Container with surface features

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional vacuum-sealed stainless steel drink containers suffer from surface scratching, coating durability issues, and slipperiness, necessitating improved surface features for enhanced durability and grip.

Innovation Solution

The container features axially spaced surface features, including grooves and voids, formed through subtractive manufacturing processes, providing durability and grip without compromising dishwasher safety.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a coating layer is applied to prevent scratches, then surface protection is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to slippery surface

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurface protectionVSAvoidgrip

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the protective coating only to the exterior surface while leaving the interior surface as polished stainless steel. The exterior coating provides both scratch protection and improved grip through its textured surface, while the interior maintains its smooth, non-slippery characteristics for easy cleaning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The protective coating can be applied in various colors and patterns, providing both aesthetic customization and functional benefits including improved grip through surface texture variations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

2Reliability

If a coating layer is applied to shield the surface, then durability is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional coating layers

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovedurabilityVSAvoidcoating structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the coating application to only the exterior surface, eliminating the need for complex multi-layer coating structures on the interior. This simplifies the overall device complexity while maintaining durability where it is most needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Ease of manufacture

If the stainless steel surface is kept polished, then ease of manufacture is improved, but object-generated harmful factors increase due to surface scratching and scuffing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurface finishingVSAvoidsurface damage to contact surfaces

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies a sacrificial protective coating to the exterior surface that can be reapplied if damaged, protecting the permanent stainless steel surface from scratching and scuffing other surfaces during use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Data Source

PatentUS20250229937A1Container with surface features

Publication Date: 2025.07.17 TERVIS TUMBLER CO

AI summary

A container, and method of producing thereof, wherein the container comprises an internal reservoir, an inner wall having an opening extending into the internal reservoir, and an outer wall. A vacuum-sealed cavity is enclosed by the inner wall and outer wall. One or more surface features may be formed in an outer surface of the outer wall, wherein at least one of the surface features is produced by a subtractive manufacturing process and/or configured to perform as a damper/friction member.