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.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an automated locker. More specifically but not exclusively, the disclosure relates to a modular automated locker and method of making modular automated lockers.

BACKGROUND

Automated lockers such as smart lockers used anywhere where people congregate as condo buildings, multi-family residential complexes, metro stations, train stations, airports and the like are well known. With increased online purchases, the delivery of parcels to multiplex buildings has become very common. This has caused several problems, such as too many parcels in the entrances of buildings or items being misplaced in front of the wrong apartment door, items being stolen or lost in the shuffle. Smart lockers are placed in the lobbies of commercial or residential buildings for example to provide a secure form of delivering such parcels. Couriers place a parcel in a given compartment of the locker. The receiving client is notified that their parcel has arrived and can access the compartment via an access code which allows them to open the door of the given compartment.

OBJECTS

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a modular locker.

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a kit for a modular locker.

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a method of making a modular locker.

SUMMARY

In an accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided 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.

In an embodiment of the modular locker, 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.

In an embodiment, the modular locker further comprises 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.

In an embodiment, the modular locker further comprises 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. In an embodiment, the modular locker further comprises a controller in operative communication with the locking system for controlling locking and releasing of each of the doors.

In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided 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.

In an embodiment, the kit further comprises 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.

In an embodiment, the kit further comprises 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.

In an embodiment, the kit further comprises 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. In an embodiment, the kit further comprises a controller for being placed in operative communication with the locking system for controlling locking and releasing of each of the doors.

In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided 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.

In an embodiment, the method further comprises 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.

In an embodiment, the method further comprises 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.

In an embodiment, the method further comprises 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.

providing operative communication between a controller with the locking system for controlling locking and releasing of each of the doors.

In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a modular automated locker comprising: a cabinet frame defining a front face thereof; a plurality of vertical towers for being fitted side by side within the cabinet frame and being selectively removable therefrom, each of the vertical towers defining a respective open front face thereof corresponding to the front face of the cabinet frame; a plurality of preformed compartment shelves of differing heights. each of the preformed compartment shelves comprising a respective correspondingly sized door, each door being lockable via a locking mechanism, the compartment shelves being vertically stacked within respective towers and removably fastened thereto such that the doors are positioned at the tower front faces; and a controller in operative communication with the locking mechanism of each door for controlling locking and unlocking of each door, wherein parcels are placed within the compartment shelves to be retrieved when the corresponding door thereof is unlocked.

In an embodiment, the locker further comprises a tensioner system for vertically adjusting the vertical stack of compartment shelves within the vertical tower.

In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method of making a modular automated locker, the method comprising: providing a cabinet frame defining a front face thereof; providing a plurality of vertical towers; removably fitting the vertical towers side by side within the cabinet each of the vertical towers defining a respective open front face thereof corresponding to the front face of the cabinet frame when fitted therein; providing a plurality of preformed compartment shelves of differing heights. each of the preformed compartment shelves providing for receiving parcels and comprising a respective correspondingly sized door, each door being lockable via a locking mechanism; vertically stacking the compartment shelves within respective towers; and removably fastening the stacked compartment shelves to the respective towers such that the doors are positioned at the tower front faces; and providing a controller in operative communication with the locking mechanism of each door for controlling locking and unlocking of each door.

In an embodiment, the method further comprises: providing tension to the vertically stacked compartment shelves to push them upwardly for proper alignment within the corresponding towers.

Other objects, advantages and features of the present disclosure will become more apparent upon reading of the following non-restrictive description of illustrative embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the appended drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective front and side view of the modular automated locker in accordance with a non-restrictive illustrative embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 2 a front view of a compartment with an open door of the modular automated locker in accordance with a non-restrictive illustrative embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a perspective front and side view of a tower of the modular automated locker in accordance with a non-restrictive illustrative embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a perspective front and side view of a plurality of differently sized compartment shelves for being mounted with one or more of the towers shown in Figure in accordance with a non-restrictive illustrative embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a perspective front view of a plurality of towers with various sized compartment shelfs mounted therein proving compartments with doors of various sizes and configurations in accordance with a non-restrictive illustrative embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a compartment shelf in accordance with a non-restrictive illustrative embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a plurality of compartment shelves assembled together for being fitted in a common tower in accordance with a non-restrictive illustrative embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the tower of FIG. 3 in accordance with a non-restrictive illustrative embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 9 is an exploded view of the tower of FIG. 3 in accordance with a non-restrictive illustrative embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 10 is a perspective front and side view of a tower containing the automatedlocker controller in accordance with a non-restrictive illustrative embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 11 is a disassembled view of the tower of FIG. 10 in accordance with a non-restrictive illustrative embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 12 is a perspective front and side view of the modular automated locker in accordance with another non-restrictive illustrative embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of one the two vertical towers of the modular locker of FIG. 12 in a separated or disconnected position in accordance with a non-restrictive illustrative embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of another one the two vertical towers of the modular locker of FIG. 12 in a separated or disconnected position in accordance with a non-restrictive illustrative embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 15 is a perspective exploded view of the modular locker of FIG. 12 in accordance with a non-restrictive illustrative embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the shell body of the vertical tower of the modular locker of FIG. 12 in accordance with a non-restrictive illustrative embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 17 is a perspective exploded view of the shell body of FIG. 16 in accordance with a non-restrictive illustrative embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a plurality of shelf structures of varying sizes for the modular locker of the present disclosure in accordance with a non-restrictive illustrative embodiment thereof;

