Self-Leveling Beverage Holder for Airplane Tray Tables
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current beverage holders lack adjustability, security, and self-leveling features, making them inadequate for accommodating various beverage sizes and types in confined spaces like airplane seats, where tray tables are limited and prone to movement.
Innovation Solution
A beverage holder with an adjustable and lockable support ring, a vertical adjustable support loop, and a clamping mechanism for secure engagement with tray tables, along with a multi-position articulated arm and self-leveling mechanism to counteract motion, allowing flexible positioning and secure storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If current beverage holder devices are used, then they can hold beverages, but they lack adjustability to accommodate various types and sizes of beverage containers
Solution Approach 1:
The beverage holder employs an articulated arm with multiple degrees of freedom that can be positioned and locked at various angles and locations. This dynamic structure allows the holder to adapt to different beverage container sizes and types while maintaining a relatively simple overall device design through modular components.
Solution Approach 2:
The device is divided into separate functional components including the clamp mechanism, articulated arm with multiple segments, support ring, and locking mechanisms. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently for its specific function while providing overall adaptability when assembled together.
2Reliability
If current beverage holder devices are used, then they can retain beverages, but they lack security features to counteract motion during travel
Solution Approach 1:
The beverage holder incorporates a self-leveling mechanism that automatically adjusts the support ring orientation using gravity and pivot joints, eliminating the need for manual intervention to maintain beverage stability during aircraft motion. The system self-corrects for tilting and vibration.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanisms provide tactile and visual feedback to indicate when the articulated arm and support ring are securely positioned. This feedback system ensures reliable beverage retention without requiring complex electronic sensors or control systems.
3Adaptability or versatility
If current beverage holder devices are used, then they can be attached to tray tables, but they lack flexibility to accommodate changing tray table positions and orientations
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp mechanism features a flexible jaw design that can conform to different tray table surfaces and thicknesses. Combined with the articulated arm's multiple degrees of freedom, this allows the device to adapt to changing tray table positions and orientations while maintaining ease of attachment and adjustment through simple manual operation.
4Ease of operation
If current beverage holder devices are used, then they occupy space, but they do not provide convenient accessibility to beverages during use
Solution Approach 1:
The articulated arm extends the beverage holder into three-dimensional space above the tray table surface, allowing beverages to be positioned in an easily accessible location without occupying valuable horizontal tray table space. The multi-axis articulation enables vertical and angular positioning that maximizes accessibility while minimizing footprint.
Data Source
AI summary
A beverage holder is provided. The beverage holder embodies an adjustable tray clamp, an articulating arm, a self-leveling functionality and a plurality of lockable joints for enabling an adaptable stable, level, secure, and a selectively movable holder of a passenger's beverage, thereby enhancing their travel seat and overcoming typical tray space limitations.