Holster Assembly with Magnetic and Suction Mounts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users who are mobile during their workday face challenges in keeping drinks with them without spilling, as they often need to move between locations and lack a secure way to carry and retain liquid containers like cans, bottles, or tumblers.
Innovation Solution
A holster assembly that includes a holster with a magnetic surface and a cup holder, allowing for secure attachment to various surfaces or clothing, featuring a slot and slot track system for easy attachment and detachment, and a suction cup option for versatile placement, ensuring the liquid container remains stable and secure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If users carry drinks manually without a securing mechanism, then they have freedom of movement, but the drinks are prone to spilling and must be constantly attended to
Solution Approach 1:
The holster assembly serves as an intermediary device between the user and the drink container. It provides a secure mounting mechanism (magnetic surface, suction cup, or clip) that attaches to the user's clothing or gear, while simultaneously holding the drink container in a stable position. This mediator resolves the contradiction by enabling hands-free carry without requiring constant user attention.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs magnetic attraction (magnetic surface on holster) and suction (suction cup mount) to replace traditional mechanical fastening systems. Instead of requiring clips, straps, or buckles that complicate the attachment process, the magnetic and suction mechanisms provide automatic, tool-free securing of both the holster to the user and the cup holder to the holster, thereby maintaining ease of operation while ensuring drink stability.
2Reliability
If users set drinks down at work locations, then spills are prevented, but users must remember to bring drinks when moving locations
Solution Approach 1:
The holster assembly enables the drink container to effectively serve itself during user movement. By attaching the holster to the user's person (via magnetic surface to metal, suction cup to surface, or clip to fabric), the drink container automatically relocates with the user without requiring manual intervention. The system serves itself by maintaining its attached state through the securing mechanisms throughout the user's activities.
3Reliability
If a secure attachment system is implemented, then drink stability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The holster assembly is divided into distinct functional segments: the holster body, the cup holder, and the mounting mechanism. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and facilitates easy attachment and detachment. The modular structure reduces overall complexity by enabling users to attach only the necessary components (holster to user, cup holder to holster) rather than dealing with a single complex integrated system.
Solution Approach 2:
The holster assembly incorporates multiple mounting options (magnetic surface, suction cup, clip) within a single design framework, providing multi-functionality. This universality allows the same basic holster structure to be secured through different mechanisms depending on the application, thereby maintaining attachment security while avoiding the need for multiple specialized devices, thus reducing overall system complexity.
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
Enables users to remain ambulatory while carrying drinks without spilling, providing stability and convenience by securely attaching the container to their person or surrounding surfaces, preventing spills and maintaining beverage freshness.
Implementation Method 1
A magnetic surface on a back side of the holster is selectively attachable and detachable onto an external structure
Implementation Method 2
The holster mount includes a suction cup or magnet for coupling with external surfaces
Data Source
AI summary
A holster assembly for use in retaining liquid containers includes a holster clip and a holster cup holder. The holster clip and the holster cup holder are configured to be selectively attached and detached from one another.