Edible Substance Storage Cup with Mobile Platform

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing storage and extraction devices for edible substances, such as gelatin, are prone to leakage, unsanitary, and costly, with paper cups being weak and lacking lids, plastic cups being flexible and difficult to handle, and plastic syringes being expensive and prone to cross-contamination.

Innovation Solution

A container with a mobile platform and a stem that moves between locked and unlocked states, allowing for easy extraction of the edible substance without direct contact, and a lid for sealing, enabling clean and affordable consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If paper cups are used to store edible substance, then the device is affordable and simple, but the cup structure fails to maintain integrity over time and lacks lid for sealing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaffordability and simplicityVSAvoidstructural integrity and sealing capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The device is divided into separate components: a rigid outer cup, a removable lid, and a mobile platform. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the cup provides structural support, the lid provides sealing, and the platform enables clean extraction, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The mobile platform is nested within the cup interior, and the lid encloses both the cup and platform. This nested structure allows the simple paper or plastic cup to be enhanced with additional functional elements (platform and lid) that provide reliability without complicating the basic affordable cup structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Strength

If plastic cups are used to store edible substance, then the cup structure is stronger, but the flexible structure increases potential for spilling during transportation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecup structure strengthVSAvoidspilling during transportation

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The lid is designed to be placed on the cup before transportation, preliminarily sealing the edible substance inside. This preliminary sealing action prevents spilling during transportation while allowing the use of flexible plastic cups that are stronger than paper cups.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If plastic syringe is used to extract edible substance, then the extraction method is controlled, but the device is expensive and prone to cross contamination when reused

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveextraction controlVSAvoidcost and reusability issues

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The device uses an affordable disposable cup and lid combination that can be discarded after single use, eliminating cross-contamination risks associated with reusable syringes. The mobile platform enables controlled extraction similar to syringes but without the cost and hygiene issues of reusable medical-grade equipment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

4Ease of manufacture

If traditional cups are used, then the device is simple and affordable, but the separation of edible substance from cup requires direct contact with finger or tongue which is unsanitary

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity and affordabilityVSAvoidsanitation during extraction

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The mobile platform acts as an intermediary between the edible substance and the user. When the platform is pulled upward, it brings the edible substance to the rim of the cup, allowing the user to consume it without direct contact with the cup interior. This intermediary mechanism maintains sanitation while keeping the overall device simple and affordable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS12129075B2Apparatus for storing and extracting an edible substance

Publication Date: 2024.10.29 ETHYL AMBROSIA LLC

AI summary

An apparatus for storing and extracting an edible substance includes a container including an opening at a first end of the container and an aperture disposed through a surface at a second end of the container, a platform disposed within an interior portion of the container and operable to maintain the edible substance, and a stem extending from a base to the aperture of the container, wherein the stem is operable to move through the aperture of the container, wherein the platform is operable to move from a first position in the interior portion of the container to a second position within the interior portion of the container in response to movement of the stem through the aperture of the container, and wherein, when the platform moves to the second position, the edible substance is positioned for removal from the platform and from the container.