Pivoting Clamp Cup Holder for Variable Container Sizes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cup holders are not adaptable to various container sizes and shapes, and lack a convenient mechanism for secure storage and transportation of spillable contents.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable cup holder with an elongated clamp assembly and cup support assembly, featuring pivoting and swivel capabilities, arcuate cup-encircling arms, a spring-biased handle, and a locking mechanism, allowing for secure holding and easy conversion between in-use and stowed positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If existing cup holders are used, then they can hold containers, but they are not adaptable to various container sizes and shapes
Solution Approach 1:
The cup holder employs arcuate cup-encircling arms that can pivot and adjust their position dynamically. These arms are designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing them to adapt to different container sizes and shapes by encircling them in various configurations. The dynamic adjustment capability enables the same structure to accommodate diverse containers without requiring multiple specialized holders.
2Reliability
If existing cup holders are used, then they can hold containers, but they lack a convenient mechanism for secure storage and transportation
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp assembly is designed to nest within the cup support assembly during storage and transportation. The arcuate cup-encircling arms can be positioned to allow the clamp assembly to pass between them and into the area defined between the arms, creating a compact nested configuration. This nesting arrangement provides secure storage while maintaining ease of operation, as the components fit together efficiently without requiring separate storage compartments.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the cup holder is designed with adjustable components, then it can accommodate various container sizes, but it may be difficult to store and transport
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable components are designed with dynamic movement capabilities that allow easy transition between extended and stowed positions. The pivoting mechanism enables the cup-encircling arms to move between operational and storage configurations smoothly. This dynamic design ensures that adjustability does not compromise storage convenience, as the same mechanical features that enable adjustment also facilitate compact folding for transportation.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamp assembly nests within the cup support assembly when not in use, creating a compact form factor for storage and transportation. The arcuate arms are positioned to allow the clamp to pass through and rest within the structure defined by the arms themselves. This nesting arrangement eliminates the need for separate storage compartments and makes the adjustable cup holder as portable as fixed 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 adjustable cup holder securely holds a wide range of containers, providing stability and balance, while allowing for easy conversion to a stowed position for convenient carrying, accommodating various container sizes and shapes.
Implementation Method 1
The clamp assembly comprises a spring-biased pivoted handle
Implementation Method 2
the cup support assembly is movable between a desired in-use position depending from the clamp assembly, and a folded stowed position beside the clamp assembly
Data Source
AI summary
An adjustable cup holder incorporates an elongated clamp assembly and cup support assembly. The clamp assembly has a proximal end and a distal clamping end. The cup support assembly is connected at the proximal end of the clamp assembly, and comprises a body portion and a pair of arcuate cup-encircling arms having respective spaced-apart free ends. A pivot pin enables pivot adjustment of the cup support assembly at the proximal end of the clamp assembly, such that the cup support assembly is movable between a desired in-use position depending from the clamp assembly, and a folded stowed position beside the clamp assembly. In the stowed position, the clamp assembly passes between the spaced-apart free ends of the cup-encircling arms and into an area defined between the cup-encircling arms.