Adaptive Cup Holder Blades for Stable Multi-Size Cup Clamping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cup holders in vehicles have fixed sizes that do not accommodate various sizes and shapes of water cups, leading to inconvenience and potential breakage during travel.
Innovation Solution
An expandable adaptive cup holder with a cup holder body, blades, and an elastic potential energy storage component that adjusts to fit different cup sizes through mechanical linkage and energy release mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed-size cup slot is used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but it cannot accommodate cups of different sizes, leading to gaps or inability to hold large cups
Solution Approach 1:
The cup holder employs dynamic blades that can slide between extended and retracted positions along guide rails. The blades are connected through a linkage mechanism that allows them to move synchronously, transforming the static cup holder into a dynamic structure that adapts to different cup sizes and shapes.
Solution Approach 2:
The cup holder is divided into multiple independent blades that can move relative to each other. Each blade is a separate component that can be individually positioned, allowing the overall structure to conform to various cup geometries while maintaining structural integrity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the cup slot is made larger to accommodate big cups, then large cups can be held, but small cups will have large gaps and may detach causing breakage
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic potential energy storage component provides automatic feedback control. When a cup is placed in the holder, it triggers the release mechanism that activates the linkage system, causing the blades to adjust their position automatically based on the cup's presence and size, ensuring optimal clamping force.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the positional parameters of the blades dynamically. By adjusting the distance between blades and their angle relative to the cup, the holder adapts to different cup dimensions while maintaining sufficient clamping force to prevent detachment.
3Adaptability or versatility
If an expandable mechanism is added to accommodate different cup sizes, then adaptability improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The linkage mechanism is nested within the cup holder body, with components arranged concentrically. The blades are positioned within the circular opening, and the triggering mechanism is housed within the cup holder structure, minimizing external complexity while enabling expandable functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The linkage mechanism serves multiple functions: it controls blade movement, stores elastic potential energy, and responds to cup insertion automatically. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby limiting the increase in overall device complexity.
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 cup holder automatically adjusts to fit various cup sizes, providing stable clamping and reducing operational complexity, enhancing safety and convenience during travel.
Implementation Method 1
the cup holder body comprises an elastic potential energy storage component arranged inside the cup holder body
Data Source
AI summary
The present application provides an expandable adaptive cup holder, wherein the expandable adaptive cup holder comprises a cup holder body and a blade slidably connected to the cup holder body. The cup holder body comprises an elastic potential energy storage component arranged inside the cup holder body, and a triggering component arranged on the cup holder body. The triggering component comprises a contacting portion and a triggering portion extending into the cup holder body and contacting with the elastic potential energy storage component. The expandable adaptive cup holder of the present application can release elastic potential energy after a user puts a water cup in, the blades are contracted to clamp the outer edge of the cup wall, and the purpose of adapting to the size of the water cup can be achieved.