Drinking Cup Rim and Channel Layout for Haptic Mouth Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional drinking vessels often lead to spills due to incorrect mouth positioning and tilting, particularly for individuals with restricted perception or learning abilities, as they require precise visual and angular alignment for effective liquid intake.
Innovation Solution
A drinking vessel with an inclined drinking side, tactile elements on the outside, and a channel leading to the upper edge, allowing for both visual and haptic guidance for correct mouth positioning, along with optional handles and finger grips for improved grip and posture, and potentially illuminated and transparent designs for enhanced usability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the cup requires precise visual and angular alignment for liquid intake, then the liquid flow control is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates for individuals with restricted perception or learning abilities
Solution Approach 1:
The rim of the cup is segmented into different height levels, with the drinking area positioned at a lower height than the lateral areas. This segmentation creates distinct tactile zones that guide mouth positioning without requiring visual alignment, thereby maintaining reliable liquid flow control while improving ease of operation for individuals with perception restrictions.
Solution Approach 2:
Tactile elements are introduced as intermediary features on the cup's surface. These elements serve as mediators between the user and the drinking function, providing haptic feedback that guides correct mouth positioning and tilting angle without requiring visual perception or complex cognitive processing.
2Ease of operation
If tactile elements are added to guide mouth positioning, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Tactile elements are applied locally only to the rim and drinking side of the cup, rather than throughout the entire structure. This localized application provides the necessary guidance functionality while minimizing the increase in overall device complexity and maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
3Ease of operation
If the upper edge is lowered in the channel area, then the haptic positioning is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The design utilizes changes in rim height as a parameter to create haptic guidance. By positioning the drinking area at a lower height level compared to lateral areas, the invention creates detectable tactile differences that guide user interaction without requiring extremely tight manufacturing tolerances, thus balancing haptic positioning effectiveness with manufacturing feasibility.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a drinking vessel (100), in particular a cup, wherein the aim of the invention is to further develop a drinking vessel (100) such that the risk of faulty use is reduced. The aim is achieved by means of a drinking vessel (100), comprising a receiving space (106) for fluids that is open at the top, having a bottom (102) and at least one wall (104) laterally delimiting the receiving space (106), wherein a) at least one portion of the wall (104) is designed as the drinking side (108) and for this purpose is disposed at an incline with respect to the plane that is vertical when the drinking vessel (100) is sitting upright, b) on the inside of the drinking vessel (100), the drinking side (108) comprises a channel (112) leading to the upper vessel edge (110), and c) in the region to which the channel (112) leads, the upper vessel edge (110) is recessed with respect to the laterally adjoining regions (114, 116) of the vessel edge.