Collapsible Ring Cup Holder for Adjustable Mounting and Hygiene
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cup holders, especially in public and shared environments, often lack cleanliness and individualization, posing a hygiene concern, especially during pandemics, and are not easily portable or adjustable to fit various beverage sizes and mounting points.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable portable cup holder with a top ring, bottom ring, and intermediate rings that collapse and expand to fit different beverage sizes, featuring an attachment band with an adjustment gap and release clip, allowing secure mounting to various points like strollers or grocery carts, ensuring cleanliness and ease of use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a pre-existing cup holder is used in public or shared environments, then it provides basic functionality for holding beverages, but it cannot ensure cleanliness and individualization
Solution Approach 1:
The cup holder is designed as a separate, detachable unit that can be individually owned and cleaned, rather than a fixed shared component. This segmentation allows each user to have their own clean cup holder while maintaining basic functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The cup holder acts as an intermediary between the user's beverage container and the mounting surface (stroller, cart, etc.). This intermediate structure can be easily detached, cleaned, and replaced, ensuring hygiene while providing universal mounting capability.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a fixed cup holder design is used, then it provides stable structure, but it cannot adjust to fit various beverage sizes and mounting points
Solution Approach 1:
The cup holder incorporates an expandable ring structure that can dynamically adjust its dimensions. The ring expands to accommodate larger containers or different mounting configurations, and contracts for compact storage, providing both stability during use and adaptability across scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The physical parameters of the cup holder (particularly the ring diameter and height) are made variable through the expandable structure. This allows the same device to adapt to different beverage container sizes and mounting point configurations without compromising structural integrity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a portable cup holder with expandable structure is used, then it can adapt to various sizes and mounting points, but it increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The expandable ring structure uses a nested configuration where intermediate rings are positioned within the main ring structure. When collapsed, the rings nest together in a compact form; when expanded, they provide the necessary support and adaptability, reducing overall complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The ring structure utilizes flexible materials and thin-walled construction that allow the cup holder to expand and contract smoothly. This flexibility enables adaptability without requiring complex mechanical joints or fastening mechanisms, simplifying the overall structure.
4Adaptability or versatility
If an attachment band with adjustment mechanism is used, then it can secure to various mounting points, but it increases difficulty of operation
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment band is designed to be simple enough that the user can easily attach and detach the cup holder themselves without requiring tools or complex procedures. The band's flexibility and the expandable ring work together to provide automatic alignment and secure attachment through simple user actions.
Data Source
AI summary
The adjustable portable cup holder may comprise a top ring, a bottom ring, a plurality of intermediate rings, and an attachment band. The adjustable portable cup holder may be coupled to a mounting point and may be operable to hold a beverage container. The adjustable portable cup holder may collapse for storage and expand for use. The attachment band may adjust to fit the mounting point. As non-limiting examples, the beverage container may be a beverage cup, a water bottle, or a beverage can. As non-limiting examples, the mounting point may be a beach chair, a stroller, or a grocery cart.