Adjustable Beverage Warmer for Portable Non-Electric Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage warmers are impractical for warming beverages without electricity, as they often require fixed heat sources that are not adjustable for ease of use and are not designed for frequent movement or aesthetic preferences, and lack self-contained heating elements suitable for beverages.
Innovation Solution
A beverage warmer apparatus with a vertically adjustable platform and gear or pulley mechanism for adjusting the height of a self-contained heating element, combined with a heat-insulating and heat-conducting beverage vessel to maintain uniform temperature, allowing for convenient use without a wired electric source.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a fixed heat source is used in existing beverage warmers, then the device structure is simple, but the heat source height is not adjustable making it inconvenient for different beverage types and usage scenarios
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a vertically adjustable platform that can move up and down to change the height of the heating element relative to the beverage container. This dynamic adjustment allows users to optimize heating efficiency for different beverage types and container sizes, directly resolving the contradiction between operational ease and device complexity by introducing controlled mobility to the heat source position.
Solution Approach 2:
The device is divided into separate functional modules: a base structure, a vertically adjustable platform containing the heating element, and a support structure. This segmentation allows the heating component to be independently adjusted without affecting the overall device stability, enabling height adjustment while maintaining structural simplicity through modular design.
2Ease of operation
If self-contained heating elements are used for food heating, then electricity is not required, but the cups are too hot to lift and the structure makes it difficult to repeatedly remove and put back for sipping
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the heating element from direct contact with the beverage container by placing it on a separate adjustable platform above the container. This separation allows the container to be freely removed and placed for sipping without being constrained by the heating structure, while the heat is transferred through the bottom of the container rather than direct contact, making the container manageable temperature-wise.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustable platform acts as an intermediary between the heating element and the beverage container. It positions the heat source at an optimal distance and angle to heat the beverage through the container bottom without transferring excessive heat to the container itself, enabling easy removal and placement while maintaining safe handling temperatures.
3Adaptability or versatility
If wired electric beverage warmers are used, then heating efficiency is high, but the product requires additional wiring and is inconvenient for frequent movement and aesthetic preferences
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs self-contained heating elements (such as tea lights or gel fuel cans) that generate heat autonomously without requiring external electrical wiring. The heating element serves itself by containing its own fuel source, enabling the device to be moved freely throughout the space while maintaining heating functionality, thus achieving both portability and aesthetic flexibility without sacrificing the ability to heat beverages effectively.
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
Enables easy adjustment of heat source height and maintains beverage temperature uniformly, addressing the limitations of existing devices by providing a portable, aesthetically pleasing solution for warming beverages without electricity.
Implementation Method 1
self-contained heating element (such as a tea light candle, Sterno can, or other heating element)
Implementation Method 2
support structure anchored at least in part to the vertically adjustable platform
Implementation Method 3
The aperture in the top planar member can be a central open area small enough such that heat rising from the heating element is generally prevented from causing the rim or a handle of a vessel, or the handle of any utensil in a vessel from becoming undesirably hot.
Data Source
AI summary
A beverage warmer apparatus (10) can include a vertically adjustable platform (17) for holding a self-contained heating element (20) (such as a tea light candle, Sterno can, or other heating element), a gear (54) or pulley mechanism (18 and 22) for adjusting the height of the vertically adjustable platform, a support structure (16) anchored at least in part to the vertically adjustable platform, and a top planar member (12) having an opening (14) and further supported by the support structure. The apparatus can further include a bottom planar member (13) coupled to the support structure. The vertically adjustable platform can be an L-shaped member for holding a horizontally slidable planar member (15) that holds the self-contained heating element. The support structure 16 can have posts or walls coupled to the top planar member or the bottom planar member.