.

[0027] These processes make it easier for residents to receive parcels at their desired times without being tied down to collection times, easier for delivery personnel to place parcels in the second storage area with less effort than in the first storage area, and parcels are less susceptible to adverse effects from the external environment than when left directly on the floor. [Effects of the Invention]

[0028] According to the present invention, by providing a second storage section that allows for delivery to be left at the door, it is possible to contribute to improving convenience for both residents and delivery companies, and it is also expected that left-at-door delivery items will be more easily protected from the external environment. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0029] [Figure 1] (a) Front view and (b) right side view of a delivery box in one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] (a) Plan view and (b) bottom view of the delivery box. [Figure 3] (a) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of the front view of Figure 1. [Figure 4] BB end view of the right side view of Figure 1(b). [Figure 4A] 1(a) is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 1(b), (b) is a diagram showing a first modified example, and (c) is a diagram showing a second modified example. [Figure 5] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a delivery box is used in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0030] Hereinafter, a delivery box according to one embodiment of the present invention (hereinafter also referred to as "this delivery box") and its method of use will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 5. In these figures, when there are multiple identical parts, only one part is numbered. For the sake of convenience, certain parts and their leading lines are sometimes shown with hidden lines (dashed lines). In the description, terms indicating directions such as up, down, side, horizontal, and vertical are basically based on a normal living space.

[0031] <Installation environment of this delivery box> This delivery box is installed in each room in an apartment building, but it may also be installed in two or more rooms, and it may be installed within the scope of the common corridor as long as it faces the common corridor, or in a common area that may be outside the scope of the common corridor, such as an alcove adjacent to the common corridor or an entrance porch.

[0032] An apartment building is one that has multiple living rooms (hereinafter simply referred to as "living rooms") and outdoor and / or indoor common corridors running alongside the living rooms. There are no restrictions on the site area or number of floors, the number, size, or layout of the living rooms, or the structure (reinforced concrete (RC), steel-framed reinforced concrete (SRC), steel-framed (S), or wood), and there are no restrictions on the specifications or construction method, including structural parts such as columns, beams, walls, floors, and ceilings, or non-structural parts such as fixtures, wiring, piping, and equipment. In addition to apartment buildings, this delivery box may also be used in various buildings with living rooms and common corridors, such as schools, hospitals, elderly care facilities, facilities for the disabled, and various commercial facilities.

[0033] A common corridor is a part of the structure and faces the living room. Its length and width are not limited, and it can be straight, arc-shaped, or curved, even with corners. An outdoor common corridor may have a handrail on the exterior side, not the living room side, and may be entirely exposed to the outside, or may have a section with a wall made of transparent materials such as slits or glass or resin on the exterior side. It may or may not include areas that are not exposed to the outside, such as an elevator landing or landing, or areas that are relatively dimly lit compared to the exposed areas, alcoves, or entrance porches. The handrails may be made of an aluminum frame and lattice, or the main frame and a flat glass or resin material, or concrete of a specified thickness, as long as they are of the specified height (approximately 1100 mm).

[0034] <Basic structure of this delivery box> As shown in Figures 1 and 2, this delivery box B has a vertically long rectangular shape when viewed from the front and side, and is equipped with first storage sections 11 and 12, whose openings 11a and 12a for putting in and taking out delivery items are opened and closed by lockable opening and closing members 11b and 12b, and a second storage section 21, whose opening 21a for putting in and taking out delivery items is open.This configuration makes it easy to freely select where to store delivery items and packages depending on their type and size, but it is also possible to use only one of the first storage sections 11 and 12.

[0035] This delivery box B has the second storage section 21 on the top and the first storage sections 11 and 12 on the bottom.With this configuration, residents can easily take out delivery items or put other packages in while remaining in an upright position in relation to the second storage section 21, and it is easy for delivery companies to leave and deliver delivery items.In addition, because it is higher from the floor of the common hallway, left and delivered items and stored packages are less likely to get dirty.However, the order can also be first storage sections 11 and 12 on the top and second storage section 21 on the bottom, or first storage sections 11 and 12 on the top and bottom respectively and second storage section 21 in the middle.

[0036] This delivery box B is formed by integrating the first storage sections 11, 12 and the second storage section 21, which are separate units, via a connecting member J. This configuration makes it easy to design without restricting the size (especially the height) of each section, but it is also possible for the first storage sections 11, 12 and the second storage section 21 to be integrally formed in a single housing using a specified partition member.

[0037] This delivery box B is roughly square in plan and bottom view, which makes it easy to install it facing the exterior wall of a room or with the sides of the delivery boxes facing each other, but it can also be rectangular, pentagonal or more, circular, or elliptical. The bottom of this delivery box B is provided with an unnumbered fixing member that secures it to the floor of a common hallway.

