Lockable Parcel Receptacle with Concealed Seams to Deter Porch Theft
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing prevalence of parcel theft from residential porches due to the vulnerability of packages left unsecured during delivery poses a significant frustration and safety concern for individuals, as security authorities often prioritize these crimes low.
Innovation Solution
A receptacle designed to securely receive and protect parcels, featuring a lockable enclosure with a pivotable lid, integrated camera, lighting, and wireless communication for secure access and theft detection, which can be positioned on a porch or other home areas to deter theft and monitor delivery activities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a package is left on the front porch for delivery, then delivery convenience is improved, but package security deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the delivery process into distinct phases: placement phase (where the courier places the package in the receptacle), secure phase (where the lid automatically closes and locks), and retrieval phase (where the authorized user opens and removes the package). This segmentation allows the package to be temporarily stored securely during delivery while maintaining convenience for both the courier and the recipient.
Solution Approach 2:
The receptacle acts as an intermediary between the courier and the recipient. It provides a secure intermediate storage location where the package can be placed during delivery without being left exposed on the porch. The receptacle mediates the transfer of the package from the courier to the recipient's possession, eliminating the need to leave the package vulnerable on the front porch.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a lock mechanism is added to secure the lid, then package security is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lid incorporates a self-service locking mechanism that automatically engages when the lid is closed. The latch mechanism is designed to automatically lock without requiring manual intervention, and it can be unlocked by applying upward force to the lid or by using a simple key/combination system. This self-service approach provides secure locking while minimizing complexity compared to electronically controlled systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex electronic locking systems with a purely mechanical latch mechanism. The latch uses simple mechanical components such as springs, levers, and cam surfaces to achieve reliable locking and unlocking. This mechanical substitution eliminates the need for batteries, circuit boards, motors, and other electronic components, significantly reducing device complexity while maintaining security effectiveness.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If seams between panels are concealed, then package security is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The design merges the structural function of the panel joints with the aesthetic function of seam concealment. The lips and channels are integrated into the panel structures themselves, serving both to join the panels together mechanically and to hide the seams visually. This merging of functions reduces the need for separate components and simplifies the overall manufacturing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The receptacle uses thin-walled plastic panels with integrated lips and channels that flex slightly to accommodate manufacturing tolerances and assembly variations. These thin film-like structures can be molded as single pieces, allowing the lips to wrap around and conceal the seams between panels without requiring complex multi-step assembly operations. The flexibility of the thin walls allows for easy snap-fit assembly.
Data Source
AI summary
A parcel receptacle includes a bottom member, an exterior wall that extends upward from the bottom member and that defines an interior space, and a top member that is coupled with the exterior wall and configured to cover an opening of the receptacle to enclose the parcel within the interior space. The parcel receptacle also includes a lock mechanism that is operably coupled with the top member and the exterior wall. The lock mechanism is lockable to prevent user access to the interior space and is unlockable to enable the top member to be opened to allow user access to the interior space. A vertical lip of the top member overlaps at least a portion of the exterior wall so that a seam between the top member and the exterior wall is covered by the vertical lip.