Cup with Annular Groove and Flange for Stable Stacking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cups are not stacked stably due to insufficient overlapping areas, leading to instability when one cup is placed into another for storage.
Innovation Solution
A cup design featuring a hollow body with an upward-facing opening, a protruded flange, and an annular groove, where the upper portion has a greater diameter than the opening, and the lower portion has a smaller diameter, allowing for engagement between the flange of one cup and the annular groove of another, enhancing stability during stacking. Additionally, a cup foot can be combined with the cup to change its appearance, using a base opening and flange that match the cup's structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the cup is made tall to reduce height when stacked, then the overlapping area for stacking is reduced, but the stacking stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a new dimensional feature (annular groove at the bottom) to enhance stacking stability without increasing cup height. The groove creates a mechanical interlocking structure that adds stability in the vertical stacking dimension while maintaining compact overall height.
Solution Approach 2:
The cup structure is segmented into distinct functional zones: upper portion for capacity, middle portion for stacking engagement, and lower portion with annular groove for stability. This segmentation allows each part to optimize its function independently, resolving the contradiction between height and stability.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the overlapping area is increased to improve stacking stability, then the cup structure becomes more complex, but the manufacturing simplicity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The annular groove is localized to the bottom portion of the cup where it is most needed for stacking stability, rather than complicating the entire cup structure. This localized feature adds minimal complexity while maximizing stacking performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The annular groove creates a nested structure where one cup fits into another with mechanical interlocking. The groove acts as a receiving cavity for the flange of the adjacent cup, creating a stable nested arrangement without complex external structures.
3Ease of manufacture
If the cup diameter is uniform to simplify manufacturing, then the engagement area for stacking is reduced, but the stacking stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cup features local diameter variations only where needed for stacking engagement (upper and lower portions), while maintaining simplicity elsewhere. The annular groove provides the necessary engagement area without requiring complex overall diameter variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The annular groove is pre-formed at the bottom of the cup during manufacturing, creating a ready-made engagement structure that ensures stable stacking without requiring additional assembly steps or complex manufacturing processes.
Data Source
AI summary
A cup includes a body being hollowed. The body defines a receiving cavity therein. An opening of the receiving cavity is faced upward when the body is standing. A flange is defined around the opening and protruded inward. The body defines an annular groove formed around the same height of the body and recessed inward the body. The diameter of an upper portion above the annular groove is greater than the diameter of the opening, and the diameter of a lower portion below the annular groove is less than the diameter of the opening. When two cups are to be stacked with each other, the lower portion of the body of one cup is placed into the opening of the body of the other cup, and the flange of the body of the other cup is engaged with the annular groove of the body of one cup.