[0038] The materials of the first storage sections 11, 12 and second storage section 21 that make up this delivery box B are metal such as steel, but they can also be resin such as plastic or wood, and the dimensions of this delivery box B are approximately 2000 mm in height, approximately 500 mm in width and approximately 500 mm in depth, with the thickness of the top and bottom sections of first storage sections 11, 12 and second storage section 21 being 20 to 30 mm, and the thickness of the side sections of first storage sections 11, 12 and second storage section 21 being 10 to 20 mm, but are not limited to these and may be designed according to, for example, the size of a common corridor or room, its relative position in relation to these, the size of the delivery items, or each purpose and usage scene.

[0039] <Detailed structure of first storage sections 11 and 12> As shown in Figures 1 and 3, openings 11a, 12a of first storage sections 11, 12 are sized to prevent larger parcels (e.g., 160 size or larger) from being accommodated, and although they may face the same direction, they may also face different directions. Lockable opening / closing members 11b, 12b of first storage sections 11, 12 are hinged doors and have locking sections 11c, 12c that are integrated with a lock and a handle for opening and closing. Locking sections 11c, 12c may be of any type as long as they can be locked by a person other than the resident, such as a delivery person. Preferably, they are latch-type locking members that automatically lock when lockable opening / closing members 11b, 12b are closed, but electronic locking and unlocking systems that use a personal identification number or communication from an electronic terminal may also be used.

[0040] First storage section 11 and first storage section 12 differ only in height and have substantially the same specifications except for the height, but may have different specifications including lockable opening / closing members 11b, 12b and locks 11c, 12c. The total height of first storage section 11 and first storage section 12 is approximately 1000 mm, and the ratio of the height of first storage section 11 to the height of first storage section 12 is approximately 1:2, but is not limited to this.

[0041] <Detailed structure of second storage section 21> As shown in Figure 4A(a), opening 21a of second storage section 21 is an opening (hereinafter also referred to as "first type opening") that has no opening / closing member attached and can accept and remove all general parcels, but it may also be a combination of an opening (hereinafter also referred to as "second type opening") on the lower side that does not accept larger parcels and has no opening / closing member attached, as shown in Figure 4A(b), and an opening (hereinafter also referred to as "third type opening") that is connected to the second type opening on the upper side, is larger than the second type opening, and is opened and closed with an opening / closing member without a lock (the shaded area in the figure) based on opening 21a. Furthermore, the opening 21a of the second storage section 21 may be a combination of an opening (hereinafter also referred to as a "type four opening") that is open and has no opening / closing member attached, and that can only check the presence or absence of luggage, including parcels, on the lower side, as shown in Figure 4A(c), with respect to the opening 21a as a reference, and an opening (hereinafter also referred to as a "type five opening") that is connected to the type four opening on the upper side, is larger than the type four opening, and is opened and closed with an opening / closing member without a lock (the shaded area in the figure).

[0042] The height of second storage section 21 is approximately 1000 mm, which is approximately the same as the total height of first storage section 11 and first storage section 12, but it may be shorter or taller than the total height. Second storage section 21 may have a partition member (not shown) that divides the interior vertically or horizontally, and the partition member may be fixed or detachable.

[0043] The orientation of opening 21a of second storage section 21 differs by 90° from the orientation of openings 11a, 12a of first storage sections 11, 12, but may differ by more than 90° up to 180°, which is an angle at which openings 11a, 12a of first storage sections 11, 12 cannot be seen when opening 21a of second storage section 21 is viewed from the front, but may be an angle at which they can be seen but less than 90°.

[0044] <Relationship between this delivery box and the installation environment and how to use this delivery box> As shown in Figure 5, an example of an apartment building M in which the delivery box is installed includes a structural column P, a common corridor F formed by an unnumbered floor (slab) corresponding to a specific floor, a partition wall W formed continuously with the column P, and rooms R and R1 separated by the partition wall W and the floor. The common corridor F has a handrail F1 at its outermost end and is adjacent to the exterior Ou outside the handrail F1. The normal walking direction on the common corridor F is the longitudinal direction D of the common corridor F. Rooms R and R1 are adjacent to each other, with the partition wall W as the boundary. Room R has an entrance R and a window Rw formed in the unnumbered outer wall and facing the common corridor F.

[0045] Delivery boxes B1 and B2 are adjacent to each other and face pillar P. The orientation of delivery boxes B1 and B2 is such that openings 11a and 12a of the first storage section are parallel to the longitudinal direction D of the shared corridor F, and opening 21a of the second storage section is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction D of the shared corridor F. The openings 21a of the second storage sections of delivery boxes B1 and B2 face opposite each other. Opening 21a of second storage section 21 of delivery box B1 faces the entrance Rd and window Rw of room R.

[0046] For example, when a delivery person walks along the common hallway F along living room R, the delivery person places the parcel designated for delivery inside through opening 21a of second storage section 21 without changing their posture or orientation. When the resident of living room R returns home after being out and notices the presence of the parcel through opening 21a of second storage section 21 while walking along common hallway F, they remove the parcel from inside through opening 21a of second storage section 21 without changing their posture or orientation. Also, when at home, they check the presence or absence of the parcel through opening 21a of second storage section 21 by looking through entrance Rd or window Rw. The parcel that has been left at the door is protected by the side of second storage section 21 from the adverse effects of the external environment, including rain, wind, and dust blowing in from outside Ou.

