Hanging Condiment Cup Geometry for Stable Side Attachment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Hanging condiment containers often become unstable as food is consumed, causing the center of gravity to shift towards the condiment cup, leading to potential tipping over, especially when the food container is emptied.
Innovation Solution
A condiment cup with at least one integral clip for attachment to the upper rim of a food container, which maintains the center of gravity close to the center of the food container, providing stability and balance by matching the radius and backslant of the condiment cup to the food container, and featuring a removable lid for easy access and stacking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a condiment cup is attached to the side of a food container, then the consumer can conveniently access condiments, but the center of gravity shifts outside the container perimeter causing instability and tipping
Solution Approach 1:
The condiment cup is designed with an asymmetric backslant that angles toward the center of the food container. This asymmetric geometry positions the cup's center of gravity inward, counterbalancing the outward shift caused by side attachment, thereby maintaining overall container stability while preserving convenient condiment access
Solution Approach 2:
The backslant design effectively creates a counterweight mechanism by positioning the condiment cup's mass toward the center of the food container. This counterbalancing arrangement offsets the destabilizing effect of side attachment, preventing the combined center of gravity from shifting outside the container perimeter
2Stability of the object's composition
If the condiment cup is attached securely to prevent shifting, then stability is improved, but the attachment mechanism becomes more complex and harder to manufacture
Solution Approach 1:
The clip attachment mechanism is integrated directly into the condiment cup structure, merging the cup and attachment components into a single unified part. This integration eliminates separate attachment pieces, simplifying manufacturing while ensuring stable attachment to the food container rim
Solution Approach 2:
The clip is designed as a multi-functional element that simultaneously provides secure attachment to the container rim and maintains the cup's structural integrity. This universal design achieves stable attachment without requiring complex additional mechanisms
Data Source
AI summary
A hanging condiment cup with at least one integral clip and a removable lid that attaches to a food container. The condiment cup has a convex end and a concave end, with the convex end having a radius that matches the food container it attaches to. The condiment cup also has a backslant that matches the slant of the food container to bring the center of gravity of the condiment cup closer to the center of the food container for increased stability. The condiment cup and lid are designed to be stacked and are made from biodegradable or other plastic material that is refrigerator, heat and/or microwave safe.