Self-Sealing Dining Mat Structure to Prevent Child Spills
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tableware and placemats for infants and children are ineffective in preventing lateral displacement and spillage during meals, leading to messy clean-ups.
Innovation Solution
A self-sealing integrated tableware and dining mat with an impervious rubber-like planar portion and a high-friction undersurface that creates a partial vacuum when lifted, preventing separation except at the outer edge, thus anchoring the mat and receptacles to the surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the mat is made separable from the underlying surface for easy removal, then ease of operation is improved, but lateral displacement and spillage occur during meals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the adhesive parameter of the undersurface from permanent to temporary/adhesive properties, allowing the mat to be easily removable while maintaining stability during use. This parameter change enables the mat to transition from a fixed state to a removable state without requiring forceful separation.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the mat is made firmly attached to prevent lateral displacement, then stability is improved, but removal becomes difficult and messy
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesive properties of the undersurface are designed to provide strong holding force during normal use (preventing lateral displacement) but allow easy removal when needed. The material parameters are selected to enable this dual behavior - firm attachment during meals but simple peeling for removal and cleaning.
3Ease of repair
If the tableware is made separable from the placemat for cleaning purposes, then ease of repair is improved, but accidental separation and spillage occur during meals
Solution Approach 1:
The tableware (bowl, plate) and placemat are merged into a single integrated unit through the adhesive bonding of the undersurface. This merging prevents accidental separation during meals while still allowing intentional separation for cleaning, as the adhesive bond can be easily broken and reformed.
4Weight of moving object
If the mat is made lightweight for child-friendly handling, then ease of operation is improved, but the mat cannot resist deliberate displacement by a child
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesive undersurface is applied to the mat before use, creating a preliminary bonding force that resists lateral displacement. This preliminary action (adhesive bonding) provides the necessary holding force to prevent deliberate displacement by children, while the mat itself remains lightweight for normal handling.
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
Prevents lateral displacement and spillage by maintaining the mat and food in position, allowing for easy cleanup by catching spills on the mat and preventing accidental removal.
Implementation Method 1
said sealable contact creates a partial vacuum when attempts to separate the undersurface from the underlying surface are made except at an outer edge of the planar portion
Implementation Method 2
a suffuse undersurface disposed for sealable contact with an underlying surface upon which said mat is disposed, said sealable contact preventative of lateral displacement of the planar portion across the underlying surface
Data Source
AI summary
A self-sealing integrated tableware and dining mat including a rubberlike planar portion having a raised perimeter delimiting at least one concavity above an upper surface and a suffuse undersurface disposed for sealable contact with an underlying surface upon which said mat is disposed, said sealable contact preventative of lateral displacement of the planar portion across the underlying surface, wherein said sealable contact creates a partial vacuum when attempts to separate the undersurface from the underlying surface are made except at an outer edge of the planar portion, whereby removal of the planar portion from the underlying surface is effective only by peeling the undersurface from the underlying surface starting first at the outer edge.