Patent Application
20190271177
The present invention relates generally to tangible property container systems and more particularly to advantageous improvements in delivery receptacles and tether anchors.
Security as against removal or theft of tangible property has been important since the origin of the concept of property, itself. Understanding such importance, several legal principles have been created to deter would-be thieves, such as trespass, trespass to chattels, civil theft, criminal theft, and conversion. Unfortunately, while some of these actions remain available for a private citizen to recover property or the value thereof (if the thief is known), an activity known as porch pirating has become prevalent despite the existence of present laws.
Porch pirating has become prevalent as the popularity of receiving products via courier has increased. Persons often receive products that have been ordered remotely, such as over the telephone or through an interface provided over a network, such as the internet. Online ordering and subscription-based delivery services has exploded in popularity, but with such explosion, security weaknesses have been unfortunately uncovered and exploited.
While certain deliveries are protected by federal law (e.g., deliveries made by the U.S. postal service to a U.S. mail box), couriered deliveries are often left exposed to relatively easy access, even if such access requires trespass onto real property. Opportunistic porch pirates have been known to lie in wait in residential neighborhoods while residents may be away from their homes, such as at work or traveling. Nevertheless, such residents may be expecting or requiring deliveries during such times of absence or other unavailability. Courier delivery trucks are noticed, and delivery locations are witnessed. Once the delivery truck has left the area, it is quite simple for a porch pirate to dash onto a
Accordingly, the art of tangible property security would benefit from systems and methods that address one or more of the drawbacks of prior systems.
According to aspects of a tether according to the present invention includes a first end defined by an orb, and a second end defined by an anchor, the anchor being different than the orb. The orb and the anchor are secured by a longitudinal link extending between them. The anchor preferably includes a toggle or a lariat. On one end, the longitudinal link may be secured to or form at least a part of the anchor. On the other end, the link is may be movably or immovably secured to the orb. A ferrule may be secured to the link and received against or within the orb. The ferrule may be received within a ferrule receptacle formed into the outer surface of the orb. A link throughbore having a greater diameter than the link may extend through a diameter of the orb and may intersect the ferrule receptacle. When assembled, the link preferably extends into the orb at least substantially parallel to, and more preferably coaxially with, a link axis that is disposed along a diameter of the orb. A preferred orb includes a plurality of partially cylindrical voids separated by at least one radially extending lobe. The voids may be formed by removing material from a sphere of material or substantially contemporaneously with the remainder of the orb, such as by being molded.
According to an aspect of a tether according to the present invention, a latch plate may be provided to cooperate with the link and/or anchor. The latch plate may be removably securable to the link and anchor, such as including a slot configured to receive the link and a preferably concave toggle surface to receive the toggle.
A method according to the present invention includes providing a tether extending between two terminus structures. A first of the two terminus structures is inserted through an aperture formed in a container, which is located in or placed in a first physical space. The second terminus structure is placed in a second physical space. The first and second spaces are at least partially separated by a movable structure, such as a door.
According to an aspect of a method according to the present invention, human access to the second space (e.g., a room, building, or automobile, or portion thereof, which may be locked) may be more restrictive than human access to the first space (e.g., outdoors or a different room, building, or automobile, or portion thereof).
Although the disclosure hereof is detailed and exact to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the physical embodiments herein disclosed merely exemplify the invention which may be embodied in other specific structures. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims.
Turning to
Extending along a majority of the tether length 106 is an anchor link 150. The tether length 106 is defined as the overall measurement of the tether 100 from the first end 102 to the second end 104 while the link 150 is tensioned sufficiently to at least substantially straighten it. A preferred link 150 comprises or consists essentially of 1/16″ braided steel cable (e.g., 7×19 aircraft cable), which may be stainless steel. Other link materials may include or consist of nylon rope, nylon coated polyester, or copper. The link may be treated or coated with one or more materials (e.g., with vinyl or polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)) to enhance wear properties and/or shear strength. An alternative terminus structure 120′ at the second end 104′ may be provided as a loop or lariat 122′, which is preferably constructed as an extension of the link 150, such as by being looped and passed through and secured (e.g., crimped) by a loop ferrule 123′.
Referring also to
In this first embodiment 100, the link 150 is tensilely secured (e.g., when pulled in a direction 132 of the toggle 122) relative to the orb 112 by the use of a ferrule 160. The ferrule 160 has a distal surface 162 that is substantially flat or approximates the contour of the outer surface 112a of the orb 112. The ferrule 160 has a proximate surface 164, which is preferably frustoconical in shape and is adapted to be received within a ferrule receptacle 166 formed through the outer surface 112a of the orb 112. The interior of the receptacle 166 is shaped to receive the ferrule 160, and when fully inserted, the distal surface 162 is intended to and preferably does substantially align with the outer surface 112a of the orb 112. The ferrule 160 is secured to the link 150, such as by swaging, welding, injection molding, potting, or adhering. Most preferably, the link 150 is prevented from extending distally beyond the ferrule distal surface 162, thereby providing a relatively smooth surface 162.
