US 5,861,805 AGranted

Drop box signalling device

OwnerMike Reevesinventor

Life of this patent

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Abstract

Method and apparatus for effecting continuous automated querying of collection receptacles from a passing motor vehicle to ascertain whether articles have been deposited in each collection receptacle. Each collection receptacle has a detector capable of detecting whether at least one article has been placed within the collection receptacle, and a radio frequency transceiver. A motor vehicle provided for the purpose of collecting articles from the collection receptacles also has a transceiver. The transceiver of the motor vehicle continuously transmits a querying signal which is recognizable by the transceiver of each collection receptacle. When the detector has detected an article and a querying signal is received, the collection receptacle transmits an encoded response signal. This response signal is recognized by the transceiver of the motor vehicle, the identity of the transmitting collection receptacle is determined, and the results are annunciated to the operator of the motor vehicle. The detector or transceiver of the collection receptacle is reset after retrieval of articles deposited therein.

Claims6

Dependent claims

An apparatus for determining the presence of a package in a receptacle and for further notifying an operator of a vehicle in proximity of said receptacle of the package's presence comprising:

a package sensing means comprising a weight sensing switch located in said receptacle;
a querying signal transceiver located in the vehicle;
a receptacle transceiver adapted to receive a query signal generated by said querying signal transceiver, and if said weight sensing switch of said package sensing means has been activated by a deposit of a package in said receptacle, to transmit a signal indicative of the presence of the package to said querying transceiver in the vehicle;
and
indicator means activated by said signal indicative of the presence of the package, for indicating to the operator of the vehicle that said weight sensing switch of said package sensing means in said receptacle has been activated;
whereby
as the vehicle approaches said receptacle, said querying signal is received by said receptacle transceiver, and if said weight sensing switch of said package sensing means has been activated, said receptacle transceiver transmits a signal indicative of the presence of a package in said receptacle and said indicator means is activated, thus notifying the operator of the vehicle that a package is present in said receptacle.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/948,249Filed 9 Oct 1997
Granted: 19 Jan 1999
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification4 codes

A47G 29/1214
Comprising electrical parts: including a receiver located remotely from the letter-box and a transmitter
A47G 29/1207
Mail or newspaper receptacles, e.g. letter-boxes; Openings in doors or the like for delivering mail or newspapers: for posting letters
A47G 29/30
Deposit receptacles for food, e.g. breakfast, milk , or large parcels; Similar receptacles for food or large parcels with appliances for…:…
A47G
Household or table equipment