Beverage container with removable boot
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Solution Overview
Problem
Travel beverage containers often lack effective protection against impact, denting, and sliding, especially those with insulated metal bases, and may not provide sufficient insulation or a comfortable gripping surface.
Innovation Solution
A protective sleeve or boot made from elastic materials, such as natural rubber or silicone, is designed to fit snugly over the base of the container, providing impact protection, additional insulation, and an anti-slip surface, while also enhancing grip and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If the base structure is made with thinner walls to reduce weight, then the weight is reduced, but the protection against impact and denting is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two different materials: the base structure (metal or plastic) and the protective sleeve (elastic material such as rubber, silicone, or thermoplastic elastomer). This composite construction allows the thin-walled base to maintain low weight while the elastic sleeve provides impact protection and dent resistance, resolving the contradiction between weight reduction and strength enhancement.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic protective sleeve is designed to absorb impact forces before they reach the base structure. By placing this cushioning layer beforehand on the exterior surface of the base, the patent prevents denting and reduces the effect of drops or impacts, allowing the base walls to remain thin without sacrificing protection.
2Temperature
If an insulated double-wall construction is used, then insulation performance is improved, but the overall weight increases and the base becomes more susceptible to denting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the insulated base structure with an elastic protective sleeve made of materials such as rubber, silicone, or thermoplastic elastomer. This composite construction allows the thin-walled insulated base to maintain low weight while the elastic sleeve provides impact protection and dent resistance, resolving the contradiction between insulation performance and weight reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic protective sleeve acts as a flexible shell that envelops the insulated base. This flexible outer layer provides mechanical protection without adding significant weight, as it can be made from thin-gauge elastic materials that still provide effective cushioning and dent prevention while allowing the insulated base walls to remain thin.
3Weight of moving object
If the base structure is made with thinner walls, then the weight is reduced, but the protection against sliding is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the base structure with an elastic protective sleeve that has different surface properties. The elastic material (rubber, silicone, or thermoplastic elastomer) provides increased friction and sliding resistance compared to smooth metal or plastic, allowing the base walls to remain thin for weight reduction while the sleeve exterior prevents sliding on surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic protective sleeve serves as a flexible outer shell that contacts the supporting surface. This flexible material naturally provides higher friction coefficients than rigid smooth materials, preventing the cup from sliding while adding minimal weight. The sleeve acts as the primary interface with surfaces, providing grip without requiring the base structure itself to be heavy or textured.
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 sleeve or boot effectively protects the container from impact, reduces sliding, and adds insulation, while offering a comfortable and stable gripping surface, thus improving the durability and usability of the beverage system.
Implementation Method 1
A protective sleeve or boot for a beverage container in accordance with aspects herein may be formed from a variety of suitable elastic materials such as, for example, natural rubber, synthetic rubber, silicone, rubberized silicone, thermoplastic elastomers
Implementation Method 2
The sleeve or boot may also provide additional insulation to the beverage system
Implementation Method 3
The frictional surface may also provide anti-slip or anti-skid properties so that the beverage system in accordance with aspects herein has an improved stability against sliding or tipping over
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects disclosed herein generally relate to beverage systems. Particularly, beverage systems comprising a sleeve or boot to provide stability, protection, and/or insulation to the beverage container. The sleeve or boot in accordance with aspects herein is comprised of an elastically resilient material. The beverage container of the beverage system in accordance with aspects herein is configured to accommodate the sleeve or boot such that when the sleeve or boot is installed, the outer surface of the beverage container smoothly transitions to the outer surface of the sleeve or boot.