Parcel delivery system and delivery apparatus

Abstract

A parcel delivery system, metho and apparatus having a delivery receptacle 1 that is securely affixed to a ground surface 11 located at a consumer's residence 12 or place of business that provides a location signal to a delivery vehicle 22 which has a lid 5 that can be opened by a signal from a delivery vehicle driver to drop in a parcel and closed by another signal while activating an App to notify a consumer with details that a parcel has been delivered. The delivery receptacle would preferably have cushioning material 8 on interior walls to allow a driver to toss a parcel even though unpackaged into the receptacle without damage, thereby making protective packaging unnecessary. A solar panel 21 with battery provides electrical power to the receptacle.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: 
     
         1 . A locking parcel delivery receptacle for receiving a delivered parcel at a consumer's residence of place of business comprising:
 a delivery receptacle having a plurality of walls, a bottom and a lid forming an interior of sufficient size to receive a variety of parcels, said delivery receptacle being fixedly attached to a ground surface;   an electrical power source for opening the lid and fulfilling other electrical requirements of the receptacle;   a remotely activated lid opening, closing and locking apparatus within the delivery receptacle, said apparatus having at least one lifting; and   a software application running on smart devices of a delivery company and the consumer, to activate opening and closing of the lid and notifying a consumer when a parcel has been delivered.   
     
     
         2 . The delivery receptacle of  claim 1  wherein the electrical power source is a solar-powered battery charged by a solar panel on an exterior of the receptacle. 
     
     
         3 . The delivery receptacle of  claim 1  further comprising a light in an interior of the receptacle which is activated when the lid is opened. 
     
     
         4 . The delivery receptacle of  claim 1  further comprising light reflective material on an edge of the lid. 
     
     
         5 . The delivery receptacle of  claim 1  wherein the receptacle is fixedly secured to a ground surface by augur-type screws in the bottom. 
     
     
         6 . The delivery receptacle of  claim 1  further comprising cushioning material on the interior to prevent damage to parcels placed in the receptacle. 
     
     
         7 . A method for delivering parcels at a consumer's residence or place of business, said method comprising:
 remotely activating and opening via smart device a lid on a delivery receptacle located at a consumer's residence or place of business to receive parcels, said delivery receptacle being fixedly secured to a ground surface and having four walls, a bottom and a lid with cushioning material on the bottom and four walls;   closing and locking via smart device the lid to secure a parcel or parcels within the delivery receptacle; and   sending via a software application a delivery signal to the consumer that a parcel has been received within the receptacle and further identifying from whom the parcels or parcels have been delivered.   
     
     
         8 . A parcel delivery system employing a delivery receptacle having a plurality of walls, a bottom and a lid forming an interior of sufficient size to receive a variety of parcels, said delivery receptacle being fixedly attached to a ground surface, an electrical power source for opening the lid and fulfilling other electrical requirements of the receptacle, a remotely activated lid opening, closing and locking apparatus within the delivery receptacle, said apparatus having at least one lifting and a software application running on smart devices of a delivery company and the consumer, to activate opening and closing of the lid and notifying a consumer when a parcel has been delivered said system comprising:
 remotely activating and opening via smart device a lid on the delivery receptacle;   placement of the parcel in the receptacle;   closing and locking via smart device the lid to secure a parcel or parcels within the delivery receptacle; and   sending via a software application a delivery signal to the consumer that a parcel has been received within the receptacle and further identifying from whom the parcels or parcels have been delivered.   
     
     
         9 . The parcel delivery system of  claim 8  wherein the electrical power source is a solar-powered battery charged by a solar panel on an exterior of the receptacle. 
     
     
         10 . The parcel delivery system of  claim 8  further comprising a light in an interior of the receptacle which is activated when the lid is opened. 
     
     
         11 . The parcel delivery system of  claim 8  further comprising light reflective material on an edge of the lid. 
     
     
         12 . The parcel delivery system of  claim 8  wherein the receptacle is fixedly secured to a ground surface by augur-type screws in the bottom. 
     
     
         13 . The parcel delivery system of  claim 8  further comprising cushioning material on the interior to prevent damage to parcels placed in the receptacle. 
     
     
         14 . A method for delivering parcels at a consumer's residence or place of business employing a delivery receptacle located at a consumer's residence or place of business to receive parcels, said delivery receptacle being fixedly secured to a ground surface and having four walls, a bottom and a lid with cushioning material on the bottom and four walls forming an interior and an electrical power source, said method comprising:
 a delivery vehicle driver scans a barcode on a parcel to be delivered which in turn sends a signal via smart device like a mobile phone to the delivery receptacle at a delivery location;   then the delivery vehicle receives a sounding signal back from the delivery receptacle acknowledging receipt of the signal and provides a honing sound which increases in intensity the closer the delivery gets to the delivery receptacle;   the delivery vehicles parks as close as possible to the delivery receptacle located and sends a signal to the receptacle to open the lid;   the driver puts the parcel into the open receptacle, preferably by tossing the parcel if close enough to the receptacle; and   the driver signals the receptacle to close the lid at  19  which also activates via a software application to advise the consumer of delivery details.   
     
     
         15 . The parcel delivery method of  claim 14  wherein the electrical power source is a solar-powered battery charged by a solar panel on an exterior of the receptacle. 
     
     
         16 . The parcel delivery method of  claim 14  further comprising a light in the interior of the receptacle which is activated when the lid is opened. 
     
     
         17 . The parcel delivery method of  claim 14  further comprising light reflective material on an edge of the lid of the receptacle. 
     
     
         18 . The parcel delivery method of  claim 14  wherein the receptacle is fixedly secured to a ground surface by augur-type screws in the bottom. 
     
     
         19 . The parcel delivery method of  claim 14  wherein the receptacle further comprises cushioning material on the interior to prevent damage to parcels placed in the receptacle. 
     
     
         20 . The parcel delivery system of  claim 8  further comprising a honing sound responsive to a signal activated by a delivery driver to assist a delivery vehicle driver in locating a receptacle, said honing signal capable of increasing magnitude as a delivery vehicle becomes closer to the receptacle.