Illuminated beverage container
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional light-up beverage containers with cylindrical or frustoconical outer sidewalls struggle to achieve uniform refraction of light onto curved sidewalls, limiting the variety of shapes that can be illuminated and excluding aesthetically pleasing effects for vessels like wine glasses and carafes.
Innovation Solution
A double-walled light-up beverage container design featuring a frustoconical inner container with arched convex strips and diamond-cut facets, paired with a curved outer container having diamond-cut facets, which refracts light from LEDs to create a twinkling effect, while allowing for a two-part construction for ease of assembly and a base structure for LED control circuitry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional cylindrical or frustoconical outer sidewalls are used, then uniform light refraction is achieved, but the variety of beverage container shapes is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by adding light-refracting structures (facets or prisms) specifically to the curved sidewall regions where light refraction is needed, while leaving other portions of the container unchanged. This allows the curved shape to be maintained while achieving uniform light refraction locally at the faceted surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent embraces curvature by designing the outer sidewall with curved geometry and incorporating facets or prisms that follow the curved contour. This allows aesthetically pleasing curved shapes (wine glasses, carafes) to be illuminated uniformly while maintaining the desired curved form factor.
2Illumination intensity
If diamond-cut facets or prism structures are added to curved outer sidewall, then uniform light refraction and twinkling effect are achieved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the curved sidewall into multiple faceted surfaces or prism structures, each contributing to the overall light refraction effect. By dividing the curved surface into discrete geometric elements, the manufacturing process can follow standardized patterns that simplify production despite the complex overall effect.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary layer or structure between the light source and the curved sidewall, or uses the facets themselves as intermediaries that mediate the light refraction process. This intermediary structure enables uniform light distribution across curved surfaces without requiring complex direct illumination of the curved geometry.
3Illumination intensity
If double-walled construction with inner and outer containers is used, then light refraction and illumination effects are achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions into the double-walled structure: the inner container holds the beverage, the cavity between walls provides light transmission paths, and the outer container with facets provides both structural form and light refraction. This integration reduces overall system complexity compared to separate illumination and containment systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The double-walled construction serves multiple functions simultaneously: thermal insulation, light refraction, structural support, and aesthetic presentation. The facets on the outer wall contribute to both the structural integrity and the optical effects, making the structure multi-functional and reducing the need for additional separate components.
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
This design enables eye-catching, uniform light refraction on curved sidewalls, enhancing the aesthetic appeal both when illuminated and unlit, and simplifies manufacturing, allowing for a wider range of shapes to be illuminated, including wine glasses and carafes.
Implementation Method 1
the curved outer sidewall of the preferred drinking vessel further includes diamond-cut facets or prism structures cut into the curved sidewall. The facets or prism structures give the appearance of expensive cut crystal and at the same time refracts light directed to the outer container from the arched convex strips of the inner container, thereby providing a twinkling light effect
Data Source
AI summary
A light-up beverage container or drinking vessel has a double wall construction made up of an inner container and an outer container, the inner container having a frustoconical, straight-walled shape and the outer container having a curved sidewall when viewed from the side. In order to achieve an attractive illuminated appearance, the curved outer sidewall of the preferred drinking vessel includes facets or prism structures formed in and extending around a circumference of the curved sidewall.