Cup holder adjustment system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cup holders in foldable chairs fail to securely accommodate beverages of varying sizes and heights, leading to spilling, difficulty in access, and potential injury from improperly seated cans.
Innovation Solution
A cup holder adjustment system with a cord locking mechanism to adjust the base height and flexible tab members to secure beverages, ensuring proper positioning and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed cup holder design is used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but it cannot accommodate beverages of varying sizes and heights, leading to spilling and improper positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The cup holder employs dynamic adjustment mechanisms including a height adjustment mechanism with movable support arms that can be positioned at multiple heights, and a tilt adjustment mechanism that allows the cup holder to rotate and tilt to different angles. This enables the cup holder to adapt to various beverage container sizes and orientations while maintaining structural integrity through controlled mechanical movements.
Solution Approach 2:
The cup holder structure is divided into multiple independent adjustable components including separate height adjustment mechanisms for different support arms, individual tilt adjustment mechanisms, and modular cord locking systems. This segmentation allows each component to be adjusted independently to accommodate different beverage container dimensions while keeping the overall structure manageable and not overly complex.
2Ease of operation
If the cup holder base is fixed at a single height, then the structure is stable and simple, but beverages may sit too high or too low, causing spilling or difficult access
Solution Approach 1:
The height adjustment mechanism utilizes dynamic movable support arms that can be easily repositioned along guide rails or tracks to different heights. The mechanism incorporates simple locking features such as cord locks or snap-fit elements that allow users to quickly adjust the cup holder height to the appropriate level for comfortable beverage access, then securely lock the position without requiring complex fastening systems.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the cup holder uses a rigid structure, then it provides stable support, but it cannot adapt to different beverage heights and may cause top-heavy beverages to spill
Solution Approach 1:
The cup holder employs dynamic adjustable support arms with tilt mechanisms that can be rotated and positioned at different angles to match the center of gravity of various beverage container heights. This allows the rigid cup holder body to maintain structural stability while the adjustable support arms dynamically adapt their position to provide optimal balance and prevent spilling for beverages of different heights.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the cup holder is designed for standard beverage sizes, then manufacturing is simple, but it fails to securely hold non-standard or varying sized beverages
Solution Approach 1:
The cup holder is manufactured as a modular system with standardized base components and adjustable support arms that can be configured for different beverage sizes. The segmentation allows for efficient manufacturing of individual standardized parts that can be assembled in multiple configurations, rather than requiring complex custom-molded holders for each beverage size, thus maintaining ease of manufacture while achieving versatility.
Data Source
AI summary
A cup holder adjustment system is provided, which can be placed in the arm of a folding chair. The cup holder adjustment system preferably includes two forms of adjustment. The first form of adjustment includes a. cord locking mechanism for raising and lowering the base of the cup holder on which the beverage vessel is seated. The depth of the cup holder is adjustable to account for the height of the beverage vessel. The second form of adjustment includes various flexible tab members that project inwardly within the cup holder to hold a beverage vessel in place. The tab members preferably include an inward biasing force causing the tab members to spring inwardly and flex downwardly. This tensioning force pushes the beverage vessel inwardly to help keep the beverage vessel in place when it is retained, within the cup holder.