Beverage Pod Filter Structure for Bottom-Pierce-Free Dispensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing single-serve beverage brewing systems face challenges with the piercing of beverage pods for water injection and beverage exit, leading to inefficient manufacturing and disposal, and not all materials are cost-effective or suitable for different brewing systems.
Innovation Solution
A sealed beverage delivery pod with a rigid outer member, internal filter, and a lid that allows for unobstructed beverage flow without requiring the bottom to be pierced, using biodegradable materials and a conical filter configuration to maximize free flow area and minimize blocked area, facilitating economical production and recyclability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the pod bottom is pierced for beverage exit, then beverage dispensing is enabled, but the pod structure becomes more complex and manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the bottom piercing mechanism entirely by extracting the beverage exit function to the lid. The lid incorporates an outlet opening that allows beverage to exit without piercing the pod bottom, thereby simplifying the pod structure while maintaining beverage dispensing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of the conventional design where beverage exits through the bottom, this patent inverts the exit location to the lid. The outlet opening is positioned in the lid rather than the bottom, and the flow path is configured to direct beverage upward to the lid outlet, reversing the traditional flow direction.
2Ease of manufacture
If a large attachment surface is used for the filter, then filter attachment is simplified, but the free flow area is blocked decreasing beverage flow
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment surface is designed with non-uniform characteristics: the peripheral portion has a larger diameter than the central portion. This local variation allows the filter to be securely attached at the periphery while maintaining a clear central flow path, thus achieving both easy attachment and adequate beverage flow rate.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter attachment surface extends in multiple dimensions with a peripheral portion that provides attachment area while the central region remains open for flow. This dimensional arrangement separates the attachment function from the flow function spatially.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional materials are used for pod construction, then manufacturing is established, but cost-effectiveness and recyclability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies that the pod is constructed from biodegradable materials, representing a parameter change from conventional non-biodegradable materials. This material parameter change enables recyclability and environmental sustainability while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through established biodegradable material processing techniques.
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 pod enables efficient beverage dispensing without piercing the bottom, using cost-effective and recyclable materials, and optimizing the filter configuration for reduced pressure requirements and increased surface area, enhancing the brewing process and environmental sustainability.
Implementation Method 1
an internal filter adjacent a bottom portion of the outer member
Implementation Method 2
The brewing machine can be configured in pass heated water through the pod to form and dispense a beverage therefrom
Data Source
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AI summary
A pod containing one or more beverage ingredients is provided, where the pod comprises a generally rigid outer member (12) with an open top and an outlet opening in the bottom, with an internal filter (16) adjacent a bottom portion of the outer member, one or more beverage ingredients disposed above the filter, and a lid (14) closing the open top. The outer member has an outer peripheral sidewall (20) defining the open top and extending downwardly from the open top toward the bottom portion and inwardly converging toward the outlet opening. The bottom portion of the sidewall defines a plurality of ribs (36) extending inwardly in the interior of the outer member toward the outlet opening. Beverage outlet flow paths are disposed between adjacent ribs and directed toward the outlet opening. The filter is supported above the outlet opening and the beverage outlet flow paths by the ribs.