Receptacle for Receiving a Package and Preventing Theft of the Package

Abstract

A receptacle for safely receiving and holding delivery packages. The receptacle includes an inlet that is in communication with an interior space. The inlet provides for insertion of the package in a first direction into the interior space. The inlet is further configured to prevent the package from being moved in an opposing second direction and removed from the interior space.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A receptacle configured to receive a package, the receptacle comprising:
 a housing that extends around and forms an interior space and with an opening that leads into the interior space;   a plurality of flaps mounted to the housing and forming an inlet into the interior space, the flaps pivotally mounted to the housing and movable between a closed position and an open position; and   the flaps are positioned in a non-overlapping arrangement and configured to pivot independently from the other flaps between the open and closed positions.   
     
     
         2 . The receptacle of  claim 1 , wherein each of the flaps comprises an outer end connected to the housing and an inner end positioned at the inlet with the inlet positioned at a central section of the opening. 
     
     
         3 . The receptacle of  claim 1 , wherein each of the flaps comprises a triangular shape with a larger base positioned at the housing and a narrower inner end comprising a pointed tip positioned at the inlet. 
     
     
         4 . The receptacle of  claim 1 , further comprising biasing members that apply a force to the flaps to bias the flaps towards the closed position. 
     
     
         5 . The receptacle of  claim 1 , further comprising a secondary opening extends through the housing and into the interior space with the secondary opening positioned away from the opening. 
     
     
         6 . A receptacle configured to receive a package, the receptacle comprising:
 a hollow housing having a top wall, a bottom wall, lateral walls, and a rear wall and with an opening at a front that extends into an interior space;   a plurality of flaps mounted to the housing and positioned at the opening with the flaps pivotally mounted to the housing and movable between a closed position and an open position, and with an inlet formed at the inner ends of the flaps with the inlet in communication with the interior space;   biasing members that bias the flaps towards the closed position; and   the flaps are configured to pivot independently from the other flaps between the open and closed positions.   
     
     
         7 . The receptacle of  claim 6 , wherein the flaps are separated by gaps. 
     
     
         8 . The receptacle of  claim 6 , wherein the inner ends of the flaps comprise a pointed tip that face towards the inlet, and with the inner ends have a smaller width than outer ends that are positioned at the housing. 
     
     
         9 . The receptacle of  claim 6 , further comprising a door mounted to the housing with the door being movable between an open position away from the opening and a closed position that extends across the opening, and with the door overlapping the flaps in the closed position. 
     
     
         10 . The receptacle of  claim 9 , further comprising a rod mounted to the door and positioned to extend into the inlet when the door is in the closed position. 
     
     
         11 . The receptacle of  claim 10 , wherein the rod is positioned in the opening and is spaced away from the flaps with the door in the closed position. 
     
     
         12 . The receptacle of  claim 11 , wherein the rod has a length to extend beyond the flaps and into the interior space when the door is in the closed position. 
     
     
         13 . The receptacle of  claim 6 , wherein the flaps are mounted to the housing with the outer ends of the flaps positioned axially inward from an edge of the housing. 
     
     
         14 . The receptacle of  claim 6 , wherein the flaps are positioned in a non-overlapping arrangement and configured to pivot independently from the other flaps between the open and closed positions. 
     
     
         15 . A method of inserting a package into a receptacle, the method comprising:
 aligning the package with an inlet in the receptacle with the inlet formed from a plurality of flaps that are biased towards a closed position and that extend across an opening in a housing;   inserting the package a first amount into the inlet and contacting the package against the flaps and pivoting the flaps a first amount inwards towards and interior space of the housing;   maintaining the package partially inserted into the inlet;   while the package is partially inserted into the opening, closing a door of the receptacle and contacting the door against the package;   closing the door across the inlet and forcing the package with the door through the inlet and beyond the flaps; and   pivoting the flaps of the first set back to the closed position.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein contacting the door against the package comprises contacting a rod that extends outward from an inner side of the door against the package. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising positioning the rod in the inlet after the packaged has moved through the flaps and the flaps have returned to the closed position.