Modular automated locker and method of making same

Abstract

A modular locker comprising at least two vertical towers being positioned side by side. Each vertical tower defines a front opening and a space therein and comprises spaced apart lateral walls interconnected by top, bottom, and rear parts. The lateral walls define respective inner and outer sides. The outer side comprises a protruding contour surrounding a recessed surface. The interfacing lateral walls of adjacent vertical towers are releasably connected defining an enclosure therebetween. A plurality of compartments for containing parcels therein are vertically arranged within each of the towers. Each of the compartments comprises a shelf structure comprising a shelf floor and a door. The shelf floor is mounted to the inner sides of the spaced apart lateral walls. The door is mounted to the tower at the front opening and is movable between open and closed positions thereby providing for selectively accessing the compartment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A modular locker comprising:
 at least two vertical towers being positioned side by side, each of the vertical towers comprising a shell body defining a front opening and a space therein and comprising spaced apart lateral walls being interconnected by top and bottom parts and rear panels, each of the lateral walls defining an inner side and an outer side, the outer side comprising a protruding contour surrounding a recessed surface, the outer side of one the lateral walls of one of the at least two vertical towers interfaces and is releasably connected to the outer side of one of the latera walls of the other one of the at least two vertical towers thereby defining an enclosure therebetween; and   a plurality of compartments for containing parcels therein and being vertically arranged within each of the at least two towers, wherein each of the compartments comprises a shelf structure comprising a shelf floor and a door, the shelf floor being positioned within the space defined by the shell body and mounted to the inner sides of the spaced apart lateral walls, the door being mounted to the tower at the front opening thereof and being movable between open and closed positions thereby providing for selectively accessing the compartment.   
     
     
         2 . A modular locker according to  claim 1 , wherein the outer sides of the lateral walls at each lateral end of the modular locker are covered by shroud panels mounted to the protruding contour thereby defining lateral end enclosures. 
     
     
         3 . A modular locker according to  claim 1 , further comprising sensors mounted to the outer sides of the lateral walls, the lateral walls defining openings for providing the sensors to communicate therebetween for sensing the presence or absence of the parcel within the compartment. 
     
     
         4 . A modular locker according to  claim 1 , further comprising a locking system comprising a plurality of locking devices mounted to the outer side of one the lateral walls of each of the towers and within a space defined by a front lateral part of the protruding contour and the recessed surface and engaging the doors of the compartments for selective locking thereof via openings formed at a front edge of the tower formed along the space defined by the front lateral part of the protruding contour and the recessed surface. 
     
     
         5 . A modular locker according to  claim 4  further comprising a controller in operative communication with the locking system for controlling locking and releasing of each of the doors. 
     
     
         6 . A kit for a modular locker comprising:
 a plurality of vertical towers being positioned side by side, each of the vertical towers comprising a shell body defining a front opening and a space therein and comprising spaced apart lateral walls being interconnected by top and bottom parts and rear panels, each of the lateral walls defining an inner side and an outer side, the outer side comprising a protruding contour surrounding a recessed surface, wherein releasable connection of the outer side of one the lateral walls of a given one of the vertical towers with another adjacent one of the vertical towers defines an enclosure therebetween;   a plurality shelf structures for providing a plurality compartments vertically arranged within each of the towers for containing parcels therein, each of the shelf structures comprising a respective shelf floor and a respective shelf door, the shelf floor providing for being positioned within the space defined by the shell body and mounted to the inner sides of the spaced apart lateral walls, the door providing for being mounted to the tower at the front opening thereof and being movable between open and closed positions thereby providing for selectively accessing the compartment.   
     
     
         7 . The kit of  claim 6 , further comprising shroud panels for being respectively mounted to the protruding contour of each of the outer sides of the lateral walls at each lateral end of the modular locker thereby defining lateral end enclosures. 
     
     
         8 . The kit of  claim 6 , further comprising sensors for being mounted to the outer sides of the lateral walls, the lateral walls defining openings for providing the sensors to communicate therebetween for sensing the presence or absence of the parcel within the compartment. 
     
     
         9 . The kit of  claim 6 , further comprising a locking system comprising a plurality of locking devices for being mounted to the outer side of one the lateral walls of each of the towers and within a space defined by a front lateral part of the protruding contour and the recessed surface foe engaging the doors of the compartments for selective locking thereof via openings formed at a front edge of the tower formed along the space defined by the front lateral part of the protruding contour and the recessed surface. 
     
     
         10 . The kit of  claim 9 , further comprising a controller for being placed in operative communication with the locking system for controlling locking and releasing of each of the doors. 
     
     
         11 . A method of making a modular locker comprising:
 providing a plurality of vertical towers each of the vertical towers comprising a shell body defining a front opening and a space therein and comprising spaced apart lateral walls being interconnected by top and bottom parts and rear panels, each of the lateral walls defining an inner side and an outer side, the outer side comprising a protruding contour surrounding a recessed surface;   positioning the plurality of side by side,   releasably connecting the outer side of one the lateral walls of a given one of the vertical towers with another adjacent one of the vertical towers thereby defining an enclosure therebetween;   providing a plurality shelf structures for providing a plurality compartments vertically arranged within each of the towers for containing parcels therein, each of the shelf structures comprising a respective shelf floor and a respective shelf door;   positioning each of the shelf floors within the space defined by the shell body of the vertical towers;   mounting each of the shelf floors to the inner sides of the spaced apart lateral walls of each of the vertical towers;   mounting each of the doors to each of the towers the tower at the front opening thereof for defining respective compartments within respective ones of the shelf floors, each of the doors being movable between open and closed positions thereby providing for selectively accessing the compartment.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising mounting shroud panels to the protruding contour of each of the outer sides of the lateral walls at each lateral end of the modular locker thereby defining lateral end enclosures. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising mounting sensors to the outer sides of the lateral walls, the lateral walls defining openings for providing the sensors to communicate therebetween for sensing the presence or absence of the parcel within the compartment. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising providing a locking system comprising mounting a plurality of locking devices to the outer side of one the lateral walls of each of the towers and within a space defined by a front lateral part of the protruding contour and the recessed surface for engaging the doors of the compartments for selective locking thereof via openings formed at a front edge of the tower formed along the space defined by the front lateral part of the protruding contour and the recessed surface. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising providing operative communication between a controller with the locking system for controlling locking and releasing of each of the doors.