Placemat anchor and tether system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Young children and individuals with special needs often struggle with managing objects that are accidentally or intentionally dropped, leading to germ exposure and caregiver distraction, as they lack the coordination to handle utensils, toys, and food items effectively.
Innovation Solution
A placemat system with anchors and a tether system that securely attaches objects to a surface, using food-grade silicone for easy cleaning and secure anchoring, allowing for efficient tethering and anchoring of items, preventing them from being thrown or dropped.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If objects are provided within reach of young children for them to explore and play with, then tactile development and engagement are improved, but the objects are likely to be dropped or tossed repeatedly, increasing caregiver burden and germ exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the placemat with integrated anchors and tethers into a single system. The anchors are embedded in the placemat, and tethers connect objects to these anchors, merging the functions of surface protection, object securing, and child engagement into one integrated solution that prevents objects from being dropped while remaining accessible to children
Solution Approach 2:
The tether acts as an intermediary element between the object and the placemat/anchor system. This intermediary component allows children to pull and explore objects while the tether prevents complete separation or dropping, mediating between the child's exploratory needs and the object's stability requirements
2Strength
If anchors are designed with suction cups for secure attachment to surfaces, then anchoring strength is improved, but the anchors may stick to the placemat surface itself, preventing proper object tethering
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different surface qualities to different parts of the anchor: the bottom surface has a glossy, smooth finish that prevents adhesion to the placemat, while the top surface has a textured, high-friction finish that enhances grip for manual manipulation and secure attachment to the desired surface. This local differentiation of surface properties resolves the contradiction between preventing unwanted adhesion and enabling proper coupling
3Ease of manufacture
If the placemat and anchors are made from food-grade silicone for safety and easy cleaning, then hygiene and ease of cleaning are improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost may increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses food-grade silicone for all components (placemat, anchors, tethers), making each component multi-functional: the material provides food safety for oral exploration, ease of cleaning for hygiene maintenance, flexibility for durability, and moldability for complex geometries. This universal material selection simplifies the manufacturing process by using a single material type across all components rather than requiring multiple materials and assembly steps
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 placemat system effectively keeps objects within reach, reducing germ exposure and caregiver burden, promoting safety and independence by securely anchoring items, facilitating easy cleaning and use in various settings.
Implementation Method 1
a suction cup having a sealing surface and an outer surface... configured to adhere to a substrate adjacent the back side
Data Source
AI summary
In some embodiments, a system comprises a mat body characterized by a front side, a back side and a thickness; a plurality of anchors, each anchor comprising an anchor block having an aperture characterized by an aperture diameter, a suction cup having a sealing surface and an outer surface, and a stem that is coaxial with the suction cup and connects the suction cup to the anchor block. Each anchor may be disposed through the thickness, such that its anchor block is on the front side and its suction cup extends from the back side. The system may further comprise an elongated tether that is removably coupleable to one of the plurality of anchors, and the elongated tether may comprise an anchor end having a generally spherical anchor terminus characterized by an anchor diameter that is greater than the aperture diameter.