Hot Beverage Lid Insert With Cooling Channels for Scald Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hot beverage containers lack effective means to slow down the flow rate of hot beverages, leading to scalding issues during consumption, and there is a need for a low-cost, disposable lid-insert assembly that can delay beverage delivery and transfer heat before consumption.
Innovation Solution
A combination lid-insert assembly with a downwardly extended, bowed insert construction made from thermally-insulative, food-grade, and heat-resistant material that redirects beverage flow through cooling channels, allowing for radially directed heat transfer and delayed delivery, enabling users to safely consume hot beverages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a simple lid is used for hot beverage containers, then the device complexity is low and ease of manufacture is high, but the beverage flow rate cannot be slowed down and scalding risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lid is divided into multiple functional segments: a main lid body, an insert construction with cooling channels, and a damming structure. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function (sealing, cooling, flow control) independently, reducing overall complexity while addressing the scalding risk through specialized cooling elements.
Solution Approach 2:
An insert construction acts as an intermediary element between the hot beverage and the user. This insert includes cooling channels that mediate heat transfer, allowing the beverage to cool down before reaching the user, thereby reducing scalding risk without requiring fundamental changes to the lid structure.
2Temperature
If a lid-insert assembly is added to slow beverage flow and transfer heat, then beverage cooling effectiveness is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The insert construction is merged with the lid assembly, combining the cooling function with the existing lid structure. This integration allows the cooling channels to be formed within the lid material itself, reducing the need for separate components and simplifying the overall assembly process while maintaining effective heat transfer.
Solution Approach 2:
The insert construction utilizes changes in material parameters (thermal conductivity, heat capacity) to achieve effective cooling. By selecting materials with appropriate thermal properties and designing channels that optimize heat transfer parameters, the system achieves effective beverage cooling without requiring complex mechanical structures.
3Ease of manufacture
If a resilient material is used for the lid insert, then ease of stacking and packaging is improved, but the structural strength for heat resistance may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The insert construction utilizes a resilient material that can be formed into flexible channels and structures. This resilient material provides both the necessary structural strength to withstand heat and the flexibility needed for easy stacking and packaging. The thin-film-like structure of the cooling channels maintains strength while enabling compact packaging.
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 assembly effectively transfers heat from hot beverages to cooling channels, reducing the risk of scalding and enhancing the safety and comfort of consuming hot beverages by allowing air to mix with the beverage before consumption, while maintaining a compact and efficient packaging design.
Implementation Method 1
transferring heat through the insert's material
Implementation Method 2
thermally-insulative, heat-resistant insert construction
Implementation Method 3
bowed portion that redirects beverage flow through cooling channels
Data Source
AI summary
An insert construction or formation is attachable to a basic lid construction for outfitting a hot beverage or liquid container assembly for enabling a user to enhance heat transfer from a relatively hot assembly-contained beverage or liquid prior to consumption. The insert construction or formation provides a damming structure located in adjacency to the primary liquid outlet of the basic lid construction for selectively transferring liquid intermediate a liquid-containing compartment and at least one beverage-cooling channel made part of the damming structure. Each beverage-cooling channel or formation directs liquid therethrough and transfers heat therefrom before the liquid exits the primary liquid outlet. The primary dam structure or insert construction thereby enables the user to redirect liquid movement via the basic lid construction for delaying liquid delivery via the primary beverage outlet and transferring heat therefrom prior to liquid consumption. Certain packaging methodology of the complex lid construction is further contemplated.