Frangible Delivery Clip for Tamper-Evident Bag Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The delivery of prepared food and fresh grocery items is vulnerable to intentional or accidental tampering and exposure during transit, leading to safety, quality, and quantity issues, as well as increased operational and customer service costs, with heightened concerns due to the coronavirus pandemic regarding the chain of custody.
Innovation Solution
A secure delivery mechanism using a clip system that secures items within a bag or container, allowing access only by the intended recipient, featuring a removable tab that detaches to open the clip, preventing tampering and accidental exposure, and optionally incorporating tracking features.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a secure delivery mechanism is implemented to prevent tampering, then safety and integrity of items are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The clip is divided into two functional portions: a first portion with a post and retaining feature, and a second portion with a receiving opening and retention feature. This segmentation allows each portion to perform its specific function independently while working together to provide secure closure, resolving the contradiction by making the secure mechanism modular and manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The removable tab is extracted as a separate, detachable component from the main clip structure. This allows the tab to serve as a tamper-evident indicator that can be removed to open the clip, providing security functionality without requiring the entire clip mechanism to be complex. The tab can be taken out and discarded after use.
2Reliability
If a tamper-evident mechanism is added to prevent unauthorized access, then security is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The removable tab is pre-attached to the clip in a closed state, providing immediate tamper evidence. When the tab is removed, it leaves visible evidence that the clip has been opened. This preliminary configuration ensures security is maintained without requiring complex locking mechanisms, and the recipient can easily open the clip by simply removing the tab.
3Reliability
If a secure closure system is used to prevent accidental exposure, then reliability is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple security functions are merged into a single integrated clip structure: the closure function (first and second portions), the tamper-evident function (removable tab), and the retention function (retaining features). This merging reduces manufacturing complexity by eliminating the need for separate components for each function, while still providing comprehensive security against accidental exposure and unauthorized access.
Data Source
AI summary
A securable clip includes a first elongated rectangular portion and a second elongated rectangular portion connected along a common edge. The clip includes at least one locking peg, at least one receiving hole configured to receive the at least one locking peg, and a frangible portion. The frangible portion provides a visual indication that the clip has been opened. The releasing of the locking peg prevents the clip from being reclosed, reused, or sealed again.