Internet delivery lock box

Abstract

Disclosed is a temporary storage device associated with a home or office building for use in temporarily storing delivered goods. The storage device has a compartment with an access door associated with a locking device and preferably a handcart. In some embodiments, the storage device is integrated into a wall of a home or office associated with the storage device and further includes a second access door. In other embodiments, a temporary storage device system is provided having a switch means connected to the locking device, an input device, and a control unit, where access to the storage device is granted through entry of a valid security code. Also disclosed is a method for ordering goods from a remote location for delivery into the storage device. In some embodiments, a security code generated at the time of the order is provided to a commercial carrier to access the temporary storage device upon delivery of the good.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A temporary storage device associated with a home or office building for use in temporarily storing delivered goods, said storage device comprising: 
 a compartment having an access door provided with a locking device.    
     
     
         2 . The temporary storage device of    claim 1   , wherein the storage device further comprises a handcart associated with said compartment.  
     
     
         3 . The temporary storage device of    claim 1   , wherein the temporary storage device further comprises: 
 a second access door;    wherein the first access door comprises primary access for delivery of goods; and    wherein the second access door comprises primary access for retrieval of goods.    
     
     
         4 . The temporary storage device of    claim 3    wherein the locking device is configured as a one way access door.  
     
     
         5 . The temporary storage device of    claim 3   , wherein: 
 the second access door is provided with a locking device.    
     
     
         6 . The temporary storage device of    claim 3   , wherein the storage device further comprises a handcart associated with said compartment.  
     
     
         7 . The temporary storage device of    claim 3   , wherein the storage device includes at least one of a cooling means, a heating means, an insulating means, a shelf, a bar to hang certain goods, and weather resistant materials.  
     
     
         8 . The temporary storage device of    claim 3   , wherein the storage device is integrated into a wall of the structure wherein 
 a first access door made is made assessable for receiving deliveries on the exterior of the structure; and    a second access door is made assessable for retrieving deliveries on the interior of the structure.    
     
     
         9 . A temporary storage device system associated with a home or office building for use in temporarily storing delivered goods comprising: 
 a compartment having an access door provided with a locking device;    a switch means connected to said locking device for causing unlocking of the locking device;    an input device for receiving data;    a control unit in communication with the input device and the switch means, wherein the control unit receives data from the input device; and    whereby, a security code is stored in a memory associated with the control unit and an access code is entered into the input device and transmitted to the control unit, whereupon access is granted to said compartment, upon entry of a valid access code, by activating the switch means to unlock the associated locking device.    
     
     
         10 . The temporary storage device system of    claim 9   , wherein the input device comprises at least one of a keypad, a card reader, a telephone modem, a DSL modem, a cable modem, a radio receiver, a cellular receiver, and a satellite receiver.  
     
     
         11 . The temporary storage device system of    claim 9   , wherein the storage device further comprises a communication device for receiving data from a public information network, wherein a temporary access code to the storage device is received from a public information network and stored in a memory associated with the control unit.  
     
     
         12 . The temporary storage device system of    claim 9   , wherein the control unit comprises a microprocessor.  
     
     
         13 . The temporary storage device system of    claim 9   , wherein a handcart is disposed within the compartment.  
     
     
         14 . The temporary storage device system of    claim 9   , wherein the temporary storage device further comprises: 
 a second access door;    wherein the first access door comprises primary access for delivery of goods; and    wherein the second access door comprises primary access for retrieval of goods.    
     
     
         15 . The temporary storage device of    claim 14   , wherein the locking device is configured as a one way access door.  
     
     
         16 . The temporary storage device of    claim 14   , wherein: 
 the second access door is provided with a locking device.    
     
     
         17 . The temporary storage device of    claim 14   , wherein a handcart is disposed within the storage compartment.  
     
     
         18 . The temporary storage device of    claim 14   , wherein the storage device includes at least one of a cooling means, a heating means, an insulating means, a shelf, a bar to hang certain goods, and weather resistant materials.  
     
     
         19 . The temporary storage device of    claim 14   , wherein the temporary storage device is integrated into a wall of the structure wherein 
 a first access door made is made assessable for receiving deliveries on the exterior of the structure; and    a second access door is made assessable for retrieving deliveries on the interior of the structure.    
     
     
         20 . A method for ordering goods for delivery into a storage device for use in temporarily storing delivered goods associated with a home or office building of the intended recipient of the delivered goods, said method comprising the steps of: 
 ordering a good from a merchant;    establishing delivery of the good by commercial carrier to the intended recipient;    providing a temporary access code to the commercial carrier;    storing the temporary access code into a memory associated with a control unit associated with the storage device; and    whereby the commercial carrier enters the temporary access code into an input device associated with the storage device and access is granted to a compartment of the storage device upon entry of a valid access code verified by the control unit so that the control unit causes unlocking of a locking device associated with an access door of the storage device.    
     
     
         21 . The method of    claim 20   , where the temporary access code is generated on a web site associated with the merchant of the good.  
     
     
         22 . The method of    claim 21   , where the temporary access code is provided to the commercial carrier by the merchant.  
     
     
         23 . The method of    claim 21   , where the temporary access code is provided to the commercial carrier by designation on the delivery invoice associated with the good.  
     
     
         24 . The method of    claim 21   , where the temporary access code is provided to the commercial carrier and the intended recipient over the internet upon ordering the good.  
     
     
         25 . The method of    claim 24   , where the temporary access code is provided to the commercial carrier by transmission to the commercial carrier using at least one of a telephone modem, a DSL modem, a cable modem, a radio receiver, a cellular receiver, and satellite receiver.  
     
     
         26 . The method of    claim 20   , where the temporary access code is generated by the intended recipient.  
     
     
         27 . The method of    claim 26   , where the temporary access code is provided to the commercial carrier over the internet  
     
     
         28 . The method of    claim 26   , where the temporary access code is provided to the commercial carrier by transmission to the commercial carrier using at least one of a telephone modem, a DSL modem, a cable mode, a radio receiver, a cellular receiver, and a satellite receiver.  
     
     
         29 . The method of    claim 20   , wherein the storage device provides notification of the existence of a delivered good or an unclosed door, wherein such notification includes at least one of a flag, a light, and a transmission signal to at least one of a home, office, pager, personal digital assistant, and computer.  
     
     
         30 . The method of    claim 20   , where the good is retrieved from the storage device by accessing the access door associated with the storage device.  
     
     
         31 . The method of    claim 20   , where the good is transported to a desired location inside the home or office by a handcart associated with the compartment of the storage device.