Condiment packet holder
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional single-serving condiment packets lack a practical solution to stand upright without spilling after being opened, leading to contamination and mess, as they are not designed to maintain an upright position effectively.
Innovation Solution
A holder with a three-dimensional cavity that is specifically sized to hold a single-serving condiment packet upright, featuring internal sidewalls that prevent the packet from tipping over and ensure the opening does not touch the holder, allowing for precise dimensions to accommodate various packet sizes and shapes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional single-serving condiment packet is placed horizontally after opening, then it is easy to place and store, but the condiment spills and the opening becomes contaminated
Solution Approach 1:
The holder acts as an intermediary structure between the condiment packet and the table surface. It provides a specialized cavity with internal sidewalls that cradles the packet in an upright position, preventing direct contact between the packet opening and contaminated surfaces while maintaining stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions the packet from a horizontal placement (2D surface contact) to a vertical upright position (3D spatial orientation). The holder's cavity dimensions are specifically designed to accommodate the packet vertically, using the third dimension (height) to prevent spilling while maintaining ease of placement on the table.
2Quantity of substance
If the holder cavity is made large enough to hold multiple packets, then bulk storage is achieved, but the packet can tip over and spill
Solution Approach 1:
The holder is designed with multiple separate cavities rather than one large cavity. Each cavity is individually sized to fit a single packet, providing stable upright support. This segmentation allows bulk storage of multiple packets while maintaining the stability of each individual packet in its own dedicated space.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the holder cavity is made small to fit a single packet tightly, then upright stability is improved, but the opening may touch the holder causing contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The holder cavity features non-uniform dimensions with different widths at different heights. The lower portion has narrower dimensions to provide stable support and prevent tipping, while the upper portion near the opening has wider dimensions to maintain clearance and prevent the opening from touching the holder, thus avoiding contamination.
Data Source
AI summary
A holder for a single-serving condiment packet that allows an opened packet to maintain an upright position without spilling its inner contents and also without having the opening of the open packet touch any part of the holder. The single-serving condiment packet holder has a thin three-dimensional cavity which is defined by one or more internal sidewalls. The holder may also have sidewalls, a base side, and a top side that is any geometric shape. A clip may be used to suspend the holder.