Interlocking Cup Hook Design for Multi-Cup Carrying Without Trays
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for serving large groups with cups, mugs, or bowls are inefficient, as they require trays and balancing, and previous connectable cup designs are limited by the bending strength of connections, allowing only a few cups to be lined up effectively.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a hook element integrated into the wall or handle of the cups, allowing for temporary mutual connection and enabling multiple cups to be connected around a central cup, facilitating easy lifting and serving without a tray.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a tray is used to serve multiple cups, then the number of people served simultaneously increases, but the device complexity and stress on the server increase due to balancing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The serving system is segmented into individual cup units, each with its own handle and hook element. Instead of one large tray, multiple independent cups can be connected in a chain or cluster formation, allowing the server to carry them distributed across multiple hands or positions, reducing the balancing complexity of a single large tray.
Solution Approach 2:
Cups can be nested or clustered together with their handles interconnected through hook elements. The cups form a compact connected structure where inner cups are surrounded by outer cups, creating a stable cluster that can be carried as a unified group without requiring a traditional tray.
2Quantity of substance
If cups are connected in a long row, then more cups can be carried at once, but the connection strength becomes insufficient due to bending forces
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of connecting cups in a single linear row along one dimension, the hook elements enable cups to be connected in two or three dimensions, forming clusters or radial arrangements around a central cup. This distributes the mechanical loads across multiple connection points and directions, reducing the bending stress on individual connections while increasing the total number of cups that can be carried.
Solution Approach 2:
The hook elements are pre-integrated into the handle structure during manufacturing, creating strong built-in connection points before use. This preliminary integration ensures that the connection strength is optimized from the start, allowing cups to be linked in larger groups without compromising structural integrity.
3Quantity of substance
If a traditional tray is used for serving, then multiple cups can be transported, but the ease of operation decreases due to balancing and handling difficulties
Solution Approach 1:
The cups are designed with self-connecting hook elements that automatically engage when cups are brought together. The handles with integrated hooks allow the cups to self-assemble into connected groups without requiring complex tray mechanisms or balancing skills from the server. The connection system serves itself through simple hook engagement.
Solution Approach 2:
The connected cup arrangement is dynamic and adaptable - cups can be easily added or removed from the connected group by simply engaging or disengaging the hook elements. This flexibility allows the server to adjust the number of cups being carried based on demand, without being constrained by a fixed tray capacity or complex balancing requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
Temporarily mutually connectable cups for efficiently serving all kinds of beverages and foods such as granular food, crisps, sauces, soup, and yoghurt. The cups have special fully integrated hook elements in the cup wall or on the handles with stabilizing thumb holding parts and the wall (2) has a thickness d. With the integrated hook elements several surrounding cups are temporarily mutually connected with a central cup to form a group of serving cups, facilitating the carrying of the cups by a waiter or waitress.