Beverage container holder assembly
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Individuals with manual disabilities face difficulties in holding and drinking from fluid-dispensing tumblers, such as those from YETI®, ORCA®, and RTIC®, due to the lack of handles and the need to reposition the lid for easy access.
Innovation Solution
A beverage container holder assembly with movable handles and a rotatable lid, featuring spur gear assemblies or universal hinge mechanisms, allowing for easy repositioning and convenient handling, and a lid with selectively openable fluid outlet ports for comfortable use with either hand or both hands.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If handles are added to fluid-dispensing tumblers, then ease of operation for people with disabled hands is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The handles are designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing them to be repositioned along the cylindrical sleeve. This dynamic configuration enables users to adjust handle positions to suit their needs while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure that can be collapsed when not in use.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the lid is made stationary with fixed outlet ports, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability for different user positions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The lid incorporates a rotatable center piece that can selectively open different fluid outlet ports. This dynamic element allows the same lid structure to serve multiple user positions and preferences without requiring multiple separate lids, maintaining simplicity while providing adaptability.
3Ease of operation
If movable handles with gear assemblies are implemented, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The handle system is divided into discrete components: the cylindrical sleeve, the movable handles, and the spur gear assemblies. Each component can be manufactured separately using standard machining processes, and then assembled together. This segmentation reduces the complexity of manufacturing the complete assembly compared to creating a fully integrated movable handle system.
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
Enables individuals with disabilities to comfortably hold and drink from fluid-dispensing tumblers by allowing handle repositioning and easy lid access, facilitating convenient use and storage.
Implementation Method 1
The mounting assemblies comprises at least two spaced-apart spur gear assemblies; and wherein each spur gear assembly has a first spur gear mounted on the outer surface of the sleeve and a second spur gear mounted in each of the two opposed handles for meshing engagement with the first spur gear
Implementation Method 2
The mounting assemblies comprise a hinge assembly associated with each of the two opposed handles. The hinge assembly is located on an upper portion of each of the two opposed handles and on a lower portion of each of the two opposed handles, and each hinge assembly comprises a universal hinge mechanism
Data Source
AI summary
A beverage container holder assembly for holding a fluid dispensing tumbler, and having a sleeve; mounting assemblies associated with the outer surface of the sleeve; two opposed handles movably attached to the mounting assemblies for movement relative to the outer surface of the sleeve; and a lid which is snapped onto the tumbler and having a plurality of fluid outlet ports and a rotatable center piece having a T-shaped configuration with three leg segments and a movable leg segment for selectively opening one of the plurality of fluid outlet ports and closing all of the ports. A first embodiment has spur gear assemblies associated with the movable handles and the sleeve; and a second embodiment has hinge assemblies associated the movable handles and the sleeve. The invention allows a user to grasp the beverage container holder assembly by the user's left or right hand or by both hands.