Apparatus and methods for dispensing beverages

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a need for a single, reusable, easy-to-clean, and easy-to-maintain beverage container that can efficiently dispense both hot and cold beverages, combining the convenience of a straw for cold drinks with the sipping mechanism for hot drinks.

Innovation Solution

A liquid dispensing system comprising a storage vessel, a contoured collar for sipping, a twist-top with detents for secure attachment, and a rotatable straw, allowing for safe consumption of hot beverages through apertures that control flow rate and prevent scalding, while also enabling cold beverage consumption through a straw.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a straw is used for cold beverages, then cold drinks can be consumed efficiently, but hot beverages cannot be safely consumed due to scalding risk

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecold beverage consumptionVSAvoidscalding risk for hot beverages

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The straw is made rotatable to transition between different functional states. When rotated to the closed position, it blocks the straw aperture to prevent hot liquid flow. When rotated to the open position, it allows cold liquid flow through the straw. This dynamic reconfiguration allows a single structure to serve multiple temperature conditions safely.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The dispensing system is divided into separate functional pathways: a straw pathway for cold beverages and a sipping aperture pathway for hot beverages. The rotatable straw component can selectively block or open the straw pathway, directing liquid flow through the appropriate pathway based on beverage temperature.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a sipping aperture is used for hot beverages, then hot drinks can be safely consumed, but cold beverages are less convenient to consume

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescalding prevention for hot beveragesVSAvoidcold beverage consumption convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The single container system integrates multiple dispensing functions: it can dispense hot beverages through the sipping aperture and cold beverages through either the straw or the sipping aperture. The rotatable straw mechanism enables the system to adapt to different beverage types, making one container universally suitable for both hot and cold drinks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If a single container is used for both hot and cold beverages, then portability and simplicity are improved, but the complexity of the dispensing mechanism increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesingle container for multiple beverage typesVSAvoiddispensing mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The straw component is designed as a removable element that can be taken out or rotated away when not needed. This extraction approach simplifies the overall structure by allowing the straw to be present only when cold beverage dispensing is required, reducing complexity for hot beverage use while maintaining versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Ease of operation

If the straw is always open for easy cold drink access, then cold beverages are convenient, but hot beverages cannot be dispensed safely

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecold beverage dispensingVSAvoidsafety for hot beverage dispensing

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The straw's open/closed state is dynamically controlled by user rotation. The straw can be positioned in an open state for cold beverage access or rotated to a closed position that blocks the aperture for hot beverage safety. This dynamic state control allows the system to adapt its reliability characteristics based on the beverage temperature being dispensed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS11365033B2Apparatus and methods for dispensing beverages

Publication Date: 2022.06.21 GLOBAL ADVANTAGE TRADING & IMPORTS LLC

AI summary

A dispensing system for use with a portable container for the storage, transport, and dispensation of fluids, especially liquids. The dispensing system includes an annular collar affixable to such a portable container. The collar is matable with a twist-top having a straw thereon. Once mated, corresponding structures on the collar and twist-stop prevent or inhibit separation. The twist-top can be twisted open to a position in which corresponding interior structures of the twist-top and collar form a fluid channel allowing liquid in the container to flow past sealing elements such as a gasket, and to egress to a contoured surface for sipping hot liquids by a human. The twist-top can be twisted close to reseal and inhibit fluid egress. Alternatively, a rotatable flip straw in the twist-top can be opened to drink cold liquids from the container while the twist-top is sealed in closed position.