FIG. 19 is a perspective front and side view of a shelf structure for the modular locker of the present disclosure in accordance with a non-restrictive illustrative embodiment thereof;

FIG. 20 is a perspective rear and side view of the shelf structure of FIG. 19 in accordance with a non-restrictive illustrative embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 21 is a perspective exploded view of the shelf structure of FIG. 19 in accordance with a non-restrictive illustrative embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 22 is a partial perspective view of the vertical tower of the modular locker of the present disclosure in accordance with a non-restrictive illustrative embodiment thereof;

FIG. 22 is partial perspective view of the shell body of vertical tower of the present disclosure in accordance with a non-restrictive illustrative embodiment thereof;

FIG. 24 is a perspective, front and side view of a shelf structure with a controller in accordance with a non-restrictive illustrative embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 25 is a perspective, rear and side view of the shelf structure with the controller of FIG. 24 in accordance with a non-restrictive illustrative embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 26 is a partial side view the vertical tower of the modular locker of the present disclosure in accordance with a non-restrictive illustrative embodiment thereof;

FIG. 27 is a partial perspective front view the vertical tower of the modular locker of the present disclosure in accordance with a non-restrictive illustrative embodiment thereof;

FIG. 28 is a close-up view of the locking system of the of the modular locker of the present disclosure in accordance with a non-restrictive illustrative embodiment thereof;

FIG. 29 is a perspective view of the locking device and latch of the locking system of FIG. 28 in accordance with a non-restrictive illustrative embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 30 is another close up perspective view of the locking system of the of the modular locker of the present disclosure in accordance with a non-restrictive illustrative embodiment thereof; and

FIG. 31 is a perspective view of various top elements of the modular locker of the present disclosure in accordance with a non-restrictive illustrative embodiment thereof;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

Generally stated and in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a modular automated locker that comprises a cabinet frame defining a front face for removably fitting therein a plurality of vertical towers side by side. Each of the vertical towers defining a respective open front face thereof corresponding to the front face of the cabinet frame. A plurality of preformed compartment shelves of differing heights are vertically stacked within each tower. Each of the preformed compartment shelves comprises a respective correspondingly sized door. Each door is lockable via a locking mechanism. The vertically stacked compartments are removably fastened within respective towers such that the doors are positioned at the tower front faces. A controller controls locking and unlocking of each door. Parcels are placed within the compartment shelves to be retrieved when the corresponding door thereof is unlocked.

FIG. 1 shows a modular automated locker 10 in accordance with a non-restrictive illustrative embodiment of the disclosure. The automated locker 10 comprises an external cabinet frame 12 for fitting therein a plurality of side by side positioned vertical towers 14 (see FIG. 3) having doors 16 of various sizes and configuration. At least one tower 14′ includes a controller 18 which will be discussed in further detail below. A shown in FIG. 2, each door 16 is hingeably connected to its compartment 20 in order to allow access therein for retrieving and/or returning parcels P.

Turning to FIG. 3, each tower 14 defines an internal space 21 for receiving compartment shelfs 24 (see FIG. 4) therein. Each tower 14 has a pair of lateral sides 22A and 22B with rivet apertures 23 for attaching compartment shelves 24 thereto between the top and bottom sides 26 and 28, respectively of the tower 14.

A plurality of differently sized pre-formed compartment shelfs 24 are provided as shown in FIG. 4. In this example, there are five sizes, namely compartment shelfs 24A, 24B, 24C 24D and 24E each with respective doors 16A, 16B, 16C, 16D and 16E of a corresponding size. Various ones of the shelfs 24 can be vertically assembled within space 21 of the tower 14 in various configurations as shown by the tower configurations 14A, 14B, 14C and 14D in FIG. 5.

