Offset-Foci Mug Structure for Insulation and Ergonomic Balance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional insulated drinking containers are complex to manufacture, heavy, and uncomfortable to hold due to their balanced design, which can exacerbate wrist and finger strain, especially for individuals with hand or wrist impairments, and they often compromise on aesthetics and graphics due to circular cross-sections.
Innovation Solution
A single-wall drinking mug with an asymmetric cross-section and offset foci of the fluid-holding chamber and the receptacle body, featuring a handle attached at both ends with curved flanges for improved ergonomics and thermal insulation, allowing for differential wall thickness and easier graphic imprinting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional insulated containers use double-wall construction with vacuum or insulating material, then thermal insulation performance is improved, but manufacturing complexity and device weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the insulating material from between two walls and places it only in the handle region, eliminating the need for complex double-wall construction while maintaining thermal insulation where it is most needed for user comfort
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies insulation locally only in the handle region rather than throughout the entire container body, providing thermal protection where the user's hand contacts the container while reducing overall manufacturing complexity and material usage
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional mugs have constant wall thickness and circular cross-section, then manufacturing is simplified, but ergonomic comfort and grip control deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs an asymmetric cross-sectional shape with varying wall thickness, concentrating material in the handle region to improve grip comfort and balance while maintaining manufacturability through single-mold formation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent varies the wall thickness locally, making the handle region thicker for ergonomic comfort and grip control, while keeping other regions thinner to reduce overall weight and material usage
3Temperature
If handle is placed farther from the outer perimeter of the mug, then thermal insulation for the holder is improved, but center of gravity shifts distally increasing wrist strain
Solution Approach 1:
The asymmetric cross-sectional shape positions the handle at an optimal location that balances thermal protection with ergonomic considerations, creating a natural grip position that reduces wrist strain
Solution Approach 2:
The varied wall thickness distribution creates a counterbalancing effect where the thicker handle region provides both thermal protection and a counterweight that helps balance the container's center of gravity, reducing wrist strain
4Ease of manufacture
If conventional mugs use circular cross-section, then manufacturing is simplified, but graphic display capabilities and aesthetic appeal are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The asymmetric cross-sectional shape provides a larger and more versatile surface area for graphic display and aesthetic design while maintaining the ability to manufacture in a single mold, overcoming the limitations of conventional circular designs
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 mug maintains initial liquid temperature longer, provides better grip control and balance, reduces wrist strain, and simplifies manufacturing while enabling broader material use and enhanced graphic display capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
The asymmetric cross-section with offset foci creates differential wall thickness to provide thermal insulation
Data Source
AI summary
A receptacle for containing fluids constructed of a single wall wherein the foci of the well is offset from the foci of the perimeter, such that the resulting wall is of purposely differential thickness, to a point of maximal width. This may be of unitary construction from commonly used materials, utilizing the inherent insulating properties of the material selected, lowering manufacturing complexity and cost. In an application as a thermal container for beverages, the thickest aspect of the receptacle provides thermal insulation without interior or exterior insulating materials or internal air or vacuum chambers, and shifts the balance or center of gravity toward the holder, allowing more ease of lift. The specially shaped handle of the preferred embodiment, the present invention further enhances comfort and safety by reducing the potential for hand-burning, providing an ergonomic lifting grip which is beneficial to individuals with hand or wrist impairments.