DOOR FRAME COMPRISING A CONTAINER DEVICE, CONTAINER DEVICE AND BOX RECEIVED BY THE CONTAINER DEVICE

Abstract

 The present application relates to a door frame (2) for a door comprising a container device (1). The container device (1) is suitable for receiving deliveries and may be removably secured to the door frame (2) so that, when the container device (1) is secured to the door frame (2), the space surrounded by the door frame (2) is closed by the container device (1).

Description

Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a door frame for a door comprising a container device, wherein the container device is suitable for receiving deliveries, a container device, a standardized box to transport goods/deliveries and the method of using a container device to receive deliveries. In more detail, the present invention relates to a container device which can be set into a door frame while the door is opened so that the house or apartment is locked while the container device is secured in the door frame. The container device acts as a door so that parcel services can utilize the container device as a secure space to make deliveries while the recipient is not present.

Description of the related art

[0002] In the past years the mail order business has been growing constantly. Especially the portion of e-commerce with respect to mail order business has risen dramatically.

[0003] The classic or internet based mail order business lets a customer choose products/goods from a catalogue or a website. Once the goods have been ordered they are packaged and shipped to the customer, usually by employing parcel services which will transport the order to the customer and hand it over to the customer at his or her residence or place of work, as the case may be.

[0004] For the sake of brevity, the following text will refer to an apartment, or a flat, or a home or a house, but does not intend this to exclude office space or other buildings as the intended place of delivery.

[0005] For delivery and hand-over to be successful it is important that the customer is present during delivery, which is not always the case.

[0006] The parcel services involved have developed strategies to compensate for the fact that the customer is not always present at the time of delivery. The strategies employed are of a wide variety and range from leaving the parcel at a pre-agreed drop-off spot, have a neighbor of the intended recipient receive the package in case the original recipient is not home at the time of delivery, receiving structures comprising multiple compartments, or shipping the parcel to the nearest station of the service provider and have the recipient pick it up at his or her convenience.

[0007] All of the above solutions have different disadvantages. When a parcel or shipment cannot be delivered to the recipient because the recipient is not home at the time of delivery, the person delivering the package can for example try to reach neighbors who are willing to at least temporarily receive the parcel so that the original recipient can, when he or she returns, pick up the parcel at the neighbor's place. However, this is a very time-consuming enterprise for the delivery person because they have to find a neighbor willing to take the package and fill out a form informing the original recipient that the package has been delivered to the neighbor.

[0008] An alternative is the agreement on a drop-off point which is usually arranged via a contract between the customer and the parcel service. This also has disadvantages. For instance, such a contract has to be drawn up with each parcel service that a dealer might use, which leads to multiple agreements which have to be reached before the delivery of the parcel. Furthermore the original recipient is not always aware which parcel service is actually chosen by the dealer and can, therefore, not necessarily make sure that the necessary agreements regarding a drop-off point are in place. Further, liability arises as the contracts are usually drafted in a way that the parcel services are no longer liable for any damage or theft once the parcel has been dropped-off.

[0009] Another option multiple parcel services have chosen is building receiving structures for parcels or packages which are accessible either during business hours or 24 hours a day into which the parcels are delivered and then later picked up by the original recipient.

[0010] However, the delivery structures have multiple limitations and disadvantages. Delivery structures usually comprise multiple doors (e.g. one for each received parcel) which are opened after a customer identifies himself as the recipient so that the original recipient can take out the parcel. Accordingly, if such a structure were to provide delivery options for a certain number of customers, equally many doors with individual opening mechanisms and a controlling section need to be installed in a publicly accessible area.

[0011] The technology and floor space needed for those delivery structures, especially as they have to be tamper and theft-proof, make large structures expensive. Furthermore, if too few recipients empty the used compartments at the end of a business day, the empty spaces available for next day's deliveries will be insufficient which resulted in yet another solution developed by the parcel services and mostly employed today.

