Patent Application
20220248888
This invention relates to an improved doormat; more particularly, an improved doormat comprising a collapsible storage apparatus.
E-commerce has significantly grown over the past decade and with such growth has brought an increase to home deliveries. Many packages are delivered at the front of an occupant's door, and many are not retrieved by the occupant until later in the day. An unfortunate result of increased home deliveries is that thefts for packages have increased to the point that the perpetrators have been unofficially been given a title of “porch pirate”.
There are many solutions in the public domain attempting to solve this problem. Some use a combination of alarms and cameras to deter theft. However, this provides no physical deterrent and given the ease and short time required to grab a package and subsequently escape, alarms and cameras alone are an insufficient solution.
Many solutions include using a box or container which is capable of locking once the package is placed inside. Although this solution may be effective for preventing theft, many of the containers are too large to fit in the space available in front of the door. Additionally, the containers are constantly in view and may considered to be unsightly.
There is a need for a convenient way of protecting package deliveries from theft and damage without requiring a large and unsightly container.
The disclosure concerns an improved doormat having an anchored frame surrounding a center portion. A collapsible storage apparatus is rotatably coupled to the anchored frame and is configured to deploy into an expanded state and retract into a collapsed state. The collapsible storage apparatus is configured to store and secure delivered packages.
In some embodiments, the center portion comprises a doormat material disposed on an upper surface thereof. In some embodiments, the collapsible storage apparatus is disposed between the center portion and the anchored frame while in a collapsed state.
Other features, combinations, and embodiments will be appreciated by one having the ordinary level of skill in the art upon a thorough review of the following details and descriptions, particularly when reviewed in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:
For purposes of explanation and not limitation, details and descriptions of certain preferred embodiments are hereinafter provided such that one having ordinary skill in the art may be enabled to make and use the invention. These details and descriptions are representative only of certain preferred embodiments, however, a myriad of other embodiments which will not be expressly described will be readily understood by one having skill in the art upon a thorough review of the instant disclosure. Accordingly, any reviewer of the instant disclosure should interpret the scope of the invention only by the claims, as such scope is not intended to be limited by the embodiments described and illustrated herein.
Unless explicitly defined herein, terms are to be construed in accordance with the plain and ordinary meaning as would be appreciated by one having skill in the art.
In one embodiment, an improved doormat is disclosed. The improved doormat comprises an anchored frame anchored to a ground surface, the anchored frame comprising a plurality of sides and a latch disposed on at least one of the plurality of sides, a center portion disposed within the anchored frame, the center portion having an upper surface and a lower surface opposite the upper surface, the center portion further comprising a coupler element configured to couple to the latch when the improved doormat is in a collapsed state, and a collapsible storage apparatus rotatably coupled to the anchored frame, the collapsible storage apparatus being disposed between the anchored frame and the center portion. The collapsible storage apparatus comprises the center portion rotatably coupled to the anchored frame, a front portion opposite the center portion, a first collapsible side coupled to the lower surface of the center portion and further coupled to the front portion, a second collapsible side coupled to the lower surface of the center portion and further coupled to the front portion, and a lid rotatably coupled to the front portion. The upper surface of the center portion comprises a doormat material.
In some embodiments, the improved doormat may further comprise a plurality of gas springs, wherein each of the plurality of gas springs is coupled to the anchored frame and further coupled to the lower surface of the center portion.
In a second embodiment, an improved doormat is disclosed. The improved doormat comprises an anchored frame anchored to a ground surface, the anchored frame comprising a plurality of sides, a center portion disposed within the anchored frame, the center portion having an upper surface and a lower surface opposite the upper surface, and a collapsible storage apparatus rotatably coupled to the anchored frame, wherein the collapsible storage apparatus is disposed between the anchored frame and the center portion.
In some embodiments, the upper surface may further comprise a doormat material.
In some embodiments, the improved doormat may further comprise a plurality of gas springs, wherein each of the plurality of gas springs is coupled to the anchored frame and further coupled to the lower surface of the center portion.
In some embodiments, the anchored frame may further comprise a latch. IN some embodiments, the center portion may further comprise a coupler element configured to couple to the latch when the improved doormat is in a collapsed state.
In some embodiments, the collapsible storage apparatus may comprise the center portion rotatably coupled to the anchored frame, a front portion opposite the center portion, a first collapsible side coupled to the lower surface of the center portion and further coupled to the front portion, a second collapsible side coupled to the lower surface of the center portion and further coupled to the front portion, and a lid rotatably coupled to the front portion.
