Flexible Silicone Cup Design for Durability Without Breakage
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage cups made of glass, plastic, or ceramic are prone to breaking, lack durability, and do not provide adequate protection from hot liquids without handles, while silicone cups lack structural support for unbreakability and transparency.
Innovation Solution
The cup is made of silicone, which is opaque and/or flexible, and/or semitransparent, flexible, and unbreakable by force, made of food grade silicone.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If glass, plastic, or ceramic cups are used, then transparency is achieved, but durability and resistance to breaking deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by transitioning from rigid materials (glass, ceramic) to flexible silicone material, fundamentally changing the mechanical properties while maintaining the cup's functional form. This parameter change resolves the contradiction by achieving both durability through flexibility and controlled transparency through material selection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes composite materials by combining silicone base material with coloring agents and potentially other additives to create a material that simultaneously provides durability, flexibility, and desired optical properties (transparency or opacity). This composite approach allows optimization of multiple properties that cannot be achieved with single materials.
2Illumination intensity
If glass or plastic cups are used, then transparency is achieved, but protection from hot liquids deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from rigid glass/plastic to flexible silicone, which inherently provides thermal insulation properties. This parameter change enables the cup to protect hands from hot liquids while maintaining controlled transparency through the silicone material's optical properties.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If ceramic cups are used, then protection from hot liquids is achieved, but weight deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by replacing heavy ceramic material with lightweight silicone material. This fundamental material parameter change achieves both thermal protection (through silicone's insulating properties) and weight reduction, resolving the contradiction between protection and weight.
4Reliability
If silicone cups are used, then flexibility and durability are achieved, but structural support deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs curvature principles by designing the cup with a rounded bottom and curved sidewalls rather than sharp angles or flat surfaces. This curved geometry distributes mechanical stresses more effectively throughout the silicone material, providing adequate structural support while maintaining the inherent flexibility and durability of the silicone material.
Data Source
AI summary
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cup, comprising: a bottom; and a sidewall, wherein: the cup is made of silicone; the cup is flexible; and the cup is resistant to force.