There’s a pretty ingenious new product that could be perfect for road warriors who find themselves frequently flying coach, especially on airlines without seat back entertainment. The Sip ‘n Clip solves two problems at once.
- Where do you put your drink, maybe your Starbucks, during takeoff and landing when your tray table has to be up (or if you don’t want it intruding into your space during the flight)? Do you really want to use the seat pocket, which is one of the dirtiest places on the aircraft?
- You’re stuck watching a show on your phone because the airline is too cheap to install screens, but where do you put the phone?
The Sip ‘n Clip attaches to the tray table and is a cup holder and phone holder. It doesn’t really work as both at the same time, though, since the phone would go behind the cup.
I’ve written this without corresponding with the inventor. The device can’t be purchased yet – they say they plan to sell at $15, but will offer pre-orders at $9, and based on an Instagram story it appears they’re planning a Kickstarter. And since they describe themselves as “a completely new way to connect brands and people” it seems like their hope is you’ll wind up getting one of these as a premium in a gift bag or as some other form of giveaway item.
I’ll definitely buy one of these and throw one of these in my laptop bag, though I tend to have the tray table down throughout the flight whenever I’m allowed to (because I’m working on my laptop), and am frequently upgraded where this won’t be as necessary.
There’s a long line of ingenious passengers-turned-inventors selling products to make the economy travel experience better. Someone made a fortune selling travel neck pillows! Most of them don’t work out quite as well. Airlines have generally banned the knee defender which prevents the passenger in front of you from reclining. Then there’s the armrest splitter, the shelf a window seat passenger can install in the window, the do-it-yourself airplane stained glass window, and the portable airline seat back pocket.
Whether the sip ‘n clip makes sense for you depends, I think, on whether you tend to keep the seat back tray up or down. It can be used on a table, to hold your phone up for watching shows, but it’s probably not the single best device on the market for that purpose. Instead, if you want to keep your tray table up, watch a show or carry a drink, this is seems like ingenious device.
Here’s a better idea for road warriers frequently in coach. Renegotiate the terms of your job.
Great idea but that piece of plastic for $9, let alone 15?
Guess I’ll 3-D print one of these, won’t be that hard to do a cad drawing of one. There’s probably already a drawing out there
So they basically took the cup holder designed for car doors from years ago and updated it for planes…..
A little bit of turbulence and your phone goes flying into the next row….
Thanks for the great write up Gary! @Johosofat love that you think it’s a great idea! Hopefully you will be able to pick one up when we launch out crowdfunding campaign in the coming weeks. You will love it!
@Robert 3D printing is awesome, that’s how we created the 10 prototypes before we landed on our final and patented design. We support fellow makers and I’d love to see your cad drawing when it’s complete 🙂 Just contact us through the site.
So excited to get these out to you all!!!
Seth from Sip n’ Clip
Airplane Pockets – I have one and use it every flight. I read where someone “had a concern” about it’s size – It is a foldable fabric and takes up about the same space as a paperback book. Anyone complaining about the size is just being foolish – it holds large and small items – such as 1) a tablet, ear buds, actual cell phone, glasses, magazines , books, etc. – all at your fingertips. It is a no brainer for anyone who flies and needs a place to put items in the seemingly ever size decreasing space allotted to your seat. It costs about $25 on Amazon and can be used seemingly forever. Another great item, you can get on Amazon for $18 is the Bev Ledge- fits in the window and hold 2 drinks, glasses, pen, etc. Check them out on Amazon – you can thank me later – you won’t regret it. P.S. – I have NO stock in these products- I have both and use them every flight.
Can you leave it down for takeoff and landing?? With the little shelf onboards some planes those have to be stored.
$0.42, from China… https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003009747535.html
@seth don’t get all worried that I’ll go into competition with you, from your not-so-subtle patent drop statement it seems you’re nervous about the simplicity of your design. But seriously, even $9 for this is too much.