Retail POS Card with Sealable Transparent Lid for Secure Article Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing point-of-sale devices for retail shops, particularly those mounted on pegboards, lack a secure and reusable storage solution for articles after partial removal, as they typically use perforated cards that are not secure enough to retain contents.
Innovation Solution
A point-of-sale device featuring a reusable storage container with a sealable, removable, and re-sealable transparent lid that can be mounted on a horizontally extending hanger element, allowing articles to be visible and securely stored after purchase.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a perforated card is used to allow partial removal of articles, then accessibility to articles is improved, but security of remaining articles deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The card is divided into a first panel and a second panel that can be separated. The second panel contains the container with remaining articles, allowing customers to access articles through the first panel while the second panel remains secured to the mounting structure, thus maintaining security of remaining articles.
Solution Approach 2:
A container with a lid is introduced as an intermediary between the card and the articles. The container provides a secure storage solution for remaining articles while the lid can be opened for access, resolving the contradiction between security and accessibility.
2Illumination intensity
If a transparent container with lid is used, then visibility of articles is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The container serves multiple functions: it stores articles, provides a secure closure system, and offers visibility through its transparent lid. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by delivering multiple benefits from a single component.
Solution Approach 2:
The transparent lid allows light to pass through, making articles visible. The transparency acts as an optical property that provides visibility without requiring additional lighting mechanisms, thus limiting the increase in device complexity.
3Reliability
If a secure closure system is implemented, then integrity of package is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The lid is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to be opened for access and closed for security. This dynamic design enables the system to switch between secure and accessible states, balancing integrity and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The container and lid system is designed to be self-contained and self-securing. The lid fits securely over the container opening without requiring additional fastening mechanisms, making the system easy to operate while maintaining package integrity.
Data Source
AI summary
A point of sale device includes a card mounted on a hanger on a vertically extending mounting structure of a retail shop. The card carries a reusable storage container in which articles are stored. The container includes a body with an opening closed by a transparent, sealable, removable and re-sealable lid. The container is mounted on the card and the device is mounted on the hanger so a prospective purchaser can see the articles through the transparent lid. In one embodiment, the body includes a permanent magnet abutting the base.