Cup Sleeve Density Zoning for Insulation and Grip
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing insulated cups fail to provide effective thermal insulation and durability while allowing for easy handling of hot or cold beverages, and they lack a surface for displaying artwork or text.
Innovation Solution
An insulative sleeve made of cellular non-aromatic polymeric material is coupled to the exterior of a cup, featuring localized plastic deformation to create segments of varying densities, providing thermal insulation and a surface for printing, and is designed to surround the cup to form a grippable thermal barrier.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the cup is made with thick insulation material, then thermal insulation is improved, but the cup becomes harder to grip and handle
Solution Approach 1:
The insulative sleeve is divided into multiple segments with different densities. High-density segments provide structural support and grip areas, while low-density segments provide thermal insulation. This segmentation allows the sleeve to maintain both insulation performance and grippability without requiring uniformly thick material throughout.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the insulative sleeve have different material densities tailored to their specific functions. The high-density portions are located where grip is needed, while low-density portions are located where thermal insulation is prioritized. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between insulation thickness and grippability.
2Ease of manufacture
If the insulative sleeve is made with uniform density, then manufacturing is simplified, but localized deformation and fracturing occur during forming
Solution Approach 1:
The insulative sleeve incorporates zones of different densities within the same material structure. High-density zones provide structural integrity and resistance to deformation during forming, while low-density zones allow for localized plastic deformation. This local differentiation prevents fracturing during the forming process while maintaining overall structural reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The material density parameter is varied locally within the insulative sleeve to achieve different mechanical properties in different regions. This parameter change allows the material to exhibit both rigidity (where needed for structural integrity) and ductility (where needed for deformation during forming), resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and structural reliability.
3Strength
If the insulative material is made more dense, then strength and puncture resistance are improved, but thermal insulation performance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The insulative sleeve segments high-density material (for strength and puncture resistance) and low-density material (for thermal insulation) into distinct regions. This segmentation allows both contradictory requirements to be satisfied simultaneously in different parts of the same component, rather than requiring a compromise in overall material density.
Solution Approach 2:
The insulative sleeve functions as a composite structure with regions of different material densities. The high-density regions provide mechanical strength and puncture resistance, while the low-density regions provide thermal insulation. This composite approach resolves the contradiction between strength and insulation by combining materials with complementary properties in a single integrated component.
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 solution effectively maintains insulative characteristics, provides puncture resistance, and allows for the display of artwork or text, while ensuring the cup remains grippable and resistant to deformation, enhancing user experience.
Implementation Method 1
an insulative sleeve made of a sheet comprising an insulative cellular non-aromatic polymeric material... configured to provide thermal insulation
Implementation Method 2
enabling localized plastic deformation in the sheet to provide a plastically deformed first material segment having a first density... and a second material segment having a second density lower than the first density
Data Source
AI summary
An insulative member for surrounding and embracing an exterior surface of a hot-beverage drink cup to provide a grippable low-temperature thermal barrier that can be gripped by a consumer, the member comprising a sheet comprising insulative cellular non-aromatic polymeric material having localized plastic deformation in the sheet and providing a plastically deformed first material segment having a first density located in a first portion of the sheet and a second material segment having a second density lower than the first density located in an adjacent second portion of the sheet.