US-12623816-B1 - Container holding apparatus with spill prevention mechanism

US12623816B1US 12623816 B1US12623816 B1US 12623816B1US-12623816-B1

Abstract

The invention is a container holding apparatus designed to prevent spillage, featuring a hollow structure that securely holds a container and a hinged cover member that can move between open and closed positions. A first spring biases the cover towards the closed position, while a pendulum mechanism, responsive to turbulence, triggers the lid to close if vertical motion exceeds a threshold force. The apparatus includes a latch mechanism with a hook and eye system to maintain the cover in the open position. Additional features include a gasket for a liquid-tight seal, a damping system to reduce pendulum oscillation, and an alarm system with a position sensor, microcontroller, and audio alarm to notify users of the lid's closure, complemented by a visual indicator that illuminates when the lid is closed.

Inventors

Mirza Faizan
Rohan Vanama
Hidvika Dubey
Dhruva Kanthi
Saadia Asaf
Mansoor Hasan Khan
Ayaan Ahmed
Iliyan Ali
Ali Naseem
Taarush Adhikari
Yara Wael Abo-Auda
Deen Adil Khan
Shrey Jain
Temitope Oluwaji
Tomisin Oluwaji

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20241114

Claims (8)

1 . A container holding apparatus for preventing spill of items from a container, the container holding apparatus comprising: a hollow structure configured to hold the container; a cover member connected to the hollow structure via a hinge, wherein the cover member is movable between an open position and a closed position, the closed position covering an open portion of the hollow structure to prevent spillage; a first spring, wherein a first end of the first spring is connected to the cover member and a second end of the first spring is connected to the hollow structure, the first spring being configured to bias the cover member towards the closed position; a pendulum mechanism mounted adjacent to the hollow structure, the pendulum being responsive to vertical motion caused by turbulence; a string, wherein the string is connected to the cover member via a first end of the string; and a latch mechanism that comprises: a hook connected to the cover member via the string; and an eye member attached to the hollow structure, wherein a first end of the hook is connected to a second end of the string, a second end of the hook is latched with the eye member to maintain the cover member in the open position where the cover member does not the cover the hollow structure, in the open position of the cover member, a downward force applied by the pendulum mechanism on the string is less than a threshold force, the hook is unlatched from the eye member in response to an impact of a downward force applied by the pendulum mechanism on the string is greater than the threshold force, thereby allowing the first spring to move the cover member to the closed position.
2 . The container holding apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the pendulum mechanism comprises: an extended bar mounted adjacent to the hollow structure; a second spring, wherein the second spring is connected to the extended bar via a first end of the second spring; and a bob connected to a second end of the second spring.
3 . The container holding apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first spring is a tension spring configured to provide a predefined closure speed for the cover member when transitioning from the open position to the closed position.
4 . The container holding apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the cover member further comprises a gasket configured to form a liquid-tight seal with the hollow structure when the cover member is in the closed position.
5 . The container holding apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the pendulum mechanism includes a damping system configured to reduce oscillation of the pendulum mechanism after the initial vertical motion, ensuring that the latch mechanism is not unintentionally re-engaged.
6 . The container holding apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising: an alarm system configured to notify a user when the cover member transitions to the closed position in response to vertical motion caused by the turbulence, wherein the alarm system includes a position sensor, a processor, and an audio alarm.
7 . The container holding apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the position sensor is a limit switch mounted on the hollow structure to detect when the cover member is in the closed position.
8 . The container holding apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the alarm system further comprises a visual indicator configured to illuminate when the cover member is closed, in addition to the audio alarm.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to container holding devices, more specifically to a container holding apparatus equipped with a mechanical spill-prevention system that automatically secures the container's opening in response to turbulence or other sudden vertical motions. BACKGROUND Containers carrying liquids are prone to spillage, particularly in turbulent environments. Current solutions rely on manual lids or covers, which require constant attention and may not prevent accidental spillage caused by sudden movements. In situations such as in airplanes or marine environments, containers holding liquid or loose contents are prone to spillage due to vertical or lateral movements. Conventional solutions either do not offer automatic closing mechanisms or lack the ability to respond dynamically to environmental conditions such as turbulence. Airplanes, particularly during turbulent flights, present significant challenges when it comes to preventing liquid spills. The constant vibrations, sudden altitude drops, and jarring movements caused by turbulence can easily lead to spillage, especially when serving beverages to passengers or transporting liquids in cargo. Current methods to prevent spillage, such as manual lids, are inadequate in these unpredictable conditions. Passengers or flight attendants may not have the time or ability to manually secure containers during sudden turbulence, which can result in spills that lead to discomfort, burns, or damage to the airplane's interior and sensitive electronics. Additionally, turbulence-related spills in cargo compartments can damage stored goods, creating further complications. SUMMARY OF INVENTION In an embodiment, a container holding apparatus for preventing spill of items from a container is disclosed. The container holding apparatus comprises a hollow structure that holds the container and a cover member connected to the hollow structure via a hinge such that the cover member is movable between an open position and a closed position. In the closed position, the cover member covers an open portion of the hollow structure to prevent spillage. The container holding apparatus further comprises a first spring such that a first end of the first spring is connected to the cover member and a second end of the first spring is connected to the hollow structure, the first spring being configured to bias the cover member towards the closed position. The container holding apparatus further comprises an eye member attached to a portion on an outside surface of the hollow structure, a pendulum mechanism mounted adjacent to the hollow structure such that the pendulum responds to vertical motion caused by turbulence. The apparatus further comprises a string connected to the cover member via a first end of the string, and a latch mechanism comprising a hook and an eye member. The hook is attached to the cover member via the string. The eye member is attached to the hollow structure such that a first end of the hook is connected to a second end of the string. The second end of the hook is latched with the eye member to maintain the cover member in the open position where the cover member does not the cover the hollow structure. In the open position of the cover member, a downward force applied by the pendulum mechanism on the hook is less than a threshold force. The hook is unlatched from the eye member in response to an impact of a downward force applied by the pendulum mechanism on the hook is greater than the threshold force, thereby allowing the first spring to move the cover member to the closed position. In an embodiment, the pendulum mechanism comprises an extended bar, a second spring, and a bob. The extended bar is mounted adjacent to the hollow structure. The second spring is connected to the extended bar via a first end of the second spring. The bob is connected to a second end of the second spring. In an embodiment, the first spring is a tension spring configured to provide a predefined closure speed for the cover member when transitioning from the open position to the closed position. In an embodiment, the cover member further comprises a gasket configured to form a liquid-tight seal with the hollow structure when the cover member is in the closed position. In an embodiment, the pendulum mechanism includes a damping system configured to reduce oscillation of the pendulum mechanism after the initial vertical motion, ensuring that the latch mechanism is not unintentionally re-engaged. In an embodiment, the container holding apparatus further comprising an alarm system configured to notify a user when the cover member transitions to the closed position in response to vertical motion caused by the turbulence, wherein the alarm system includes a position sensor, a microcontroller, and an audio alarm. In an embodiment, the position sensor is a limit switch mounted on the hollow structure to detect when the cover member is in the closed position. In an embod