Secured Delivery Container with Active Temperature Control and Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing delivery containers fail to maintain food at desired temperatures during transit and lack security features to prevent tampering, as they are typically passive insulated and unsecured.
Innovation Solution
A secure delivery container with an actuatable heat transfer system and control circuitry to maintain temperature, combined with a locking mechanism and wireless communication for secure access, allowing only the end recipient to open the container.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If passive insulation is used in delivery containers, then the container structure remains simple, but the food temperature cannot be maintained during long transit times
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by transitioning from static passive insulation to dynamic active temperature control. The system uses actuatable heating and cooling chambers that can be activated based on delivery requirements, allowing the container to adapt its thermal properties dynamically rather than relying solely on fixed insulation characteristics
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements multi-functionality by integrating both heating and cooling chambers within a single container system. This allows the same container to maintain different temperature conditions (hot, cold, or ambient) depending on the delivery requirements, making the container universally applicable to various food delivery scenarios
2Ease of operation
If delivery containers are made accessible for easy pickup, then customer convenience is improved, but security against tampering is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies feedback by implementing a notification system that alerts the customer when the container is delivered and when it is opened. The system provides real-time status updates about container security and access events, enabling the customer to monitor and verify that their delivery has not been tampered with while maintaining easy access through authorized opening
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 effectively maintains food at desired temperatures and ensures the contents have not been tampered with by enabling secure, temperature-controlled delivery and access only to the intended recipient.
Implementation Method 1
one or more heat transfer elements in thermal communication with one or more surfaces of the body that define the chamber and configured to heat or cool said one or more surfaces to heat or cool the delivery items in the chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A secure delivery container can have a body with a chamber that can receive one or more items for delivery to an end recipient and a door actuatable to close the chamber in a locked position and open to allow access to the items. The container can have a heat transfer system with one or more heat transfer elements in thermal communication with one or more surfaces of the body that define the chamber and configured to heat or cool the one or more surfaces to heat or cool the delivery items in the chamber. The container can wirelessly communicate with a remote electronic device to receive information from the remote electronic device and to communicate operational information from the one or more heat transfer elements to the remote electronic device.