Cup Holder Insert With Self-Expanding Wings for Small Containers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cup holder designs in vehicles often fail to securely retain a wide variety of container sizes due to inadequate size and depth, leading to issues with stability and spillage, and existing adapters are often bulky, prone to jamming, overpriced, or limited in diameter.
Innovation Solution
A cup holder insert formed from a single sheet of resilient material, such as plastic or cardboard, featuring self-tensioning lower wings and adjustable upper straps that expand to fit various container sizes, providing a secure and adjustable solution while allowing for branding opportunities as a promotional item.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a single sheet of resilient material is used for the insert, then manufacturing simplicity and cost-effectiveness are improved, but structural strength and stability may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The insert is segmented into multiple functional zones within a single sheet: lower expansion wings for cup holder engagement, an upper retention well for containers, and resilient material sections that deform independently. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific function while maintaining overall structural integrity from a single material sheet.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient material undergoes parameter changes through elastic deformation - the lower wings expand outward when inserted into the cup holder, and the upper section deforms to accommodate containers of varying sizes. This dynamic parameter change allows a simple single-sheet structure to achieve complex retention functions without compromising strength.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the insert is designed to accommodate various container sizes, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The insert employs dynamic, flexible edges and resilient material sections that automatically adjust their shape and size to match the container being inserted. The upper retention well deformable edges flex outward to accommodate wider containers and inward for narrower ones, providing adaptability without requiring multiple fixed-size components or complex adjustment mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The insert is self-adjusting through its resilient material properties - when a container is placed in the cup holder, the insert automatically deforms to conform to the container's dimensions and shape, securing it without requiring user intervention or complex mechanical adjustment systems. The lower wings self-expand to fit the cup holder geometry.
3Stability of the object's composition
If lower wings are designed to expand and fit cup holder contours, then retention stability is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The lower wings are constructed from flexible resilient material that can deform and expand to match the cup holder's internal contours. This flexibility allows the wings to conform to slight variations in cup holder geometry without requiring extremely tight manufacturing tolerances, while still achieving stable retention through elastic deformation and frictional engagement.
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 insert effectively secures containers of different shapes and sizes, preventing tipping and spillage, is easy to manufacture and use, and offers a valuable promotional surface area, while being compact and cost-effective.
Implementation Method 1
The insert is made from a single sheet of resilient material
Data Source
AI summary
A cup holder insert is provided that may be used whenever an undersized drink or container is placed into a cup holder and is not adequately secured. The insert is a unitary piece of material, such as plastic, having a pair of upper straps and a pair of lower wings. The insert secures itself within a cup holder by way of the expansion of the lower wings towards the inner diameter of the cup holder. A central portion of the insert spans between the upper straps and lower bands and prevents any lateral movement of the object or container placed within. The top bands are secured into a loop around the drink container by sliding one into the other and retain their shape by frictional engagement.