Thermally insulating holder for disposable beverage cups
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cup holders for disposable beverage cups lack secure insertion mechanisms and reliable lid retention, leading to potential spills during handling and inadequate thermal insulation.
Innovation Solution
A cup holder with an insulating design featuring a segmented upward-facing flange allowing finger contact and a retaining mechanism, such as a threaded connection, snap fit, magnetic, or rotary clamp, to securely hold the cup and lid, along with optional features like a cup support ring and drinking port cover, to prevent spills and maintain temperature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an unbroken upward-facing flange is used to support the cup, then the cup is securely held, but the user cannot maintain contact with the cup during insertion, risking spills
Solution Approach 1:
The upward-facing flange is segmented into multiple discrete contact points rather than a continuous unbroken surface. This segmentation allows the user's fingers to pass through or alongside the flange segments during insertion, maintaining contact with the cup while still providing secure support when the cup is fully inserted.
2Reliability
If the lid is made to fit tightly to prevent leakage, then spillage is reduced, but the lid becomes difficult to attach and remove
Solution Approach 1:
The lid and cup are designed with localized sealing features at specific regions (such as the peripheral bead interface) rather than requiring complete circumferential tightness. This allows the lid to be securely sealed at critical leakage points while maintaining ease of attachment and removal through the overall snap-fit mechanism.
3Reliability
If a retaining mechanism is added to secure the cup and lid, then spillage is prevented, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining mechanism is merged with the existing flange structure of the cup holder. The flange serves dual purposes: supporting the cup during insertion and providing the retaining mechanism through its geometric configuration. This integration eliminates the need for separate, complex retaining components while maintaining secure cup and lid retention.
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
Enables secure and convenient insertion of disposable cups, prevents spills, and maintains beverage temperature through effective insulation and retention mechanisms.
Implementation Method 1
insulating holder configured to securely contain a disposable beverage cup while reducing the transfer of heat to or from the contents of the cup
Data Source
AI summary
An insulating holder is provided for a conventional disposable beverage cup. The insulating holder includes an upward-facing flange that supports the beverage cup at its peripheral bead and without interfering with a disposable lid that may be fitted to the cup by snap fit over the peripheral bead. The insulating holder further includes a retaining mechanism that holds the disposable cup and lid in the holder without interfering with the ability of the user to drink from the cup. The insulating holder further includes means to facilitate insertion of the cup into the holder without requiring the user to hold the cup either by its bead or by the lid.