[0012] In that scenario the parcels which could not be delivered to either the recipient, or neighbors, or the receiving structure are brought to a shop or station of the corresponding parcel service where the parcel sits for a predetermined amount of days before it is shipped back to the dealer. The parcel can be picked up during that time usually during business hours by the original recipient. This has multiple disadvantages, namely, that the shops need a significant amount of floor space in order to house all the parcels that are eventually to be picked up by the original recipient, need to be tamper proof due to the large values that are temporarily stored and also require extra personnel during peak hours, usually at the weekends, when the customers wish to pick up their parcels.

[0013] In short, none of the available systems provides a practicable solution which is both convenient for the customers and cost-efficient for the parcel services.

[0014] Furthermore, none of the above solutions for delivery allow for the delivery of perishable items requiring refrigeration. Up to this date, the delivery of such goods generally requires that the customer is at the specified delivery address during time of delivery or that a delivery person has unsupervised access to the premises at that address.

[0015] It is a further problem of the logistic system as currently employed that the goods are usually individually packaged by a dealer and every dealer sends its own package. These packages usually do not have standard sizes because no established standards exist. This leads to multiple problems with respect to handling of parcels. It is, for example, complicated to ensure the safe transport and the proper securing of the cargo when all packages come in different sizes shapes. Finally, packages can bear different loads so that they can only be stacked to a certain extent without damaging other packages in the stack.

[0016] Some of the above mentioned problems are addressed in the prior art.

[0017] DE 20 2016 101 841 discloses a cabinet or cupboard which can be used for delivery of parcels and is designed to be mounted within a hole in a wall in order to be accessible from the outside by the parcel service and from the inside by a recipient/customer. This prior art cabinet is not suitable to be installed in an apartment or house without major construction work, as an exterior wall needs to be built to have a hole in the dimensions of the cupboard. Only in this manner will only one side of the cupboard face the outside, as intended.

[0018] US 6,415,552 relates to an exterior wall of a building which is provided with a door that can be opened to expose a plurality of compartments for receiving a wide range of deliverable products. Accordingly, the same problems as in DE 20 2016 101 841 apply with respect to the installation of the compartments.

[0019] WO 97/12186 discloses a refrigerator comprising two doors on opposite sides so that the refrigerator can be mounted in a wall or alternatively in a door, such as a door for an apartment or a front door of a house/building. This document fails to provide, however, a simple solution by means of which a delivery structure or delivery device can be placed within a door frame without modifying the door and/or the door frame. Furthermore, it fails to disclose a compartment or space which can be used for deliveries not needing refrigeration.

Summary of the invention

[0020] It is, in view of the prior art, an object of the present invention to provide a system which is capable of receiving deliveries and allows for quick installation without the need to modify an exterior wall of a building or in fact any wall while providing a safe and secured space to receive parcels from parcel services.

[0021] This problem is solved by a door frame comprising a container device according to claim 1 and a container device in accordance with claim 3. The dependent claims relate to advantageous embodiments of the invention.

[0022] A door frame according to the invention comprises a container device which is suitable for receiving deliveries. The container device may be removably secured to the door frame so that when the container device is secured to the door frame the space surrounded by the door frame is closed by the container device. Accordingly, the container device acts as a door when it is fit into the door frame and can be set in the door frame when a recipient leaves his or her house/apartment so that the container device is accessible to the parcel services.

[0023] The container device allows for a parcel to be deposited within the container device by parcel services. The container device can be set in the door frame when the door is open and therefore close the house or apartment or alternatively the door can be removed and be replaced by the container device which means that the container device will act as a door even when the recipient is at home.

[0024] The dimension of the container device is advantageously as described in the following. To make the container device compatible with variety of sizes of door frames the current situation regarding front doors and apartment doors is summarized. Depending on the region the percentage of used doors being front-doors varies from 30% - 40% in northern Europe to 85% - 90% in southern Europe, while most of the remainder is apartment doors.

[0025] Doors usually comprise standard dimensions which do not vary by much depending on the building. Doors for apartments or single family houses comprise a width of 80-100 cm and a height of about 2m (190 cm - 200 cm).