A greater or lesser number of towers 14 can be placed side by side within the cabinet frame 12 thereby providing various desired sizes of lockers 10.

Turning back to FIG. 1, the locker can provide a top part 11 above the towers 14 which can used as an advertisement space including posters and screens. The locker 10 can also be provided with security cameras 31.

With reference to FIG. 6, each compartment shelf 24 comprises a shelf floor 30, a pair of lateral walls 32A and 32B with respective panels 34 on their outer sides 36 having rivet apertures 37. The inner sides 38 of the lateral walls 32A and 32B have longitudinal sensor 40 spanning the length of the inner sides 38 so as to detect the presence of a parcel P no matter where it is placed within the shelf space 39. The front door 16 is hinged to the front edge 42A of one of the walls 32A and locks with the locking mechanism 44 on the front edge 42B of the other wall 32B.

Turning now to FIG. 7 and in accordance with a desired tower configuration a plurality of variously sized shelf compartments 24 are aligned together on a horizontal support H and the various wiring assemblies 46 are mounted to the outer sides 36 of the side walls 32 and connected to the internal sensors 40 via side windows 48. In this way the inner space 39 of each shelf compartment is flush. The assembles shelf compartments 24 define a shelf assembly 25 that is fitted within the space 21 of a tower 14.

With reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, each tower 14 has a pair of lateral sides walls 22A and 22B with rivet apertures 23 therethrough. The rivet apertures 37 on the outer sides 36 of the lateral walls 32A and 32B of the compartment shelves are aligned with the rivet apertures 23 on the inner faces 50 of the side walls 22A and 22B for attachment. A back panel 52 interconnects the lateral side walls 22A and 22B. The top side 26 includes a cap 54 with a support tray 56 positioned thereunder and sealed with a hatch 58 providing a space for the electrical wiring to be housed.

With particular reference to FIG. 9, the bottom side 28 includes a tensioning system 60 which squeezes the stack (or assembly) 25 of shelf compartments in order to properly align their rivet apertures 37 with the tower rivet apertures 23.

The tensioning system 60 includes a base 62 with base panel 63 which carries a pair of side blocks 64A and 64B mounted thereto, upwardly biased screws 66 protrude from the block 64A and 64B and are fastened to the stack support member 68. Screws 66 cause the support member 68 to be upwardly biased and thus this support member 68 upwardly pushes the stack 25 into the top side 26 and aligns rivet apertures 37 with rivet apertures 23 for attachment. The front side of the tensioning system 60 is closed by a front plate 70. The computer elements are located within the top side 26.

Turning to FIG. 5, the opening 72 at the top of each tower side 32 allows to pass wiring from tower to tower when aligned to be fitted into the cabinet frame 12. The locks are connected to the wiring system and released upon electrical command.

In case of electrical failure and there is no way of opening the doors 16, the locks include a safety bypass in the form of a rod 74 shown in FIG. 9 which is locked in the base 62 and can be manually released by removing pin 76 to release the rod 74 for removal thereof thereby opening all the doors 16.

As shown in FIG. 9, a hinge rod 79 is provided for the doors 16 of a given tower to rotate thereon when opening and closing.

With reference to FIGS. 10 and 11, there is shown the host tower 14′ which carries the controller 18 within a host box 78 mounted within tower 14′. A print tray 80 including a printer 82 can also be mounted to the host tower 14′. In this way, the user may use the interface of the controller 84 to punch in their identification and release a given compartment door 16 to retrieve a parcel P when delivered or place one therein for retrieval by a courier for return. The interface can include scanners and the like so that the user can use an OCR code or bar code or smart label and the like to release the door 16. The controller 18 may provide a receipt print out the user. The cameras 31 may log the use of locker 10 for additional security and provide a visual record of the activity record logged by the controller 18. The controller 18 can directly or via a network communication including a host server communicate with a clients, merchants and couriers to indicate courier delivery, client retrieval, client enclosure of a parcel within a compartment for return thereof and courier retrieval as well as other relevant information via communications devices including handheld devices.

The modular system of the disclosure provides for kits of preformed towers and shelfs to be assembled based on client specifications in order to provide modular lockers as described herein. The kit includes a plurality of towers with either similar rivet aperture patterns in their side walls or a set of predetermined patterns in order to accommodate a predetermined number of shelf sizes. The lateral sides of each assembled tower provide a space for wiring.

