Container or utensil support structure
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Solution Overview
Problem
At social gatherings, people face difficulties in carrying food and beverage containers, as their hands are occupied, making it hard to perform other tasks like eating, drinking, or socializing due to the need to hold multiple items simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
A container support apparatus that deploys from a plate, featuring lateral connector members and a bottom support member, which transition from an undeployed to a deployed state to securely hold beverage containers, allowing users to free a hand for other activities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a container support apparatus is deployed from a plate, then the ability to hold beverage containers is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support apparatus is divided into multiple lateral connector members that can independently deploy and position themselves around the container, allowing the system to adapt to different container sizes and shapes while maintaining manageable complexity through modular components
Solution Approach 2:
The lateral connector members transition from a two-dimensional planar configuration in the undeployed state to a three-dimensional circumferential arrangement in the deployed state, enabling the support structure to envelop and secure containers of various dimensions without requiring complex mechanical mechanisms
2Strength
If lateral connector members span the interior of the boundary region, then the structural strength is improved, but the area available for food placement is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The lateral connector members are designed to be dynamic in nature, transitioning from a stowed configuration where they occupy minimal space during the undeployed state to an extended configuration that provides structural support when deployed, thus optimizing both food placement area and structural strength at different operational stages
Solution Approach 2:
The lateral connector members are nested within or alongside the boundary region in the undeployed state, utilizing the same spatial envelope without permanently occupying additional area, allowing the structure to expand outward when needed to provide reinforcement while maintaining the original footprint for food placement
Data Source
AI summary
A container support apparatus can include a base body having a first portion, a second portion, and a boundary region between the first and second portions. The apparatus can include a first straight lateral connector member and a second straight lateral connector member, each formed at least in part from the first portion of the base body. The apparatus can include a bottom support member disposed in a coplanar position with the first portion of the base body in an undeployed state. The first and second lateral connector members can undergo downward angular pitching in conjunction with the bottom support member undergoing simultaneous vertical translation and planar rotation relative to the second portion of the base body during transition from the undeployed state to a deployed state, and the bottom support member can maintain a parallel orientation relative to the second portion of the base body during this transition.