Lockable Container Sacrificial Housing Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lockable containers, particularly those for residential and assisted living markets, are unable to effectively resist physical assaults using common tools for extended periods, failing to meet security standards like LPS 1175 Level 1.
Innovation Solution
A lockable container design featuring a sacrificial cast zinc housing with a stainless steel liner and angled internal walls, combined with a secure locking mechanism and anti-tamper plates, to prevent pry and hammer attacks, while adhering to security standards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional lockable containers are used, then they are easy to manufacture and operate, but they cannot resist physical assaults with common tools for extended periods
Solution Approach 1:
The container is divided into an outer housing made of sacrificial material and an inner liner made of attack-resistant material. This segmentation allows the outer housing to absorb initial attacks while the inner liner provides sustained resistance, resolving the contradiction between achieving high strength and maintaining manageable complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The container employs a composite structure combining sacrificial material (e.g., cast zinc) with attack-resistant material (e.g., stainless steel or aluminum alloy). This composite approach enables the container to resist physical assaults for extended periods while maintaining a relatively simple overall design.
2Reliability
If attack-resistant materials are used throughout the container, then resistance to pry and hammer attacks improves, but manufacturing cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The container applies attack-resistant material selectively in the inner liner where it is most needed for sustained defense, while the outer housing uses sacrificial material that is easier and less expensive to manufacture. This local differentiation achieves high reliability without uniformly increasing manufacturing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The outer housing is made of sacrificial material designed to deform or fail under attack, protecting the more expensive inner liner. This disposable outer layer absorbs the brunt of attacks, making the overall system more reliable while keeping manufacturing costs manageable.
3Reliability
If the container structure is reinforced to meet LPS 1175 Level 1 standards, then security performance improves, but the container becomes more complex and harder to manufacture
Solution Approach 1:
The container meets LPS 1175 Level 1 standards through segmented construction with an outer sacrificial housing and an inner attack-resistant liner. This segmentation achieves the required security performance while keeping each component relatively simple in design and manufacture.
Solution Approach 2:
The composite structure of sacrificial material combined with attack-resistant material enables the container to comply with LPS 1175 Level 1 standards without requiring overly complex structural designs, balancing security performance with manufacturability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The container successfully resists pry and hammer attacks by deforming the sacrificial material, maintaining structural integrity and preventing tool penetration, thereby meeting or exceeding LPS 1175 Level 1 standards.
Implementation Method 1
The container successfully resists pry and hammer attacks by deforming the sacrificial material, maintaining structural integrity and preventing tool penetration
Data Source
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AI summary
An improved lockable container, which is configured to resist being pried open or being otherwise successfully attacked within predetermined time and tool set limits. Also, methods for manufacturing and/or assembling embodiments of the lockable container.