Generally stated and in accordance with an embodiment, there is provided a modular locker comprising at least two vertical towers being positioned side by side. Each of the vertical towers comprises 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 defines an inner side and an outer side. The outer side comprises 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. A plurality of compartments for containing parcels therein are vertically arranged within each of the at least two towers. Each of the compartments comprises a shelf structure comprising a shelf floor and a door. The shelf floor is positioned within the space defined by the shell body and is mounted to the inner sides of the spaced apart lateral walls. The door is mounted to the tower at the front opening thereof and is movable between open and closed positions thereby providing for selectively accessing the compartment.

Turning now to FIGS. 12-15, there is shown a modular automated locker 100 in accordance with another non-restrictive illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure.

In this non-limiting example, the locker 100 comprises two towers (or banks) 104 including a plurality of vertically stacked shelf compartments 106. One of the two towers 104 includes a compartment 106 with a controller 108. The locker defines a top end T, a bottom end B, a first lateral side end S1 and second lateral side end S2, a front face F and a rear side R.

Each tower 104 is a shell defining a internal space 110 for receiving a plurality of shelf structures or kits 112 comprising a shelf floor 114 and a shelf door 116. The shelf floors 114 are mounted within the space 110 to each lateral walls 118A and 118B. Each lateral wall 118A and 118B has an outer side 120 and an inner side 122 as well as rivet holes or apertures 124 therethrough. The shelf floors 114 are mounted to the inner sides 122 via the rivet holes 124. Sensors 126 are mounted to the outer sides 120 via rivet holes 124. Cable supports 128 are also mounted to the outer sides 120 via the rivet holes 124.

When assembling towers 104 to define the locker 100, adjacent lateral walls are adjoined i.e. a lateral wall 118B of one tower 104 interfaces with and is adjoined to the lateral wall 118A of the next adjacent tower 104. As such, the side by side towers 104 enclose the interacting lateral walls 118A and 118B between each pair of adjacent towers 104. The exposed lateral sides 118A and 118B of the last two remaining towers 114 at each end of the locker 100 are covered by shroud panels 130. In the example of FIGS. 12-15, the illustrated locker 100 comprises only two side-by-side towers, generally denoted 104 and superficially denoted 104′ and 104″ in FIG. 12 for description purposes only. Thus, the lateral wall 118B of tower 104′ is adjoined to the lateral wall 118A of tower 104″ forming an enclosure 132 therebetween which will be further discussed below. The end sides S1, S2 of the locker 100 are covered by the panels 130 thereby covering the lateral walls 118A of tower 104′ and lateral wall 118B of tower 104″.

With reference to FIGS. 16 and 17, a tower 104 is shown having lateral walls generally denoted 118 defining an outer side 120 thereof and an inner side 122 thereof and apertures 124 therethrough. The lateral walls 118 are bent pans thereby defining on their outer side 120 a peripheral protruding frame contour 134 that surrounds a recessed panel or surface 136 which perforated to provide the apertures 124. The contour 134 is provided by folding the corners and edges. Thus the contoured pan shape of side 120 provides a depth A (see FIG. 22) for wires, sensors wire management tools etc. In an embodiment, the depth provided between the protruding contour 134 and the recessed panel 136 is about 1.5 inches. Therefore, when two towers are adjoined as shown in FIG. 12, the enclosure or closet 132 therebetween has a width of about 3 inches providing sufficient space for wiring, sensors, wire management tools and other devices and in this way, the internal compartments for parcels P are kept empty of such elements.

The shroud panels 130 covering the outer sides 120 of the lateral walls 118A and 118B at each lateral end of the locker 100 provide for forming an enclosure as well as these panels are mounted to the outwardly protruding contour 132.

The lateral walls 118 are interconnected by a top part 138 a bottom part 140 and rear panel 141.

As shown in FIGS. 17, 18 and 22, the top part 138 comprises a top cover 142 mounted on top of top panel 144 connected to both lateral walls 118A and 118B of a given tower 104 via fasteners 145 fastened thereto through holes 147 in the top edge 148 of the lateral walls 118A, 118B.

The bottom part 140 provides for a compartment 150 for fitting all the electronics therein and includes a base floor 152, a front door 154 for enclosing compartment 150. Enclosure of the compartment 150 is completed by the last shelf floor 114 being spaced apart from the base floor 152 and defining therewith the height of the compartment 150. A control box 155 is positioned on the base floor 152 and lateral walls 118A and 118B include bottom openings 157 for wires to be passed therethrough along the outer sides 120. The lateral walls 118A, 118B are mounted to the base floor 152 via fasteners 156 fastened through holes 158 in floor 152 and holes in the bottom edges 160 of the panels 118A, 118B.

The rear panel 141 includes apertures 143 to be fastened to the rear edges of the lateral walls 118A, 118B and the top and bottom parts 138 and 140 respectively.

