Coffee Mug with Nested Mini-Cup Compartment to Prevent Breakage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coffee and liquid containers do not effectively provide a secure, nested compartment for mini-cups that can be shared from a consumable beverage, often relying on friction fits which may not adequately prevent breakage or deterioration during use.
Innovation Solution
A thermally insulated coffee mug or bottle with a removable internal dry store compartment that securely holds two or more mini-cups through a complementary nesting support, and an optional secondary storage container for additives, using a combination of threadable and friction-fit attachments to stabilize the cups vertically and horizontally.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mini-cups are stored in a compartment with friction fit attachment, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the mini-cups may move vertically and horizontally causing breakage or deterioration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a nested cup support structure where multiple support surfaces are nested within the compartment: a bottom support surface, vertical support surfaces along the walls, and intermediate support surfaces. These nested surfaces work together to constrain mini-cups at multiple levels, preventing both vertical and horizontal movement while maintaining a compact overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different support characteristics to different locations within the compartment. The bottom support surface provides horizontal stabilization, vertical support surfaces provide lateral constraints, and intermediate support surfaces provide additional vertical positioning. Each local area has optimized support properties tailored to the specific movement prevention needs at that location.
2Reliability
If a removable internal dry store compartment is added to hold mini-cups, then mini-cups can be securely nested and protected, but the device complexity increases with additional attachment mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The removable internal dry store compartment is nested within the main container body, with the compartment itself containing the nested cup support structure. This nested arrangement allows the compartment to be easily removed as a complete unit while maintaining secure attachment when installed, balancing accessibility with security.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage system is segmented into distinct removable components: the internal dry store compartment that can be detached from the main container, and the nested cup support structure within the compartment. This segmentation allows for easy cleaning, replacement, and maintenance of individual components without affecting the entire system.
3Reliability
If complementary nesting support surfaces are used to limit cup movement, then mini-cups are protected from adverse movements, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent provides different degrees of precision for different support surfaces based on their functional requirements. The bottom support surface requires high precision for horizontal stability, while vertical support surfaces require precision in their positioning along the walls. Intermediate support surfaces have optimized precision requirements for their specific vertical positioning function, allowing for graduated manufacturing tolerances.
Solution Approach 2:
The nested arrangement of multiple support surfaces within the compartment allows each surface to contribute to movement limitation in a distributed manner. Rather than requiring one highly precise complex surface, multiple simpler nested surfaces work together to achieve the same constraint effect, reducing individual manufacturing precision requirements.
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 solution ensures that mini-cups are securely nested and protected from adverse movements, preventing breakage or deterioration, while allowing for easy sharing and storage of beverages and additives, enhancing user convenience and safety.
Implementation Method 1
a thermally insulated container for a consumable beverage
Implementation Method 2
The cups have substantially identical exterior cup shapes and liquid-carrying inboard cup shapes such that adjacent cups nest together to form a stacked cup formation
Implementation Method 3
The internal dry store of the storage compartment defines a nested cup support having a supporting surface complementary to the inboard cup shape such that the stacked cup formation is vertically and horizontally supported within the internal dry store
Data Source
AI summary
The coffee mug or drink container has an internal multi-cup compartment. A thermally insulated container (liquid containment store) has a lid with drink spout(s) (if the drink container is not a bottle). The special container has an internal dry store for two or more cups placed in a storage compartment beneath the bottom of the container. Identically shaped cups nest together (stacked) in the dry store on a nested cup support with a complementary surface to limit vertical and horizontal jostling and cup damage. Sometimes the cups are frusto-conically shaped or are matching convex/concaved shaped. An added secondary storage container is included for coffee or drink additives.