Triangular Pet Bowl Assembly for Vehicle Cup Holder Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pet bowls are impractical for use in vehicles due to instability, bulkiness, and the need for separate containers for water and food, leading to spilling and increased space requirements.
Innovation Solution
A portable, compact pet bowl assembly with a triangular shape that fits into a vehicle's cup holder, featuring a splashguard and a removable lid, ensuring stability and preventing spills, and allowing for both food and water storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional pet bowl is placed on a flat planar surface in a vehicle, then the bowl can hold water for the pet, but the bowl shifts or moves during vehicle motion causing water to spill
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the bowl system into two separate components: a stable base portion that remains fixed on the vehicle floor, and a removable cup holder mount that can be attached to or removed from the base. This segmentation allows the base to provide stability while the mount can be optimized for secure attachment during vehicle motion, preventing water spilling.
Solution Approach 2:
The cup holder mount acts as an intermediary component between the base and the bowl. It provides a secure attachment mechanism that stabilizes the bowl during vehicle motion, preventing the bowl from shifting and causing water to spill, while still allowing easy removal for cleaning or storage.
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate containers are used for water and food in a vehicle, then both pet needs are met, but the space requirement and burden on the owner increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the water container and food bowl into a single integrated unit. The removable cup holder mount can hold a water container, while the base provides attachment for a food bowl. This combining allows both water and food to be provided in one compact assembly, reducing the space required compared to separate containers while meeting all pet needs.
3Quantity of substance
If a conventional pet bowl is made large and bulky to provide sufficient water and food capacity, then the storage capacity is adequate, but the bowl becomes heavy and difficult to transport
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the bowl system into a lightweight base, a removable cup holder mount, and separate containers for water and food. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for minimal weight while the entire assembly provides sufficient storage capacity when all components are combined, making the system portable yet capable of holding adequate supplies.
Solution Approach 2:
The removable cup holder mount provides dynamic flexibility, allowing the user to attach or remove the water container as needed. This dynamic configuration enables the system to be lightweight during transport (with components separated) while providing full storage capacity when assembled and in use.
4Reliability
If fasteners, straps, or hooks are added to securely attach the bowl to vehicle structures, then the bowl stability improves, but the device complexity and ease of installation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the attachment system into a simple base portion and a removable cup holder mount with integrated attachment mechanisms. This segmentation allows the mount to incorporate secure attachment features (such as friction-fit interfaces or simple clips) that stabilize the bowl during vehicle motion, while the overall system remains simple enough for easy installation and removal without requiring complex fasteners, straps, or hooks.
Data Source
AI summary
A pet bowl assembly for traveling in a vehicle including a container for holding water, a bowl having a bowl base and a vertical wall projecting upwards from a perimeter of said base, a removably attached container secured to the bottom of the bowl base, and a lid removably attached to the top of the bowl. The container is shaped and sized to dimensionally correspond to a shape and size of a recess of a cup holder in a console of a vehicle. The container is securely retained within the cup holder via the dimensions and an optional adapter. The pet bowl assembly is provided for storing both food and water. The removably attached container is provided for storing pet food, while the bowl and cover are used for storing water. The embodiments optionally include a splashguard for preventing spilling when a pet is drinking from the bowl and when a vehicle is in motion. The adapter incorporates pliant features for compensating for dimensional differences between the container and the cup holder.