Collapsible Beverage Insulator for Multi-Size Party Game Play
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage insulators are often large and inflexible, unable to accommodate multiple container sizes without modification, limiting their portability and versatility, and traditional party games can lead to unsanitary conditions and require additional equipment.
Innovation Solution
A collapsible beverage insulator with expandable and collapsible zones that can fit various container sizes and serve as a game piece, allowing for games that utilize the insulator's collapse to determine points and incorporating modular insulation for multiple beverages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If traditional beverage insulators are made of rigid metal or hard plastic, then they provide good insulation and structural strength, but they are large, not compact, and cannot be reduced to a smaller size for storage
Solution Approach 1:
The insulator transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic collapsible structure. The sidewalls are designed with collapsible zones that allow the insulator to be compressed from its expanded operational state to a compact collapsed state for storage, while maintaining structural integrity when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The insulator employs flexible sidewalls with collapsible zones instead of rigid metal or hard plastic construction. These flexible walls can be compressed and folded while maintaining their insulating properties, enabling the insulator to reduce its volume for storage without sacrificing its ability to provide thermal insulation during use.
2Adaptability or versatility
If beverage insulators are made to accommodate large containers, then they can hold big bottles, but they cannot fit smaller container sizes without modification
Solution Approach 1:
The insulator's collapsible design allows it to dynamically adjust its internal volume by collapsing or expanding its sidewalls. This enables the same insulator to accommodate different container sizes - when expanded for large containers and when collapsed or partially collapsed for smaller containers - providing versatility without requiring multiple insulators of different sizes.
Solution Approach 2:
The insulator changes its physical parameters (volume, shape) through the collapsible zones that can be compressed to different degrees. By varying the extent of collapse, the insulator adapts its internal dimensions to match different beverage container sizes, from large bottles to small cans, making a single insulator suitable for multiple container types.
3Ease of operation
If traditional party games use separate equipment (cups, boards, pieces), then they can provide dedicated game functionality, but they require additional equipment to be brought and collected, increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The beverage insulator is merged with game piece functionality. The insulator itself becomes the game piece that can be tossed, flipped, and used in various party games. This combination eliminates the need for separate game equipment - the insulator serves dual purposes as both a beverage insulator and a game component, reducing the total number of items needed for parties.
Solution Approach 2:
The insulator is designed with multi-functionality, serving as both a beverage insulator and a game piece. It can be used for insulating drinks during parties and then transformed into a playable game component for tossing games, flip games, or other activities. This universal design allows a single device to replace multiple specialized items, simplifying party preparation and cleanup.
4Device complexity
If the same cups are used for drinking and playing games (e.g., flip cup), then equipment quantity is reduced, but unsanitary conditions arise from beverage spilling and rim contact with surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The insulator is merged with the game piece function, creating a dedicated game component that is separate from the beverage container. The insulator can be removed from the beverage container before gameplay, ensuring that the actual drinking vessel never contacts game surfaces. This separation maintains sanitation while still using a unified game system.
Solution Approach 2:
The insulator acts as an intermediary between the beverage container and the game function. Instead of using the cup itself for games, the insulator serves as the game piece that interacts with game surfaces through tossing and flipping. This intermediary role protects the beverage container and its contents from contamination while enabling game play.
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 collapsible insulator provides versatile insulation and gameplay, reducing equipment needs and promoting hygiene by using a single device for both insulation and game play, while enabling compact storage and multiple game variations.
Implementation Method 1
The sidewall including at least one collapsible zone being moveable between a collapsed state and an expanded state, where movement of the at least one collapsible zone from the expanded state to the collapsed state decreases a volume of the interior volume.
Implementation Method 2
placing a beverage at least partially within the collapsible beverage insulator to provide insulation between the beverage and an exterior environment
Implementation Method 3
The projectile opening being elastically deformable to facilitate receiving the projectile and forming a substantially fluid-sealed interface around the projectile.
Data Source
AI summary
A collapsible game piece and methods of using the same are disclosed. The collapsible game piece can have one or more collapsible zones, each of which can move between a collapsed state and an expanded state, optionally including partially collapsed states in-between. The collapsible game piece can have a projectile end with a projectile opening sized to receive a projectile (e.g., a ping pong ball). The collapsible game piece can have a nose end and optionally a nose piece. The collapsible game piece can optionally include a tail and fins. When thrown or tossed, the collapsible game piece can fly until it lands, potentially collapsing one or more of the collapsible zones, which results in ejection of the projectile from the projectile opening. Various games can be played using the collapsible game piece.