Gradient Durometer Suction Cup for Adhesion and Shape
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cupping therapy devices face challenges in maintaining suction on smaller, narrow, or more rounded body parts due to variations in durometer, with stiffer cups failing to adhere and softer cups collapsing, leading to difficulties in use and therapeutic effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A suction cup designed with an elastomeric body that can transition between at-rest and partially-collapsed configurations, featuring a softer rim for optimal adhesion and a stiffer intermediate portion to maintain shape, optionally incorporating a vibration element for enhanced therapeutic effects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If stiffer cups are used, then the cup maintains its shape better, but the cup cannot maintain suction on smaller, narrow, or more rounded body parts
Solution Approach 1:
The suction cup incorporates a gradient durometer design where the rim has a lower durometer (softer) than the intermediate portion. This local quality differentiation allows the rim to conform to various body part shapes for reliable suction adhesion, while the stiffer intermediate portion maintains overall cup shape and structural integrity.
2Reliability
If softer cups are used, then the cup offers more adhesion to the skin, but the cup collapses on itself rendering it difficult to use as a massage tool
Solution Approach 1:
The suction cup incorporates a gradient durometer design where the rim has a lower durometer (softer) than the intermediate portion. This local quality differentiation allows the rim to conform to various body part shapes for reliable suction adhesion, while the stiffer intermediate portion maintains overall cup shape and structural integrity.
3Ease of manufacture
If a single homogeneous material is used, then the manufacturing process is simpler, but the cup cannot adapt to different body part sizes and shapes
Solution Approach 1:
The suction cup incorporates a gradient durometer design where the rim has a lower durometer (softer) than the intermediate portion. This local quality differentiation allows the rim to conform to various body part shapes for reliable suction adhesion, while the stiffer intermediate portion maintains overall cup shape and structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The suction cup is constructed as a composite structure with at least two different materials having different durometers. The first material (lower durometer) forms the rim for adhesion, while the second material (higher durometer) forms the intermediate portion for structural support, enabling the cup to adapt to different body part geometries while maintaining manufacturability.
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 suction cup provides improved adhesion and ease of use on various body parts while maintaining suction, with the vibration element enhancing therapeutic outcomes by promoting blood flow and breaking up tissue adhesions.
Implementation Method 1
The cup can be manually partially collapsed, and then the cup can be allowed to elastically expand while the cup's opening is engaged against a user's skin, so that the resulting partial vacuum in the cup causes the cup's opening to be attached to the skin, and suctional force is applied to the skin.
Implementation Method 2
The rim and/or a closed end of the body can be less stiff than a portion of the sidewall that is spaced apart from the rim
Implementation Method 3
A vibrator, strap, over-molded part, under-molded part, and/or other suitable features can be associated with (e.g., mounted to, embedded in, and/or otherwise associated with) the body of the suction cup
Data Source
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AI summary
A suction cup includes a body having a sidewall extending around an interior space and a rim extending around an opening to the interior space. At least a portion of the body is elastic and configured so that the body is capable of being squeezed to transition the body from an at- rest configuration to a partially-collapsed configuration, and elastically biased toward the at-rest configuration. The volume of the interior space of the body is greater in the at-rest configuration than in the partially-collapsed configuration. The rim is less stiff than a portion of the sidewall that is spaced apart from the rim. The relatively soft rim seeks to provide optimal adhesion to the skin of a user, fortification of another portion the body of the cup seeks to better maintain its shape for enhanced ease of use, and a vibration element can be included.