[0026] When choosing a size for a container device, the container device needs to be dimensioned to fit a class of door sizes which is most commonly used. Accordingly, the width of the container device should be sized so that it can be used in door frames for being at the lower spectrum regarding the width of the doors because a smaller container device can be used in combination with a bigger door frame. Should the container device be employed in a door frame for a bigger door, it can be provided with a surrounding frame to bridge the gap between the container device itself and the doorframe.

[0027] It is, accordingly, one advantage of the invention that the container device comprising a width and height according to the above can fit into a wide variety of door frames which are currently installed in houses or apartments without the need to modify the door frame. At the same time parcel services and dealers can adjust to the provided container size and package the goods accordingly.

[0028] The container device comprises at least one lockable door on one side. The lockable door can be opened by parcel services so that goods or parcels being delivered can be deposited by the parcel services within the container device. The container device comprises preferably two or three doors and more preferably four doors on one side.

[0029] This allows for different sections/compartments to open when a delivery request is handled which furthers security and versatility.

[0030] When the container device is used as a door while the original door is dismounted it is preferred to install doors on the opposite side of the container device as well so that the parcel services can operate the container device from one side (e.g. the outside) whereas the customer/recipient operates the container device on/from the other side (e.g. the inside).

[0031] The container device can further include an alarm system and/or surveillance cameras in order to identify the delivery person on the one hand and on the other hand provide additional security for the building and/or the received parcels.

[0032] The container device can comprise multiple compartments for example two compartments or preferably three compartments and more preferably four compartments. The height and the width of the compartments are limited by the dimensions of the door frames most commonly employed as explained above in further detail.

[0033] The advantage of four compartments is that all compartments offer enough space in height while the last compartment can still be comfortably reached.

[0034] It is preferred that at least one of the compartments is capable of providing cooling or even freezing so that perishable goods like foods, medication that need cooling or frozen foods can be delivered to the container device while the required cooling chain remains unbroken. Accordingly, the container device can comprise a compressor, a vaporizer and at least one heat exchanger or alternative means of cooling. The container device can be coupled to the power supply system of the apartment of the house in order to receive electric energy to operate the compressor and or a controller.

[0035] Where it is possible to modify the door frame the door frame can be equipped with multiple (e.g. four) holes perpendicular to the direction of the opening. The container device may comprise cone-shape bolts which can engage the holes in the door frame to secure the container device to said door frame.

[0036] When cone-shaped bolts are used the container device only needs a rough alignment with the holes when starting the locking process because the container device will be aligned by the cone-shape bolts entering the holes in the door frame.

[0037] Alternatively, the holes can be provided in additional parts mounted on top of the door frame or mounted to replace the inside facing parts of the door frame. The additional parts can be made of any material like wood, plastic or metal as long as the material is strong enough to secure the container device. The additional parts can be long rectangular parts preferably also being rectangular in a sectional view. The length of the additional parts can be so that the holes for one side are provided within one additional part. However, also one additional part for each hole can be provided.

[0038] When a modification of the door frame is not possible or not allowable the container device may be provided with an extending part which abuts the door frame at a side opposite to the side where the lock fixtures are provided. The extended part may extend into a space between the door frame and the door or just into the cut out part of the door frame at which cutout part the door is in abutment with in a closed state. The extending part may comprise multiple sections and/or can be sized so that it extends in the space between door hinges when the container device is set into the door frame. In other words, the extending part does not need to cover the entire height of the door.

[0039] The container device may comprise a locking mechanism on the side opposite to the extending part to lock the container device in the door frame using the same fixtures the door uses.

[0040] The container device may comprise a frontal design which is shaped and colored in accordance with the kitchen that is built in the apartment or the house in which the container device is employed so that when the container device is taken out of the door frame it can be moved into the kitchen and be used as a cupboard or refrigerator in said kitchen.

[0041] It is one advantage of a container device comprising a frontal design matching with furniture in the house that it can be stored in the house when the recipient is home and has taken the container device out of the door frame without departing from an interior design.

[0042] The container device preferably comprises wheels allowing for an easy movement of the container device within the apartment or the house. By providing wheels positioning of the container device in the door frame or a different space or room in the house when the customer/recipient is at home and the pre-installed door is used to close the apartment or house is simplified.

