Cup Holder Container with Cover Recess for Aerosol Waste

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users face difficulties in conveniently disposing of used aerosol-generating articles, especially in vehicles, due to the lack of integrated containers that can hold both consumer articles and waste, and existing solutions are not suitable for modern aerosol-generating devices or electrically heated products.

Innovation Solution

A container designed to fit in a vehicle cup holder, featuring a body with a closed bottom and open top, a cover with an aperture for accessing the internal compartment, and support means with recessed portions for holding consumer articles on its outer surface, allowing for easy access and disposal of waste while driving.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a traditional ash tray is used to dispose of waste, then waste disposal function is provided, but the device cannot be conveniently accessed while driving and is not suitable for modern aerosol-generating devices

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconvenience of waste disposalVSAvoidcompatibility with modern aerosol-generating devices
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines a waste receptacle and a consumer article holder into a single integrated container unit that fits into a vehicle cup holder. The container has a body portion for receiving waste and a cover portion with support means for holding unused aerosol-generating devices, merging two previously separate functions (waste disposal and article storage) into one conveniently accessible unit for drivers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The container is designed to serve multiple functions: it acts as a waste receptacle for used aerosol-generating devices, a storage holder for unused devices via the support means on the cover, and a conveniently accessible unit that fits into standard vehicle cup holders. This multi-functionality addresses both the ease of operation and adaptability requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If a container holds both consumer articles and waste, then convenience is improved, but waste may escape during vehicle movement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconvenience of accessing articles and disposing wasteVSAvoidprevention of waste escape
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cover portion is designed to be removable from the body portion, allowing dynamic adjustment between a closed state (when the vehicle is moving) to prevent waste escape, and an open state (when parked) to facilitate easy access for disposing waste or accessing consumer articles. This dynamic design resolves the contradiction between convenience and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If the container is designed for easy access while driving, then ease of operation is improved, but stability during vehicle movement is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccessibility to driverVSAvoidstability in cup holder
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The container is designed with a specific geometry that fits into the vertical dimension of vehicle cup holders, utilizing the cup holder's existing structural space. By adapting to the cup holder's dimensions and placement location (within reaching distance of the driver), the container achieves both ease of access and stability during vehicle movement without requiring additional mounting mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP3727939B1Container with support means
Publication Date: 2022.03.16 PHILIP MORRIS PRODUCTS SA
  • EP3727939B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1b
  • EP3727939B1 patent drawingFigure 1c~2
  • EP3727939B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A container (1) configured to be received in a vehicle cup-holder (20). The container (1) comprising a body portion (2) defining an internal compartment, the body portion (2) comprising a closed bottom end (12) and an open top end (14). The container (1) also comprising a cover portion (3) configured to cover the open top end (14) of the body portion (2). The cover portion (3) comprises an aperture (10) for accessing the internal compartment of the body portion (2), and support means (4) for supporting one or more consumer articles on an outer surface (11) of the cover portion (3). The support means (4) comprise at least one recessed portion (6) for receiving one or more consumer articles, the recessed portion (6) being defined by two parallel upwardly projecting plates positioned on the cover portion(3).