Insulated Cup Air Gap Venting Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional thermally insulated cup assemblies are costly to manufacture and pose a risk of the cup being dropped due to separability, while also failing to effectively manage high surface temperatures of hot beverages, making them difficult to hold safely.
Innovation Solution
A thermally insulated container design featuring a cup with a protective member that includes an air gap and strategically placed holes to allow hot air to escape and cold air to enter, providing insulation without the need for special machinery and ensuring the protective member is securely attached to the cup.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a protective member is added to provide thermal insulation, then the cup surface temperature is reduced, but the manufacturing cost increases due to special machinery and extra procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The protective member is divided into multiple segments that can be separately manufactured and then assembled around the cup. This segmentation allows for simpler manufacturing of individual parts using standard machinery, while still achieving the thermal insulation function when assembled, thereby reducing overall manufacturing cost compared to creating a single complex protective structure
Solution Approach 2:
The protective member is designed to fit closely around the cup, creating a nested structure where the protective member envelops the cup. This nested configuration maximizes thermal insulation efficiency with minimal material usage and simple geometry, avoiding the need for complex manufacturing equipment while effectively reducing cup surface temperature
2Temperature
If a protective member is added to provide thermal insulation, then the cup surface temperature is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The protective member is divided into multiple simple segments rather than creating one complex monolithic structure. Each segment has a straightforward geometry that is easy to manufacture and assemble, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining thermal insulation functionality through the combined segments
Solution Approach 2:
The protective member employs a thin-walled cylindrical structure with uniform cross-section, resembling a flexible shell design. This simple geometric form is structurally efficient for thermal insulation while being straightforward to manufacture and assemble, avoiding complex structural features
3Temperature
If cup sleeves are used for thermal insulation, then the cup surface temperature is reduced, but the reliability decreases because the cup sleeve can be separated from the cup
Solution Approach 1:
An attachment mechanism serves as an intermediary element between the protective member and the cup, providing a reliable connection. This intermediary structure ensures the protective member remains securely attached during use, preventing separation while maintaining the thermal insulation function, thereby improving reliability without compromising temperature control
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 container effectively manages high surface temperatures by allowing hot air to escape and cold air to enter, reducing the risk of burns and providing a stable, cost-effective solution for thermal insulation without the need for complex manufacturing processes.
Implementation Method 1
the cup and the protective member provide an air gap therebetween
Implementation Method 2
the holes formed in the top end portion of the protective member allow hot air in the air gap to escape from the air gap to outside, and cold air could flow into the air gap
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a container comprising a cup; a protective member attached to a side wall of the cup, the protective member including: an outer side wall portion; an inner side wall portion contacting the side wall of the cup; a bottom end portion connecting between a bottom end of the outer side wall portion and a bottom end of the inner side wall portion; and a top end portion connecting between a top end of the outer side wall portion and a top end of the inner side wall portion, the top end portion having at least one hole; and an air gap formed between a side wall of the cup and the protective member, wherein the at least hole allows air to flow between the air gap and outside.