In some embodiments, the center portion may further comprise a coupler element and the lid may further comprise an aperture such that the coupler element is configured to be inserted through the aperture.
In some embodiments, the collapsible storage apparatus may comprise a terminal end rotatably coupled to the anchored frame and a canopy frame coupled to the anchored frame and further coupled to the terminal end. In some embodiments, the canopy frame includes a canopy and one or more ribs. In some embodiments, the terminal end is rotatably coupled to the anchored frame at a first major side. The terminal end may be further coupled to the anchored frame at a second major side.
In a third embodiment an improved doormat is disclosed. The improved doormat comprises an anchored frame anchored to a ground surface, the anchored frame comprising a plurality of sides, a center portion disposed within the anchored frame, the center portion having an upper surface and a lower surface opposite the upper surface, and a collapsible storage apparatus rotatably coupled to the anchored frame. The upper surface comprises a doormat material.
In some embodiments, the collapsible storage apparatus may be disposed between the anchored frame and the center portion.
In some embodiments, the improved doormat may further comprise a plurality of gas springs, wherein each of the plurality of gas springs is coupled to the anchored frame and further coupled to the lower surface of the center portion.
In some embodiments, the anchored frame may further comprise a latch. IN some embodiments, the center portion may further comprise a coupler element configured to couple to the latch when the improved doormat is in a collapsed state.
In some embodiments, the collapsible storage apparatus may comprise the center portion rotatably coupled to the anchored frame, a front portion opposite the center portion, a first collapsible side coupled to the lower surface of the center portion and further coupled to the front portion, a second collapsible side coupled to the lower surface of the center portion and further coupled to the front portion, and a lid rotatably coupled to the front portion.
In some embodiments, the center portion may further comprise a coupler element and the lid may further comprise an aperture such that the coupler element is configured to be inserted through the aperture.
In some embodiments, the collapsible storage apparatus may comprise a terminal end rotatably coupled to the anchored frame and a canopy frame coupled to the anchored frame and further coupled to the terminal end. In some embodiments, the canopy frame includes a canopy and one or more ribs . . . . In some embodiments, the terminal end is rotatably coupled to the anchored frame at a first major side. The terminal end may be further coupled to the anchored frame at a second major side.
The doormat material may comprise a material that is conventionally used for doormats, including polyvinyl chloride, coir, rubber, polypropylene, polyester, cotton, cloth, fabric, palmyra, fiber, nylon, or a combination thereof. Other durable materials may also be utilized.
The collapsible storage apparatus may be manufacture from materials such as various kinds of metals and plastics. Examples of plastics include polypropylene, polyethylene, and polycarbonate. The canopy may comprise material which is resistant to cutting, tearing, water or sun, and any combination thereof. Examples can nylon fabric, polyester, polyvinyl chloride, or any other material known to one having skill in the art which has the preferable flexibility and durability for the package cover apparatus.
Each of the components of the improved doormat and described herein may be manufactured and/or assembled in accordance with the conventional knowledge and level of a person having skill in the art.
While various details, features, combinations are described in the illustrated embodiments, one having skill in the art will appreciate a myriad of possible alternative combinations and arrangements of the features disclosed herein. As such, the descriptions are intended to be enabling only, and non-limiting. Instead, the spirit and scope of the invention is set forth in the appended claims.
Now turning to the drawings,
The center portion (110) is rotatably coupled to the anchored frame (120) at a hinge (130) disposed at the second major side (122). The center portion disengages from a latch (127) at the first major side (121) and rotates about the second major side. Disposed at corners of the anchored frame are anchor points (125) for providing anchoring to a ground surface.
The center portion (110) further comprises a coupler element (118) configured to engage with a latch (127) disposed on the first major side (121) of the anchored frame (120). When the latch is disengaged from the coupler element, the center portion is configured to rotate upwards with assistance of springs (150), such as gas springs or the like. The gas springs can be configured to lift the center portion by themselves, or can be configured to assist a user from raising the center portion by providing an upward force when deploying into the expanded state, and further configured to provide a dampening force when retracting into a collapsed state.
The lid (146) is rotatably coupled to the front portion (145) and is configured to couple with the center portion (110) at a coupler element (118) disposed on the center portion. In one embodiment, the lid comprises an aperture configured to receive the coupler element wherein upon the apparatus engaging with the coupler element, a locking device can be used to lock the collapsible storage apparatus (140). While in a locked state, the collapsible storage apparatus cannot retract down into a collapse state due to the rigidity of the lid preventing the front portion from moving closer to the center portion, which thereby prevents the first collapsible side (141) and second collapsible side (143) from collapsing.
