Transparent scannable beverage container with multiple interchangeable multifunctional lids

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional disposable coffee cups contribute to plastic waste, ceramic mugs are fragile, metal mugs cannot be reheated in microwaves and pose security issues at checkpoints, and opaque mugs are not scannable at security facilities.

Innovation Solution

A transparent scannable beverage container with multiple interchangeable multifunctional lids made of acrylic, featuring thermal insulation, a spill-proof design, and antimicrobial layers, allowing it to fit in cup-holders and pass through security checks without metal detection issues.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If traditional disposable coffee cups are used, then convenience is improved, but plastic waste increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveconvenienceVSAvoidplastic waste

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material parameter from disposable plastic to reusable acrylic, maintaining the convenience of disposable cups while eliminating plastic waste through durability and reusability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent inverts the disposable concept by creating a reusable container that replaces single-use cups, transforming the short-living disposable model into a long-living reusable solution

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Strength

If ceramic mugs are used, then durability is improved, but fragility increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovedurabilityVSAvoidfragility

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses acrylic as a composite material that combines the durability of ceramic with the shock resistance of plastic, eliminating fragility while maintaining strength

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the material parameter from ceramic to acrylic, transforming the material properties to eliminate fragility while preserving durability and heat retention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Strength

If metal mugs are used, then strength is improved, but security issues arise

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovestrengthVSAvoidsecurity issues

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material parameter from metal to acrylic, transforming the material properties to eliminate security detection issues while preserving strength and durability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses transparent acrylic that allows visual inspection, transforming the opacity parameter to enable security scanning while maintaining structural strength

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

4Object-affected harmful factors

If opaque mugs are used, then privacy is improved, but scannability worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveprivacyVSAvoidscannability

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the transparency parameter from opaque to transparent, transforming the material property to enable security scannability while maintaining privacy through visual inspection control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

5Temperature

If metal mugs are used, then thermal conductivity is improved, but heat loss to hand increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethermal conductivityVSAvoidheat loss to hand

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material parameter from metal to acrylic, transforming the thermal conductivity to reduce heat transfer to the hand while maintaining beverage temperature

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 maintains beverage temperature, is durable and easy to use, prevents spills, and allows visual inspection, addressing the issues of fragility, waste, and security concerns while being lightweight and corrosion-resistant.

Implementation Method 1

The sidewalls are configured to thermally insulate the beverage

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Implementation Method 2

The skin is configured to restrict the skin from slipping off the body, and reduce heat transfer from the chamber to a hand of a user gripping the skin for the container

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Data Source

PatentUS12185824B2Transparent scannable beverage container with multiple interchangeable multifunctional lids

Publication Date: 2025.01.07 WITTIG JOSEFINA TATIANA

AI summary

A beverage container includes a transparent cylindrical acrylic body sized to fit into a cup-holder of a vehicle, a transparent skin sized to encase a portion of an outer surface of the body, a transparent handle, a transparent lid sized to seal a chamber defined by the body, a transparent latch, and a transparent rubber or plastic cover sized to be placed onto the lid. The container is scannable by an x-ray machine or a metal detector for inspecting the container and the a beverage in the chamber, and permits a visual inspection of the liquid through the container. The latch permits the beverage to exit the lid through an orifice for the beverage to be consumed when the latch is open configuration. The orifice is sized to permit a straw to be inserted through the orifice to consume the beverage.