Food Container Wall Loop for Secure Condiment Cup Support

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing food containers with condiment holders are not versatile enough to accommodate commonly produced round condiment containers and fail to securely hold them in place, especially when the container is filled with food or inverted.

Innovation Solution

A food container design featuring parallel slits in the wall that form a loop which can be extended inward to support a round condiment container, with upper and lower ledges that engage the condiment's lip and edge, ensuring secure attachment and preventing movement even when the container is upside down or filled with food.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a condiment container is attached to the food container, then the condiment is easily accessible, but the condiment container may move or fall out when the container is shaken or inverted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecondiment accessibilityVSAvoidcondiment container stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The loop is designed to be displaceable rather than fixed, allowing it to move dynamically in response to applied forces. When pressure is applied to the food container, the loop can displace to accommodate the force while maintaining engagement with the condiment container, preventing it from falling out during transport or inversion

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the positional parameter of the loop from a fixed state to a displaceable state. This parameter change allows the loop to adjust its position within the containment space, maintaining secure engagement with the condiment container under varying force conditions while preserving easy accessibility during normal use

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the loop is extended inward into the containment space, then the condiment container is securely held, but the available food space is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecondiment container securityVSAvoidfood containment space

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The loop's displaceable design allows it to extend inward only when needed for securing the condiment container, and retract or adjust when not under pressure, thereby minimizing the permanent reduction of food space while maintaining security when required

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If the slits are formed close together, then the loop provides strong support, but it is difficult to push the loop inward with a finger

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveloop support strengthVSAvoidloop displacement ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The slit formation has non-uniform characteristics with varying slit widths and spacing. The local geometry is optimized to provide strong support where needed while creating sufficient space in other areas to allow finger access and easy displacement of the loop inward

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS7520417B2Food container with a holder for a condiment cup

Publication Date: 2009.04.21 THE TALENTO GROUP

AI summary

A food container in combination with a condiment container having a lip, a lower lip edge and a top edge. The food container includes at least one wall. A bottom connected to the wall defines a containment space. A slit formation is formed in the wall, the slit formation has a lower slit and an upper slit substantially parallel to the lower slit. The slits define a loop that is displaceable into the containment space for supporting the condiment container by urging the condiment container against the wall. The lower slit defines a wall lower ledge disposed for supporting the lower lip edge of the condiment container.