Underground package and mail container system

Abstract

According to one example, an underground container system includes a container fixedly positioned underground and anchored to a concrete structure that is also fixedly positioned underground. The container includes a bottom, one or more sidewalls coupled to and extending upward from the bottom to form an internal chamber of the container, a lid coupled to at least one of the sidewalls, and an electronic lock configured to lock and unlock the lid. The internal chamber is configured to receive and hold one or more articles of mail and/or one or more packages. The lid is configured to move to an open position and to a closed position. The lid includes an exterior surface that is positioned at a height that is at least substantially flush with a ground surface when the lid is in the closed position. The concrete structure covers an exterior surface of the bottom of the container and further covers at least a portion of an exterior surface of each of the one or more sidewalls.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An underground container system, comprising:
 a container fixedly positioned underground, the container comprising:
 a bottom; 
 one or more sidewalls coupled to and extending upward from the bottom to form an internal chamber of the container, the internal chamber being configured to receive and hold one or more articles of mail and/or one or more packages; 
 a lid coupled to at least one of the sidewalls, the lid configured to move to an open position and further configured to move to a closed position, the lid comprising an exterior surface that is positioned at a height that is at least substantially flush with a ground surface when the lid is in the closed position; and 
 an electronic lock configured to lock and unlock the lid; and 
   a concrete structure fixedly positioned underground, the concrete structure covering an exterior surface of the bottom of the container and further covering at least a portion of an exterior surface of each of the one or more sidewalls, the container being anchored to the concrete structure.   
     
     
         2 . A method for installing an underground container system, comprising:
 fixedly positioning a container underground, the container comprising:
 a bottom; 
 one or more sidewalls coupled to and extending upward from the bottom to form an internal chamber of the container, the internal chamber being configured to receive and hold one or more articles of mail and/or one or more packages; 
 a lid coupled to at least one of the sidewalls, the lid configured to move to an open position and further configured to move to a closed position, the lid comprising an exterior surface, wherein the container is fixedly positioned at a location where the exterior surface of the lid is at a height that is at least substantially flush with a ground surface when the lid is in the closed position; and 
 an electronic lock configured to lock and unlock the lid; and 
   fixedly positioning a concrete structure underground, the concrete structure covering an exterior surface of the bottom of the container and further covering at least a portion of an exterior surface of each of the one or more sidewalls, the container being anchored to the concrete structure.   
     
     
         3 . A method for delivering one or more articles of mail and/or one or more packages, comprising:
 approaching a container fixedly positioned underground, the container comprising:
 a bottom; 
 one or more sidewalls coupled to and extending upward from the bottom to form an internal chamber of the container; 
 a lid coupled to at least one of the sidewalls, the lid configured to move to an open position and further configured to move to a closed position, the lid comprising an exterior surface that is positioned at a height that is at least substantially flush with a ground surface when the lid is in the closed position; and 
 an electronic lock configured to lock and unlock the lid, 
 wherein the container is anchored to a concrete structure fixedly positioned underground, the concrete structure covering an exterior surface of the bottom of the container and further covering at least a portion of an exterior surface of each of the one or more sidewalls; 
   communicating with the electronic lock to unlock the lid; and   while the lid is in the open position, positioning the one or more articles of mail and/or the one or more packages within the internal chamber of the container.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising opening the lid so that the lid is in the open position. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising closing the lid so that the lid is in the closed position.