[0043] In order to track parcels the container device comprises a bar code scanner and/or an RFID-reader in at least one compartment or preferably in all compartments so that the delivery of parcels can be tracked when inserted or delivered into the container device.

[0044] The container device may further comprise a control system which can be connected to the internet and control the securing of the container device to/in the door frame. The control system may further control the alarm system and/or the surveillance cameras. The control system may also control access to the compartments or space within the container device to secure the deliveries on the one hand and making it possible for parcel services to deposit a delivery in the container device on the other hand. The controller may also be used to control the locking mechanism with which the container is secured to the door frame.

[0045] The container device may also be used for return shipments to the original dealer or supplier by allowing the parcel service to take out packages after identification and transport the package or parcel to the return address.

[0046] It is, in view of the prior art, another object of the present invention to provide a system which allows for a safer transport and securing of cargo and especially a more efficient transport by providing a box which can be received in the container device utilizing the maximum of the available space.

[0047] The boxes are reusable and comprise batteries and/or are RFID-chips so that the boxes are traceable and especially programmable so that it is not necessary to print out labels presenting the receiving address and the recipient but to program the recipient in the RFID-chip in the box. Other means of identification/labeling of the boxes are possible for example e-INK displays, displaying the recipients address or barcodes or both. Alternatively an individual number can be assigned to each box so that the recipient of a box is not programmed within a box but the recipient is mapped to the number in the logistic services system. It is also possible to combine the above mentioned ID-systems and provide, for example, each box with an individual number while also employing RFID-chips to store information regarding the recipient in each box.

[0048] The electronics can be powered by a rechargeable battery which can optionally be charged using inductive chargers in the container device.

[0049] The boxes can be programmed within the container device by the original recipient. Therewith, the boxes can be used to return unwanted or rented items or packaging that needs to be disposed by the mail order company or retailer.

[0050] The boxes can be used by anybody in the market willing to adopt the standard so that across the whole chain of transport (logistic chain) a standard unit packaging is possible.

[0051] The box may be provided with slits or openings to allow airflow into the box. This is especially advantageous when the box is used for delivery of perishable goods like vegetables or other food because, when the box is set inside a cooled environment, cool air can flow easily to the goods stored inside the box and a cooling of the perishable goods is therefore enhanced. Using such a box for food and other perishable goods is especially advantageous as those goods are usually wrapped individually leading to a high number of individual items which can then be easily combined in the box.

[0052] The boxes preferably have a width of 55-65 cm, a depth of 40-50 cm at an upper end and a width of 45-55 cm on a lower end. The boxes further comprise a preferred height of 35-45 cm. The dimensions of the container device and the boxes are chosen in accordance with standard sizes of front doors of single family building or doors of flats/apartments as explained above. The chosen dimensions of the boxes are related to the size of the container device, which size and the according advantageous effects are as explained in detail above.

[0053] By using a standard box size and employing the integrated electronic the degree of automatic handling can be vastly improved over the handling of conventional packages which use different sizes and different materials.

[0054] Other advantages of the boxes as described above are that all boxes comprise equal dimensions and can be used in all compartments of the container device and, in case parcels are not shipped using the boxes can be stacked within one compartment of container device.

[0055] In the following a container device especially made for housing the boxes will be called multi-box container.

Brief description of the drawings

[0056] 

Figure 1 shows a sectional view of a multi-box container with the front door or door of the flat being open; the section is taken along line A-A in Fig. 2.

Figure 2 shows a sectional view of the multi-box container locked in a door frame; the section is taken along line B-B in Fig. 1.

Figure 3 shows a sectional view of the multi-box container with the doors of the multi-box container being closed; the section is taken along line C-C in Fig. 1.

Figure 4 shows a box which can be used in the multi-box container as a delivery box containing fruit or other goods.

Description of preferred embodiments

[0057] In the appended drawings the same reference numbers will be used for similar or the same elements. The repeating description of those elements will be omitted. Therefore, a description of an element may refer not only to a particular figure but several or all figures.

[0058] The container device 1 or multi-box container 1 of the preferred embodiment comprises four compartments 26A-26D which are arranged above each other (one above another). The compartments are preferably cube-shaped. All four compartments 26A-26D preferably exhibit substantially the same dimensions.

