Self-Activating Beverage Cooler With Rupturable Barrier
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage cooling and heating solutions, such as ice cubes and re-freezeable ice cubes, are ineffective at maintaining beverage temperature during transportation and can dilute the beverage, while there is a lack of devices that can cool or heat beverages at the point of consumption without affecting taste or appearance.
Innovation Solution
A sealed housing device containing a thermal agent and an activating agent, separated by a barrier that ruptures upon activation, allowing an endothermic or exothermic reaction to occur within the device, maintaining the beverage's integrity and providing cooling or heating without dilution, and optionally including flavor, color, or taste additives.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If ice cubes are added to a beverage to reduce temperature, then the beverage temperature is reduced, but the beverage is diluted and taste is adversely affected
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling function is segmented from the beverage itself. Instead of using ice cubes that mix with the beverage, a separate cooling device (packets, rods, or spherical units) is introduced that contains the cooling agent in isolation. This segmentation prevents direct contact between the cooling medium and the beverage, thereby avoiding dilution while achieving the desired temperature reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
A barrier or membrane acts as an intermediary between the cooling agent and the beverage. The barrier allows thermal energy transfer (cooling effect) while preventing mass transfer (dilution). The cooling agent is contained within a sealed packet or housing that is placed in the beverage, serving as a mediator that transfers cold without mixing substances.
2Loss of substance
If re-freezeable ice cubes are used to prevent dilution, then beverage concentration is maintained, but the device must be maintained in a freezer and is unavailable during transportation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the physical state or chemical form of the cooling agent from frozen ice to alternative cooling substances that do not require freezing. Options include: (1) supersaturated solutions that crystallize exothermically when triggered, (2) endothermic chemical reactions that absorb heat without freezing, (3) phase change materials that transition at higher temperatures. This parameter change eliminates the need for freezer storage while maintaining cooling capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling agent is prepared in advance in a stable, non-frozen state (such as a supersaturated solution or sealed chemical packet) that can be stored at ambient temperature. The actual cooling action is triggered preliminarily prepared at the point of use by breaking the seal or initiating the reaction, ensuring availability during transportation without requiring freezer maintenance.
3Temperature
If a cooling device is placed in a beverage, then cooling is achieved, but the device may leak and contaminate the beverage
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling agent is enclosed in a flexible, food-grade membrane or thin-walled container that is designed to be leak-proof during normal use. The flexible shell conformally fits within the beverage glass and maintains integrity through thermal cycling. The thin film allows efficient thermal contact with the beverage while providing a reliable barrier that prevents contamination even under pressure or temperature changes.
4Temperature
If ice cubes are used for cooling, then temperature reduction is achieved, but the aesthetic appearance of the beverage is affected
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling function is segmented into a separate, discrete device that does not mix with the beverage visual field. The segmented cooling unit (packet, rod, or spherical capsule) is contained in a visually unobtrusive form factor that can be placed at the bottom or side of the glass, keeping the beverage's visual appearance intact while maintaining temperature.
Solution Approach 2:
A thin, transparent or translucent flexible shell encloses the cooling agent, allowing light to pass through without significant distortion. The shell maintains the cooling function while being visually imperceptible or aesthetically pleasing, thus preserving the beverage's appearance. The thin film conforms to the glass shape and does not create visual clutter.
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 device effectively cools or heats beverages at the point of consumption, preserving the beverage's taste and appearance, and can be used with standard drinking glasses, providing a convenient and aesthetically pleasing solution for outdoor activities.
Implementation Method 1
a barrier between the first chamber and the second chamber. The barrier is configured to keep the thermal agent separate from the activating agent, and is further configured to be ruptured upon activation of the device such that the thermal agent and activating agent come into contact with and react with each other
Implementation Method 2
a barrier between the first chamber and the second chamber. The barrier is configured to keep the thermal agent separate from the activating agent, and is further configured to be ruptured upon activation of the device such that the thermal agent and activating agent come into contact with and react with each other
Implementation Method 3
the device includes a flavor coating on an exterior surface of the housing, wherein the flavor coating is configured to dissolve in a beverage during use
Data Source
AI summary
A beverage cooling or heating device includes a sealed housing, a first chamber within the housing that contains a thermal agent, a second chamber within the housing that contains an activating agent, for endothermically or exothermically reacting with the thermal agent, and a barrier between the first chamber and the second chamber, wherein the barrier is configured to keep the thermal agent separate from the activating agent, and is further configured to be ruptured upon activation of the device such that the thermal agent and activating agent come into contact with and react with each other. The thermal agent may be a cooling agent, such as urea, and the activating agent may be water. The thermal agent may alternatively be a heating agent.