Drinking Vessel Carrier With Locking Fold-Out Support Members
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drinking vessel carriers lack a simple and effective mechanism to adjust the angular positions of support members for balanced carrying of different numbers of vessels, and their folding mechanisms are often complicated.
Innovation Solution
A drinking vessel carrier with support members that can be rotated to specific angular positions using detent and arcuate slot formations, allowing for balanced carrying of two, three, or four vessels, and a handle that securely locks in both open and closed positions, made from resilient plastics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a sliding spindle arrangement is used for the folding mechanism, then the handle can fold between open and closed positions, but the mechanism becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the complicated sliding spindle arrangement from the folding mechanism and retains only the essential pivotable connection between the handle and support members. This extraction of unnecessary components simplifies the mechanism while preserving the folding functionality between open and closed positions.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a complex sliding mechanism to achieve folding, the patent employs a simple pivotal connection that allows natural folding motion. The inversion approach replaces an over-engineered solution with a fundamentally simpler mechanical principle that achieves the same adaptability.
2Stability of the object's composition
If support members are retained in fixed angular positions, then vessels can be carried in a balanced manner, but the carrier lacks adaptability for different vessel counts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic positioning system where support members can be rotated to different angular positions around the pivotal axis. The detent and arcuate slot mechanism allows the support members to assume stable positions at specific angles (e.g., 90 degrees apart for four vessels, 120 degrees apart for three vessels), providing both stability during carrying and adaptability for different vessel counts.
Solution Approach 2:
The angular positioning system is segmented into discrete stable positions using detent mechanisms. Each support member can independently assume specific angular positions, allowing the carrier to be configured for different numbers of vessels while maintaining balanced carrying at each configuration.
3Strength
If the carrier is made from resilient plastics, then the carrier achieves high rigidity to reduce spillage risk, but manufacturing precision may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces reliance on material precision with a mechanical detent and arcuate slot system. The resilient plastic material provides overall rigidity, while the mechanical formations (detents and slots) ensure precise angular positioning of support members. This substitution compensates for any manufacturing variations in the plastic components through the mechanical positioning mechanism.
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 carrier provides balanced and secure carrying of multiple vessels, reduces the risk of spillage with its high rigidity, and can be easily configured for different vessel counts, closing into a compact flat form for storage or carrying.
Implementation Method 1
each co-operating formation includes a detent formed on one of said support members which slides within an arcuate slot formed in the adjacent support member
Implementation Method 2
the handle includes a pair of resilient legs having spigots thereon for engagement with apertures provided in respective formations on a surface of the uppermost support member
Implementation Method 3
detent means is provided on at least one of the resilient legs and locates in one of two recesses provided on the formation for locking the handle in the open and closed positions respectively
Implementation Method 4
a resilient hollow spigot having catch means at a distil end thereof is provided on an outermost support member of the stack. a further hollow spigot is provided on the other outermost support member of the stack, the resilient hollow spigot being adapted to be received in the hollow spigot and the catch means to engage in a circumferential recess formed in the surface of the said other outermost support member
Data Source
AI summary
A drinking vessel carrier (10) comprises four support members (12, 14, 16, 18) pivotally mounted to one-another and a handle (20). An aperture (24) is provided in each support member (12, 14, 16, 18) for receiving a vessel to be supported. The support members (12, 14, 16, 18) are arranged in a stack and can be fanned or splayed out to different angular positions. When splayed out in one direction the support members lock 90° apart and when splayed out in the other direction, three of the support members (14, 16, 18) lock 120° apart, with the other support member (12) lying under the adjacent support member (14).