As shown in FIGS. 17, 22 and 23, the lateral walls 118A, 118B have top fasteners 162 positioned through holes 164 in the top part 166 of the contour 132 and bottom fasteners 163 positioned through holes 165 in the bottom part 167 of the contour 132. The fasteners 162 and 163 and the holes 164 and 165 provide for connecting the top contour parts 166 and the bottom contour parts 167 of two adjoined lateral walls 118A and 118B of side by the towers 104′ and 104″ when assembling a locker 100.

As shown in FIGS. 17 and 26, a hinge rod 168 provides for pivotably mounting the doors 116 thereto along front edge 170 of lateral wall 118A.

FIG. 18 shows a variety of sized shelf structures 112A, 112B, 112C, 112D and 112E. The shelf floors 114 have the same size but the doors 116A, 116B, 116C, 116D and 116E have differing heights in order to provide for shelf compartments 106 of differing heights.

With respect to FIGS. 19, 20 and 21, a shelf structure 112 comprises a front door 116 having a longitudinal hole 172 near its lateral edge 174A to receive the hinge rod 168 therethrough. The door 116 includes a latch 175 on its inner side 176 and near its lateral edge 1746 for being connected to a locking device 178. The shelf structure includes a bottom support 179 for the door 116.

With reference to FIGS. 19-21 and 22-23, the lateral walls 118A, 118B include a top row of rivet holes 124′ for connecting sensors 126 on the outer sides 120 via fasteners 180 and for allowing windows (via the holes 124′ that the fasteners 180 have not plugged) through the walls 118A and 118B for the sensors 126 at each side of the compartment 106 to communicate therebetween.

The shelf floor 114 includes apertures 182 on its lateral edges 184 for receiving fasteners connected to the lateral walls 118A, 118B via their second row of rivet holes 124″ beneath the top row of holes 124′.

A cable or wire support element 128 is mounted to the outer side 120 of each lateral wall 118A, 118B and connected thereto via one of the second row holes 124″ thereby being connected to the shelf floor 114 in tandem. The support element 128 comprises a plurality of vertical grooves 186 for receiving wires therethrough.

FIGS. 24 and 25 show a shelf structure 112 with a controller 108 mounted to the inner side of a door 116i configured to provide window for a screen 188, a keypad 190 and a print slot 192 with the electronics 194 mounted of the inner side of the door and the shelf floor 114. As shown in FIG. 15, the back panel 141″ for the tower 104″ comprising the controller 108 includes electronic components 195. Similarly, the inner sides 122 of the lateral walls 118A, 118B defining the compartment 106 of the controller 108 also includes electronic components 195. Indeed, various controller configurations and electronic components therefor can be contemplated by the skilled artisan.

With reference to FIGS. 15, 23 and 26-30, the locking system of a tower 114 will now be described in accordance with a non-limiting illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure.

The lateral wall 118A includes the hinge rod 168 for the doors to pivotally rotate thereon during opening and closing at their edge 174A. The doors 116 include latches 175 near their opposite edges 1746 on the inner sides 176 thereof. The forward lateral part 198 of the contour 132 of lateral wall 118B creates a space for the locking devices 178 to be partially fitted therein and be positioned on the outer side 120 of lateral wall 118B. The front edge 199 of lateral wall 118B provides a slot 200 for latch 175 to engage the clasp 202 of the locking device 178. The locking device 178 is fastened in place via holes 124′″ in lateral wall 118B. The front edge 199 also includes a hole 204 for allowing a button 206 to protrude therefrom to be engaged and pushed by the door 116 when closing in order to actuate the locking device 178. The locking system also includes a safety or gang bar 208 mounted on the outer side 120 of the lateral side wall to provide safety pins 210 which engage the locking devices 178.

With respect to FIG. 31, various top elements of the locker 100 are shown such as top shrouds 212 for being mounted to the towers at the top end T and cameras 214 which can be mounted to the top shrouds 212.

The various features described herein can be combined in a variety of ways within the context of the present disclosure so as to provide still other embodiments. As such, the embodiments are not mutually exclusive. Moreover, the embodiments discussed herein need not include all of the features and elements illustrated and/or described and thus partial combinations of features can also be contemplated. Furthermore, embodiments with less features than those described can also be contemplated. It is to be understood that the present disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of construction and parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described hereinabove. The disclosure is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced in various ways. It is also to be understood that the phraseology or terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not limitation. Hence, although the present disclosure has been provided hereinabove by way of non-restrictive illustrative embodiments thereof, it can be modified, without departing from the scope, spirit and nature thereof and of the appended claims.

Claims

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; anda 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.