Dashboard Document Box for Visible-Hand Vehicle Stops
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for storing vehicle documents, such as in glove boxes or wallets, create uncomfortable interactions during traffic stops as drivers must retrieve documents with their hands not visible to officers, leading to nervous and scary situations.
Innovation Solution
A dashboard mountable electronic storage and multimedia box device that allows secure storage and retrieval of vehicle documents while keeping hands visible, featuring a motorized lid, motion sensors, and multimedia playback capabilities, enabling access from outside the vehicle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If documents are stored in a glove box or wallet, then documents can be stored securely, but the driver must reach into the glove box or wallet to retrieve documents during traffic stops, causing hands to be non-visible and creating uncomfortable interactions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a new spatial dimension for document storage by placing the storage box on the dashboard within reach of the driver, rather than in the traditional glove box location. This dimensional change allows the driver to access documents without reaching into hidden compartments, keeping hands visible and reducing anxiety during traffic stops.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage box acts as an intermediary between the driver and the documents. It provides a dedicated, easily accessible location for documents that is specifically designed to facilitate quick retrieval while maintaining hand visibility, thereby mediating the interaction between the driver's need for document access and the officer's safety requirements.
2Loss of time
If a traditional wallet is used to carry documents, then documents can be carried in a pocket, but retrieving documents requires taking the wallet out and opening it, which is time-consuming and inconvenient
Solution Approach 1:
The storage box is pre-configured with compartments and organizational structures for documents before use. Documents are pre-placed in the storage box during normal driving conditions, so during traffic stops the driver can immediately access them without the need to search through a wallet or take time to organize documents under pressure.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage box is divided into multiple compartments and sections that segment different types of documents (license, registration, insurance). This segmentation allows the driver to quickly locate and retrieve specific documents without having to search through a single large space, significantly reducing retrieval time.
3Reliability
If documents are kept in a glove box, then documents are protected from damage, but the glove box location requires the driver to reach forward and open the box, making hands non-visible during traffic stops
Solution Approach 1:
The storage box includes features such as a lid that can be opened with one hand, internal organization that protects documents from damage, and positioning that allows the driver to access documents while maintaining hand visibility. The design serves itself by combining protection and accessibility without requiring the driver to compromise either requirement.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic storage box device that can be mounted on top of a dashboard of a vehicle, and can be opened quickly by a driver of the vehicle or a person standing outside the vehicle through a window of the vehicle. The electronic storage box device has a compartment for storing at least documents related to the vehicle including a driving license. Such documents can be retrieved by the driver while the hands remain visible to an officer or can be retrieved by the officer himself. The electronic storage box device also includes an audio playback feature, a video camera-based intrusion prevention feature, GPS, Wireless capabilities and a UV radiation feature for sterilizing items in the compartment. The device supports cellular, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth® capabilities. The device can be retrofitted or installed at the time of manufacturing.