Postal Packet with Stacked Compartments and Tear-Open Security

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing postal packets lack effective security measures to prevent tampering, especially when containing confidential information, due to limited compartmentalization and security systems that are easily compromised once the initial protection is overcome, allowing easy removal of all contents.

Innovation Solution

A multifunctional postal packet design featuring stacked cards with tear-open closing systems, where each card has a perforated line for secure access to individual compartments, allowing secure housing and re-use of objects, with optional detachable leaves that require tearing along a specific line to access contents, ensuring only the intended recipient can open the packet.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a single compartment postal packet is used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the security system is limited and easily compromised once the initial protection is overcome

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesecurityVSAvoidcompartmentalization
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The postal packet is divided into multiple independent compartments (first compartment, second compartment, third compartment) stacked vertically, each with its own separate access mechanism. This segmentation allows the packet to maintain security even if one compartment is accessed, as other compartments remain protected, directly resolving the contradiction between security reliability and structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If multiple compartments are introduced for secure housing of objects, then security is enhanced through individual access control, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesecurityVSAvoidpacket construction
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The multiple compartments are arranged in a nested vertical stack where the second compartment is positioned within the vertical space of the first compartment, and the third compartment is positioned within the vertical space of the second compartment. This nesting arrangement allows multiple secure compartments to be manufactured as a unified structure, reducing overall complexity compared to separate packets.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Reliability

If tear-open closing systems are provided for each compartment, then individual access control is enabled, but the ease of operation and user convenience may be reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccess controlVSAvoidopening mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Each compartment is equipped with a tear-open closing system that allows the user to access the compartment by tearing along a predetermined line. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for keys, locks, or complex opening procedures, maintaining ease of operation while ensuring security through the irreversible tearing action that prevents unauthorized access.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

4Device complexity

If all contents are housed in one compartment, then the packet structure is simple, but once the first protection is overcome, all contents can be easily removed

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovestructureVSAvoidprotection
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The packet is segmented into multiple independent compartments, each protecting a portion of the contents. This segmentation ensures that compromising one compartment does not expose all contents, as other compartments remain securely sealed. The segmentation directly addresses the vulnerability of single-compartment designs while maintaining reasonable structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3049342B1Postal packet with multiple compartments for housing two- or three-dimensional objects
Publication Date: 2018.01.31 MAF
  • EP3049342B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3049342B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3049342B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A postal packet is provided with multiple functions in so far as it is made up of multiple compartments set on top of one another that enable, through purposely provided anti-effraction tear-open closing systems, two-dimensional and/or three-dimensional objects to be contained in the various housing levels. The anti-effraction system is characterized by a separation of the various housings present within each compartment that does not enable objects inserted therein to be taken out unless in the case where the addressee opens it by tearing open the individual leaves. Furthermore, the postal packet, which may have various shapes, owing to its particular conformation and given the possibility of using individually each element thereof, enables creation of advertising coupons, visiting cards, or any product of visual communication.