Doormat structure comprising safety box/es
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Solution Overview
Problem
Homeowners face challenges in securely and inconspicuously storing small items like keys and phones outdoors, as existing solutions are either too obvious or lack sufficient storage space and lockability.
Innovation Solution
A doormat structure incorporating a lockable safety box with a storage compartment, designed to be inconspicuous and securely attachable to a horizontal panel, using materials like vinyl and ceramic fibers, with lock types such as combination or smart locks, allowing easy access while maintaining concealment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If keys and essentials are hidden in obvious places like under a flower pot or doormat, then they are easily accessible to the homeowner, but they are also easily found by unintended persons
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines a traditional doormat with a safety box into a single integrated unit. The safety box is embedded within the doormat structure, merging the functions of a mat and a secure storage container. This allows the box to be inconspicuous while remaining accessible to the homeowner who knows how to open it.
Solution Approach 2:
The doormat itself acts as an intermediary that conceals the safety box. The mat covers the box when closed, providing camouflage that makes the storage space invisible to casual observers while still allowing the intended user to access it through the lock mechanism.
2Reliability
If small storage gadgets like stone-look-alike devices are used, then they provide concealment, but they offer insufficient storage space and are not lockable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges a doormat with a safety box to create a hybrid product that combines the inconspicuous nature of a mat with the secure, spacious storage capabilities of a box. This integration allows for both adequate storage capacity and effective concealment.
Solution Approach 2:
The safety box is positioned horizontally within the doormat structure rather than vertically, utilizing the horizontal space beneath the mat. This dimensional arrangement provides adequate storage volume while maintaining a low profile that remains concealed when the mat is in place.
3Reliability
If a lockable safety box is used, then security is improved, but the box may become more conspicuous or harder to access
Solution Approach 1:
The doormat structure serves multiple functions: it acts as a traditional mat for wiping feet, provides concealment for the safety box, and offers access to the lock mechanism. The mat itself becomes a multi-functional element that combines utility with security features.
Solution Approach 2:
The lock mechanism is positioned and designed in advance to be accessible through the mat structure. The mat is configured with openings or access points that allow the user to reach the lock without removing the mat, cushioning against the potential problem of inaccessibility.
Data Source
AI summary
The presently disclosed subject matter relates generally to a doormat structure which comprises at least one safety box. The doormat structure comprises a mat and a body. The body comprises at least one horizontal panel and at least one safety box. The safety box may be lockable. The mat is positioned upon the body and functions similarly to a traditional doormat. The safety box/es is inconspicuously positioned within the doormat structure while being accessible to a user. Thus, the presently disclosed doormat structure allows a user to safely store various small items outdoors inconspicuously.