Domed Cup Lid With Inverted Can and Bottle Receptacles

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for combining beer with frozen margaritas, such as inverting a beer bottle into a glass, are unstable and not compatible with disposable cups, leading to potential spills and limited compatibility with standard glassware.

Innovation Solution

A disposable cup lid with a rim attachment mechanism, a dome, and receptacles for both cans and bottles, ensuring secure and stable inverted positioning of beverage containers within the cup.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a beer bottle is simply inverted into a glass or pitcher, then the beer can combine with the margarita, but the bottle is unstable and can fall or be easily knocked out

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of combining beer with margaritaVSAvoidstability of inverted bottle

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A lid is introduced as an intermediary component between the cup and the inverted bottle. The lid includes a dome with a can receptacle and bottle receptacle that securely hold the inverted bottle in place, preventing it from falling or being knocked out while still allowing the beer to combine with the margarita.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The lid is segmented into multiple functional components: a rim attachment mechanism for securing to the cup, a dome structure for holding the bottle, a can receptacle for alternative beverage containers, and a bottle receptacle specifically shaped to cradle the inverted bottle. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific stabilizing function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If the lid includes multiple receptacles for both cans and bottles, then versatility is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveacceptance of different beverage containersVSAvoidstructural complexity of lid

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The lid merges multiple functions into a single integrated structure. The dome contains both a can receptacle and a bottle receptacle, allowing the lid to accommodate different types of beverage containers (cans and bottles) simultaneously. This combining of functions reduces the need for multiple separate devices while maintaining versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The can receptacle and bottle receptacle are nested within the dome structure of the lid. This nesting arrangement allows multiple receptacles to coexist in a compact configuration, providing versatility for different container types without significantly increasing the overall device complexity or size.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentUS10196190B2Domed cup lid for holding an inverted can or bottle

Publication Date: 2019.02.05 AKACAS IP HOLDINGS LLC

AI summary

A lid for a cup is described where the lid acts to hold a can upside down inside the cup. The lid including a rim attachment mechanism allowing the lid to be attached to the cup and a dome connected to the rim attachment mechanism and having an aperture therein. The lid also includes a can receptacle extending from the top into the interior of the dome through the aperture in the dome, wherein the can receptacle is formed to accept a can and to hold the can in a fixed position relative to the lid, and a bottle receptacle extending from a bottom of the can receptacle, wherein the bottle receptacle is formed to accept a neck of the bottle and to hold the bottle in a fixed position relative to the lid.