Package receptacle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Package delivery services face security issues due to theft and tampering, as packages left unattended are vulnerable to unauthorized access and interference, necessitating a secure storage solution that allows easy access for delivery personnel and users while preventing unauthorized removal or access.
Innovation Solution
A package receptacle secured to a concrete slab with a one-way access mechanism and lockable hatch, equipped with a mobile software application for notification and monitoring, and a wireless transceiver for communication between the recipient and delivery services, ensuring secure storage and convenient retrieval.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If packages are left unattended on the doorstep for delivery, then delivery efficiency is improved, but security against theft and tampering deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a secure package receptacle as an intermediary between the delivery service and the recipient. The receptacle is installed at the recipient's location and provides a secure storage space where packages can be placed without requiring the recipient to be present. The receptacle features a one-way access mechanism that allows easy insertion of packages by delivery personnel while preventing removal by unauthorized persons, thus resolving the security issue while maintaining delivery efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the security function from the delivery process itself and places it into a separate, dedicated structure (the receptacle). By separating the storage and security functions from the delivery act, the system allows packages to be left unattended for delivery while maintaining security through the specialized receptacle design with its one-way access and anchoring features
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a secure storage structure is installed to prevent theft, then security is improved, but ease of access for delivery personnel deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry through the one-way access hinge mechanism that allows the door to open easily in one direction (for insertion) but prevents opening in the reverse direction (for removal). The hinge is positioned and configured so that delivery personnel can simply push the door open to insert packages, while the mechanism physically prevents the door from opening outward to allow removal by unauthorized persons. This asymmetric design provides both security and ease of operation for the intended use case
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the receptacle is made tall to keep packages out of reach, then security is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of relying solely on height to prevent theft, the patent inverts the approach by using a low-profile design with a concrete slab base that anchors the receptacle to the ground. The security comes from the anchoring mechanism and the one-way access door rather than from making the receptacle tall and unreachable. This inverted approach prevents theft through active security mechanisms rather than passive height-based deterrence, reducing overall structural complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A package receptacle is configured to allow for the convenient input, temporary storage, and selective removal of packages and items. The package receptacle includes a receptacle, a tongue plate, a one-way access hinge mechanism, a slab, an access mechanism, and a lockable hatch. The receptacle is the container into which packages and items are placed for storage. The tongue plate is a protrusion that prevents theft or removal of items placed within the receptacle by covering the opening of the receptacle. The one-way access hinge mechanism prevents items from exiting the receptacle in the reverse manner in which items were inserted. The slab is a heavy weighted unit that prevents removal of the apparatus from its position. The access opening is cut into the receptacle to allow for retrieval of items. The lockable hatch is a closure that prevents unauthorized access to items contained within the receptacle.