Package receiving locker

Abstract

A package-receiving-locker may have a collapsible-locker configured for receiving packages in a safe and secure manner, that minimizes theft opportunities. The collapsible-locker may be removably attachable to a side-hinged-door that a person typically uses for entry/exit of a building, to secure the collapsible-locker to the building, which further minimizes theft opportunities. A door-bracket-assembly, with an adjustable ratchet means, may be used to removably attach the collapsible-locker to a variety of side-hinged-doors of different door widths. The package-receiving-locker may have a pod that is removably attachable to the collapsible-locker. The pod may have some electronics, such as, an external front facing camera, light(s), and at least one battery. The pod may also have a handle configured to hold a weight of the package-receiving-locker. The collapsible-locker may have a second and internal camera for monitoring packages within the collapsible-locker. When not in use, the collapsible-locker may be collapsed into a smaller footprint.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A package-receiving-locker comprising:
 a collapsible-locker configured to receive at least one physical article therein; and   a pod, wherein the pod comprises at least one camera and at least one handle;   wherein the pod is removably attachable to the collapsible-locker by a first-latch of the pod removably engaging a second-latch of the collapsible-locker, wherein the pod comprises the first-latch and the collapsible-locker comprises the second-latch;   wherein the at least one handle of the pod is configured to support a weight of the collapsible-locker, of the pod, and of the at least one physical article up to a predetermined weight limit, when the pod is removably attached to the collapsible-locker.   
     
     
         2 . The package-receiving-locker according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one camera is located on the at least one handle. 
     
     
         3 . The package-receiving-locker according to  claim 1 , wherein the pod comprises at least one light source. 
     
     
         4 . The package-receiving-locker according to  claim 3 , wherein the at least one light source is located on the at least one handle. 
     
     
         5 . The package-receiving-locker according to  claim 3 , wherein the at least one light source at least sometimes operates concurrently with operation of the at least one camera. 
     
     
         6 . The package-receiving-locker according to  claim 1 , wherein the pod houses at least one battery. 
     
     
         7 . The package-receiving-locker according to  claim 6 , wherein the at least one battery is operatively linked to at least some electronics of the collapsible-locker. 
     
     
         8 . The package-receiving-locker according to  claim 6 , wherein the at least one battery is operatively linked to the at least one camera. 
     
     
         9 . The package-receiving-locker according to  claim 1 , wherein the pod comprises at least one connector that is configured to facilitate data communication and/or power communication between at least some electronics of the pod and at least some electronics of the collapsible-locker, when the pod is removably attached to the collapsible-locker. 
     
     
         10 . The package-receiving-locker according to  claim 1 , wherein the collapsible-locker comprises at least one second camera that is separate and distinct from the at least one camera of the pod. 
     
     
         11 . The package-receiving-locker according to  claim 1 , wherein the pod comprises at least one hole configured to have a majority of at least one finger of a user to pass removably into the at least one hole when the user is holding the handle. 
     
     
         12 . The package-receiving-locker according to  claim 1 , wherein the collapsible-locker comprises a pod-receiver, wherein the pod-receiver is configured to receive the pod, wherein the pod-receiver is located on an upper rear portion of the collapsible-locker. 
     
     
         13 . The package-receiving-locker according to  claim 1 , wherein the first-latch is disposed oppositely from the handle on the pod, wherein the handle is located on a top of the pod and the first-latch extends from a lower portion of the handle. 
     
     
         14 . The package-receiving-locker according to  claim 1 , wherein the collapsible-locker has two mutually exclusive configurations, a substantially deployed and expanded configuration and a substantially collapsed configuration, respectively;
 wherein the collapsible-locker comprises a front-wall, two opposing side-walls, a rear-wall, a floor, and a lid; wherein the front-wall, the two opposing side-walls, the rear-wall, the floor, and the lid substantially bound an internal-volume of the collapsible-locker when the collapsible-locker is in the substantially deployed and expanded configuration; and   wherein transitions between the substantially deployed and expanded configuration and the substantially collapsed configuration or vice versa are facilitated by a plurality of hinges, wherein the collapsible-locker comprises the plurality of hinges.   
     
     
         15 . The package-receiving-locker according to  claim 14 , wherein the second-latch is located on an internal surface of the rear-wall of the collapsible-locker. 
     
     
         16 . The package-receiving-locker according to  claim 14 , wherein when the pod is removably attached to the collapsible-locker, the handle extends above the lid when the lid is closed, such that when the lid is closed, the handle is a tallest portion of the package-receiving-locker. 
     
     
         17 . The package-receiving-locker according to  claim 14 , wherein when the pod is removably attached to the collapsible-locker, a rear of the pod does not extend beyond a rear external surface of the rear-wall. 
     
     
         18 . A package-receiving-locker comprising:
 a collapsible-locker configured to receive at least one physical article therein; and   a door-bracket-assembly, wherein a rear of the collapsible-locker is removably attached to the door-bracket-assembly via a top-bracket located on the rear of the collapsible-locker and a top-ledge of the door-bracket-assembly; wherein the door-bracket-assembly comprises a pair of oppositely disposed end-brackets, wherein the pair of oppositely disposed end-brackets are configured to squeeze and grip opposing vertical sides of a side-hinged-door in a manner that prevents the collapsible-locker from sliding down the side-hinged-door up to a predetermined weight limit of the collapsible-locker, the door-bracket-assembly, and the at least one physical article.   
     
     
         19 . The package-receiving-locker according to  claim 18 , wherein the door-bracket-assembly comprises a central-spanner, an extendable-member, and a fixed-member;
 wherein the central-spanner is a first rigid elongate member that has a length that is less than a width between the vertical sides of the side-hinged-door;   wherein the central-spanner has two opposing terminal ends;   wherein the fixed-member is fixedly attached to one of the two opposing terminal ends of the central-spanner;   wherein the extendable-member is adjustably attached to the other of the two opposing terminal ends of the central-spanner;   wherein one of the pair of oppositely disposed end-brackets is attached to an end of the fixed-member disposed away from the central-spanner;   wherein the other of the pair of oppositely disposed end-brackets is attached to an end of the extendable-member disposed away from the central-spanner.   
     
     
         20 . The package-receiving-locker according to  claim 19 , wherein the central-spanner comprises a retract-extend-rod, a lever, and a release-trigger;
 wherein the retract-extend-rod is a second rigid elongate member that is attached to the extendable-member and to the lever and to the release-trigger;   wherein, via ratchet mechanics operation, engagement of the lever pulls at least a portion of the extendable-member into the central-spanner; wherein engagement of the release-triggers allows the at least the portion of the extendable-member to be pulled out of the central-spanner, resulting in the door-bracket-assembly being adjustable to fit a variety of different side-hinged-doors of different door widths up to a predetermined maximum door width.