[0047] <Configuration and effects of this delivery box and its usage> As shown in Figures 1 to 5, this delivery box B faces the shared corridor F of the apartment building M and is equipped with first storage sections 11, 12 having openings 11a, 12a for putting in and taking out delivery items that are opened and closed by opening and closing members 11b, 12b, and a second storage section 21 having an opening 21a for putting in and taking out delivery items that is open, and the orientation of opening 21a of second storage section 21 is 90° different from the orientation of openings 11a, 12a of first storage sections 11, 12.

[0048] According to this configuration, since the opening 21a of the second storage section 21 is open, the second storage section 21 can also be used for drop-off delivery, which is expected to have the effect of allowing residents and delivery companies to flexibly choose either the first storage sections 11, 12 or the second storage section 21 as a means of receiving and delivering parcels, and also makes it easier to eliminate, or at least reduce or avoid, adverse effects from the external environment on parcels compared to conventional drop-off delivery. Furthermore, since the orientation of the opening 21a of the second storage section 21 is 90° different from the orientation of the openings 11b, 12b of the first storage sections 11, 12, it is easier to clearly distinguish the role of the second storage section 21 from that of the first storage sections 11, 12.

[0049] The opening 21a of the second storage section 21 faces the longitudinal direction D of the common corridor F.

[0050] According to this configuration, the direction of the opening 21a of the second storage section 21 is the same as the normal walking direction in the common corridor F, so that residents can walk towards the opening 21a of the second storage section 21 and arrive in front of the opening 21a without having to turn their body, making it easy for residents to retrieve parcels and for parcel carriers to leave them.

[0051] The opening 21a of the second storage section 21 may include an open portion and a portion that is opened and closed by an opening / closing member. That is, the opening 21a may include, in addition to the first type opening, a combination of the second type opening and the third type opening shown in Fig. 4A(b), or a combination of the fourth type opening and the fifth type opening shown in Fig. 4A(c).

[0052] According to this configuration, for example, when the opening 21a of the second storage section 21 is a second or fourth type opening with the lower side open like a slit or window, and a third or fifth type opening with the upper side opened and closed by a lockless opening and closing member, it is possible to make it difficult to see the inside of the second storage section 21 or the parcels placed therein from the outside, and to make it less susceptible to adverse effects from the external environment.

[0053] The delivery box B is installed in each room R having an entrance (entrance Rd) on the common corridor F side, and the opening 21a of the second storage section 21 faces the entrance Rd side.

[0054] With this configuration, residents can easily retrieve parcels from the opening 21a of the second storage section 21 simply by going out to the common corridor F via the entrance Rd of the room R and walking straight towards the delivery box B, and can also easily see whether there are parcels in the second storage section 21 from the entrance Rd of the room R or the window Rw on the outer wall.

[0055] The method of using this delivery box B includes a resident of room R in apartment building M specifying delivery to be left at the door, the delivery company placing the delivery in second storage section 21, and the resident taking the delivery out of second storage section 21.

[0056] According to these processes, the resident of room R can easily receive the parcel at the desired time without being bound by a receiving time, the parcel carrier can easily place and deliver the parcel in the second storage section 21 with less effort than in the first storage sections 11 and 12, and the parcel can be less susceptible to adverse effects from the external environment than when it is left directly on the ground.

[0057] Note that this embodiment is not limited to the above-described content, and includes the positions, shapes, and dimensions of all parts, the relationships between parts, the steps required for use, and the relationships between steps, as long as the same effects are obtained. [Explanation of symbols]

[0058] 11, 12 First storage section 11a, 12a opening 11b, 12b Opening / closing member 11c, 12c lock part 21 Second storage section 21a opening B. Delivery box J Connecting member M apartment complex F Common corridor P pillar W Partition wall R living room

Claims

1. A delivery box facing a common corridor in an apartment building, a first storage section having an opening for inserting and removing parcels that is opened and closed by an opening / closing member; and a second storage section having an opening for inserting and removing parcels, The opening of the second storage section is oriented in a different direction from the opening of the first storage section. Delivery box.

2. The opening of the second storage section faces the longitudinal direction of the common corridor. The delivery box according to claim 1.

3. The opening of the second storage section includes an open portion and a portion that is opened and closed by an opening and closing member. The delivery box according to claim 1.

4. It is installed in each room that has an entrance on the shared corridor side, The opening of the second storage section faces the entrance / exit side. The delivery box according to claim 1.

5. A method of using the delivery box according to claim 1, Residents of apartment complexes can specify delivery locations, The delivery company places the parcel in the second storage section, The resident takes the parcel out of the second storage section. How to use the delivery box.

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