[0059] Figure 1 shows a sectional top view of the multi-box container 1. The multi-box container 1 comprises a frame structure 100 that can be made of steel or aluminum. However, different materials like plywood or other natural materials, polymer materials, composite materials, or other materials known in the art of furniture-making may be used. The multi-box container 1 does not necessarily have to comprise a frame structure 100. It could also be made in an enclosed cupboard-style fashion. In the preferred embodiment shown in figure 1 the width of the multi-box container 1 is 80 cm. The width of the frame 100A, 100B is 5 cm. The frame is mainly located on the left and right hand side of the multi-box container.

[0060] In the preferred embodiment the multi-box container 1 has a height of 210 cm in total and compartment has a height of 45 cm, a width of 64 cm and a depth of 48cm.

[0061] The dimension of the compartments 26A-26D is 64 cm in width and 48 cm in depth. The multi-box container 1 has insulation material 110 attached to its rear side. The material is thermally insulating where the compartments are used to keep deliveries cool. The material also has acoustically insulating properties. The total depth of the multi-box container 1 including doors 24A-24D and the insulation material 110 is 60 cm in the preferred embodiment. The depth of 60 cm is preferred because it allows to more easily store the multi-box container 1 when it is not set in the door frame 2 to receive deliveries. The depth dimension will allow the multi-box container 1 to fit into recesses or spaces and be flush with kitchen or bathroom cabinets. When the multi-box container 1 is not set in the door frame 2, it can even be used as a cabinet. The uses for receiving deliveries and as a cabinet can thus alternate. This is especially advantageous as the multi-box container 1 is integrated in the furniture present in an apartment or house.

[0062] Figure 1 shows the multi-box container 1 being fixed in a standard door frame 2, to which two side parts 10A, 10B have been added. The side parts 10A, 10B are attached on top of the original door frame 2, for instance by using screws 11A, 11B. Alternatively, the side parts 10A, 10B can replace the inwardly facing side parts of the door frame 2. The side parts 10A, 10B are provided with holes 12A, 12B extending along an axis lying both, in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the door frame 2 and substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the side parts 10A, 10B. The holes 12A, 12B can be cylindrical or cone-shaped. They serve to lock the multi-box container 1 in the door frame 2 or side parts 10A, 10B, as will be explained below.

[0063] The multi-box container 1 comprises bolts 20A, 20B the outer ends of which are flush with, or withdrawn into, an outside of the multi-box container 1 when the multi-box container 1 is not locked within the door frame 2 or side parts 10A, 10B. When the multi-box container 1 is moved into the door frame, the bolts 20A, 20B align with the holes 12A, 12B of the side parts 10A, 10B. When the multi-box container 1 is to be locked to the side parts 10A, 10B of the door frame 2 the bolts 20A, 20B can be moved to at least partially project from and engage with the holes 12A, 12B, to thereby secure the multi-box container 1 to the side parts 10A, 10B of the door frame 2.

[0064] The side parts 10A, 10B can be made of any material like wood, plastic or metal as long as the material is strong enough to secure the multi-box container. The side parts can be long rectangular parts preferably also being rectangular in a sectional view. In the preferred embodiment the length of the side parts is so that both holes on one side of the door frame are provided within one side part 10A, 10B. However, also one side part for each hole (multiple side parts 10A, 10B per side of the door frame) can be provided.

[0065] The projecting parts of the bolts 20A, 20B are preferably cone-shaped, with the dimensions of their outer or tip end being generously smaller than the holes 12A, 12B. In this manner, the multi-box container 1 need not be precisely positioned for the bolts 20A, 20B to align with the holes 12A, 12B. Rather, the outer end of the bolts 20A, 20B will fit into the holes 12A, 12B and assist in positioning the multi-box container 1 once they have entered into the holes and continue their outward movement.

