Removable Additive Pump Assembly for Clean Water Dispensing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing water filtration systems face contamination issues and inadequate mixing when introducing additives like flavorings or nutritional supplements into filtered water, and existing solutions often fail to separate the additive from the water until dispensing, leading to potential bacterial growth.

Innovation Solution

A removable additive assembly with a vessel and pump module, utilizing a gear arrangement to introduce additives through a nozzle, ensuring separation from filtered water until dispensing, and featuring a housing that protects actuating components and allows for optimal mixing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If additive is introduced into filtered water storage reservoir, then water can be flavored or supplemented, but contamination and bacterial growth occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadditive introduction capabilityVSAvoidcontamination and bacterial growth

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system separates the additive delivery path from the filtered water storage reservoir, introducing additive only at the point of dispensing rather than storing mixed water. This segmentation prevents contamination of the entire water supply while still enabling additive introduction when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A separate additive reservoir and delivery mechanism acts as an intermediary system that introduces additive to water only at the spout during dispensing. This intermediary path prevents direct contamination of the filtered water storage while enabling additive functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If additive is added to stored filtered water, then flavoring or nutrition is provided, but mixing is inadequate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadditive mixing capabilityVSAvoidmixing effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system establishes a separate additive delivery path that positions the additive introduction point at the spout, where water flow naturally creates mixing action as water is poured. This preliminary positioning ensures effective mixing occurs during dispensing without requiring additional mixing mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If additive delivery path is integrated with filtered water storage, then additive can be added to water, but contamination risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadditive delivery integrationVSAvoidcontamination protection

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The additive delivery path is segmented as a separate system with its own reservoir and delivery mechanism, physically isolated from the filtered water storage reservoir. This segmentation maintains reliability by preventing cross-contamination while preserving additive delivery functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The additive delivery mechanism is extracted from the filtered water storage system and positioned separately at the dispensing point. This extraction eliminates the contamination risk associated with integrated paths while maintaining the ability to add additive to water.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 solution prevents contamination, reduces bacterial growth, and ensures effective mixing of additives into water by maintaining a separate additive delivery path until dispensing, while also reducing the need for frequent replacement of expensive components.

Implementation Method 1

In one embodiment, the pump module utilizes a gear arrangement that drives the pump to supply additive through the nozzle

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGear arrangement: Gear

Implementation Method 2

the pump includes an actuator that is configured to attach to a reciprocating coupler that can drive the pump to create cyclical intake and discharge strokes to pump the additive through the nozzle

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectReciprocating motion:

Data Source

PatentUS20260022006A1Introduction of an additive to water

Publication Date: 2026.01.22 BRITA LP

AI summary

A removable additive assembly includes a vessel and a pump module or nozzle housing. The vessel defines an interior volume configured to hold an additive, such as a flavoring and/or nutritional (e.g., vitamin) additive. The pump includes an actuator that is configured to attach to a reciprocating coupler that can drive the pump to create cyclical intake and discharge strokes to pump the additive through the nozzle. The removable additive assembly may be a portion or component of an additive assembly that includes actuating components and one or more reciprocating couplers configured to drive one or more pumps of one or more removable additive assemblies.