Adjustable additive cartridge systems
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage dispensing systems either pre-mix additives with base liquids, which can contaminate the liquid supply, or dispense additives as the liquid is poured, lacking control and purity in additive delivery, and do not allow for interchangeable flavor options with a single base liquid container.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable additive cartridge system that meters additives into a base fluid as it flows through, allowing for interchangeable cartridges with different flavors, integrated filters, tamper-proof sealing, and visual/tactile indicators for additive control, enabling pure base fluid storage and customizable flavor options.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If pre-mix systems are used to provide additives to base liquid, then additive delivery is simplified, but the base liquid supply becomes contaminated and loses purity
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the beverage dispensing function into separate components: a base liquid container and a separate cartridge containing the additive. The cartridge is inserted into the container, allowing additive delivery without direct contact between the additive and the bulk base liquid supply, thus maintaining base liquid purity while enabling simplified additive delivery.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If additives are dispensed as base liquid is poured, then base liquid purity is maintained, but control over additive delivery is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The cartridge incorporates an adjustable mechanism that allows the user to dynamically control the amount of additive delivered. The cartridge can be rotated or adjusted to different positions, changing the flow rate or concentration of additive mixed with the base liquid, thereby providing control while maintaining purity.
3Weight of moving object
If a single base liquid container is used, then portability is improved, but flavor variety is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The cartridge system provides multi-functionality by allowing a single base liquid container to work with multiple interchangeable cartridges, each containing different additives or flavors. This enables one container to serve multiple purposes and provide variety without requiring multiple separate containers, thus maintaining portability while enhancing versatility.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple cartridges with different additives are used interchangeably, then flavor variety is increased, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the additive component into separate, self-contained cartridges that can be independently manufactured, stored, and replaced. This separation simplifies the overall system architecture by allowing each cartridge to be a simple, standardized unit that interfaces with a universal container, reducing the complexity of managing multiple flavors while maintaining variety.
Data Source
AI summary
An adjustable additive cartridge that provides adjustable metering of additive to a base fluid as the base fluid is flowing through the cartridge. A spout is mounted for limited rotation within a base element of the cartridge. Rotation of the spout results in varying degrees of flow of additive into a base fluid flow path through the cartridge. The cartridge may be used with a portable beverage container, such as a sports bottle or off-the-shelf water bottle. The supply of base fluid in a container used with the cartridge may be kept in an unmixed, pure state, and other cartridges, each having different additives (i.e., flavors) may be used interchangeably with the same base fluid supply. The cartridge allows a consumer/user to experience different additives, such as different flavors or supplement compositions, for a given supply of base liquid in a single container. A check valve on the cartridge prevents backflow of the base fluid. An integrated filter for filtering base fluid flowing into the cartridge may be provided. The additive cartridge may be sealed to provide for extended storage and to provide a user/consumer with evidence of integrity, quality and/or tampering prior to purchase and/or use. Visual and tactile indicators of the amount of additive being added to a base fluid may be provided. A container may retain a spare additive adjustable cartridge on the container.