Container holder and methods relating to same

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Solution Overview

Problem

Bottles with elongated bodies and narrow necks are difficult to balance in an inverted orientation due to adhesion and cohesion forces, making it hard to extract the last portion of viscous material and prone to falling over during storage.

Innovation Solution

A bottle holder with diverging shapes and sizes of cavities to accommodate different bottle shapes and sizes, featuring a central annular portion to secure the bottle cap or neck, and attachment structures like suction cups for stability, allowing bottles to be securely held in an inverted position.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If bottles are stored upright, then the viscous material settles towards the bottom near the second end, but when inverted for use, adhesion and cohesion forces counteract gravity making it difficult to get the last portion of material

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of extracting viscous materialVSAvoidloss of viscous material

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The bottle holder inverts the bottle orientation during storage, positioning the narrow neck downward and the broad base upward. This inversion allows gravity to naturally pull the viscous material toward the neck opening, making it easier to extract the last portions of material without adhesion and cohesion forces preventing flow.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The bottle holder changes the gravitational parameter acting on the viscous material by inverting the bottle orientation. This parameter change transforms the gravitational force from counteracting material flow (when upright) to facilitating material flow toward the dispensing opening (when inverted).

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If bottles are stored inverted to access material easily, then the narrow cap and neck make balancing difficult, but storing upright prevents falling over

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of accessing viscous materialVSAvoidstability of bottle orientation

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The bottle holder provides localized support at specific regions of the bottle (the broad base area) while allowing the narrow neck to hang freely downward. This localized quality approach supports the heavy broad base to maintain stability while the narrow neck portion naturally orientations downward due to gravity, solving both stability and material access issues.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The bottle holder introduces a vertical dimension to the storage solution by suspending bottles in an inverted vertical orientation. This dimensional change allows the bottle to be supported at its broad base while the neck extends downward, simultaneously achieving stability through proper support positioning and easy material access through gravitational flow.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Stability of the object's composition

If bottles are stored upright, then stability is maintained, but the last portion of viscous material remains trapped near the broad base

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestability of bottle during storageVSAvoidtrapped viscous material

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

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 access to the last portion of viscous materials and prevents bottles from falling by providing a stable, inverted orientation, ensuring the fluid settles near the cap and maintaining bottle stability.

Implementation Method 1

attachment structures like suction cups for stability

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentUS11389020B2Container holder and methods relating to same

Publication Date: 2022.07.19 JL HOME SOLUTIONS LLC

AI summary

A bottle holder comprising a first bottle holder portion having a diverging sidewall defining a first cavity for receiving at least a portion of a bottle, the first opening being open toward a first direction, and a second bottle holder portion having a second diverging sidewall having a different shape than the first diverging sidewall, the second diverging sidewall defining a second cavity for receiving at least a portion of a bottle, the second opening being open toward a second direction.