Drink cup lid

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional cup lids do not effectively indicate the contents of a drink, limiting consumer visibility and interaction with the beverage flavor selection.

Innovation Solution

A transparent cup lid with a ring-shaped brim mount and deformable product-identification domes that change transparency in response to deformation, allowing consumers to visually identify the beverage flavor by shifting from a transparent to an opaque state when pressed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conventional opaque cup lid is used, then consumer privacy and contamination prevention are improved, but consumer visibility of beverage contents and flavor identification deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontamination preventionVSAvoidbeverage content visibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The lid incorporates a deformable dome that can dynamically change its transparency state in response to user interaction. The dome transitions from an undeformed transparent state to a deformed opaque state, allowing the lid to adapt its information-revealing property based on consumer need while maintaining contamination prevention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The deformable dome utilizes optical property changes (transparency to opacity transition) to convey information. When the dome is pressed or deformed, its optical characteristics change from transparent to opaque, providing a visual indicator system that communicates beverage selection or consumption status without compromising the protective function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

2Loss of information

If a deformable dome is added to indicate beverage flavor, then beverage flavor identification is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebeverage flavor identificationVSAvoidlid structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The deformable dome is designed to be manipulated directly by the consumer through simple pressing or touching actions. The dome's deformation state self-indicates the beverage flavor or selection without requiring additional mechanical components, electronic systems, or complex actuation mechanisms, thus providing flavor identification while minimizing added complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The dome is constructed as a flexible, thin-walled structure that can be easily deformed by manual pressure. This flexible shell design allows for simple fabrication and integration into the lid, providing the flavor-indication function through material properties rather than complex mechanical or electronic systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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

Enables consumers to easily identify the beverage flavor through a transparent and opaque visual cue, enhancing user experience and interaction with the drink contents.

Implementation Method 1

The stress concentrator joints focus stresses in the product-identification dome in response to deformation of the dome to cause the transparency of the product-identification dome to change when moving from the undeformed arrangement to the deformed arrangement

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectStress concentrator joints focus stresses:

Data Source

PatentUS11014722B2Drink cup lid

Publication Date: 2021.05.25 BERRY PLASTICS CORP

AI summary

A container includes a cup and a lid. The lid is adapted to mate with a brim included in the cup to close a top aperture opening into an interior liquid-storage region formed in the cup.