Self-Anchoring Beverage Container With Vacuum Release Grip
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Solution Overview
Problem
Beverage containers, such as glasses and mugs, are prone to tipping and consequent spillage due to their tall design and high center of gravity, and existing stabilization methods require user intervention or awareness of the anchoring mechanism.
Innovation Solution
A self-anchoring beverage container with directional release and attachment capability, featuring a flexible nonporous base and a pressure control system that creates a partial vacuum to secure the container to a surface without user action, allowing it to remain anchored until lifted naturally.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a beverage container is designed with a tall body and large opening for easy access and consumption, then the ease of operation is improved, but the stability of the container deteriorates due to high center of gravity
Solution Approach 1:
The container base automatically anchors itself to the surface through vacuum pressure created by the flexible skirt, without requiring any user action or awareness. The system serves itself by utilizing the weight of the container body to press the flexible skirt against the surface and create the vacuum seal.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical state of the air in the sealed space beneath the flexible skirt by creating a partial vacuum (reducing pressure). This parameter change from atmospheric pressure to reduced pressure creates the anchoring force that stabilizes the container.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a suction device is used to secure the beverage container to a surface for stabilization, then the stability is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates because the user must perform additional actions to attach or release the device
Solution Approach 1:
The container base automatically anchors itself to the surface through vacuum pressure created by the flexible skirt, without requiring any user action or awareness. The system serves itself by utilizing the weight of the container body to press the flexible skirt against the surface and create the vacuum seal.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of requiring the user to actively attach a suction device to the surface, the invention inverts the approach by having the container's own weight and design create the vacuum seal automatically when placed on the surface. The anchoring happens passively rather than through active user engagement.
3Reliability
If a removable cover is added to prevent spillage, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases and the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The container base automatically anchors itself to the surface through vacuum pressure created by the flexible skirt, without requiring any user action or awareness. The system serves itself by utilizing the weight of the container body to press the flexible skirt against the surface and create the vacuum seal.
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 container remains stable and resistant to tipping without user intervention, allowing effortless lifting and reattachment while maintaining a stealthy operation, reducing spillage risks during normal use.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure control system that creates a partial vacuum to secure the container to a surface
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A self-anchoring beverage container with directional release and attachment capability has a flexible nonporous base member adapted to seal to a reference surface and create a controlled pressure zone. A receptacle assembly is mounted to the base member and includes a beverage holding chamber. A communication channel in the receptacle assembly extends from the controlled pressure zone to an area of ambient pressure. A pressure control device on the receptacle assembly is adapted to alternately close the communication channel to seal the controlled pressure zone and open the communication channel to vent the controlled pressure zone to ambient pressure. The receptacle assembly further includes a grasping portion arranged to be grasped by a user. The pressure control device is operatively connected to the grasping portion for actuation to the open position when a user grasps the grasping portion during normal lifting of the beverage container from the reference surface.