Thin-Walled Metal Cup with Segmented Thickness for Weight and Grip
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing metal containers lack a design that balances weight reduction with improved grasping and sealing capabilities, particularly in thin-walled configurations.
Innovation Solution
A thin-walled metal cup design featuring a cylindrical wall with a tapered shape, a circular lip, and a plurality of sections connected by curved transition portions, allowing for a smaller weight while maintaining structural integrity and enabling a tight seal with a compatible cover.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If the cup wall is made thinner to reduce weight, then the weight decreases, but the structural integrity and strength deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The cylindrical wall is divided into multiple sections (first, second, third, and fourth sections) with different thicknesses. The first and second sections have a first thickness, while the third and fourth sections have a second thickness that is less than the first thickness. This segmentation allows weight reduction in non-critical areas while maintaining strength in critical load-bearing sections.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the cup wall are assigned different thicknesses based on their functional requirements. The thicker first and second sections provide structural support where needed, while the thinner third and fourth sections reduce weight in areas where full thickness is not required. This local variation in quality optimizes the strength-to-weight ratio.
2Weight of moving object
If the cup wall is made thinner to reduce weight, then the weight decreases, but the grasping capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cup wall is segmented into multiple sections with varying thicknesses, creating distinct tactile zones. The thicker sections provide structural support while the thinner sections reduce overall weight. This segmentation also creates visual and tactile variation that can enhance user interaction and grasping.
Solution Approach 2:
The cup features asymmetric wall thickness distribution with alternating thick and thin sections. This asymmetry creates visual interest and tactile variation along the cup's surface, potentially improving user engagement and grasping capability while maintaining overall structural integrity.
3Weight of moving object
If the cup wall is made thinner to reduce weight, then the weight decreases, but the sealing capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cup includes a lip structure with specific thickness requirements (the lip thickness is at least 0.06 inches) that is separate from the main body wall thickness. This segmentation allows the sealing surface to maintain sufficient thickness for reliable sealing while the main body can use thinner walls for weight reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The lip portion of the cup is designed with locally increased thickness compared to the main body walls. This local quality enhancement ensures that the sealing surface has adequate material thickness to maintain reliable sealing capability, while the rest of the cup can be optimized for weight reduction.
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments of a thin-walled metal container, such as a cup are described. The thin-walled metal cup includes a body with a tightly curled lip at the top end of the cup. The body includes a plurality of sections such that the diameter of the cup may be different at different places along the height of the cup. The thin-walled metal cup is designed to be light weight with a shape configured to facilitate grasping or holding the body of the cup.