A preferred toggle 122 is a cylindrical rod 124 (e.g., steel, plastic, or wood), though other longitudinal shapes are contemplated, which is secured to the link 150, such as by swaging, welding, injection molding, potting, or adhering. The link 150 extends from an outer cylindrical wall of the rod 124, such that a toggle axis 126 is disposed preferably at least substantially perpendicular to the link axis 118 when the link 150 is in tension between the orb 112 and toggle 122. As best seen in
To form a preferred orb 112, it is preferably formed from a unitary piece of material, such as plastic, vulcanized rubber, metal (e.g., aluminum), or wood. Thus, the lobes 114 may be formed simultaneously with the remainder of the orb 112 (e.g., during a molding process) or the lobes 114 may be formed after a substantially spherical body is molded or otherwise constructed, and the voids 116 are then removed by machining, drilling, etc. Alternatively, the entire orb 112 may be systematically milled from a blank workpiece, such as a block or other piece of plastic, metal, or wood. A link throughbore 152, extending entirely through the orb 112 along the link axis 118 (and preferably substantially coaxially with and intersecting the ferrule receptacle 166) may be formed during or after molding, but is preferably drilled. The link throughbore 152 has a diameter 152a that is preferably greater than a diameter 150a of the link 150, so as to allow the link 150 to slide easily within the throughbore 152. To assemble the link 150 with the orb 112 and toggle 122, the link 150 is inserted through the link throughbore 152, and the ferrule 160 and toggle 122 are secured thereto. Either the toggle 122 or the ferrule 160, or neither, may be secured to one end of the link 150 prior to the link 150 being inserted through the link throughbore 152. Then, once the link 150 is disposed in such throughbore 152, the other of the ferrule 160 or the toggle 122 can be secured to the other end of the link 150. If neither the toggle 122 or the ferrule 160 is secured to the link 150 prior to insertion through the throughbore 152, then both are secured to opposite ends of the link 150 thereafter.
As shown in
To use a tether according to the present invention, and referring now to
In addition to coupling the second end 104 of the tether 100 to a container 900 or other object to be secured, the first end 102 or orb 110 of the tether 100 may be arranged so as not to be extractable with reasonable force (e.g., preferably less than 500 pounds) applied longitudinally to the link 150 in a direction towards the toggle 122. That is, the container 900 may be placed in a first space 920, and the orb 112 may be positioned in a second space 940, the first space 920 being preferably at least partially physically separated from the second space 940 by a moveable structure, such as a door 930. While the second space 940 could be the same general physical space (e.g., room, outdoors, delivery truck cargo space, etc.) as the first space 920, such as if the toggle 122 were first inserted through a secure structure (e.g., a table or heavy (e.g., greater than 50 pounds, but more preferably greater than 100 pounds) anchor, or fixed anchor) and then into the receptacle 900, the second space 940 is more preferably more secure from human access than the first space 920. For instance, the door 930 may have a keyed or combination lock 932 to prevent normal door opening operation in the absence of use of the respective key or combination. Thus, the door 930 may be maintained in a closed position against a portion of a door jamb 934 which may be secured to a wall 936. The link 150 is allowed to extend under or around or through the space-dividing structure (e.g., door 930) thereby securing the receptacle 900 relative to the structure 930. Thus, the tether 100 is selectively placeable and securable, preferably manually (i.e., without tools) to secure a container 900 that is accessible in a less secure space 920 by securing the orb 112 in a more secure space 940. Any longitudinal force exerted on the link 150 in an attempt to remove the container 900 from the less secure space 920 will result in the orb 112 being jammed against and restricted by the door 930 or other structure. Most preferably, the container 900 is configured to be secured closed, such as by combination lock or padlock, once property is placed in the cavity or compartment 902, thus restricting access to the toggle 122.
The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Furthermore, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described. For instance, while terms like “top” and “bottom” are used throughout, the terms are intended for general reference. Though technically such terms may include precise top (vertically above) and bottom (vertically below) directionality, such precision is not required to fall within the scope of the description. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims.
This application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending U.S. design patent application Ser. No. 29/691,846, filed 20 May 2019, and titled “Tether Anchor,” which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 29691846 | May 2019 | US |
| Child | 16418031 | US |
