Collapsible Container Inner Cup for Utensil-Free Viscous Food Dispensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing food containers with high viscosity or gelatinous contents require utensils for consumption due to their inability to self-dispense, which is inconvenient for on-the-go consumption.
Innovation Solution
A collapsible container design featuring an inner cup with concentric sections that collapse when a force is applied through a hole in the outer cup, allowing edible contents to be discharged without additional utensils.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional rigid container is used for gel-based or viscous food products, then the container structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the contents cannot be dispensed quickly without utensils due to high viscosity and gelatinous nature
Solution Approach 1:
The container employs a collapsible inner cup with concentric sections that can dynamically change shape and volume. When force is applied through the bottom hole, the inner cup collapses inward, actively pushing the viscous contents outward through the container opening, transforming the container from a static to a dynamic dispensing system.
Solution Approach 2:
The inner cup is divided into multiple concentric collapsible sections that can collapse independently in sequence. This segmentation allows the cup to collapse efficiently from the base upward, creating progressive pressure to dispense viscous contents without requiring utensils.
2Extent of automation
If a collapsible inner cup with concentric sections is implemented, then utensil-free dispensing of viscous contents is enabled, but the container structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The container is designed to dispense its own contents without external utensils. By applying force through the bottom hole, the collapsible inner cup automatically collapses and pushes the viscous food product outward through the container opening, enabling self-service dispensing functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The container features an inner cup nested within an outer cup, with the inner cup having concentric collapsible sections nested within each other. This nested structure allows efficient collapse progression while maintaining a compact form factor.
3Productivity
If the inner cup collapses toward the container opening, then viscous contents are discharged efficiently, but the base section must be accessible through the hole in the outer cup
Solution Approach 1:
The container is pre-configured with a hole in the bottom of the outer cup that provides direct access to the base of the inner cup. This preliminary design feature enables the user to immediately apply force to initiate the collapse and dispensing action without additional setup steps.
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 easy, utensil-free consumption of gel-based or viscous foods by collapsing the inner cup sections to dispense contents, enhancing convenience and usability.
Implementation Method 1
The base may be configured to collapse toward the container opening when a force is exerted toward the container opening through the hole on the inner cup
Data Source
AI summary
A collapsible container includes an outer cup, an inner cup located inside the outer cup, and a seal covering the container. The inner cup includes a base and a plurality of concentric sections that are configured to collapse toward an opening in the container, when a force is exerted toward the opening on the base. The plurality of concentric sections may include three concentric sections: a base section, a middle section, and a top section, wherein the base section perimeter is smaller than the middle section perimeter, and the middle section perimeter is smaller than the top section perimeter.