Multipurpose Plate Structure for One-Hand Food and Beverage Holding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional plates are difficult to manage when holding food and other eating-related items simultaneously, often resulting in dropped items due to the burden of carrying multiple objects.
Innovation Solution
A multipurpose plate design featuring a rigid bottom layer with recessed portions for food, tiered hand receiving portions, a thumb rest, and object holding slots for utensils and beverages, allowing secure holding of multiple items in one hand.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional rigid plate is used to hold food, then the plate provides structural support and food holding capability, but the user cannot easily hold other eating-related items simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The plate is segmented into multiple functional zones: a rigid bottom layer for structural support, recessed receiving portions for beverages, and gaps for eating-related items. This segmentation allows each zone to serve a specific function while collectively enabling the user to hold multiple items simultaneously without increasing overall structural complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The plate is designed as a multi-functional device that simultaneously holds food, beverages, and eating-related items. The rigid bottom layer provides structural support while the integrated recessed portions and gaps provide additional holding capabilities, making the plate a universal holder for all eating-related objects
2Reliability
If the user holds multiple items including the plate, then all items can be carried together, but the grip is lost and items are dropped
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the plate into distinct holding zones (recessed receiving portions for beverages, gaps for utensils), the design transfers the holding function from the user's grip to the plate's structure. This segmentation allows items to be secured in designated areas, eliminating grip dependency and preventing drops
Solution Approach 2:
The plate's structure itself provides the holding function through its recessed portions and gaps. The rigid bottom layer supports food while the integrated features securely hold beverages and eating-related items, making the plate self-sufficient for holding multiple items without requiring additional user effort or grip strength
3Adaptability or versatility
If the plate includes multiple holding features, then multiple items can be held simultaneously, but the plate structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple holding features are merged into a single integrated plate structure. The recessed receiving portions, gaps, and rigid bottom layer are combined into one unified design, allowing the plate to hold food, beverages, and eating-related items simultaneously without requiring separate components or increasing overall structural complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The plate is designed as a universal holder that combines multiple functions into one device. The rigid bottom layer holds food, recessed receiving portions hold beverages, and gaps hold eating-related items, providing adaptability for various eating scenarios without requiring separate specialized tools or increasing structural complexity
Data Source
AI summary
Multipurpose plates and method of use thereof. The plates include a rigid bottom layer having regions for holding food, hand receiving portions, first object holding portion for holding a drinking vessel, a second object holding portion having a slit for holding an eating related item, and a recessed receiving portion on the rigid layer for receiving a container. A user's hand holds the plate at one of the hand receiving portions, while a beverage vessel is inserted and held in the first object holding portion and one or more eating related items is inserted and held by the slit of the second object holding portion. The plate with its first and second object holding portions allow the user to securely eat food off the plate while the beverage vessel and the one or more eating related items are held by the plate.