[0066] The upper compartment 26A shown in Figure 1 of the multi-box container is provided with cooling/freezing function. In the preferred embodiment the two upper compartments 26A, 26B are provided with a cooling/freezing function so that perishable goods or frozen foods can be delivered and maintained at an optimal temperature to avoid spoiling or defrosting. Accordingly the two upper compartments are provided with insulation 110 to ensure a high efficiency cooling. The doors 24A, 24B are also provided with insolation 111. To provide the cooling the two upper compartments 26A, 26B are provided with cooling elements 115A, 115B.

[0067] The multi-box container 1 is further provided with a camera 20A which provides surveillance and security but is also usable for identification of the parcel service (i.e. the delivery person). In case of a positive identification, the controller 44 of the multi-box container 1 operates one of the locks 22A-22D in order to open one of the corresponding doors 24A-24D so that the parcel service can deposit a package or another item in the compartment 26A-26D.

[0068] Figure 2 shows a sectional front view of the multi-box container 1, with the multi-box container being secured in the side parts 10A, 10B of the door frame. The side parts 10A, 10B are secured by screws 11A, 11B to the wall. The multi-box container 1 is secured to the side parts by holes 12A, 12B and corresponding bolts 22A, 22B engaging in the holes as explained above.

[0069] The compartments 26A-26D can be used by parcel services to deposit packages or goods. The upper three compartments 26A-26C are provided with boxes 200A-200C. The lowest compartment 26D is used for conventionally packaged parcels. The compartments 26A-26D may comprise gliding rails 28 to facilitate the insertion of the boxes 200. In the embodiment shown in figure 2 only the compartments 26A, 26B comprise gliding rails 28.

[0070] While a configuration of four compartments 26A-26D is described in the preferred embodiment and three of the compartments 26A-26C are used for boxes 200A-200C the invention is neither limited regarding the number of compartments 26A-26D nor the number of boxes 200A-C or packages set in the multi-box container 1.

[0071] Each compartment 26A-26D may be provided with a reader 30 which reader 30 can be a bar code scanner/bar code reader and/or an RFID-reader. Those readers 30 can be used to track incoming packages as well as outgoing packages and can be connected to a controller 42 which is described later.

[0072] The top part 40 shown in figure 2 comprises the controller (not shown) and the cooling systems (not shown) as well as a connector to connect the multi-box container 1 to the electricity system of the house or apartment.

[0073] The cooling unit may be any conventional cooling unit, however, a cooling unit from Electrolux is preferred, as they have the highest energy efficiency. The controller may be a central control unit for the multi-box container 1 and comprise a Wi-Fi connection so that the multi-box container 1 can be connected to the internet and remotely operated. The controller may further control the locks and cone-shaped bolts 20A, 20B which are used to secure the multi-box container 1 to the side parts 10A, 10B. The movement of the bolts can be motorized, for instance via electrically powered solenoids, rack and pinion drives or any other means known to the skilled person.

[0074] The controller may further control the doors 24A, 24B to open when delivery personal has been authorized to access any of the compartments 26A-26D or the recipient wishes to take out received parcels. This authorization can be provided by different methods or types of authentication. For example in one of the doors (24A, 24B) a pin pad may be provided so that the delivery person or recipient enters a pin and is thereby, if the pin is validated, granted access to any of the compartments 26A-26D. Alternatively or additionally the controller, to which the cameras (20A, 20B) are connected, may provide a facial recognition feature so that the delivery person is granted access when the face is matched to any face that is allowed access by the recipient of the package. Most of the authentication and authorization features used today in smartphones, tablet computers or personal computers can be used for this purpose.

[0075] The controller may also use the inductive readers/chargers 32 to program or track the boxes 200 when the boxes are set in the multi-box container 1 by parcel services or when a recipient sets a box 200 in the multi-box container 1 to be collected for returning unwanted items. The boxes are described in detail further below.

[0076] In figure 3 a sectional side view of the multi-box container 1 is shown. The gliding rails 28 of the upper compartments 26A, 26B are provided over the entire depth of the compartments 26A, 26B. However, the gliding rails 28 can also be of reduced length as long as the insertion of the boxes 200 is facilitated.

[0077] The compartments 26A-26D are further provided with inductive chargers 32/coupling means 32 to charge electronic parts provided in the boxes 200, which will be described in detail with respect to figure 4.

