Flexible Lap Drip Guard With Diverter Channels and Non-Slip Surface

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Solution Overview

Problem

Travelers face challenges while eating in vehicles due to food and beverage drips soiling their clothing, and existing solutions like aprons restrict movement, while paper products are not reusable or effective, and devices placed on legs tend to slip due to lack of a stable surface.

Innovation Solution

A reusable food and beverage drip guard made of a flexible waterproof elastomer sheet with diverter walls and channels to intercept drips, and a textured surface for non-slip functionality, allowing for safe placement of electronic devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If an apron over the entire lap is used to prevent food and beverage drips, then clothing protection is improved, but the operator's ability to control the vehicle is restricted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclothing protectionVSAvoidvehicle control

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention divides the protective function into segments by using a localized guard positioned only where food and beverage drips occur (on the thigh area), rather than covering the entire lap with an apron. This segmented approach protects clothing from harmful drips while leaving the rest of the lap area free for vehicle control operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The drip guard applies protection locally to the specific area where food and beverage drips occur (the thigh area near the hand holding the food), rather than providing uniform protection across the entire lap. This localized quality ensures clothing protection where needed while maintaining ease of vehicle control in other areas.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a paper towel or napkin is placed over the leg to prevent drips, then clothing protection is improved, but the protective ability is lost when the paper gets wet and the product is not reusable

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclothing protectionVSAvoidprotective ability retention

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces the disposable paper towel or napkin with a reusable drip guard made of water-resistant or waterproof material. This eliminates the need for frequent replacement while maintaining continuous protective ability, even when exposed to liquids.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the material parameter of the protective covering from absorbent paper (which loses effectiveness when wet) to water-resistant or waterproof material that maintains its protective properties even when exposed to food and beverage liquids.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If a smooth surface is used on the leg for placing electronic devices, then ease of placement is improved, but the devices slip off due to lack of grip

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice placementVSAvoiddevice position stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The drip guard is made of flexible material that can be conformingly applied to the leg surface, providing a continuous covering that combines ease of device placement with enhanced grip through its material properties or surface characteristics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The drip guard surface incorporates localized quality features such as textured or non-slip surface characteristics in the areas where electronic devices are placed, while maintaining smooth or comfortable characteristics in other areas for ease of placement and wearability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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

The solution effectively prevents clothing soiling and provides a stable surface for electronic devices, ensuring user safety and convenience during travel without restricting movement.

Implementation Method 1

formed of a flexible water-proof elastomer sheet

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectWaterproofing:

Implementation Method 2

The diverter surface has opposed channels separated by the diverter surface along the length of the diverter surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Implementation Method 3

The material and features that would be used to construct the food, drip guard and utility top would also allow it to function as a non-slip working surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentUS11284714B2Food and drink drip guard and utility top and method for making the same

Publication Date: 2022.03.29 RAYOS RICHARD C

AI summary

A flexible lap food and beverage drip guard is disclosed. The food and drip guard may include a non-slide surface to act as a desk top for mobility devices such as, for example, cell phones and lap top computers. The device may further include textured upper surface to divert the flow of fluids to a catch pocket on either side of the device, and the bottom surface may be textured or honey combed to provide insulating properties to the user.