Interlocking Plate Shell Assembly for Secure Cup-Stacking Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing plate attachment assemblies fail to securely stack multiple food containers onto a drinking cup, lacking a secure locking mechanism that allows for efficient carrying of both food and beverages with one hand.
Innovation Solution
A plate attachment assembly featuring interlocking plate shells with locking tabs and apertures, along with cup support sidewalls, enabling secure stacking and attachment to a drinking cup, allowing multiple assemblies to form a singular, stable structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a plate attachment assembly uses a simple clipping mechanism to attach to a drinking cup, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability of secure attachment and stacking is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment assembly is divided into distinct functional segments: a plate shell for food containment, a cup support sidewall for cup attachment, and a locking mechanism with protrusions and recesses for secure stacking. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally while maintaining overall reliability and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The cup support sidewall is integrated within the plate shell structure, and the locking mechanism is nested within the flange assembly. This nesting allows the assembly to attach to a drinking cup while maintaining a compact form factor and enabling secure stacking without requiring separate independent components.
2Productivity
If multiple plate attachment assemblies are stacked to form a singular structure, then the productivity of food and beverage transport is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flange assembly with locking protrusions and recesses serves multiple functions: it enables secure stacking of plate assemblies onto one another, attaches the assembly to a drinking cup via the cup support sidewall, and provides structural support for the plate shell. This multi-functionality allows multiple assemblies to be stacked for efficient transport without requiring separate complex mechanisms for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The cup support sidewall, locking mechanism, and plate shell are merged into a single integrated assembly. This combination allows the same structure to perform both cup attachment and inter-assembly stacking functions, enabling users to transport multiple food containers and a drinking cup together as a unified structure.
3Reliability
If a plate attachment assembly incorporates both a cover and the ability to attach to a drinking cup, then the reliability of food containment is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The assembly is segmented into a plate shell for food containment, a separate lid/cover for closure, and an integrated cup support sidewall with locking mechanism for attachment. This segmentation allows the cover to provide reliable food containment while the attachment mechanism handles the complexity of cup integration, maintaining overall structural clarity.
Solution Approach 2:
The cup support sidewall is nested within the plate shell structure, and the locking mechanism is integrated within the flange assembly. This nesting allows the assembly to incorporate multiple functions (food containment, cup attachment, secure stacking) without proportionally increasing external complexity, as components are efficiently arranged within the overall structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A plate attachment assembly that includes a first plate shell and a second plate shell configured to interlock with one another. The first plate shell and the second plate shell each have a bottom wall and a surrounding sidewall with a flange disposed thereon. The first and second plate shells are operably configured to selectively removably couple together in a watertight configuration using a locking tab disposed on one of the plate shells and a raised sidewall disposed above the flange of the first plate shell.