[0078] The doors 24A, 24B are provided with door handles 25. While in the preferred embodiment only two doors 24A, 24B are shown for 4 compartments 26A-26D so as to separate the cooled compartments 26A, 26B and the compartments 26C, 26D not equipped with a cooling system any number of doors is possible. It is even possible to remove the doors entirely and secure the boxes 200 within the multi-box container 1. However, it is preferred to provide doors 24 so that cooling efficiency is enhanced on the one hand and on the other hand conventionally packaged goods can be received which need a door or some sort of closed compartment to inhibit theft.

[0079] The multi-box container 1 is set on wheels 50 which allows for an easy movement of the multi-box container 1 within the apartment or house and facilitates the arrangement of the multi-box container 1 within the door frame 2.

[0080] In the following the boxes are described in detail with respect to figures 4a-4c. The boxes 200 in the preferred embodiment are provided with a width of 60 cm and a depth of 55 cm at an upper end. The lower end is smaller so that empty boxes 200 can be stacked to store the boxes efficiently, as shown in figure 4c. The upper frame has a height of 5 cm and surrounds the multi-box container 1. The height of a box 200 is 40cm so that four boxes can fit into a multi-box container 1 which fits into a door frame comprising a height of 190-200cm.

[0081] The above-described dimensions of the multi-box container were chosen due to the limitations of standard German door frames. The dimension of the boxes 200 are chosen so that the boxes can be advantageously employed in a multi-box container 1 having such dimensions and are, therefore, also linked to the dimensions of the standard door frames. Once the multi-box container is used in a country employing different standards for the door frames, the dimensions would need to be adapted accordingly.

[0082] The upper end of the multi-box container is provided with a frame 202 which comprises the electronics system of the boxes 200 used for tracking and setting a destination/recipient. The electronic system in each box 200 is capable to replace the label as conventionally employed and communicate via RFID.

[0083] The electronic system of box comprises a chip 204 to provide a memory function to store information like contents, recipient, addresses for delivery and/or origin and so forth. The chip comprises an antenna to provide RFID capabilities. The electronic system further comprises a battery 206 which can be charged by inductive chargers 32 provided in the multi-box container 1.

[0084] The boxes 200 may be provided with slits or holes 208 to allow ventilation from outside to enhance cooling when the box is inserted into a multi-box container 1 which comprises a cooling system or in a delivery vehicle which employs a cooled cargo space.

Claims

1. Combination of a door frame (2), a door, and a container device (1) which container device (1) is suitable for receiving deliveries,
the container device (1) being constructed and arranged for it to be removably secured to the door frame (2) so that, when the door is open and the container device (1) is secured to the door frame (2), the space surrounded by the door frame (2) is closed by the container device (1).

2. The door frame (2) according to claim 1, wherein the door comprises a width of 80 - 100 cm and/or the door is a front door of a building or a door of a flat/apartment and/or the container device (1) comprises a width of 75 - 90 cm, a height of 185- 200 cm.

3. A container device (1) for a combination according to claim 1 or 2, which container device (1) comprises at least one lockable door (24A, 24B) on one side, which lockable door (24A, 24B) can be opened by parcel services so that goods which are delivered by said parcel services can be securely received in the container device (1).

4. The container device (1) according to claim 3, wherein the container device (1) includes an alarm system and/or surveillance cameras (20A, 20B).

5. The container device (1) according to claim 3 or 4, further comprising at least two compartments (26), wherein at least one of the two compartments (26) can be cooled, or four compartments (26), wherein at least two compartments (26) can be cooled and one of the cooled compartments (26) is a freezer compartment.

6. The container device (1) according to any of claims 3 to 5, further comprising cone-shaped bolts (20A, 20B) to align the container device (1) within the door frame (2) when the cone-shaped bolts (20A, 20B) engage with the door frame (2) to secure the container device (1) to said doorframe (2), wherein the cone-shaped bolts (20A, 20B) are preferably connected to a locking mechanism.

7. The container device (1) according to any of claims 3 to 5, further comprising a locking mechanism and an extended part on the opposite side of the locking mechanism.

