The car cup holders in the market typically have a unidirectional opening structure, requiring confirmation of the opening direction during use, which poses certain safety risks for drivers. However, the Satellite Cup utilizes alternating magnetic force, allowing seamless switching between open and closed states without being restricted by direction. Moreover, the water-blocking component can function on both ends. By designing the water outlet and air inlet on the same axis, when the water-blocking piece is closed, the air vent synchronously closes, and vice versa when opened. There is no need to differentiate the direction when opening or closing; a gentle push is all it takes to securely maintain the desired open or closed state.
At the beginning of the design process, we attempted to achieve unrestricted rotation without direction using complex structures. However, the results were bulky and lacked flexibility. The idea of using magnetic positioning emerged as an inspiration, as it allows for smoother realization of the desired user experience. However, the challenge lay in perfectly concealing the magnets within the cup lid and water-blocking piece, ensuring they do not come into contact with the drink or pose a risk of falling off. After numerous tests and verifications, we chose the highly challenging method of rotational fusion welding to maintain the magnets' concealment and reliability.