Collapsible Cup with Rigid Plate Base for Stability and Portability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Collapsible mugs face challenges such as difficulty in manufacturing, narrow bases leading to instability, poor collapsibility, hygienic concerns during expansion, unsightly design, lack of handles for easy gripping, and issues with maintaining water tightness.
Innovation Solution
A collapsible container design featuring a flexible body with multiple tiers, living hinges, and a rigid plate embedded in the base for stability, along with a handle and elastomeric grip for easy gripping, and a selectively closable lid for water tightness, manufactured using a method that injects flexible material around a rigid cladding and handle preform.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If collapsible mugs are made with multiple tiers to enable collapsing, then collapsibility is improved, but the base becomes narrow and unstable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines flexible material for the collapsible body with a rigid plate material for the base, creating a composite structure that enables both collapsibility and base stability. The rigid plate is embedded in the bottom tier to provide structural support while the rest of the body remains flexible for collapsing.
2Volume of moving object
If the base is made narrow to fit in small spaces, then portability is improved, but stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a rigid plate embedded in the bottom tier to create a stable base that can be narrow for portability yet rigid enough to prevent knocking over. The rigid material provides the necessary structural support in a compact form.
3Adaptability or versatility
If flexible material is used for the body to enable collapsing, then collapsibility is improved, but resistance to lateral deformation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines flexible material for the collapsible body sections with rigid material for the base and rim, creating a composite structure where each material performs its optimal function. The flexible portions enable collapsing while the rigid portions provide lateral strength.
4Stability of the object's composition
If the mug is made with a rigid base for stability, then stability is improved, but collapsibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the mug structure into segmented tiers (top tier, middle tier, bottom tier) with the rigid plate embedded only in the bottom tier. This segmentation allows the base to be rigid for stability while the upper tiers remain flexible for collapsing.
5Device complexity
If collapsible mugs are made without handles for simplicity, then device complexity is reduced, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The rigid cladding that provides structural support and rigidity to the top tier also serves as a gripping surface, eliminating the need for a separate handle structure. This multi-functional design maintains simplicity while improving ease of operation.
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 design enhances manufacturability, stability, collapsibility, hygiene, aesthetics, and ease of use while ensuring the container remains self-supporting and watertight in both expanded and collapsed states.
Implementation Method 1
a rigid plate embedded in the bottom tier that makes the otherwise flexible base rigid
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of living hinges including a first living hinge between the top tier and the middle tier and a second living hinge between the middle tier and the bottom tier
Implementation Method 3
The top tier may have an elastomeric grip around the rigid cladding
Data Source
AI summary
A collapsible container, particularly a cup or mug having a flexible body having a top tier, middle tier and a bottom tier is disclosed. The bottom tier has a base. The container has a first living hinge between the top and middle tiers and a second living hinge between the middle and bottom tiers. A rigid, preferably metal, plate is at least partially embedded in the bottom tier that makes the otherwise flexible base rigid. The container can have a rigid metal cladding around the top tier and a handle made of flexible material. The collapsible container may be made by injection molding.