8. The container device (1) according to any of claims 3 to 7, wherein the at least one door (24) is formed so that, when the container device (1) is removed from the door frame (2), the container device (1) can be integrated in a built in kitchen and/or the container device (1) comprises a depth of 55- 65 cm.

9. The container device (1) according to any of claims 3 to 8, wherein the container device (1) is set on wheels (50), preferably allowing movement of the container device (1) in any direction.

10. The container device (1) according to any of claims 3 to 9 further comprising a barcode reader (30) and/or an RFID-Reader (30) and/or an induction based power supply (32) in at least one compartment (26) and/or comprising a control system which control system is connected to the internet and controls the securing to the door frame (2) by a locking mechanism and/or the securing of the deliveries by allowing access to the at least one door (24).

11. The container device (1) according to any of claims 5 to 10, wherein the at least compartment is formed so that stackable boxes (200) can be received in the container device (1), the boxes (200) optionally comprise an RFID-Chip (204) and/or a battery (206) so that the boxes are traceable and preferably programmable.

12. A box according to claim 11, preferably having a width of 55 to 65 cm, a depth of 40 to 50 cm at an upper end and optionally a height of 35 to 45 cm.

13. The box according to claim 13 further comprising slits (208) to allow airflow into the box and/or a frame (202) at an upper portion, which frame (202) preferably comprises a height of 5 cm.

14. A method of using a container device (1) according to any one of the claims 4 to 12 to deliver and/or pick up parcels or groceries.

Amended claims

Amended claims in accordance with Rule 137(2) EPC.

1. Combination of a door frame (2), a door, and a container device (1) which container device (1) is suitable for receiving deliveries,
the container device (1) being constructed and arranged for it to be removably secured to the door frame (2) so that, when the door is open and the container device (1) is secured to the door frame (2), the space surrounded by the door frame (2) is closed by the container device (1)
which container device (1) comprises at least one lockable door (24A, 24B) on one side, which lockable door (24A, 24B) can be opened by parcel services so that goods which are delivered by said parcel services can be securely received in the container device (1), and
further comprises cone-shaped bolts (20A, 20B) to align the container device (1) within the door frame (2) when the cone-shaped bolts (20A, 20B) engage with the door frame (2) to secure the container device (1) to said doorframe (2), wherein the cone-shaped bolts (20A, 20B) are preferably connected to a locking mechanism.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein the door comprises a width of 80 - 100 cm and/or the door is a front door of a building or a door of a flat/apartment and/or the container device (1) comprises a width of 75 - 90 cm, a height of 185-200 cm.

3. The combination according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the container device (1) includes an alarm system and/or surveillance cameras (20A, 20B).

4. The combination according to any of claims 1 to 3, further comprising at least two compartments (26), wherein at least one of the two compartments (26) can be cooled, or four compartments (26), wherein at least two compartments (26) can be cooled and one of the cooled compartments (26) is a freezer compartment.

5. The combination according to any of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a locking mechanism and an extended part on the opposite side of the locking mechanism.

6. The combination according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the at least one door (24) is formed so that, when the container device (1) is removed from the door frame (2), the container device (1) can be integrated in a built in kitchen and/or the container device (1) comprises a depth of 55- 65 cm.

7. The combination according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the container device (1) is set on wheels (50), preferably allowing movement of the container device (1) in any direction.

8. The combination according to any of claims 1 to 7 further comprising a barcode reader (30) and/or an RFID-Reader (30) and/or an induction based power supply (32) in at least one compartment (26) and/or comprising a control system which control system is connected to the internet and controls the securing to the door frame (2) by a locking mechanism and/or the securing of the deliveries by allowing access to the at least one door (24).

9. The combination according to any of claims 5 to 10, wherein the at least compartment is formed so that stackable boxes (200) can be received in the container device (1), the boxes (200) optionally comprise an RFID-Chip (204) and/or a battery (206) so that the boxes are traceable and preferably programmable.

10. A method of using a combination according to any one of the claims 1 to 9 to deliver and/or pick up parcels or groceries.

Drawing