Adaptive Cup Holder Tabs for Secure Container Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cup holders in vehicles often fail to securely hold beverage containers due to the ever-changing design of containers, leading to spillage and rattling noise during vehicle motion, as traditional supportive structures are not adaptable to varying container sizes and shapes.
Innovation Solution
A cup holder design featuring a base with a cylindrical sidewall, first and second slits, and tabs that adjust their position based on pressure applied, using a sensor and actuator to ensure even support and secure container placement through controlled tab movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If supportive structures are provided inside cup holders to prevent beverage container movement, then reliability is improved, but adaptability deteriorates due to difficulty in accommodating ever-changing container designs
Solution Approach 1:
The cup holder employs movable tabs that can dynamically adjust their positions based on the size and shape of inserted containers. The tabs are spring-loaded to provide continuous contact force, and can be actuated by motors or actuators to adapt to different container dimensions, resolving the contradiction between providing reliable support and adapting to varying designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes physical parameters such as tab position, tab extension length, and contact force to accommodate different container types. Sensors detect container characteristics and the control system adjusts tab parameters accordingly, enabling the same cup holder structure to reliably hold various container designs.
2Ease of manufacture
If fixed supportive structures are used in cup holders, then ease of manufacture is improved, but adaptability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cup holder is segmented into a base structure and separate movable tab components. This segmentation allows the main body to remain simple and easy to manufacture, while the modular tabs can be independently controlled and adjusted to accommodate different container types without redesigning the entire cup holder.
3Adaptability or versatility
If adjustable tab mechanism with sensors and actuators is implemented, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cup holder system uses sensors to automatically detect container characteristics and actuates tabs accordingly without user intervention. The system serves itself by autonomously adjusting to different containers, which manages complexity through automation rather than requiring manual adjustment mechanisms for each container type.
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the subject technology relate to a cup holder. The cup holder includes a base, a cylindrical sidewall extending from the base, a first tab and a second tab coupled to an outer surface of the cylindrical sidewall, a sensor that measures the pressure applied to the first tab, a processor, and an actuator. When no pressure is applied to the first tab, the first tab is fully protracted into the cup holder and the second tab is fully retracted out of the cup holder. When pressure is applied to the first tab, the first tab moves away from a central axis of the cup holder and the second tab moves toward the central axis of the cup holder.