One or more springs (150) are shown coupled to the lower surface (117) of the center portion and further coupled to the anchored frame (120). The springs may include gas springs or the like, and are configured to assist with deploying and retracting the collapsible storage apparatus (140).
Once packages are retrieved from inside the collapsible storage apparatus (140), the improved doormat (100) can be collapsed back down into a collapsed state. Steps of collapsing the collapsible storage apparatus may include lifting the lid (146) and rotating the lid until the lid is parallel with and tangent to the front portion (145). The first and second collapsible sides (141; 143) and then pushed inward, causing the front portion and lid to retract closer to the center portion (110). When the lid, front portion, and first and second collapsible sides are fully collapsed together, the center portion can then be rotatably closed until a coupler element (118) engages with a latch on the anchored frame (120).
The anchored frame (220) comprises a first major side (221), a second major side (222), a first minor side (223), and a second minor side (224). As shown, the terminal end (273) is rotatably coupled to the anchored frame at the second major side wherein the canopy frame (270) is coupled to the anchored frame at the first major side, the first minor side, and the second minor side. As the terminal end rotates about the second major side towards a ground surface adjacent to the second major side, the canopy frame deploys until the terminal end makes contact the ground surface. Generally, the canopy frame is characterized as being in a semi-circle formation when in full deployment. In other embodiments, the terminal end is rotatably coupled to one of the other sides of the anchored frame. For example, the terminal end may be rotatably coupled to the first minor side and the canopy frame is coupled to the anchored frame at the first major side, the second major side, and the second minor side.
The center portion (210) includes an upper surface (216) and a lower surface opposite the upper surface. The upper surface may include a doormat material (211) configured to perform functions of a doormat include drying and/or cleaning feet before entering a household. In some embodiments, the center portion is fixedly coupled to the anchored frame (220) at the lower surface. In other embodiments, the center portion is configured to be interchangeable, thereby allowing a user to switch doormat materials and designs as desired.
As shown, the collapsible storage apparatus (240) is shown in a collapsed state with the ribs (271) nested within each other. In alternative embodiments, the ribs may stack on top of one another. The terminal end (273) is disposed between the ribs and the center portion and a portion of the canopy disposed outside an outermost rib is coupled at or near the sides of the anchored frame (220).
In some embodiments, sensors are utilized instead of or in combination with the actuator (260) for means of deploying the collapsible storage apparatus (240). Such sensors may include IR, proximity, pressure, or any other kind that can be appreciated by one having skill in the art for detecting a presence of one or more packages.
Generally, one or more packages are placed on top of or immediately in front of the center portion (210) while the collapsible storage apparatus (240) is in a collapsed state. Once the packages are in a proper position, the collapsible storage apparatus is deployed and the terminal end (272) and canopy frame (270) rotate away from the anchored frame (220) and unfolds as the terminal end rotates towards the ground surface in front of the doormat.
In some embodiments, the collapsible storage apparatus (240) is manually deployed by a user pulling and rotating the terminal end (273) until the canopy frame (270) reaches a locked position. In other embodiments, an actuator (260;
In some embodiments, the anchored frame (220) couples to the ground surface by use of adhesive, glue, fasteners, or any other means of coupling that can be appreciated by one having skill in the art. In other embodiments, the anchored frame couples to the ground surface by a weight that makes moving and transporting the improved doormat (200) prohibitively difficult.
In some embodiments, the anchored frame (220) entirely surrounds the center portion (210). In other embodiment, the anchored frame surrounds the center portion at three of four sides of the center portion, preferably the first major edge (212), the first minor side (214), and the second minor side (215), thereby leaving the second major edge (213) exposed. Said embodiments can be characterized as the anchored frame having a right-angled horseshoe or a C-shaped configuration. The exposed edge can be located at a front of the center portion facing away from a house, thereby creating no obstructions when a person walks up and onto the center portion. This embodiment is preferable for thinner doormats and provides ease of sweeping the improved doormat.
The canopy (272) is shown being translucent for illustrative purposes and in a preferable embodiment is opaque to prevent a thief from observing packages contained within the collapsible storage apparatus (240).
The collapsible storage apparatus (340) may further comprise a handle (380) for ease of pulling the terminal end (373) into an expanded state. The anchored fame comprises a latch (327) disposed on the second minor side, the latch being configured to couple with the collapsible storage apparatus while in the expanded state. A plurality of hinges (330) is disposed at the first major side (321) and the second major side (322) to provide means of rotation for the terminal end.
This application claims benefit of priority with U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/148,577, filed Feb. 11, 2021; the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63148577 | Feb 2021 | US |
