Gyroscopic cup holder
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cup holders fail to securely attach to various types of luggage and moving vehicles, leading to instability and a high likelihood of beverage spills due to the lack of a gimbal mechanism and rigid attachment arms.
Innovation Solution
A gimbaled cup holder with a 2-axis gimbal mechanism and adjustable attachment arms, including a set of hooks, a slide for single handle locking, and a Universal T-Bar Clip for secure attachment to different surfaces, such as luggage handles, tray tables, and vehicle vents, providing stability and versatility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If conventional cup holders are used without gimbal mechanism and rigid attachment arms, then the device complexity is reduced, but the stability of the beverage container deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cup holder is divided into multiple independent components: an outer ring with attachment arms, an inner gimbal mechanism with two axes of rotation, and a beverage container holder. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function - the attachment arms provide secure mounting while the gimbal mechanism provides stabilization, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The gimbal mechanism acts as an intermediary between the rigid attachment arms and the beverage container. It absorbs and compensates for vibrations and movements from the external environment, providing a stable platform for the container while allowing the attachment structure to remain relatively simple.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional cup holders are used without multiple attachment mechanisms, then the device complexity is reduced, but the adaptability to different luggage and vehicles deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The outer ring is designed with multiple types of attachment mechanisms including hooks for luggage handles, clips for tray tables, and mounting options for vehicle vents. This universal design allows the same cup holder structure to be adapted to various surfaces and environments without requiring multiple different devices, resolving the contradiction between versatility and complexity.
3Stability of the object's composition
If rigid attachment arms are used to secure the cup holder, then the stability is improved, but the ease of operation for adjusting and attaching deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment arms incorporate movable joints and adjustable connection points that allow the structure to adapt dynamically to different mounting surfaces. The arms can be positioned and locked at various angles and locations, providing both stability when attached and ease of adjustment during installation.
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 gimbaled cup holder effectively secures beverages, reducing spillage by accommodating various attachment points, ensuring stability on different types of luggage and vehicles.
Implementation Method 1
The gimbaled cup holder may include several mechanisms to attach the outer ring of the gimbaled stabilization device
Implementation Method 2
The outer ring may include a set of 'arms' extending from the outer ring and 'clasping together 'like hands'
Implementation Method 3
a 'slide' on one arm to lock in a single handle, or an outer ring clip extending from the external surface of the outer ring
Data Source
AI summary
Attachment mechanisms that enhance and broaden the usefulness of a basic gimbaled beverage container holder are needed. The mechanisms developed are configured to form a rigid attachment to an external object, such as luggage handles; stroller handles; bicycle handles; boat railings; car/truck air vents etc. in order to give the user a sense of stability for the combined unit. Three basic attachment enhancements are added to the outer ring of the gimbaled cup holder. They are: 1) A set of rigid ‘Arms’ (*removable and exchangeable for different size luggage handles) that grab around vertical luggage handles and hold the gimbaled cup holder secure. 2) a ‘Slide’ mechanism on one of the handles that hold the gimbaled cup holder secure to one handled luggage. 3) A ‘T-Bar Clip’ on the outer ring of the gimbaled cup holder that securely locks a variety of attachment devices (*such as a vertical and horizontal bar attachment mechanisms; a car/truck air vent attachment mechanism, etc.,) to most external objects or transport devices.