Slotted receptacle for payload handle to secure payload within a UAV

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) comprising:

• a fuselage body including:
• a cavity that forms a cargo bay for transporting a payload;
• an access opening positioned in the cargo bay adapted to receive the payload;
• a winch system positioned in an upper portion of the fuselage body above the cargo bay, the winch system configured to suspend the payload within the cargo bay;
• wherein a tether has a first end attached to the winch system and a second end attached to a payload coupling apparatus;
• wherein the payload coupling apparatus includes a downwardly extending slot positioned above a lip of the payload coupling apparatus, the lip of the payload coupling apparatus configured to extend through an opening in a handle of the payload to secure the payload coupling apparatus to the handle of the payload;
• wherein a lower surface of the upper portion of the fuselage body includes a handle slot for receiving the handle of the payload;
• and
• wherein when the payload is positioned in the cargo bay, the payload is upwardly movable to extend the handle of the through the handle slot in the lower surface of the upper portion of the fuselage body to secure the handle of the payload to the payload coupling apparatus.

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) comprising:

• a fuselage body including:
• a cavity that forms a cargo bay for transporting a payload;
• an access opening positioned in the cargo bay adapted to receive the payload;
• a hatch door configured to be positioned over the cargo bay when the hatch door is in a closed position;
• a winch system positioned in the hatch door, the winch system configured to suspend the payload within the cargo bay;
• wherein a tether has a first end attached to the winch system and a second end attached to a payload coupling apparatus;
• wherein the payload coupling apparatus includes a downwardly extending slot positioned above a lip of the payload coupling apparatus, the lip of the payload coupling apparatus is configured to extend through an opening in a handle of the payload to secure the payload coupling apparatus to the handle of the payload;
• wherein a lower surface of the hatch door includes a handle slot for receiving the handle of the payload;
• and
• wherein when the payload is positioned in the cargo bay and the hatch door is in the closed position over the cargo bay, the handle of the payload extends through the handle slot and the handle of the payload is secured to the payload coupling apparatus.

A method comprising:

• providing an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) including a fuselage body having a cavity that forms a cargo bay for transporting a payload, an access opening positioned in the cargo bay adapted to receive the payload, a winch system positioned in an upper portion of the fuselage body above the cargo bay, the winch system configured to suspend the payload within the cargo bay, wherein a tether has a first end attached to the winch system and a second end attached to a payload coupling apparatus, wherein the payload coupling apparatus includes a downwardly extending slot positioned above a lip of the payload coupling apparatus, the lip of the payload coupling apparatus is configured to extend through an opening in a handle of the payload to secure the payload coupling apparatus to the handle of the payload, and wherein the upper portion of the fuselage body includes a vertical handle slot for receiving the handle of the payload;
• moving the payload into the cargo bay;
• moving the handle of the payload through the vertical handle slot in the upper portion of the fuselage body;
• and
• moving the lip of the payload coupling apparatus through the opening in the handle of the payload to secure the payload to the payload coupling apparatus.

A method comprising:

• providing an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) including a fuselage body having a cavity that forms a cargo bay for transporting a payload, an access opening positioned in the cargo bay adapted to receive the payload, a winch system positioned in an upper portion of the fuselage body above the cargo bay, the winch system configured to suspend the payload within the cargo bay, wherein a tether has a first end attached to the winch system and a second end attached to a payload coupling apparatus, wherein the payload coupling apparatus includes a downwardly extending slot positioned above a lip of the payload coupling apparatus, the lip of the payload coupling apparatus is configured to extend through an opening in a handle of the payload to secure the payload coupling apparatus to the handle of the payload, wherein a lower surface of the upper portion of the fuselage body includes a handle slot for receiving the handle of the payload, and wherein when the payload is positioned in the cargo bay, the payload is upwardly movable to extend the handle of the payload through the handle slot in the lower surface of the upper portion of the fuselage body to secure the handle of the payload to the payload coupling apparatus;
• moving the payload into the cargo bay;
• moving the payload upwardly to move the handle of the payload through the vertical handle slot in the lower surface of the upper portion of the fuselage body;
• and
• moving the lip of the payload coupling apparatus through the opening in the handle of the payload to secure the payload to the payload coupling apparatus.

A method comprising:

• providing an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) including a fuselage body having a cavity that forms a cargo bay for transporting a payload, an access opening positioned in the cargo bay adapted to receive the payload, a hatch door configured to be positioned over the cargo bay when the hatch door is in a closed position, a winch system positioned in the hatch door, the winch system configured to suspend the payload within the cargo bay, wherein a tether has a first end attached to the winch system and a second end attached to a payload coupling apparatus, wherein the payload coupling apparatus includes a downwardly extending slot positioned above a lip of the payload coupling apparatus, the lip of the payload coupling apparatus is configured to extend through an opening in a handle of the payload to secure the payload coupling apparatus to the handle of the payload, wherein a lower surface of the hatch door includes a handle slot for receiving the handle of the payload, and wherein when the payload is positioned in the cargo bay and the hatch door is in the closed position over the cargo bay, the handle of the payload extends through the handle slot and the handle of the payload is secured to the payload coupling apparatus;
• moving the payload into the cargo bay;
• and
• moving the hatch door into a closed position where the handle of the payload is moved through the handle slot to secure the handle of the payload to the payload coupling apparatus.