United States Postal Service

William Albert Tartal

Donald Eugene Irwin

Joram Shenhar

Joel L Dewnandan

Gabriel Michael Yessin

Michael LeRoy Spears

Michael John Amato

Victoria K Stephen

Nan K McKenzie

Terry Martin Gingell

James Edmund Matthews

Daniel Smith

Charles P McLellan

Robert E Dixon

William G Ackerman

Gregory Crabb

Robert E Dalton, Jr

Dominique Danielle Strothers

Nathan Lachenmyer

John David Cranor, Iii

Matthew Anthony Borgatti

Mihae Mukaida

Paul Anthony Bernicchi

Marc D McCrery

Kelly Ann Strong

James W Buie

Janet L Webster

Nan K Mckenzie

Robert E Jr

A lock assembly includes a bolt movable between a first position and a second position, a rotating body rotatable between a first position and a second position, and a pawl member rotatable between a first position and a second position. Rotation of the rotating body from the first position to the second position is configured to cause the bolt to move from the first position to the second position. The pawl member is configured to prevent rotation of the rotating body from the first position to the second position when the pawl member is in the first position and the rotating body is in the first position.

Key capture lock

Techniques for automatically providing a package for pickup are presented. The techniques can include: receiving, at a publicly-accessible terminal, a code associated with the package; validating the code with data in a database communicatively coupled to the terminal; retrieving, by a robot communicatively coupled to the publicly-accessible terminal, the package from a publicly-inaccessible package staging site; delivering, by the robot, the package to a customer interface repository; obtaining confirmation that the package has been removed from the customer interface repository; and storing data, by at least one server, indicating the package has been removed.

Robotic delivery system

A system for and method of providing a package for retrieval are presented. The disclosed techniques include receiving a package for retrieval by a recipient; placing the package in a customer inaccessible smart staging area; determining, using a sensor, a size of the package; retrieving, by a robot, the package; conveying, by the robot, the package through a first side of the customer accessible repository to a customer accessible repository selected according to the size of the package, where the package is retrievable by a customer through a second side of the customer accessible repository; electronically storing an identification of the customer accessible repository in association with package identification information; receiving, at an electronic customer interface located at the delivery facility, the package identification information; and unlocking the customer accessible repository, such that the package is retrievable from the second side of the customer accessible repository by the recipient.

Robotic smart locker load system

Embodiments of a system and method for using a mobile device to assist with the efficient and secure delivery of item. The mobile device can assist an item deliver to lock or unlock secure item delivery receptacles. The mobile device can also notify an item deliverer about particular delivery conditions associated with particular delivery endpoints. The mobile device can further help the item deliverer to determine whether or not he or she is delivering the item to the correct location.

Mobile device for safe, secure, and accurate delivery of items

A portable workstation apparatus includes: a pair of collapsible legs; and a work portion that is attached in a removable manner to the pair of collapsible lags via a pair of brackets. Each leg of the pair of collapsible legs includes: a frame; an extension connected to a first end of the frame; a lower post housed within a sleeve; an upper post; a hinge connecting the lower post and the upper post; a first brace connecting the extension to the sleeve; and a plurality of holes on an exterior face of the lower post or the upper post. Each leg is configured to collapse by folding the upper post towards the lower post via the hinge and rotating the extension toward the lower post.

Portable and foldable workstation apparatus

Systems, devices and methods for storage, delivery, receipt, and/or other handling of an item in an electronically controllable storage receptacle are disclosed. The disclosure provides features for keyless access to the storage receptacle by use of user access information, such as a PIN or bar code. Further, features are disclosed for receiving and/or transmitting data related to the recipient and the item to facilitate the various handling actions of the item.

Systems and methods for control of electronic parcel lockers

A lock can include attack-resistant and/or weather-resistant features. Attack-resistant features can include a sacrificial link between a locking mechanism and an external keyway covering an exterior face of the locking mechanism. The sacrificial link can break during a torque attack on the lock such that the full force of the torque attack is not applied to the locking mechanism. Weather-resistant features can include drain openings in one or more housing components external to the locking mechanism to facilitate drainage of liquid matter from the lock before the liquid matter reaches the locking mechanism.

Weather-resistant lock

Chute lockout device

A process for verifying an item deposit via a smart drop box. The process includes an item receptacle, a processor in communication with the item receptacle, a scanning device, and a database. The item receptacle is configured to receive an item from a user, scan the item, and generate item information. The processor is configured to compare the item information generated with identified item information from the database. If the information generated matches the information from the database, the item is accepted. In some embodiments, the deposit verification includes a printed receipt and/or an electronic verification.

Smart drop box

An intelligent item receptacle, system, and method for providing supplemental media content in response to depositing an item having media indicia disposed thereon. An intelligent item receptacle includes an item receptacle securely enclosing an interior volume, an item sensor configured to detect an inserted item, a camera within the interior volume configured to capture an image of the item, and an output configured to play audio or visual content to bystanders outside the item receptacle. Processing circuitry within the item receptacle analyzes the image to determine if the media indicia are present on the item and, if present, causes the output to play the audio or visual content associated with the media indicia.

Intelligent item receptacle

Systems are disclosed for producing audio that is audible outside a collection box for delivery items, the collection box including a user-operated door. The system can include a trigger device, a sensor, an audio transducer that generates the produced audio from an audio signal, an audio chip and one or more processors. The sensor can detect the trigger device when the trigger device is in close proximity, and the one or more processors can be operably connected to the sensor and to the audio chip, where the one or more processors signal the audio chip to send the audio signal to the audio transducer. The one or more processors can further receive and record a status signal indicating that the door is in an opened state. Systems can further include an environmental sensor that measures environmental information.

Audio system for a collection box

A retractable arm device, system, and method with a locking mechanism for preventing items placed in a device or receptacle from getting stuck, damaged, or torn. The retractable arm includes an inner tube, a pawl, and an outer tube surrounding the inner tube. The inner tube slides within the outer tube and the pawl preventing the retractable arm from moving into an extended position under particular conditions. The retractable arm may be placed in a receptacle for items to prevent the door from being reopened before the door is fully closed.

Anti-tearing retractable arm for a collection box

Systems, devices, and methods of locking a lockable volume. The lock may comprise a bolt and a slider. The slider moves linearly to move the bolt in position to engage a securement feature. The engagement of the bolt with the securement feature secures the securement feature, thereby locking the door to which the securement feature is attached.

Lock

A lockout device for an opening of a collection box, such as a postal collection box. The lockout device can include a cover sized to block the opening to prevent access to the contents of the collection box through the opening. In one example, the cover can be assembled over the opening and a locking pin can be inserted through apertures in the lateral sides of the opening walls and lateral sides of the cover. The locking pin can be lock in place using a lock and lock guard. In another example, the cover includes an internal extension assembly with clamping mechanisms that can engage with the lateral sides of the opening.

Growing community of inventors

Baltimore, MD, United States of America

William Albert Tartal