Silicone Beverage Receptacle for Foldable Spill-Resistant Use
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional beverage receptacles, whether made of glass or cheaper materials, face issues of fragility, fatigue, and undesirable deformation leading to spillage or breakage, with semi-rigid options being unsuitable due to compression reducing volume and disposable ones failing under deformation.
Innovation Solution
A semi-rigid beverage receptacle formed from food-grade silicone that is flexible, foldable, and compressible, maintaining rigidity to prevent spilling while being unbreakable and capable of returning to its original shape without wear, allowing for compact storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If semi-rigid materials such as thinner plastics, paper, and polystyrene foam are used to create cheaper beverage receptacles, then the receptacles are easier to deform and compress for storage, but they suffer from fatigue and failure under significant deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from traditional semi-rigid materials (thinner plastics, paper, polystyrene foam) to a specially formulated elastomeric material that exhibits both high deformability and fatigue resistance. This material parameter change allows the receptacle to be compressed and folded for storage while maintaining reliability under repeated deformation cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs an elastomeric material that functions as a composite structure, combining the properties of flexibility and structural integrity. This composite material approach enables the receptacle to withstand significant deformation without fatigue failure, resolving the contradiction between ease of storage and reliability.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the sides of a receptacle are made rigid to prevent spilling, then spillage is reduced, but the receptacle becomes difficult to compress and store
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamic properties to the receptacle material, allowing it to transition between rigid and flexible states. The elastomeric material provides rigidity when the receptacle is in use to prevent spilling, while enabling compression and folding when empty for storage. This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction between spillage prevention and compressibility.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If disposable beverage receptacles are used, then they are less fragile than glass, but they are subject to fatigue and failure after being deformed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a reusable receptacle from an elastomeric material that can be compressed and folded without damage, eliminating the need for disposal. This resolves the contradiction by providing a durable alternative to disposable receptacles that maintains reduced fragility while adding fatigue resistance through the material's elastic properties.
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 silicone receptacle provides a durable, space-efficient, and safe solution that is dishwasher, microwave, and oven safe, offering improved durability and storage efficiency without the risks of breakage or fatigue, enhancing usability and storage capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
the silicone beverage receptacle is flexible, foldable, and compressible, maintaining rigidity to prevent spilling while being unbreakable and capable of returning to its original shape without wear
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates generally to drinkware and in particular to drinkware formed from pliable materials, such as silicone. When used in the present invention, the flexibility of the silicone material differentiates the new drinkware from existing drinkware in a number of ways. First, the novel drinkware is pliable, foldable and bendable, so that it can safely travel without fear of breakage or injury. Furthermore, the form will always return to its original shape, and there will be no wear, tear or fatigue to the material, thereby enabling the drinkware to be stored in a smaller space than that required by drinkware formed from rigid materials.