Flexible Luggage Handle Cup Holder With Self-Leveling Grip
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cup holders designed for wheeled luggage are either not self-leveling or require substantial modifications to the luggage, making them difficult to install and remove quickly and easily, and are not suitable for retrofitting to existing designs.
Innovation Solution
A self-leveling cup holder constructed from flexible materials, such as neoprene or fabric, that fits over and resiliently hugs the top of an extended luggage handle, allowing the cup support to rotate freely without a mechanical pivot, enabling easy attachment and removal and accommodating various handle sizes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a rigid mechanical swivel structure is used to achieve self-leveling, then the beverage can be maintained in a level state, but the device complexity increases and the structure becomes less adaptable to different handle sizes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a flexible fabric material with elastic properties to create a resilient grip around the handle, replacing rigid mechanical structures. The fabric's natural flexibility allows the cup holder to adapt to different handle diameters while maintaining a secure fit, eliminating the need for complex mechanical adjustment mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state of the gripping material from rigid to flexible, utilizing the elastic properties of fabric to achieve both secure attachment and self-leveling functionality. The elastic deformation of the fabric allows it to conform to the handle shape and provide resilient grip without mechanical components.
2Reliability
If a mechanical pivot structure is used for self-leveling, then the cup can be kept upright, but the ease of manufacture decreases due to additional mechanical parts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical pivot system with a flexible fabric-based suspension system. The cup is suspended from the handle by elastic fabric straps that allow the cup to naturally orient itself upright through gravitational force, eliminating the need for mechanical pivots, hinges, or other moving parts that would complicate manufacturing.
Solution Approach 2:
The cup holder design allows the cup to self-level automatically through the elastic suspension system. The fabric straps provide just enough tension to keep the cup upright while allowing it to pivot naturally with the handle's movement, requiring no active control mechanisms or complex mechanical assemblies.
3Strength
If a rigid cup holder structure is used, then the cup is securely held, but the adaptability to different handle sizes is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible fabric material that can elastically deform to accommodate various handle diameters. The fabric's stretchability allows the cup holder to securely grip small handles while still fitting comfortably on larger handles, providing universal compatibility without sacrificing grip security.
Solution Approach 2:
The fabric material provides different local properties: it offers strong friction and grip where it contacts the handle surface, while maintaining overall flexibility and stretchability to adapt to different circumferences. The elastic nature of the fabric allows it to locally conform to the handle shape while maintaining secure attachment.
4Strength
If an integrated cup holder is built into the luggage handle, then the structural strength is improved, but the ease of operation for installation and removal deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent separates the cup holder from the luggage handle structure, making it a standalone accessory that attaches to the handle rather than being integrated into it. This segmentation allows the cup holder to be easily attached and removed as needed, while still providing secure support for the cup during travel.
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 flexible cup holder provides reliable self-leveling support for beverages, is easy to install and remove, reduces manufacturing costs by eliminating mechanical parts, and can be easily stored, while maintaining the beverage's temperature and preventing spills.
Implementation Method 1
The cup holder is constructed from a stretchy fabric so that the handle sleeve resiliently grips the top of the luggage handle. The flexibility of the fabric material provides the flexibility for the truncated hollow cone portion that supports the cup is free to move relative to the luggage handle so that a self-leveling action is provided
Implementation Method 2
the handle sleeve resiliently grips the top of an extended handle of the sort typically found on rolling luggage
Data Source
AI summary
A cup holder is mountable onto the top of an extendable handle projecting from the top of a piece of wheeled luggage. The cup holder holds a cup of liquid while the luggage is being pulled around. The cup holder is constructed from a stretchy fabric with a handle sleeve that resiliently grips the top of the extended luggage handle. The flexibility of the fabric material provides the cup support, in the form of a truncated hollow cone, with a way of rotating freely with respect to the luggage handle so that a self-leveling action is provided without need of a mechanical hinge.