Drinking Vessel Intake Marker with Magnetic Locking Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing drinking vessels with display value settings are prone to unintentional misalignment, particularly in cases involving individuals with dementia, leading to unreliable fluid intake monitoring, which cannot replace traditional written logs in care facilities.

Innovation Solution

A drinking vessel with a metal or magnetic strip and a marking element, where the marking element is slidably mounted on the strip and controlled by a separate actuating magnet, ensuring secure and authorized adjustment of the display value, preventing unintentional changes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the marking element is freely movable on the scale element, then the device is easy to operate, but the marking element can be unintentionally misaligned

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of adjustmentVSAvoidalignment accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a separate actuating magnet that must be used to move the marking element. This preliminary action requirement ensures that only intentional adjustments made with the proper tool will move the marking element, preventing unintentional misalignment while maintaining ease of operation when the correct tool is used.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a magnetic field as an intermediary between the actuating magnet and the marking element. The marking element is magnetically coupled to the scale element, and the actuating magnet temporarily overcomes this magnetic coupling to move the marking element to a new position, then the magnetic coupling restores to hold it in place.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the marking element is securely attached to the scale element, then the alignment is stable, but the display value cannot be changed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment stabilityVSAvoidadjustability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a dynamic system where the marking element's attachment state changes based on the presence of the actuating magnet. When the actuating magnet is absent, the marking element is securely attached to the scale element via magnetic force. When the actuating magnet is present, it temporarily overcomes the magnetic attachment to allow movement, then the attachment restores afterward.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the magnetic field parameter by introducing an external actuating magnet with sufficient magnetic strength to temporarily overcome the magnetic coupling between the marking element and scale element. This parameter change enables movement only when needed, while maintaining secure attachment during normal operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If the marking element can be easily moved, then the device is user-friendly, but unauthorized changes cannot be prevented

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser-friendlinessVSAvoidauthorization control
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a separate actuating magnet as an intermediary tool that mediates between the user and the marking element. This tool acts as a key or authorization mechanism - only someone with access to the actuating magnet can change the marking element's position, providing authorization control while maintaining ease of operation for authorized users.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 provides a secure and reliable method for setting and displaying fluid intake, preventing unauthorized changes and ensuring accurate monitoring, thus addressing the limitations of prior vessels in care settings.

Implementation Method 1

controlled by a, in particular separate, actuating magnet, preferably contactlessly by means of magnetic force, is displaceable

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic force: Magnetism

Implementation Method 2

The marking element can be moved by means of magnetic force. The magnetic forces between the marker and the metal or magnetic element and between the marker and the actuating magnet are each an attractive force.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic attraction: Magnetism

Data Source

PatentEP3231333B1Container with a device for configuring and indicating a display value
Publication Date: 2019.03.13 PT PLASTIC TECH GMBH
  • EP3231333B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1b
  • EP3231333B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b
  • EP3231333B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3b

AI summary

The invention relates to a vessel, in particular a drinking vessel, with a device for setting and displaying a display value, which comprises a marking element (2), a metal or magnetic strip (1) and a housing (3, 19) for the marking element (2). The marking element (2) can be displaced by a positioning magnet (4) located outside the interior. A device for setting and displaying a total drinking quantity is also described. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for setting and displaying a display value on a vessel.