Neck-Mounted Eating Tray With Spill-Containment and Level Support

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional eating surfaces are not easily portable, adaptable, or adjustable for use in unconventional locations, leading to spills, stains, and discomfort during meals consumed away from traditional dining settings.

Innovation Solution

A rectangular, washable food-grade plastic tray with an adjustable neck strap and fixed length straps that allow for height and angle adjustments, featuring a lip for spill containment and customizable indicia, providing a stable and comfortable eating surface.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional eating surfaces are used, then stability and spill prevention are improved, but portability and adaptability to unconventional locations deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespill preventionVSAvoidadaptability to unconventional locations

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The eating surface is segmented into a modular tray system that can be independently positioned and secured. The tray separates from traditional table-dependent configurations, allowing it to be used in unconventional locations while maintaining stability through its self-contained design with lips and support structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The eating surface transitions from being confined to horizontal table surfaces to operating in three-dimensional space by suspending the tray in front of the user. This dimensional change enables use at various heights and angles in unconventional locations while maintaining spill prevention through the tray's lips and containment structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Adaptability or versatility

If portable eating devices are used, then adaptability to unconventional locations is improved, but stability and spill containment deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveportabilityVSAvoidstability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The tray is equipped with pre-attached lips and containment structures that are permanently formed during manufacturing. This preliminary action ensures spill containment capability is built-in from the start, eliminating the need for additional stabilization mechanisms while maintaining portability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The tray system incorporates adjustable positioning mechanisms that allow dynamic adaptation to different users and locations. The tray can be adjusted in height, angle, and position to optimize stability for each specific use case while maintaining its portable, lightweight construction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If fixed eating surfaces are used, then spill containment is improved, but portability and ease of transport deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespill containmentVSAvoidease of transport

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The tray utilizes a lightweight, thin-walled construction with integrated lips that provides spill containment equivalent to heavier materials. The flexible yet rigid-sufficient design allows the tray to be easily folded or collapsed for transport while maintaining its spill containment integrity during use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The tray is designed as an affordable, lightweight product that can be easily replaced if needed. This approach prioritizes ease of transport and portability over extreme durability, allowing users to carry multiple lightweight trays rather than one heavy, indestructible tray.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

4Adaptability or versatility

If adjustable eating surfaces are used, then adaptability to different users and situations is improved, but device complexity deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveadjustabilityVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The tray incorporates multiple adjustment functions (height, angle, position) within a single integrated structure. This universal design allows one tray to serve multiple users and situations without requiring separate adjustment mechanisms for each function, thereby limiting the increase in overall structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS8157137B1Personal eating tray

Publication Date: 2012.04.17 LAIRD ROBERT

AI summary

A neck-mounted personal eating apparatus designed to facilitate eating by a person away from a table, is herein disclosed. The apparatus comprises a rectangular tray equipped with a raised lip around the entire perimeter to prevent liquid spills or loss of crumbs. The short side edges of the tray are provided with an adjustable padded neck strap which goes up and around the rear neck area of the user and attaches to the opposite sides of the tray. The neck strap comprises a flexible plastic “U”-shape strap having a plurality of holes to allow for adjustment. The holes connect to molded ball-end appendages located on either side of the tray. In such a manner, the neck strap can be easily resized to suit all size users from large adults to small children. Additionally, the apparatus comprises an angled fixed length strap that connects to the neck strap to help keep the tray level and prevent movement during use.