Single-Gimbal Drinking Vessel for Stable, Low-Strain Pouring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional liquid-dispensing containers are difficult for individuals with tremors, arthritis, limited dexterity, and mobility issues to use, leading to instability, pain, and spillage when drinking, as they struggle to hold and tilt the vessel without straining their neck and wrist.
Innovation Solution
A household liquid-dispensing container with a handle attached to the vessel by a single gimbal joint that allows 360° rotation about a low-friction axis above the vessel's center of gravity, combined with a baffle to reduce sloshing and a lid for easy straw access, enabling stable drinking without tilting the hand or neck.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional drinking vessel is held in mid-air, then the user can drink from it, but people with tremor or limited dexterity struggle to hold it steady, causing instability and spillage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the pivot axis directly above the centre of gravity of the vessel. This creates a counterbalancing effect where the weight of the vessel acts to keep the pivot point stable, reducing the effort required to hold the vessel steady and compensating for tremors or limited dexterity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a gimbal joint with low friction bearing as an intermediary between the handle and the vessel. This mediator allows smooth, controlled movement while maintaining stability, enabling users with limited dexterity to easily tilt and control the vessel without direct frictional resistance
2Stability of the object's composition
If a drinking vessel with a straw is positioned upright on a horizontal surface, then the vessel is stable, but people with limited dexterity struggle to connect their mouth with the straw
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the handle-gimbal-vessel system dynamic, allowing the vessel to be easily tilted relative to the handle while the handle remains stable. This dynamic capability enables users to connect their mouth with the straw without needing to lean forward or exert excessive effort, while the vessel remains stable when held upright
3Ease of operation
If a drinking vessel is tilted to pour liquid into the mouth, then drinking is enabled, but people with arthritis or joint pain experience pain when tilting their wrist and neck
Solution Approach 1:
The gimbal joint acts as a mechanical intermediary that absorbs the tilting motion between the handle and the vessel. Users only need to tilt the handle slightly, while the gimbal mechanism provides the majority of the tilting movement, significantly reducing the strain on wrist and neck joints
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a dynamic system where the vessel can be tilted independently of the handle through the gimbal mechanism. This allows users to pour liquid into their mouth with minimal wrist and neck movement, as the gimbal joint provides the necessary angular displacement
4Stability of the object's composition
If a two-axis gimbal structure is used to stabilise the drinking vessel, then stability is improved, but the device complexity increases and the handle cannot rotate fully 360°
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential stabilizing function from a traditional two-axis gimbal, implementing a simplified single-axis gimbal that provides sufficient stability for drinking while allowing full 360° rotation. This removes unnecessary complexity while retaining the core benefit of gravitational stabilization
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a complex two-axis gimbal that restricts rotation, the patent inverts the approach by using a simple single-axis gimbal that enables full rotation. This inverted simplification achieves stability through the single pivot axis positioned above the centre of gravity, eliminating the need for multiple gimbals
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 minimizes spillage and reduces strain on users by maintaining stability under gravity, allowing easy mouth connection with a straw and reducing pain for those with limited dexterity or strength, while accommodating movement and reclining positions.
Implementation Method 1
a joint that comprises a low friction bearing and forms a single gimbal between the handle and the vessel
Implementation Method 2
allows the handle to pivot about a single axis that extends directly above the centre of gravity of the vessel when the vessel base is standing on a horizontal surface
Data Source
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AI summary
A household liquid-dispensing container such as a drinking vessel or a jug comprising a vessel (30) that is configured to hold a liquid and that has a base (37) on which it can stand, an opening (39) and at least one side (38); and a handle (50) that is configured to be held by a user and that is attached to a side of the vessel (38) by a joint that forms a single gimbal between the handle (50) and the vessel (30) and that al lows the handle (50) to pivot about a single axis (21 ) that extends directly above the centre of gravity of the vessel (30) when the vessel base (37) is standing on a horizontal surface: an optional baffle assembly (80) to reduce sloshing; and a lid (120).