Locking system for retractable and removable delivery bin

{
  "publication_number": "US11980288B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Locking system for retractable and removable delivery bin",
  "abstract": "A locking system for retractable and removable bins, and methods of use thereof, are provided. The locking system includes a retractable latch disposed within a carrier sized and shaped to receive one or more delivery bins. The locking system further includes a first retention feature disposed on the bin and configured to receive the latch in a first locked configuration where horizontal and vertical movement of the bin relative to the latch is prohibited. Additionally, the locking system includes a second retention feature disposed on the bin distal to the first retention feature and configured to receive the latch in a second locked configuration. The second retention feature has an opening such that, in the second locked configuration, vertical movement of the bin relative to the latch is permitted to thereby remove the bin from the latch through the opening.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A locking system for a retractable and removable delivery bin, the locking system comprising: a retractable latch disposed within a carrier sized and shaped to receive a retractable and removable delivery bin; a first retention feature disposed on the delivery bin and configured to receive the retractable latch in a first locked configuration where horizontal and vertical movement of the delivery bin relative to the retractable latch is prohibited; and a second retention feature disposed on the delivery bin distal to the first retention feature and configured to receive the retractable latch in a second locked configuration, the second retention feature comprising an opening such that, in the second locked configuration, vertical movement of the delivery bin relative to the retractable latch is permitted to thereby remove the delivery bin from the retractable latch through the opening.",
    "2. The locking system of claim 1, wherein the retractable latch comprises a solenoid latch.",
    "3. The locking system of claim 1, wherein the retractable latch is configured to be actuated to transition between an extended locked position and a retracted unlocked position, wherein the retractable latch is in the extended locked position in the first and second locked configurations.",
    "4. The locking system of claim 3, wherein the retractable latch is configured to be electrically actuated to transition between the extended locked position and the retracted unlocked position.",
    "5. The locking system of claim 3, wherein the retractable latch comprises a sloped edge such that horizontal movement of the delivery bin from the first locked configuration to the second locked configuration is prohibited when the retractable latch is in the extended locked position, and horizontal movement of the delivery bin from the second locked configuration to the first locked configuration causes the retractable latch to transition from the extended locked position to the retracted unlocked position via the sloped edge of the retractable latch.",
    "6. The locking system of claim 1, wherein the first retention feature is separated from the second retention feature via a locking wall, the locking wall configured to prohibit horizontal movement of the delivery bin from the first locked configuration to the second locked configuration when the retractable latch is in an extended locked position.",
    "7. The locking system of claim 1, wherein the delivery bin is symmetric about an axis perpendicular to an axis extending between the first and second retention features.",
    "8. The locking system of claim 7, wherein the delivery bin is symmetric about an axis parallel to an axis extending between the first and second retention features, such that the delivery bin may be rotated 180 degrees relative to the carrier.",
    "9. The locking system of claim 1, wherein the delivery bin comprises a ledge extending outwardly along an upper portion of the delivery bin, and wherein the first and second retention features are disposed along the ledge.",
    "10. The locking system of claim 9, wherein the ledge comprises an upper lip, a lower lip, and a locking wall extending therebetween, the upper lip, lower lip, and locking wall defining the first and second retention features.",
    "11. The locking system of claim 10, wherein, in the first locked configuration, the retractable latch is positioned between the upper lip and the lower lip, proximal to the locking wall, such that the upper lip and the lower lip prohibits vertical movement of the delivery bin relative to the retractable latch and the locking wall prohibits horizontal movement of the delivery bin relative to the retractable latch.",
    "12. The locking system of claim 10, wherein the opening is formed in the lower lip of the ledge, such that, in the second locked configuration, the retractable latch is positioned between the upper lip and the opening, proximal to the locking wall.",
    "13. A bin retractable and removable from a carrier, the bin comprising: a first retention feature configured to receive a retractable latch of the carrier in a first locked configuration where horizontal and vertical movement of the bin relative to the retractable latch is prohibited; a second retention feature distal to the first retention feature and configured to receive the retractable latch in a second locked configuration, the second retention feature comprising an opening such that, in the second locked configuration, vertical movement of the bin relative to the retractable latch is permitted to thereby remove the bin from the retractable latch through the opening.",
    "14. The bin of claim 13, wherein the bin is symmetric about an axis perpendicular to an axis extending between the first and second retention features."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "Delivery bins are used to store goods therein, and may be delivered to a target location via, e.g., a mobile robot. However, in a situation where the robot is intended to deliver a bin/package to a human user, the user must be able to retrieve the package from the target bin, which may be difficult if there are other bins located above the target bin that are blocking the lid of the target bin. Accordingly, the target bin may be retractable to thereby expose the lid of the bin. However, if the actuation of the bin requires manual input, e.g., via a button or remote device, the user may not have enough time to input the command before the bin reaches the end of the conveyer of the robot and falls off the conveyor. Moreover, when the bin is actuated forward to a position along the conveyor in which the user can retrieve the goods contained therein, it would be beneficial to allow the user to be able to completely remove the bin without requiring the user to use one hand to input a command, such that the user has both hands free to handle the bin. Any solution that addresses manual removal by a user preferably also still protects for autonomous bin swapping between robots.\n\nIt is with respect to these and other considerations that the disclosure made herein is presented.\n\nThe detailed description is set forth with reference to the accompanying drawings. The use of the same reference numerals may indicate similar or identical items. Various embodiments may utilize elements and/or components other than those illustrated in the drawings, and some elements and/or components may not be present in various embodiments.",
  "cpc": [
    "A47B 88/473",
    "A47B 2031/003",
    "A47B 31/00",
    "A47G 2029/142",
    "A47G 29/141",
    "B65D 21/0209",
    "B65G 2201/0258",
    "B65G 35/00",
    "B65G 47/22",
    "B65G 47/34"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "A47B 31/00",
    "A47B 88/473"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "FORD GLOBAL TECH LLC"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "LUNDEEN KURT MICHAEL",
    "SOHMSHETTY RAJ",
    "TRYBULA IRENEUSZ",
    "HOFF SAM"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2022-04-19",
  "publication_date": "2024-05-14",
  "grant_date": "2024-05-14",
  "priority_date": "2022-04-19",
  "application_number": "US-202217659837-A",
  "family_id": "88191644",
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}